Adoption

Posted on January 5, 2013 by themielkeway

We have had a lot of talks about forever in our home the last few months. Forever is a concept that five year olds are not supposed to understand… hell, its hard for me to wrap my brain around ‘forever’. However, when our wise-beyond-his-years little boy is asked where he wants his forever home to be, he very clearly says, “DUH! With my FAMILY!” When asked who his family is, he again, without hesitation, blurts out, “My Mommy, Daddy, and my baby brother Grae!” Nobody can say this kid doesn’t know what he wants (or how to advocate for himself! ;))

But, why then, must the process be so long and so full of stress and angst? We have been fighting for him for close to a year, and we are still playing the waiting game for paperwork to be filed to hurry this process along. I wish so much that he could just get some closure. The night terrors (that have now started happening in the middle of the day) are more than a little hard to watch.

Now, don’t get me wrong-

Adoption is a wonderful gift, and I’m a firm believer that parenting doesn’t begin in the womb. Parenting begins when you meet the child you will devote your time, self and energy to. Whoever that child may be. Wherever that child may come from.

Whoever’s eyes that child gazes at you with.

Because at the end of the day, we will get to wipe the tears from those eyes – whatever color they may be.

And I’m so excited to be a part of this miracle.

I just wish all these policies, practices, and red tape would be overlooked in the best interest of the child… I desperately want to be able to look him square in the eye and tell him, without a doubt, that he is ours and we are his… FOREVER… and nothing or nobody will ever change that.

Where to begin?!

Posted on January 3, 2013 by themielkeway

What a MONTH! I’m still trying to recover from the roller coaster we have been riding… Talk about a head-spin. These past few weeks have been incredibly challenging and I’m so very thankful that we are starting to see the light at the end of this tunnel.

A brief overview of just a few of our ups and downs:

Baby G got sick- and by sick, I mean, pneumonia in his left lung, then dropping Pulse Ox levels (some readings even around 87!), and his pediatrician having him rushed to the ER in an ambulance, kind of sick… and this lasted for 17 sleepless days and nights straight. Two antibiotics (one of which was a three day shot), and nebulizer treatments later, he finally started feeling a bit better.

RJ’s court date came and went and the judge provided our team the information necessary to file the TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) paperwork- and strongly suggested it be filed ASAP. She also cancelled all parental visitation until further notice. For everyone that may not know the full background- this is the best news we could have possibly received.

We have been given the extraordinary news that we will be first in line to adopt our beautiful, brown eyed boy! We have known for about 6 months; but after DFACS notified both biologicals of the termination of their rights, we are beginning to feel just a little more confident. (Although this whole process couldn’t be scarier!)

Grae started WALKING! And CLIMBING! And even RUNNING and DANCING from time to time! He never stops exploring and he literally is more fun EVERY SINGLE DAY.

This morning, we flipped our big boy’s car seat around! :O

RJ started calling us Mommy and Daddy!! He also gave himself a new name (he’ll remain RJ on the blog for privacy purposes :)), and very eloquently explained that he no longer wants to be named after his biological and that he has a new family and a new life, so he should also have a new name. How could we not agree to it?? It just so happens that it was our other top choice when choosing names for G! He’s my Mama’s Boy. ❤

Another 6 credits completed on my Ph.D.!

And, in between all of this, we had one of the all-time best Christmases EVER with our families (Pics soon to follow!).

Grae’s Birthday video

Posted on November 23, 2012 by themielkeway

Graeson’s Nanny made a video of his birthday celebration! Watch it HERE 🙂

And then he was ONE.

Posted on November 18, 2012 by themielkeway

Grae was born ONE year ago, November 15, at 10:29pm. His birth will forever be one of my bravest, most powerful accomplishments. (Read about it here!) Lately, I have found myself retracing the places I was at this time last year. Today, November 18, 2011, we were bringing our beautiful boy home from the hospital. I can’t help but hold our sweet, giggling child close as I think of all this year has taught me.

______________________________________________________________________

Grae,

You have dramatically and wonderfully impacted my life. I will never be the same. Thank you for making me a mommy and teaching me more than I could have ever learned without you. There is something so special about you, Graeson. And I’m not just saying this because I’m your Mom. It is something more than your loving and happy nature. It is undefinable, and yet I know in my heart you are destined for great things. I am looking so forward to watching you grow and experiencing the magic you will continue to infuse into this world. I thank God every night for the unconditional love that He has given me through you. Never stop unraveling this world with your excitement and wonder. I am so proud of you, son.

Happy First Birthday to our Graeson Royce! You are SO loved!

~Mommy

How you spent your first birthday:

You woke up to a fort that Daddy made you, filled with your favorite thing- Balloons!

After playing with Daddy, and your morning nap, you went to RJ’s kindergarten to have lunch with him. Afterwards, you went to the grocery store and Daddy pushed you around in the “Car” grocery cart while you screamed and laughed for an hour. You got a “First Birthday” balloon and a flower to bring to me at work! (You melted my heart!)

After you picked me up from work, we headed to the Georgia Aquarium! You are mesmerized by our small salt water tank in our bedroom, so we knew you’d LOVE it (and we were RIGHT!!)

You picked out a Buluga Whale in the gift shop for a birthday present. 🙂

You played with Birthday Buluga all the way home. 🙂

And after we picked RJ up from school, it was time to come home and have cake!

Grae’s Barnyard Bash!

Posted on November 18, 2012 by themielkeway

Dear G,

We celebrated your birthday a couple of weeks early this year so your grandparents, aunts and uncles could celebrate with us. You also had a bunch of friends from school and our neighborhood come to make your party extra special. You loved every second of the petting zoo party- but your favorite part was definitely riding the pony! You stuck your tongue out and “neighed” like a pony as soon as we sat you on the saddle. You were also a HUGE fan of birthday cake. HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, GRAESON!

WE LOVE YOU!

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11 Months Old

Posted on November 11, 2012 by themielkeway

Ladies and Gentlemen (mostly ladies)
Graeson Royce Has Arrived

Mommy and I felt like you may enjoy having a few words from dear old Da Da to carry with you into the future. You are 11 months old now Boo Boo- your rockstar personality and your desire to explore are matching one another step for step. I catch your mother staring at you some times (I think shes trying to stop you from growing so fast through some kind of spooky spoon bending super power), but don’t worry, Da Da is there to break her concentration before it has any real effect on you. Oh yea, your getting to be quite the little prankster now. You find dangerous and poisonous things and act like you’re going to hand them over only to yank them back and shove them in your mouth (HAHA). One of my proudest moments came this month when you saw me walk in from work and said, “HI DADA!!” I almost fell over with pride. However, you seem to have really expanded on this new trick, so much in fact that you say “HI DADA” to RJ and… well…..the oven. I’m sure your just practicing for your next genuine DADA encounter so, no worries. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you will save your first real walking session for the evening when I will be here to cheer you on but, I fear that any second your hands will leave the safety of the nearest object and you will be walking.

YOUR BIGGEST FAN (Even bigger than the one on the living room Ceiling)
Da Da

Our little Trick Or Treaters

Posted on November 11, 2012 by themielkeway

I’m finally back from my little blogging vacation and I have so much to share. We have been having a pretty spectacular fall so far, and our first halloween was pretty awesome all in itself. We have been so busy that the holiday snuck up on us! We realized the day before Halloween that we didn’t even have pumpkins yet and we needed to make an emergency trip to the pumpkin patch! It was both RJ and Grae’s first time picking out pumpkins, and both boys decided to pick out the two shiniest pumpkins in the field. Even though we were a little late with our festivities, our jack-o-lanterns were some of the freshest on the street. 🙂 RJ (our little pirate) had a blast knocking on doors and screaming “TRICK OR TREAT!”, while Grae the Fearless Lion giggled and ROARED as he got pulled around in a big wagon full of blankets.

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Say Uncle!

Posted on October 8, 2012 by themielkeway

Graeson got pretty lucky in the uncle department. He’s been loving all the attention from his two favorite uncles lately.

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TEN MONTHS

Posted on October 5, 2012 by themielkeway

Grae Baby,

Oh how time flies with you, Little Man. Ten months old, already?! I wish I could just freeze you at this age (I realize I’ve said that every single month so far, but 10 months old is seriously so much fun!) You are starting to say lots of new words and learning new things every day! Your favorite game is to drop something on the floor, watch it go splat, and innocently look at us and say “Uh oh!” Your Daddy and I still crack up every time.

You can “neigh” like a horse when asked what a horsey says. You say “Dog” and “kitty” whenever you see Stella or Nova, and you wave at everyone and everything. You even say “Tickle, Tickle” when I’m about to get those ever-so-precious piggy toes. The coolest thing you have said thus far is singing along to the song “Skin-a-mir-ink-ee-dink-ee-dink, skin-a-mir-ink-ee-doo, I love you.” It sounded just like it. 🙂

You have 7 teeth already and number 8 could pop through any day. There isn’t a food out there that you don’t like- but the really good ones still get a good billy goat grunt followed by a big Graeson grin. Grandma gave you your first drink of fresh squeezed orange juice- and boy oh boy did you think you had hit the jackpot. 🙂

You weigh 24 pounds and are still wearing anywhere between 12 months and 2T sized clothes. We had to go back to size four diapers… maybe all the crawling is toning the abs? 😉

You couldn’t be more perfect and I love you more than words could ever say.

Happy 10 months, Baby.

Love,

Mommy

Farewell Summer

Posted on September 13, 2012 by themielkeway

I have sadly come to the realization that our first summer as a family is quickly fading away. We have been lingering in the fleeting rays of sunshine a little bit longer each evening, knowing that before we know it, it will be dark by the time we make it home from work and school. Here’s to enjoying each of these moments… these perfect summer evenings… with my perfect little boys for the last nine days of the best summer of my life.