Family Photos Coming Soon

This week, my sister-in-law took some photos of our family.  None of them are edited, but I thought I'd share this sequence I thought was super cute.  Now Baxter wasn't too keen on the idea of standing around and looking straight, so we decided he wanted to explore, and not only that, he wanted to wear our bag as a satchel.

It was so precious that he waved goodbye before walking away, and made me realize what it will be like in a few years when he's actually going to school.  I can't talk about it, it's only going to make me sappy.

Have a good weekend!

Update in the Search for a New Doctor

I've done a little more looking and have made several more phone calls in the search to find the boys a pediatrician.  And so far, no luck.  It's not that every office I call is no longer taking patients, the offices that are taking new patients just won't take the boys.  I'm discovering that if you don't follow the CDC's (Center for Disease Control) recommended vaccination schedule, doctors will refuse to accept your child as a patient.  So far I have had three offices, that are accepting new patients, tell me that the boys can't be patients there for that reason.

Honestly, it's really quite baffling.  I know that most doctors advise that you follow the CDC's schedule, but there aren't any laws mandating those particular vaccinations in that particular order.  I also know that a doctor's office isn't a non-profit and they have the right to refuse patients, but I wasn't even offered the option to sign some sort of waiver.  They just refuse to see children based on if their vaccinations are "current." 

But I don't want to get into vaccinations, it's pretty messy business and there are many people who are very opinionated about the subject.  Eric and I just made the choice for our family to delay vaccinations.  We have many close friends who follow the recommended schedule and we never argue over who's right, it's just not important to us.  It's just that, to me, it feels a little like discrimination, mostly because of the fact that I am doing absolutely nothing illegal or even wrong.  I am taking advantage of my right to create a vaccination schedule that I am comfortable with for my children. 

So not only do I have to find a pediatrician, I have the added challenge of finding one who if comfortable with the decision we made.  And that's the clincher, it was our choice, which is just going to require a little more investigation and a few more calls on my part.  I don't think that I will succeed before my goal, but that's alright, I'm happy with the decision that we made.  Plus, I have a new perspective on the boys' current doctor.  He agreed to the vaccination schedule we chose, and I am finding out that that is something to really be thankful for.

Water Babies

Throughout the adoption process, one of Eric's concerns was whether or not the boys would like water, particularly, swimming.  Eric loves to swim; get him in water, and he is ten years old again.  During their first baths at home, both boys seemed to like being in the water, but since it was November we had to wait to find out about actual swimming.  Then came summer, and opportunities to take them in pools and lakes.  Eric was a little nervous, but without any reason.  Both boys love the water!  Ever since the weather was warm enough, they've been in the water.  They swim at both their grandparent's houses, their great-grandparent's and the lake.  Eric is thrilled to say the least, and can't wait until they are able to swim with him, as opposed to being held. 

Last weekend, we swam at Eric's grandparent's house and as always, the boys had a lot of fun.

This weekend, Eric and I are going on a float trip and he is already asking how old the boys have to be in order to come with us.

Dad, the Hero

I love how much the boys adore Eric, it's just so precious to see.  They both light up like fireworks when he gets home after work.  Over the last couple of weekends, Eric has been working on replacing a step in front of our house, and the boys would get so excited to watch him from the deck.  Everything he did below interested them, and they would squeal with joy when he would stop working to talk and wave to them.

I think it's so darling when a little boy admires his father and thinks he's the best/toughest/strongest; in a word, he's the little boy's hero.  I know that the boys are going to feel that way about Eric, and with good reason.  Eric is such a great dad and already sets such a good example for both of the boys, why wouldn't they admire him.  I really couldn't ask for a better man to be the father of my children, heck, I look up to and admire him too!

I am looking forward to the day when Eric will be able to teach them things, like how to fix their bike, shoot a basket, build a fort or swim.  And I won't have to worry about getting him to do these things, he's looking forward to it even more than I am, and that just melts my heart :)

Weekend Wears

This weekend was definitely a fun one, we weren't too busy, but we weren't bored either.  I think it was a perfect combination.  On Friday night, we had a sitter and were able to get out of the house, just the two of us.  We spent a few hours at one of our favorite local coffee shops and met up with some friends for drinks afterward.  I haven't stayed up that late in a really long time.

Tank: H & M // Cardigan: Target // Shorts: H & M // Wedges: Burlington Coat Factory

Saturday, Eric finished laying a new step in front of our house, and I was able to get some stuff done around the house.  It was really warm, so once our work was done we took the boys over and went swimming at my parents.  Then we ended up at a friends for dinner and games.  It was another late night, but I barely noticed the time pass since we were having so much fun.

Sunday, we spent the morning together like always, lunch at Eric's parents celebrating his sister's birthday, the afternoon swimming at his grandparents' and the evening watching a movie.  The day was definitely full, but not once did I feel overwhelmed.

T-Shirt: F21 // Under Tank: Target // Shorts: J Crew // Sandals: Charlotte Russe

Like I said, it was a perfect balance of busy and not busy.  It was my kind of weekend.  Next weekend we will be kiddo-less for most of it, a wedding, breakfast, a float trip, and good 'ol fun.  Excited is a mild way to describe how I'm feeling about it.

Hopefully your weekend was great too, and you are able to start the week sans the Monday blues.