Fundraiser Success!

Our fundraiser was a success! Despite the snowstorm and bad roads, we raised around $1100! A lot of people didn't come because of the weather, but some of them donated to our FSP, and two people handed me money at church the following Sunday. I am blown away by the support we have received. It kinda feels like a kick in the stomach, but in a GOOD way. What would that be? Hmm...I'll think on that. It just amazes me how many people came – jumped – forward with auction donations, monetary donations, and verbal support. People I haven't heard from in years have contacted me to say what a wonderful thing we are doing and how blessed Littlekid will be! And it gives me a great opportunity to share about Reece's Rainbow and the fate of the children left behind. During our fundraiser, I gave a mini-speech before the concert. I hadn't really planned it out beforehand, and it probably would have been more coherent if I had. But I ended up crying while talking about the treatment of the kids in EE who have disabilities. About the institutions. I was MORTIFIED because I do. not. cry. especially in public, but I think it went over really well.

One of the best parts of the night was meeting two other kids from Littlekid's country! One little boy and his mommy live about a mile from us, and he came home at the beginning of the summer. And I got to meet a little girl who came home from Littlekid's orphanage a month ago. I was so happy to meet these kids and their mommies! I read their blogs and “knew” them online, but that's just not the same. My aunt said it makes it more “real”, and it really does. It's not just, someone Out There adopted. It's, Hey look at these cute kids, and I'm getting one soon too! And then it's, oh my goodness, I'm getting one of these soon! And I can't wait to hold him and love him, and fatten him up! Right now he's smaller than Brennan. Good news is, he'll be well-clothed with Brennan's outgrown clothes!

Speaking of Brennan, today he finally stood up all by himself! He started walking when he was 11 months old, but he couldn't get to a stand by himself, he had to pull up on something. This past week I have been working with him to get him to stand up on his own. He started bending over to the floor a few weeks ago, so I knew he was ready. I started by bracing his legs while he stood up, then his ankles. Then we moved to holding hands, and I would put my hands down on the floor and kind of boost him with his hands. Then finally today he did it all on his own, without falling over! He was just. so. cute. while we were teaching him. When he stood up, we'd clap and cheer, which B loves. So then he'd bend over and stand up again, and make us clap some more! What a ham. Also, Brennan LOVES running around Target. He takes off running and giggling and often throws his arms in the air. He'll start following any stranger who smiles at him! Today I brought cheerios with me and bribed him into following me. It kept him happy for about ten minutes. :)

Ken is playing a Wii Fit game that involves sitting still for several minutes. Seriously. I'm not even going to attempt that game!

A post for Brennan!

Is it possible for this to be going to slowly and too quickly at once?...Because that's what's happening. And that's all I will say about that.

At the age of 13 months, 11 months corrected, Brennan knows two signs and says six words. Okay, mostly half words! He says "mo mo" for more, for example. But it counts! What a smart little boy! He's so smart, in fact, that in the last two days he's walked into the wall three different times! That poor boy does take after his mama.
We've been dealing with serious, uh, rear end issues ever since Friday. I'm starting to think maybe he is lactose intolerant after all. I really, really hope not, because cheese is his favorite food and yogurt is one of the few ways I can sneak healthy food into him! This boy will not eat whole vegetables unless they are pureed. Fine, we have a blender. But no, he is a Big Boy now and won't eat baby food! I don't know how to get him past the texture of veggies. For now we've gone back to formula until we can figure out if the milk is making him sick or not.
Brennan had his first overnight away from home this past week! I surprised Ken by having his parents pick Brennan up on the way home from work. It was tough to be away from my baby, but I did enjoy myself! Don't tell anybody. I love that little guy to pieces, and I'm mentally blocking out the fact that I am going to be gone for 5 weeks this spring. I'm actually starting to think that I will come home for the ten day wait, and go back alone. We'd have to find more money to do it that way, and I'm a little leery of traveling in a foreign country all by myself. I'm not really the adventurous type, so we'll see.
First, we need to raise the money to get there in the first place! We are having a fundraising concert and silent auction on December 3rd at our church in Blaine. I hope I will see you there!