Obsessed??

Last night we walked in the door at around 5:04 p.m. from the Fisher family Christmas. At 5:05 we got the mail out of the mailbox, and at 5:06 this was the scene for the remainder of the ENTIRE night. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the awesome tractor and thingy-majiggers that go behind it (I'm sure Dustin knows the actual name of these particular implements).

Then today we went out to run some errands and decided to take the boys to Barnes and Noble to use their gift cards from Nana and Papa. Miles insisted on taking his cars and trucks book with him everywhere we went. Eventually he fell asleep clutching it for dear life.

Then when we got to Barnes and Noble Miles immediately found the cars and truck books and made himself at home for quite a long time. The only way I could get him out of that section was to show him the train track table in another section.

And finally we ended up with a couple of awesome truck books, but the most important one had to go into Panera with us.

Thanks Nana and Papa for an awesome opportunity to pick out an awesome book!

And I must throw in one picture of Liam from this morning when he was enjoying the early morning sunshine.  If there was a neck and leg strength contest for 3.5 week olds he would be the bomb diggity.

Snowed in and Nose Jobs

This weekend we got some major snow and were snowed in for just about two days.  The first day was a lot of fun, and to be honest no one got out of their pajamas until well after lunch.  When we could finally make it down our street we finally went and bought Miles a pair of snowboots so that he could go outside and help shovel the driveway.  How many more years until these kids are actually more usefully than just acting cute for the neighbors outside to admire from their windows??  Mama's sick of shoveling snow and is gearing up for years of being pampered by her boys. :)

Now you are probably wonder what "Nose Job" is all about.  Well, someone in our household underwent some major reconstructive surgery.  Most of you that either know Miles, or follow the blog regularly, realize that we have a VERY special friend that, according to Miles, goes "OOOOOHHH, Ah Ah Ah!"  That's right, after months of chewing, sewing back on, and then chewing some more, Monkey has officially lost his noes.  Actually, to be honest, I cut it off as it was hanging on by a thread (literally) and I didn't want Miles to choke on it.  Well, the nose is apparently the MOST important part of Monkey since that is the part Miles chews on, mostly when he is running around the house and needs both hands.  I channeled my fifth grade 4-H sewing project self to try and fashion a new nose out of harmless thread, and you can see the results below.  I thought it looked pretty good, but apparently it was obvious because Miles wouldn't quit staring at Monkey's face.  You'll be happy to know that the new nose is just  as useful as a chew-toy as the old one.

Well, I haven't written anything in awhile because we've been pretty busy, with a new baby, my thesis project last Friday, and then the holidays on top of all that.  So this is a super long post to update everything pretty much since Liam has been born.  

Miles helping me and my mom with Liam's first bath.

The week after Liam was born my parents came out and stayed with us for a week.  It was so great to have them here to help us out, play with Miles, and to fix us great meals.  Miles loved having them here, and I must admit that I did too. :)

After my parents left on Sunday I had to figure out how to take care of two little boys by myself while Dustin went back to work part-time for the week.  It was quite the adventure, but we made it and had lots of visitors that kept us occupied, entertained, and fed.  Then on Thursday we left for Ohio - where I would be with the boys for an entire week.  On Friday I presented my Final Thesis Project to a board at AAU via teleconference and PASSED!  This means I am officially done with my MFA.  This is such a relief and I am not sure what I'm going to do with all of my free time now...(umm, maybe raise two children??).  The rest of the week was filled with fun family activities with Uncle Isaac, and Grandma and Grandpa, and then even Uncle Collin and Aunt Becca eventually.  Dustin had to fly home for three days to finish up school, and it was obvious that Miles was missing him (and Liam as well - and me for that matter).  I have a whole new appreciation for single parents.  

So, instead of boring you with more details of the week with my family, I will just include some photos of what we did and the fun we had.  

Liam sitting up in my Dad's hand - so strong!

Miles having a laugh with Uncle Isaac.

Opening presents at Grandma and Grandpa's House

Liam sitting with his Dad watching presents being opened.

Miles sharing a snack with his cousin Morgan.

We got home late last night (on Christmas Day) and woke up this morning to A LOT of snow - and it hasn't stopped!  We had our little family Christmas and enjoyed opening presents together for our first Christmas!

The three of our checking out the great snowfall outside.

Miles playing with just some of his new tractors that he got for Christmas.

Miles' new quilt.

Liam trying out Miles' new barn. :)

Miles testing out his new barn after Liam.

Now, we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas with a preview of the Christmas Card/Birth Announcement that we sent out this year.  Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays!

Welcome to the World Little Liam Douglas

Born: December 6th, 10:36 pm

Weight: 7 lb. 4 oz.

Length 20.5 inches

Status: Favorite little bro to Miles who loves to give him kisses, feed him crackers and show him his trucks. :)

This baby is NEVER coming! But Miles is keeping things interesting.

Well, the baby bean called to say that it has changed its mind and it isn't ever going to come out - at least not on my time schedule. Therefore I have decided to embrace these days with Miles that are just the two of us, and that I never really thought I would get again. The only problem is that I'm over nine months pregnant and EVERYTHING is hard. Just a small problem though, right?? In fact, the little stinker didn't take a nap today. I am upstairs and just heard him come out of his room after almost three hours of singing, crying, and laughing. As I write this he is downstairs stomping around loudly and laughing at how funny he thinks he is.

As proof that he should be tired, I'm including a video of Miles that I took this morning the SECOND time he woke up - at 5:30am. It's pretty cute how he wakes up every morning and comes over to get us in our room. Now that he is in a toddler bed he will get up either A.) as soon as he sees one of us turn on a light, or B.) At what he feels is an appropriate hour (his definition of an appropriate hour and mine are VERY different). The cutest part, which I couldn't actually capture in this video is that when he comes out he ALWAYS has to bring monkey and bear (we get real creative with names around here). Bear is about as big as Miles. The movie is sort of long because I also included some predawn playtime that Miles and I shared while Dustin slept blissfully in the other room. Luckily I can't sleep in right now anyways so I don't mind getting up with him. Eventually this may change. :)

Miles just came upstairs and when he saw me he laughed/smiled really big like he is the most clever little guy around - what a turkey.

Also today I decided that if I did some serious cleaning and mopping it might jump-start some labor. All it really did was give Miles something to play in. I was mopping the bathroom and when I turned around this is what I found. It only took him about 2.5 seconds, but the boy loves bubbles - especially rubbing them in his hair. Luckily I was only using dish soap because I couldn't find any actual mopping solution. :)

Well, that is all I really have to share today. Maybe the next post will be about a new little baby - if it really does exist and I haven't just been having a weird stomach flu for the last nine+ months.

Miles has a new house, Mom's as big as a house, and decorating our house.

Okay, so to start off with the title of this post....the other day we got a new deep freezer, which we've never had before.  It was very exciting and made me feel very grown up.  Dustin's already talking about finding a half cow somewhere to put in it.... I dont' even think we eat enough red meat to make up half of a cow in a year.  Well, the highlight of the entire experience, besides Miles running between appliances and giggling incessantly at Sears, was that we had this awesome box that Dustin turned in to a little house for Miles to play with.  Of course he loved it and continued to laugh like crazy everytime he went inside.  As far as me being a big as a house....well the photo pretty much sums it up.  Today is officially my estimated due date and I have a feeling that I am going to watch it come and go, which is a bit depressing.  I even braved the elements on Black Friday with the hopes that it would throw me into labor.  Although I came very close in line at Target, it never did happen.  Oh well, I guess he or she will come when they're good and ready - it doesn't really matter what I want. :)  Hopefully this isn't a trend. :)

Here is another picture of Miles helping me put together a little bouncer seat that we bought for the new baby.  He loved playing with the allen wrench and screwdriver and now he loves turning on the music and vibrating features and sitting in the chair.  Hopefully he isn't completely jaded when the baby comes and he finds out it was never really for him and that he way too big to sit in it.

And lastly, we started decorating our house for Christmas this weekend, which may be one of my favorite things to do during this season.  In the meantime Miles found this little santa hat, and since he now has an obsession with hats, he could wait to try it on, and ran around with the ball in his face for quite some time....once again laughing like crazy.  He thinks he is such a card these days. :)  To himself, he is the funniest person alive, which sort of makes him the funniest person alive to me as well.

Why hello Baby Bean!

Okay, so the title of this post is misleading.... there is no baby bean to say hello to...yet.  However, it has been a long time since I posted, and I have never really posted much about Miles' soon-to-appear brother or sister, so I thought I would do so tonight.  The truth of the matter is that I am due in exactly one week and three days so I have been trying frantically to get some major things done.  I have a few clients' photos that I am finishing and also my big final review - which is OFFICIALLY written and will be mailed out tomorrow!!!!!  Yeah!  Now all I have to do is present it and pass...no big deal. :)

I've also been dealing mentally of the reality of two babies that are only a year and half apart.  I don't do well with change, and having two babies in less than 8 months is A LOT of change.  However, I can't really think of a better way for us to do it. :)

So all that being said, here is the latest on the Baby Bean....

Here is the latest picture we've received of the little one - there isn't a whole lot of room in there so he/she is pretty smooshed.  The woman running the ultrasound seemed a little freaked out by how big the baby was, which was oh so comforting for his or her poor mother. :)  However, I can just figure that is less weight I will have to lose when it is all said and done - AND I've read somewhere that big babies are often times easier to deliver.  I guess we'll see.  Here you can see that he or she is sucking on their thumb - very crazy!  These 3-D ultrasounds are so surreal.


Well, that is all I really have to share.  I could complain about how hard it is to walk up stairs, or roll over in bed at night, but I'm just so happy to have two healthy babies that I refuse to do it....at least in writing. :)


So Baby Bean, if you can read my thoughts.....you can go ahead and come out now.     Seriously.

One Year Ago Today...

Dear Miles,
One year ago today I woke up sad, but hopeful.  I was a mother without a child - my heart ached as I got ready for work and left early in the morning wondering how I was going to make it through another Thursday without a phone call.  I spent the entire day checking my cell phone between classes, telling myself that it would be okay and that the phone call would come when you were ready.  As the end of the day came to an end my students all left the room and I sat at my desk with my head between my hands.  I remember holding back tears as I thought about how the phonecall would have already come if it was going to happen that day.  I wanted to go home so that no one else would ask whether I had heard anything.  I was so sad.

Then just a little after 3:00 - just minutes after I had given up hope my phone rang and it was the social worker.  She told me that she had a pictures of a little boy named Yo Seb Kim and that he was ours.  She told me that you were healthy and read everything she could about you over the phone.  I was so excited that I couldn't even figure out what to do.  I called your dad at work, but he wasn't answering because he was in the middle of a class.  I sat at my desk and embraced the fact that you were my own little secret for as long as I could (about 10 minutes).  I called his office and his classroom, and then I finally called the front office and made them hunt him down so that I could tell him.  I knew that he would want to know the exciting news immediately.

All night we talked about you and dreamed about you.  We already loved you and couldn't wait to meet you.  The next day we took off work so that we could see your beautiful picture and sign some other forms.  Afterwards we  went out to eat to celebrate you - just the two of us.  On Saturday morning we laid in bed and thought of names for you.  When we decided on Miles we called our parents (your grandparents) and they were so excited to hear about you.  They loved you too, and hadn't even met you - imagine how much they must love you now that they know how funny and wonderful you are.

Now one year later we can't imagine life without you.  It is hard for me to remember what it felt like a year ago to not have you.  Everyday you make me smile - even when you're grumpy.  Everyday you amaze me with the things that you can do and know.  I can't wait to see you when you wake up in the morning and I can't stand waiting to see you after work.  On Wednesday I saw you walking past the school with your babysitter and it made me smile because you love walks and you love your babysitter, but it made me sad because I couldn't be there.  In just a short time our lives will really change, but I want you to know that how much I love you won't.  A year ago I didn't think that my heart could fill up anymore than it already had, but now my cup runnith over. :)

We love you Miles.  Happy one-year referral day.

Love, Your Mom

Happy Halloween from the cutest Star Wars crew you've ever seen.

Late post for a BIG weekend!

Well, this is post is coming to you all much later than was intended.  This past weekend was a big one for the Wyse-Fishers.  On Friday we legally and officially became a family according to the State of Illinois.  Of course nothing has changed - we have felt like a family ever since we've been home from Korea, but now everything is very official.  Miles did great on Friday while we were at the courthouse and held off all tantrums until about the time the lawyer was questioning me and asked if we were happy with how everything was going.  Even with Miles screaming a kicking next to me (which luckily only lasted about 15 seconds) I had to think "of course!"  Afterwards we went out for Miles' favorite food of the week - celebratory pancakes.  Here you can see pictures of Miles at the courthouse, us with the judge, and then getting pancakes at LePeep.  It was a great day.  In fact, we decided to celebrate that evening with any friends and family that was around to celebrate with.

We had dinner at Rhythm Kitchen with the Barricks (including Miles' good friend Caleb), the Scotts, Nana, and Aunt Carrie.  We had a lot of fun hanging out with everyone even though the evening started out rough at home as we were getting ready to leave. (See picture of Miles)

Then on Saturday we had a great day in Bensenville, IL (a suburb of Chicago).  We were able to see Miles' social worker from South Korea as she was visiting the country for a few days.  In fact, we walked into the party right as she was walking into the room and she recognized "Yo Seb" right away.  He must have made an impression on her when he was in Korea. :)

After that we were able to see a show, but even more exciting, meet some of our friends from blogs that we (or I) have been following since we've been home.

We were able to meet the couple that took Miles' care package over to Korea for him, and delivered his beloved Monkey that you've seen in so many pictures.  We even got a group shot of people with their toddlers that have come home in the last year.  It was so good to meet/see everyone even though I feel like I already knew them and their children so well already!

I'm going to leave you with a photo of Miles and his new favorite thing to do.  He LOVES putting on our shoes and walking around the house.  He'll even dig shoes out of the closet to put on.

Brand New Haircut

Well, I finally broke down and got Miles' hair cut. Dustin was in charge of the whole event and he did a great job supervising. It sounds like Miles also did a great job and didn't mind the haircut at all. Here you can see him during the cut and afterwards.....so handsome. :)

On Tuesday I left for school while Dustin and Miles were busy making (and at the same time eating) pancakes. I was so jealous and it was hard for me to leave the house knowing that they were there munching away on delicious pancakes while I was teaching students how to draw silly old Mandalas.

Miles has also been under the weather for a few days. Yesterday Aunt Carrie came by to see him and he fell asleep in her arms right after dinner. It was so sweet, but very out of character for such a busy little boy. I had to take a picture as proof.

Today he had to stay with Nana and Papa because he woke up with a fever, and as much as I want to, I can't afford to take any unnecessary sick days because of my upcoming maternity leave. It was also Dustin's first week of school so he couldn't take off either. They did a great job taking care of him. I was so excited to go pick him up after school because I was sure that he would want his "Mommy" since he wasn't feeling well. Come to find out I rate a distant second to Papa. Miles kept pushing me out of the way to get back to Papa. What a bummer!

On a side note, a few days ago in the mail we got a free sample newborn diaper for the most recent addition. Miles and I couldn't believe how small it was! I've never had a baby that would fit into this tiny little diaper, so it is hard to imagine. :)

This video is from a few days ago when Miles and I were waiting for Dustin in the Lowes parking lot. The best part of this video is of course my song-bird voice that you all get to enjoy now. :) It is definitely NOT how cute Miles is when he giggles.