Thursday, July 29, 2010

Thankful Thursday


I feel very blessed that my family had the opportunity to visit the beach this year!  (Something that I didn't think was going to happen between the oil spill crisis and juggling everyone's work and school schedules.) However, my Mom was able to find a condo that was available during the very few days my whole family was available, that also accommodated our sweet poochie family members, as well.  Although the owner of the condo might have fabricated and indulged a bit on a few of the "amenities," we had SO much fun joking about it and riding the one amenity that was both actually REAL and COOL... the golf cart!  Although it was a short trip, it definitely was a very fun trip, and I'm very thankful to have had that time with my family to make such wonderful memories!



















































































Monday, July 26, 2010

Goldilocks

 Ever since I was young, I would always hear Moms talk about their baby's hair as if it were precious gold.  "I just can't bring myself to cut it!," I would hear them say.  And every time I heard something similar to that I would think, "Oh geez woman!  It's just hair... get a grip!"  And now that I am a Mommy... I am totally eating my words/thoughts!!

Perry's hair is a beautiful, soft gold.  It has grown so long, and I just love running my fingers through it.  However, it was also getting in his eyes and annoying him.  My Mom and Grandmomma both kept making comments about how a haircut was just around the corner... but I was determined he was going to be a long-haired rocker baby, because after all, there was no way I was putting a pair of scissors anywhere near that precious gold!!

But sadly, I realized that it truly was bothering him.  We were constantly running our fingers through his hair to sweep it out of his eyes, and my Grandmomma would go as far as to hair spray it in place, making him look just like a little boy from the '50s.  So very spontaneously (because if I thought about it long, I would talk myself out of it) on Saturday, July 17, I called my friend Emily at the Jevia Spa in Trussville, to ask her if she could squeeze him in before our beach trip that week.  Much to my disgruntle (I was almost hoping I could get out of doing it due to a lack of availability in her schedule), she had an opening at 1:15.

So, at 1:15, I broke out my camera and gave one of the beauticians an impromptu photography lesson.  As soon as Emily put the cute little cape on Perry, he thought it was so cool.  He kept flapping his arms like a little birdy.  Then, the cutting began.  At first he was curious, then he decided he hated getting beautified!!  So our personal photographer had to put down the camera and swap her hat to Perry's personal entertainer.  She kept him occupied with the hairdryer at the next station, and although he giggled and grinned the rest of his makeover, we didn't get any pictures of his newfound happiness.

Wild Rocker Dude



Not such a Happy Camper



A Fresh New Look

All in all, the haircut was a great success.  Emily did a great job at getting a little length (though not too much) off in order to keep his hair out of his eyes, not making his new 'do into a bowl cut (which I was horribly scared of), and cutting me a precious lock of my baby's hair (which is carefully saved in a memory keeper in Perry's room and makes me slightly teary-eyed and gives me that funny feeling in my tummy when I look at it).  I certainly understand where those crazy Mom's were coming from now.  It is a very small reminder that our precious babies will not be babies for long...

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Yakkity-Yak!



The funniest thing has happened lately, and I just LOVE it.  Perry and I have started to have our first few “conversations.”  It is truly the neatest thing for me.  Though I am really sad that my “baby” is getting to be such a big boy, it is so much fun seeing him learn and discover new things. 

It first started last week, when I was looking all over the house for Perry’s passi.  We are really bad about leaving them at his Grandmommy and Grammie’s houses, and I only had one at our house this particular night.  It was about 9:30- past bedtime- and I was getting pretty frustrated.  Finally, I looked at Perry and said, “Baby bug…Where is your passi??”  And he grinned from ear to ear, then ran over to a speaker we have in our entertainment center.  (This speaker, for whatever reason, has a hole large enough for Perry’s little hand to fit in and runs all the way to the back of the speaker.)  He reached his hand in, and I thought he was just playing around.  But then he plopped out his passi, held it high in the air, all while smiling like crazy.  Then he giggled and popped it right into his mouth. 

Perry reaching into the speaker to get his hidden passi!


Now, I know that this might sound crazy, but I was beyond excited.  I felt like we had truly just experience our first “conversation.”  Although on Perry’s end, there wasn’t much talking, there definitely was communication.  He completely understood what I was asking him, AND he helped me out because he knew where his passi was!! CRAZY!!

A few other funny things that he communicates: 

·      When he wants to go outside, he will run up to you, get your attention, then run to a door or window, bang on it, then say, “ou – I!!!”  (“outside”, with a big emphasis on “side”.)

Perry playing in his favorite toy- 
his pickup truck, while it is "raining"...
a.k.a. Mom soaking my child with the hose pipe! ;)


·      When you ask for “lovins,” he will either run straight into you and burry his head in your chest while grinning like crazy, or he will slowly come up to you with his mouth wide open and give you “kisses.”  Or as I say, “French ke’ssez from Italian Per-E”

Giving Hippo Lovin'




·      He can now officially ask for a bottle- I’m completely ignoring the ole sayin’ that if they can ask for it, you take it away…..He’s pretty good at simple sign language, so now he will sign “eat” while saying “baba” (bottle).

·      When eating something yummy, he will sign “more.”  A funny on that note… when he wants to ride the lawnmower with his Grammie or Grampie, he will also sign “more.”  I guess if I’m going to teach him sign language, I need to work more on that southern drawl of mine! ;)

·      Whenever we turn on the TV, he will yell “Ine-Tine!!” (Einstein- Baby Einstein)

·      He can also call my Grandmommy and Grandaddy’s dog, who funny enough, has the name Einstein.  

·      Whenever he gets told “no-no,” he will look at you, then shake his head “no” feverishly.  If he knows he’s not supposed to do something, a lot of times he will start to do it, then look at you and violently shake his head “NO!” then run away from it… SO funny!! 

Monday, July 12, 2010

Sweet Summertime

What a Wonderful Weekend!

Justin, Perry, and I have been busy, busy bees lately.  We’ve had so much going on, fun nonetheless.  This weekend, we had the exciting opportunity to help two different water babies friends celebrate their first birthdays.  The first party, on Saturday, was for our friend John Clarke, while the second on Sunday was for our friend Spencer.  Thankfully, both parties involved fun water activities and delicious food!! 

My favorite toy at the party



Staying cool at the party



Who's on Lifeguard duty?

Playing the water piano with Daddy



Splish Splash!



Giving Mommy's lovin' to Miss Sophia



My new girlfriend


Amazingly this weekend, we also managed to squeeze in some lake time with the family, as well.  Perry was able to participate in one of our his Daddy’s favorite hobbies, tubing (with his very brave Daddy, of course!), while Mommy tanned and took pictures safely from the boat.  Though I love to ski, and am quite the daredevil when it comes to my skiing tricks, I am terrified of tubing when my maniac father is driving the boat. 

Getting ready for a dip at Inland



Me and Aunt Lissy looking for gators... 
and yes, 
there are gators at Inland



My first tube ride with Daddy



Cool Dude (the sunglasses lasted about ten seconds)



Grampie helping me drive the boat



Inland Lake = FUN!!



Needless to say, it was a very, very quiet house Sunday evening, as of all the Murphree family was dreaming away….

Out like a light

Thursday, July 8, 2010

America the Beautiful

Oh Beautiful for spacious skies,



For amber waves of grain,



For purple mountain majesties,



Above the fruited plain!



America!  America!



God shed his grace on thee!



And crown thy good with brotherhood,


From sea to shining sea!

Our Adoption Timeline

  • June 19, 2011- We are officially "Paper Pregnant!" We have submitted our Waiting Child Application to Holt!
  • July 5, 2011- Submitted our formal Home Study Application to Villa Hope
  • September 6, 2011- Submitted all of our paperwork for our Home Study
  • October 8, 2011- Completed our First Home Visit
  • October 17, 2011- Completed our Second Home Visit
  • November 14, 2011- Home Study Approved
  • December 1, 2011- Filed our I600a
  • February 1, 2012- I600a Approval Letter
 
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