The Journey of a Lifetime

Ryan and I have decided to pursue our forth adoption and add another beautiful baby to our family. We couldn't be happier and are thrilled! Join us in our journey in adopting baby Schlenner!

Friday, July 31, 2009

Growing up!



Gabriella and Ahnya had shots on Tuesday! Gabriella had to get her kindergarten shots...5 shots in the thighs and a finger prick to top it off!!!!! Thank goodness Ryan was there to stand by the other girls because it took all I had to HOLD HER DOWN during the shots! Oh, she mad and crying. I had to physically lay down on Ms. Gabriella and hold her so the nurse could give her the vaccinations. Almost momentarily when the shots were done and the nurse say "ok Gabriella, that's it you're done," she snapped back into the sweet child we all know and love and said "thank you nurse, it was a piece of cake!"
I couldn't be in the room when Ahnya had her shots, so Ryan held her and she just had 3 in her chubby little thighs. 3 too many!
Dr. Mishra is our pediatrician and we love him. He picked her up and said "Oh, this is your biggest baby yet!" Another favorite comment that he said was "You don't have worry anymore about her being malnourished because she's definately full!" Ahnya has gained 6 pounds in the last 9 weeks of being home! She's came home not being able to sit up by herself and had RSV and lung infections to now being a plump, happy, 19 pound baby who loves people, life and her bottle!


Sunday, July 26, 2009

Ahnya's Baptismal Day: A Family Affair

My Best Friends in the World!
Fancy Pants

Nana & Bumpa Johnson

Pictures in the back yard

Our Family

Momma and Ahnya

The Godparents

The Schlenner Family

We celebrated Ahnya's Baptism on the most beautiful day of the summer! The weather was perfect, our family and Godparents were beautiful, and Ms. Ahnya was the bell of ball!! Following baptism we had a garden party in our backyard and it was perfect! Everyone had a great time and thanks for Grandma Ro and Auntie Holly for working in the kitchen and serving the meal! It really was the best day of the summer and having our family and friends there was the icing on the cake!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and Ahnya wore her African dress that I bought for her. She looked so cute with her dress and scarf in her hair. Gabriella and Jocelyn were great big sisters for the event and loved playing with their best friends here, too! Thanks everyone for making Ahnya's baptismal day so special and blessed! We love you all so much!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Nighty-night

I have always loved watching my babies sleep. So completely and utterly peaceful with no worries or cares in the world.

Ahnya loves her thumb and all soft blankies. Doesn't this make you want to cuddle up with her?



Tuesday, July 21, 2009

My Three Sweeties





The girls and I have been enjoying our days together and definately feel like Ahnya has always been here. Gabriella and Jocelyn are so good and loving to their baby sister! They include her in their play, tea parties, and dress up as well! Ahnya is entertained and very stimulated by all the activity.
Some more milestones that Ms. Ahnya has achieved is now starting to eat "people" food, which totally freaks out her momma! Also, holding her bottle, drinking out of sippy cups, waving at everyone and anything she sees (literally waving at toys, the tv, her room, too!), really really crawling everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyday I'm overwhelmed by how blessed I am by having this beautiful family and the gift of adoption.


Monday, July 20, 2009

Beautiful Summer Days

Each of the girls picked out a tree to plant in the back yard last week! Jocelyn picked a snowball crab tree!
And, not surprisingly Gabriella picked the same tree as her sister! The trees will grow to be beautiful and will bloom and remind us spring is coming each year!Ahnya is growing and changing DAILY! She loves her bath! Loves to stick her little face in the bubbles too! She's quiet a charmer and always trying to do things to make us laugh!



So many things have happened in the last two weeks since I posted. Ahnya is crawling pretty good. Mostly scooting now-but is up on all fours from time to time and then decides scooting is easier and faster! She can pull herself up on furniture now and walk by holding! This makes momma nervous but she wants to GO!!! I swear she put on 5 pounds last week...because she was hungry ALL the time! Now when she lays on her back and tries to sit up-she can't! Poor baby is stuffed and very happy! Ahnya also decided she likes people food! So last week she had wild rice soup and some grilled cheese sandwich from her sisters plate! The blow-outs in the diaper have been bad as she's teething terribly...but still in pretty good spirits!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Saying Good Bye


Our family is very saddened by our decision to sell our lake home. It's too hard right now taking care of two homes with 2 little girls and a new baby. Ahnya's eating and sleeping habits are all mixed up with the transitions of going back and forth. I can't keep up going back and forth and keeping everything organized. Life is just too busy right now. So we're sad and saying good bye to lake Minnewaska. Maybe next year will be easier and we'll look for another place that suits our families needs. We love the lake and hope to be able to find another property down the road. Here's a couple pics of our last night at the lake on Monday, July 6th. Good bye lake!

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







My three babes!

Tyus got a little Bass and nice hat uncle Kevin!

Jocelyn in Tyus relaxing

Here's some pics of our fun and HOT 4th weekend together with family. We were at mom and dad's cabin on Pelican much of the time. Also spent time on Minnewaska seeing Grandma Peg and Grandpa Bob!

Faces of Ahnya












Look at those cheeks!!! She's a dolly and she's loving summer!!!