New York, New York (Day 1)

Brandon was asked to unveil the 2014 Highlander that he and his team have been working on for the last three years.  As our young family has been formed over the course of this project we thought it would be quite the milestone to all be present for the unveiling.   
We arrived in New York city on Tuesday afternoon and quickly began exploring.  We started our trip out by checking out Time Square and Central Park.  Central Park was by far one of everyone's favorite place!  I really don't know how people live in that city with small children.  Central Park is truly the only large place for them to run around with a bit of nature to enjoy as well.  The first afternoon was a success and very tiring (for all)!

Adi's FIRST haircut

I took Adi to get her first haircut here in town and she LOVED it!!!  We just trimmed it a little bit, but she is so excited for it to get longer.  It was so fun taking her for her first cut!!!

Abram's Dedication

This morning we were finally able to dedicate Abram and ourselves to raising him in a Christian home.  We had planned to do it last Christmas, but Abram was sick!  It means so much to us to publicly display how much we love this sweet boy and how truly important it is for him to be raised in a Christian home.  Brandon and I pledged today to depend on God's grace and wisdom when raising this little guy.  We know all to well that the Christian walk is something we can not do in our own strength.  We will daily trust in the Lord and come to Him for wisdom and encouragement while raising Abram to be a Godly man.

Brandon picked this verse for us to dedicate to Abram : 
1 Corinthians 16: 13-14
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love.

We love you so much little man and can't wait to see the awesome things the Lord has in store for you as you grow into a man! 

Abe gets tubes!

After a full year of constant ear infections we got referred to an ENT and he said Abram desperately needed tubes put in his ear.  He was at a 20% hearing lose and was pretty miserable most of the time.  The surgery lasted 8 minutes and he did not do well coming out of surgery.  They wanted us to stay for him to have a drink or some food before we left, but he wouldn't stop screaming (for like 15 minutes straight) so we left.  He calmed down after a few minutes of being in the car. Since I'm doing this post so late I can attest for the fact that this has been amazing.  He has had NO more ear infections and feels much much better!

Daddy and Aber waiting to go back!

Getting ready to go back.

Adison at 3 1/2

I wanted to jot a couple things down so I would remember what kind of things she was doing at this age:

- Has been more attached then she has ever been in her life.  This results in not loving school (she is going two days a week for three hours).
- Is still in love with make believe play.
- Loving the Disney princess'.
- Has really expressed more of her tender heart in the last few months.
- Is going through a drawing and coloring all the time phase.  She fills Bran's shop with her masterpieces!
- Has been asking to go back to Japan on a weekly basis.
- Her love for books makes me so happy.  She would sit and let me read books to her all day long if I could.
- Is doing great with her capital and lower case letters (recognizing and sounds).  She's really improving on writing them on her own as well.
- We've been talking a lot about shapes as well.  How many sides they have.  She picks up random things and asks me to count the sides with her and try and figure out what kind of shape it is.

Man alive we love this sweet little thing.  She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger and she just loves him to pieces.  I'm holding on tight to this little three and half year old!  Please - slow down just a little.  We love you Adi!

Abram at 18 months

WOW. I can't even believe that my baby boy is already 18 months. This little guy is such a blessing to our family. He has a sweet and almost shy demeanor, but in a comfortable setting he is pretty rowdy and all boy (which I love). When he is feeling good he is a great eater. He's been sick quite a bit and has had 9 ear infections since last March! As a matter of fact, he is having tubes put in on Thursday (for his 1.5 birthday). I am hoping I will find what many others say to be true. I hear so often that their kids are totally different after the tubes. At this point it couldn't be any worse for this sweet little thing. It will be amazing for everyone when he starts feeling better.

A couple things he loves at 18 months:

- Throwing anything and everything
- Growling like a dinosaur or lion
- He can throw back a good 3-4 eggs for breakfast when he is feeling well
- He LOVES cars, cars, and more cars
- When daddy takes him on horsey rides around the house
- His mommy :) Man alive that boy is a snuggler and I can't soak up enough of it
- Doing things just like his sissy
- Olivia Rich - I'm certain I could pay her to come watch him and he would just love on her the entire time.

We just love you to pieces Abram and can't wait to see how you grow in the next six months.