My favorite new website

My blogger friend Andrea introduced me to a website called www.picnik.com. You can upload pictures and alter them. It's free and fun to play with! Here is a few I did:

Favorite Photo Friday #4

Maybe one day they will actually start to like each other and become best buds!

Today Bryson turned 17 months

These photos are just for Christen since she told me how much she loved Bryson's shirts with sayings!

Happy Easter

Yesterday we went to Shane's grandmothers house for lunch. We had a great time and the food was good as usual. Bryson had such a good time, that he slept the whole way home (1 1/2 hour drive).

I was so excited for today to come since this was Bryson's "first Easter." I made him a little basket that was waiting on the table for him this morning when we came downstairs. He face immediately lit up when he saw his favorite snack next to his basket, Gerber Puffs. This afternoon we went to my Aunt's house as all my family does each year. Bryson got to meet many more people today and he did very well. About a week ago he started taking many steps by himself and today he was all over the place. He still a little wobbly and falls, but he is getting better! It was such a wonderful feeling to finally be a mommy on Easter. He hunted for eggs, but didn't exactly get the concept. He would pick up the eggs, study them and then put them in the basket, but then he wanted to take them back out.

Favorite Photo Friday #3

Patiently waiting to take his bath

First Haircut

My mom trimmed Bryson's hair a few days after we arrived home, but his hair grew out fast. Shane kept bugging me to take him to get his haircut again, so last night, that is what we did. I give the lady credit because Bryson wiggled all over.

Here is the before:

And here is the after (it's a little shorter than I would have preferred, but that is how Shane wanted it):

Yesterday, we met up with my good friend Tanya who also adopted a little boy from Russia. Oliver was adorable and the boys seemed to get along really well. When one laughed, the other laughed. When one cried, the other cried. I smell TROUBLE with those two together. We had fun though and naturally did lots of clothes shopping for the boys. As we sat there eating lunch, we both kept saying we couldn't believe we were finally sitting together with our boys!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Our first family photo in the US

(Please excuse the fact that the sun is blinding us)

Favorite Photo Friday #2

Bryson & the Easter Bunny

My sister, Bryson and I went to the mall yesterday. When we walked in, I saw the Easter bunny and decided I would see if Bryson would sit on his lap. He did without any hesitation and actually thought it was pretty funny. I was surprised and the picture came out cute.

One month "Gotcha Day"

On the Tuesday (the 4th), it was one month since the judge in Russia officially announced us a family of 3. Today, it has been one month since you were placed in our arms forever. It has been a whirlwind of a month and you have been such a trooper with all these doctors visits. You have attached so well to both of us and there is no doubt in my mind that you know who your daddy and mommy are. You still try to smack the dogs in the nose and they continue to just walk away from you. Naps are getting better and when we are home I can get you to take a nap for about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. You felt grass for the very first time and were unsure of it at first, but now you like it. You will sit there and just tear up pieces of grass with the occasional piece going into your mouth (you are such a boy!). You still can only take a few steps on your own and most times would prefer to just crawl. You are into everything and like to explore, but isn't that just like every toddler? Sometimes I will watch the things you do and think that we have a little dare devil on our hands. You observe the things others do and your mind is like a sponge because you will repeat what they did after only seeing it once. Every once in awhile when you are screaming and I cannot find a way to make you happy, I start searching for the receipt to see if I can return you. With joking aside, you are the most amazing and beautiful little boy we have ever known. I could never understand why we had to go through so much heartache for almost 4 years of trying to start a family. Now I know it's because you were met to be ours. We just had to realize we had to travel half way around the world to find you. I look at you at times and still can't believe you are ours. I can't begin to tell you how lucky we are to have you in our lives. To think that it only has been a month since you have been with us. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us as a family!

We got the test results back from the stool samples and he does have giardia, so we started the medicine to treat it yesterday. Hopefully he will be back to himself shortly. We didn't get the results back for lab work, but we will get that on Wednesday when we meet with the doctor again.

First professional pictures

We took Bryson to get his pictures taken two weekends ago. I was nervous how he would do because he doesn't sit still very well, but he was so good. The guy there was great with him and had him laughing or smiling the whole time. It was hard to choose our favorites in the end to order. Here are the best ones:

We are still here

My son does not like for me to get on the computer, so most times I have to wait till night time if I still have the energy by then. Our pediatrician's appointment went well last Thursday. He said the ear infection is gone. He had also got the blood work and stool sample back. He checked for everything and said he was so amazed that it all came back perfect. He also said they found no parasites, which I found strange because I was convinced he had one, but felt relieved. He then looked at his abdomen which was swollen and I told him that his diarrhea has only gotten worse since the last visit (I have about 7 diapers every other day) and he got concerned. He said we needed to see a GI specialist and got us an appointment that same day. She is almost convinced he has giardia. Apparently the pediatrician checked for parasites, just not that one in particular. She wanted to admit him into the hospital to have these tests ran, but gave me the option of doing them all as an outpatient. There is no way I could put him into the hospital this soon. So we had to do several more stool samples over the weekend. She also thinks there is a possibility that he is allergic to wheat or milk products. He is on several medications, a special formula and we can't give him any dairy products for now. He has been really fussy and extra needy for the past week or two and now I think it was because he hasn't been feeling well. Since Friday, he has been in a much better mood and he hasn't had any diarrhea. He also had to go for more bloodwork this morning. Thankfully my mother went with me this time and took him back there to have it done. I don't think I could have dealt with it again. Poor thing. This is the second time he has had to have bloodwork in 2 weeks. No matter what, I am not putting him through that again for awhile. I will keep everyone posted on what the doctors say.

Over the weekend, we took our first roadtrip with him. We went to stay with Shane's mom for the weekend so that the rest of his family could meet Bryson. He did pretty well on the 2 hour car ride, but was ready to get out near the end. He had a fun weekend, but I think he was ready to get back home and sleep in his own bed.