Fall 2010

It's been so quiet here on the blog. I promise you, it's NOT quiet here in our home. And that's not a bad thing. We've been busy just being a family and enjoying the rhythm that the schoolyear provides us after a summer FULL of lower level rennovation and road tripping. A rhythm that doesn't resemble anything akin music at all because it's so chaotic, but at least there are a few routine events that happen each week that provide some consistency for us. (Liam is in 2nd grade, Elli attends Kindergarten all day Mon, Wed, and Fri mornings, Addi preschool Mon, Wed & Fri 12:30-2:55. MOPS every other Thursday morning, ballet & soccer Thursday nights & Saturday mornings, church on Sun... Yeah, it's a logistical nightmare. Good thing I have 1/2 a Master's in Management...it helps me keep us all in the right place at the right time...most of the time!)

We thoroughly enjoyed ArtPrize downtown in Grand Rapids (here's Taye with a pretty awesome "simba"). Who would have ever thought this little boy would enjoy the luxury of viewing art while being wheeled about in a stroller wearing an Elmo jacket?

When I think about how healthy Taye is, get a "no cavities" and "my he has beautiful, white teeth" from the dentist, or happen upon an old picture of him hollow and emaciated it often brings me to tears to think that it's a miracle that he's here and that he's ours. Forever.

It has been WON-DER-FUL passing the one year mark and starting to re-do activities. Like, "remember when we picked blueberries last year?" Or "last year on your birthday we...". You have no idea how having missed out on almost the first two years of Taye's life finally having some "history" is such a healthy and exuberant feeling for us. It's still heartwrenching to look at our famliy photo albums and have Taye ask "where baby Taye? Where my baby pictures?" Oh, little boy, please know that we loved you before we even knew you!

Taye's behavior has improved leaps and bounds. I think communication, trust, consistency, and bonding has had a very big part to play in this. Just when we're beginning to think we're "getting somewhere" with him, it seems like he goes into a "funk" and reverts for a while. But the "funks" seem to be fewer and far betweenerer, and last a little less long. It really is amazing how when we give an inch he tries to take a million miles, and by the same token how far a little love peppered with patience will go.

All four of our kids are amazing. Our family, that God intentionally put together, is truly a wonderful work. A work in progress, to be sure.