Lots O Changes

The past few months have been...well...crazy!  It seems like things have been go go go, nonstop since Griffin came home.  In July we started working on buying a new home.  We closed on the house in the middle of August but because the house was unfinished we couldn't move in.  We had already rented our house out and had to be out of it before September 1st so we ended up moving most of our stuff to the garage of the new house and moving us in with my brother.  We lived with my brother for three weeks and then were super excited to finally get to move into our new home!  We're happy to be here, the neighborhood is beautiful, and of course we made the move for our kids.  We have a big yard, the neighborhood has three ponds (when we're not in the middle of a drought), and we're sort of out in the country where it's nice and peaceful.  We're blessed.


Kinley started school at the end of August.  The first few weeks were rough.  She would scream and turn reaching for me saying, "No mama! No!"  Worst.  Feeling.  Ever.  But after a couple of weeks she was running in to her classroom hugging her teachers.  Thrilled to be there!  And I have to say, putting Kinley is school was the best thing we ever did for her.  Her vocabulary has really expanded and she's just loving it.  She turned three this month and she's acting bigger every day.  That girl is special.


Griffin.  Oh my goodness that boy has my heart!  Since we moved to our new home he has really settled in.  He has always been a very happy kiddo but his personality is shining more and more every day.  He is so darn happy!  And his laugh is the greatest ever!  People will want to be his friend just to hear him laugh.  And that little toot is a mess!  He has a fierce temper and can throw a fit like the world has never seen.  Stubborn and SMART!  He's doing so much, too.  He loves to dance (always has), but now he's starting to sing too.  And instead of just single word jibberish, now he's speaking jibberish sentences.  He'll say anything I ask him to.  As I said, very smart.  My new favorite word of his is, "Amen!"  Seriously, it doesn't get any better than that!  Baby boy is 17 months old and has been getting his one year molars the past few weeks.  They've bothered him a bit but overall he's done really well. 


The biggest Griffin news is two part.  First, we've finished our post placement visits with our social worker so we'll be finalizing soon.  We don't have a court date yet, but we're hoping for sometime in November.  Griffin will be home with us 6 months on November 6.  I think that would be a great date!  Second, and my favorite, Griff has really started to become a momma's boy.  His foster mom told us he preferred men and that's been true since the day we got him.  He has clung to Blake and sometimes acts terrified to me.  When Blake leaves for work Griffin would run screaming away from me and towards Blake.  Totally broke my heart.  But not anymore.  He is actually preferring me over Blake for most things now.  Momma, you feed me.  Momma, you hold me.  Momma, you rock me to sleep tonight.  I LOVE IT!  And I love my boy.


We're loving fall and the cooler temperatures.  We've been playing outside a lot and we've even been to the pumpkin patch and the zoo recently.  Fun times.  And we're super excited for the holiday season!  Can't wait to share pictures of Griffin in his first Halloween costume!