Out Doin' Stuff

 Things have been busy since Thanksgiving.  Mommy and I had a good time staying at Grandma and Grandpa Stewart's while Daddy was in Missoula.  We also saw some good family friends and visited with my Birthmom and her family.  I guess I'm growing, at least that is what everyone exclaims when they see me.  My favorite new hobby is looking at stuff.  There is nothing more intriguing than a good colored wall or a light fixture!  Here are some pics of the adventures of the last few weeks:

Mommy changing my diaper.  She's getting pretty good, but I've given her a lot of practice

Everything is "A" ok here, just chillin' with my Aunt Kelli

Ever get the feeling that you're being put up on a pedestal and laughed at?  Me too, and in a fuzzy, pastel blue puppy suit nonetheless

Despite how cute this is, pictures just don't do justice

Here I am surrounded by the love of Aunt Kelli, Grandma Angie, and my Birthmom Tawnie

Great Grandma Pam came to see me too. I'm giving her my impression of a sleeping man touching his face, I'm pretty good at that one.

So there I was, sleeping and content in Daddy's arms and all of a sudden I'm looking up at this jolly, red and white, hairy man.  I got hungry (as waking up often does to me) and gave my parents our secret signal for food (progressively increased cries).  By the time the bottle was in my mouth, the funny old man was gone, and I haven't seen him since.  I'm not quite sure what that was all about - be careful, it's a weird world out there

Yes, I am starting to smile, and mom and dad go NUTS when I do! I'm keeping my smiles infrequent and somewhat random, I don't want to wear them out

Here I am with my Birthmom.  Laying on the chest like this is one of my favorite positions.  Here is an Isaiahism that I let slip a few weeks ago: rock me in this position for a while and I will most likely drift off to sleep

One of my favorite places to sleep is in the bassinet that Great Grandpa Reiswig made.  I've had many hours of blissful unconsciousness here.  Just look at that, I am so relaxed!  Everyone should have their own bassinet.

Unlike the last picture, I am quite awake here.  Not sure what I was thinking, it was probably just gas.  Gas is the pits,  and how embarrassing to be caught in the act.  Anyways, I am wearing several gifts here.  The John Deer shoes are from one of Daddy's friends from work, the pants are from good friends from my parent's college days, and the coat was made in Nepal, given to me by other good friends from college who are missionaries in Nepal.

We visited Aunt Alex who held me, fed me, and volunteered her babysitting services for the future.  I hope she knows that includes diaper changes!

In Grandma Angie's arms.  We're having a competition to see who can open their mouth the biggest.  I think I could've won, but I was too tired to continue

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving was great this year, though we really missed Daddy who was in Great Falls, Montana. I got to hang out with Mom, Grandpa and Grandma Stewart, Great Grandpa Michelsen, four cats and five dogs.  The grown ups had an amazing turkey dinner but they wouldn't even share gravy with me.  I just got plain old formula.  Where is the justice in this world?

Looking cute during tummy time.

Napping with Great Grandpa.  He keeps me warm and comfy.

After having my dinner, I slept while everyone else chowed down on turkey, stuffing, brussell sprouts, cranberry sauce, potatoes, yams, veggies (ick) and gravy (yum).  My current cradle of choice is an antique baby buggy that Grandma Stewart had hanging around the house.

The Adoption Finalized on 11-22-10!!!!

We couldn't be more excited about the fact that Isaiah is legally our son.  Here are some pictures of the big day.  After coming home we celebrated with some amazing Viognier from Storybook Mountain Winery and a box of See's chocolates.  Isaiah celebrated by sleeping some more.

Isaiah and Paul checking out the mirror outside of our lawyers office.

Signing our lives away...or at least Isaiah's.

More signing.  Isaiah wants to know if it will ever end so that he can go home and take a nap.

So cute and excited about what the future holds.

This is a painting of the courthouse (inside the courthouse, imagine that) where the hearing took place.  

Mommy and Isaiah standing outside courtroom #405, where our adoption hearing was held.

Paul, Lindsey, Isaiah, and Judge Henry Clark after the judge signed our petition for adoption.

Mommy, Isaiah and Mark, our lawyer, after the hearing was over.  Mommy was crying tears of joy.

First Seattle Visit

Isaiah's first trip to Seattle was fun and exciting!  Isaiah spent a wonderful week with Grandma and Grandpa Reiswig and great Grandma Reiswig.  We saw lots of friends and family and visited Goodwill a couple of times.  

The week started off with a visit to a wedding dress shop where Aunt Lacey tried on some fabulous dresses (sorry no pictures just in case Lacey picks one of those dresses).  I got to visit with Auntie Sarah and meet Stephen.  I went to tea with all of the ladies in the family.  Dad almost let me try an espresso shake at B&O and I finished off the week at a fabulous baby shower where everyone adored me.  

Auntie Sarah and Stephen think I'm pretty cute.

High tea with the ladies.  Everyone had tea, lifted their pinkies and daintily ate a mountain of scrumptious tea time treats.  Mommy loved the pear tea and the pumpkin cream cheese tart.

Aunt Scooter holds me at her new condo.  It's very cute and cozy.  
See that cute airplane hat I'm wearing?  Aunt Scooter got it for me.

Aunt Chelsea holds me between breathless matches of wii boxing.  Whew!

Aunt Lacey cuddles with me while she takes a break from wii bowling.  Mommy beat everybody (which she was excited about since she's horrible at bowling).

The Shower

I arrived at the shower with an empty tummy.  Aunt Sarah helps mommy get the bottle  ready.

Some of the people who came to my shower: Cheryl, Grandma Stewart, Grandma Reiswig, Karen, and Angela.

Grandma Stewart and Denise are talking about me.  Don't be fooled by my closed eyes.  I heard every word.

Grandma Reiswig is making sure my arms still work.

Denise is helping me sleep while everyone cleans up my presents.  I got lots of great stuff!!!  Thanks everyone!

Aunt Chelsea and mommy with their piles of salvaged tissue paper.  Fun family traditions.

Fun Stuff from the Last Couple of Weeks

Salem is watching me in my new swinging chair. It's great fun, but mommy and daddy can't fool me-there is no substitute for human powered rocking.

Grandma came over to help take care of me while daddy was in Missoula

Ok, so this is really weird. I've been looking at this shiny thing for weeks and all of a sudden - BAM! There's someone in there!

My favorite thing next to eating and sleeping: being held.

Here I am on daddy's lap.  Salem seems to be enthralled by something - not sure what?  You know, there are so many furry creatures in this house - I would give you a ball park figure if only I could count!  Daddy says I can't count the spiders.

This mobile is quite the attention grabber - it had me for at least 2 minutes!

Great Grandma Reiswig came and saw me again. Boy do Great Grandmas sure know what they are doing!

They caught this picture of me when I was least expecting it and insisted on putting it up on the blog, so, here it is.

Daddy taking a daytime snooze with me. 

Hey, I've been baptized, so why not start praying too?
(and no Mommy and Daddy did not pose this just in case you are wondering)

Look at that form! I'm pretty good at this prayer stuff!

We went and visited my great aunt and uncle in Moses Lake. If you look close you will see that I got my great uncle Bob to make some faces for me!

Great aunt Jolyne feeding me. Dinner smelled so good, but then I got the same old stuff.

We went and visited my birthmom in Post Falls. We had a wonderful time - she loves me so much!

Mommy showing me a very colorful book. Mommy loves reading to me, we're starting to go through books like I go through clothes!

Mommy made all these cakes for the wedding of a friend.
The house smelled amazing but AGAIN, I just got the same old stuff - not fair!

Look at this hairdo! And this is with no gel, man do I have a bright future!

Me with Lindsey's good friend Yvonne. We had a wonderful time together at coffee (i.e. I got to sleep a lot).

Whoa!  Here I am - "Wild Thing" - in training.  Jonathan from Auntie's made this hat for me.