Peas, Please. . .

Nathan is always the most animated and hilarious at mealtimes. Lunch is probably his funniest time of day, but dinner is usually exciting too. Especially when peas are involved! Lately he loves peas, probably because he can pick them up himself. Did I say "pick them up"? I meant "pack them in"!! Plus, he has learned (his version) of the sign for "please". Put those two together and what do you get? A little film we like to call "Peas, Please!" Watch how fast he packs them in!

Sunday . . .

Today we got to go to the morning service at church all together! Mark & Nathan hung out in the preschool while I went to worship. Of course, we took some pictures before we left home.

Nathan, Mommy, & Bear

What a handsome boy!

A Fun Day

Grandmama came over this morning with cousin Micah. Here she is reading a book to her two favorite boys. Nathan gave her a new official title today--"Grandmamama". Yes, there is at least one extra "ma" in there. That's how he said her name several times today, and she loves it! Why be "Nana" or "Meemaw" when you can be "Grand-ma-ma-ma"!


For lunch, Grandmama and I loaded up the boys to go see Great-granddaddy and Great-grandma Jan. Nathan continues to warm up to all his family members, as you can see here. He really enjoys his family (and getting his picture taken). He has started giving love to us all in the form of hugs around the leg. He wraps his arms around the recipient of the hug, leans his cheek into their leg, and says, "aaaw". So that is our offical word for hugs now: "aaaw". He is such a sweet little boy. He sleeps with a little stuffed bear, whose name is "Bear", and we often find him hugging Bear and saying "aaaw", especially in the mornings, after nap, or in the car.
Look how much fun all these boys (all three of them) are having. (Also notice the hat on the end-table. It would be great for Mark. It says "No Hair Day".)

We have established a new tradition (OK, just for two weeks so far) of going out to eat every Friday night with the whole family--Micah, Uncle Nathan, the Brown Grandparents, and this week the Great Grandparents too. Really, it's not a new tradition, because Kathy and I always did that with Granddaddy and Grandma Herrod when we were young. I have a lot of fond memories of eating and being silly at Arby's or sometimes Quincy's.

All in all, the weekends are great! Mark lets me sleep in, and he really enjoys spending all day with us. We're hoping to go to church this Sunday AM. It will be the first time Nathan has gone in the morning. If you see us there, hold out your hand so Nathan can give you five!

Eli Day: One year ago today…

One year ago today, on September 16, 2007, our first adopted son, John Elias Carlton—“Eli”—who was almost five months old and still living in Guatemala, passed away during his afternoon nap. The following afternoon we received an unexpected call from our social worker to come to her office, and she told us the heartbreaking news. Officially, he was not yet our son, and we had never met him in person. But in our hearts he was already ours. Losing the expectation of holding him in our arms caused us to ache in deeper way than we had known before. Whether it showed or not, it was difficult for us to function for a while. But our family, friends, and church wrapped their arms around us. We have many memories that we cherish of the brief time that we knew Eli, and of those who grieved with us at that time.

A day like this is a good time to share such memories, but for now a picture will have to do, because there is a more pressing issue to deal with.

Too soon after Eli's passing we had to face an even greater challenge when our sister Kathy died on the same day that our nephew Micah was born. Death--the great enemy of all mankind--had confronted us once again, and we are definitely still grieving.

So on this day we need to be reminded of what the Savior of all mankind has done in response to this great enemy--He has overcome. Death was conquered on the Cross, and as a result we have real hope, for eternity and for today. Listen to 1 Corinthians 15:55-58.

55"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Notice, not only is there "bright hope for tomorrow" but also "strength for today". Death has been defeated, and our response to days like today should be to remember 1) there is hope (v. 55-57), and 2) there is work to do (v. 58)!

Thank you, God, for carrying Eli safely to your side last year. Help us today to be steadfast in trusting and serving you.

Week in Pictures

The cousins love each other ...

...and have fun together

Great-granddaddy with a very happy Micah

Nathan shares a book with Micah

Great-granddaddy and his great-grandsons

Great-grandma Jan knows how to swing!

Nick, one of our college care-family guys, came to visit. He AND his boots were a big hit with Nathan. What little boy doesn't aspire to be a cowboy?

We celebrated Grandparents Day (Sept 7) a few days early. The gift? Pictures of the boys, of course, which is why everyone is smiling so big.

Uncle Nathan and Cousin Micah, just chillin' and droolin'.

(We won't say who's responsible for what)

Our sons alter-ego, superhero identity?

Captain Adorable! (Lightning bolt and utility belt included)

And the other item essential for all superheroes ... wheels!

This must be the Captain-Adorable-Mobile.

Notice the expression on Nathan's face...

Here is another sample of the same face. This is his new I'm-posing-for-this-picture face. Everytime the camera comes out, he starts posing with his eyes half-closed. Maybe you should just stick with the natural look for this publicity photo, Captain A.

Yeah, that's much better.

It's great how the most common items can be the most fun to play with. Nathan found some of Daddy's socks and was fascinated, maybe because they look just like his socks but bigger. Anyway, we decided to play with them, first putting them on his legs, then his arms. When he grows up, he'll probably tell people we refused to buy him any real toys. Not a bad idea, actually.