Sailing and breaking records

Today Levi had his first experience on a sailboat! He also broke a record for the youngest sailor on the PHlert Fleet. (previous record was 2 months)
He seemed to really enjoy the sail, as he seems to like all outdoor events.
We also heard from our Kentucky lawyer that all is well. The judge is thrilled with our home study and Levi's progress. We are getting closer to the closure of the case!
All around a good day!

Happy St Patrick's March Madness

We started the day off in green and ended it in blue. Levi tried to cheer on the Cats, but found himself just a bit too sleepy to stay up late for the game.

Today's adventures

Today Levi showed Cean how he can hold his head up...and stand with help. And then sleep.

Bye bye Mimi and Papa. Hello Aunt Cean!

Mimi and Papa D hit the road to go home today. They expect to be traveling for a couple days, so we pray for safe travels for them. We so appreciate the help they provided for us. We really enjoyed Mimi's visit.

With one change comes another. Today was Levi's first day at his new day job. He is to entertain Aunt Cean every day while his Momma and Daddy go to work. He hung out with Cean and her kiddos all day. He did very well and is already making new friends. Cean's two year old Nico is trying to imitate Levi in this pic. Those boys are so cute!

We are also very grateful for Cean. I felt very confident when I dropped off Levi this morning. She is, after all, the "baby whisperer." I am sure of it. She certainly has the touch!

One note about Levi's personality. He really loves MUSIC! Every time any kind of music is on, his eyes light up and his ears perk. He loves to hear the winding of a music box, and seems to anxiously wait to see what song it will play. I wish I could sing better because he does love to be sung to! I can't wait until he can talk and sing for us!

"I want to be like Daddy!"

We called him "Mini Rob" all day in this outfit. (thank you for the outfit Amy C!)
Today Levi went to church, then had a dinner party to attend with all of the neighbors hosted by Ed and Lynn.
Ed weighed him. He weighs about 11 3/4 lbs already. Our little boy is growing like a weed!
Papa D drove in last night and had really enjoyed his Levi time so far
Slumber party with Papa D tonight!

Lap sharing

Levi is already learning to share. Tonight he learned to share Daddy's lap with Vinny.

Meet Dr Farmer

We went to Levi's new doctor yesterday. The office was wonderful. The people are so nice. No problems about his name at all.

They asked me to fill out an immunization form so they can provide his records to his school when he attends. I put his name-to-be on the paperwork. When I handed it in, I said, by the time he goes to school, this will be his name. She said, "good idea. Thanks! I will hold on to it and submit it in a couple of months when you get it sorted." What a relief. I was hoping not to have another episode like last week.

We waited in a separate well baby waiting room so Levi wouldn't be in the same room with the sick kids.

Then we were called by the nurse in about 5-10 minutes. While in the room, I told her his little story. She started to cry! She needed a second to regroup so she could finish her job. So sweet.

We weighed him-he is a whopping 9lbs 9.5 oz! He has gained a whole 3 pounds in a month!! He is 21 inches long. He is healthy and of course was very good at the doc. He fussed when cold and settled as soon as I put his favorite blanket back over him. Dr Farmer was wonderful. She said he was very healthy and said to keep doing what we are doing.

We will go back in a month for his 2 month check up.

Here comes the Sun!

Yesterday we discovered the funniest thing. Levi loves the sun!! He and I went outside to see what Rob is doing. I was trying to keep him out of the sun on account of his sensitive skin. However, he got a glimpse of the sun and pushed away from me in order to put his face in the sun. When I realized what he was doing I gave him a chance to get more - and to see if he was doing what I thought he was doing. He would most certainly lay back and shut his eyes to soak up the sun.
Later, when he was upset and couldn't calm down, I just walked outside and he immediately calmed. As if I turned a switch. Now that I know the trick, I'm so glad we live where there is nice weather.
And it is great that our boy loves the outdoors! He fits right in!
On a side note, the nursery is painted. Next, we get furniture.
We sorted through clothes last night. Gone are the days of the incredibly tiny newborn sized onesies. Aww. His first "graduation". Graduating to size 0-3 months.

Painting almost finished

Today was a calm day.  We painted the nursery some more.  We will wait until tomorrow for the lighter color to dry so we can finish the last wall. 

The dogs were very willing to help today - or maybe they were just willing to lounge around and watch us work. 

Sorry I couldn't get this pic to turn upright.  Oh, well.  You get the idea. They just wanted to be in the same room with me wherever I went - ALL DAY.  They were very sweet. 

Levi had a nice quiet day with lots of napping...and eating...and pooping.  I think he's practicing for the Olympics.  He will certainly be very competitive. 

The evening was topped off with a viewing Levi's Momma's favorite movie of all time:  "When Harry Met Sally".  We had some pizza, popcorn, and cuddled on the couch.  Nice family time. 






Photos, Painting, Visits, Oh my!

What a busy busy day! 

First we woke up and played on the gym (see previous post with photos). 

Then, the photographer, Brandi, came over.  We had lots of fun putting together some shots.  Here's a sneak preview of what we did:

Brandi took several shots, so I can't wait to see what else she has in store!

That was pretty much exhausting for Levi.  Posing is HARD WORK!  So, he rested while we moved on with the rest of the day.  Mimi had a lunch date with the neighbor - so while she was gone, I prepped the nursery to get ready to paint. Here is the "before" shot:

Just a nice tan color.  Nothing exciting.   You'll have to wait to see the finished paint job til tomorrow.  It needs a second coat, for sure. 

Here's a sneak peak of the paint...because quite a bit of it spilled on my leg.  It was EVERYWHERE!  I was actually rolling it off of my leg and onto the wall in this shot:

Anyway, it was fun.  I do love to paint.  Even if I am covered in it.  I was able to finish the first coat on the room with Connie (aka Mimi)...and we'll have to finish the second coat tomorrow.  Hopefully that will be all for the paint, then we can move on to organizing.  I'm sure you all know how a disorganized situation can be stressful - especially to me!  So, I'm looking forward to getting this done. 

Later, Cean came by to get her "Levi Fix".  She rocked him and walked with him and loved on him and changed him.  I'm so glad she is the one that will be loving on him on a daily basis while we are at work.  She is so good with babies...I think she may actually be "The Baby Whisperer". We are blessed to have her in our lives. 

Same toy, different day

Thanks for the toy, Mimi D!

Busy day!!

Today I tried to take the day off of work.  I tried, anyway.  I ended up going into the office for a bit, but at least Levi got to visit with some of my colleagues...so they were pretty thrilled.  Afterward, we went to the FAA office to drop off some paperwork.

Then we went to Babies R Us to pick up a few essentials.  While we were there, I struck up conversation with another mother who had a one-month old baby.  We exchanged our experiences of diapers, etc....and when I left the area, I said, "Congratulations!"  and she said the same to me.  The funny thing is, my first thought was, "I didn't go throught NEARLY as much as she did to become a mom".....then, later I came to my senses, and thought, "Likewise - she hasn't gone throught NEARLY as much as I did  - in a COMPLETELY different manner!"  So, today I finally started giving myself credit for the situation. 

Speaking of "the situation", I can't begin to tell you the experience I had with a large medical center here in order to make an appointment for Levi's checkups with a pediatrician.  I had hoped to use a doc that a friend referred.  However, when I called them, they told me that they couldn't make an appointment for him, since he didn't have a legal name yet.  They said - and I quote - "Call us back when you have his name and we'll make an appointment for you."  I am certain they didn't realize what they were saying!  I said, "Well, since he was considered abandoned at the hospital, the hospital named him 'Baby Boy.'  We have a name for him, but we can't change his name until the adoption is final - which could take 6-9 months."  She still didn't understand.  She couldn't figure out how to process a patient that had the name Baby Boy.  I was told by her supervisor that "All babies born at the medical center that do not have a name are given the name Baby Boy.  So, it would be confusing."  I couldn't see what was confusing, since there were clearly several babies with this name.  What would adding one more to the mix do?  Ho hum.

The bottom line is that this particular institution is SO HUGE that they could not deviate from the norm.  And, since we all know this situation is not 'the norm', we decided to find another mom-and-pop operation that could take him in considering his unique circumstances, and wouldn't make a huge deal about his name, his history, or otherwise.  We intend to treat him just as the UK doctors said to, "as a very normal child."  So, we felt that a doctor's office that isn't treating him as a "normal child" isn't for us.  Nonetheless, my phone rang off the hook today from that huge institution.  They offered endless apologies, creative solutions (which, in my opinion, only complicated the matter even further) and begged me to consider coming on board with them.   At one point, one lady said to me, "How about we call him Levi to you, but on record, he'll be Baby Boy?"  I said, "I don't care if you call him Santa Claus - all that matters to me is that he is getting the care he needs!"  Ugh!   By the end of it, I was so disgusted.  I finally said, "I'm going to hang up now.  I'm not interested in the opportunity to move forward in a life-long relationship with your office.  Please do not call me back."  I received two more calls in the next 5 minutes.  No kidding!

I called another doc office.  I said, "I need to make an appointment for a new patient.  He's one month old.  We call him Levi, but the insurance and other paperwork reflects the name 'Baby Boy'."  Her response, "OK.  can you come in on Tuesday morning?"    Seriously.  That's how it should be.   I'm looking forward to meeting this doc. 

Anyway, we also stopped at Lowe's and picked up paint for the nursery.  I know it seems like we are doing all of this backwards....but it is what it is.  And, we are glad it is.  Now that we've gotten a chance to meet him and learn his personality, we have completely changed every original plan we had for his nursery!  haha.  I can't wait to start weilding that paintbrush tomorrow. 

Oh - and here's a pic. I must take a moment to explain.  Mimi D bought him this activity gym.  I was pretty excited about it - because we have very limited toys for him.  We got it home, Mimi assembled it, and we put him on it.  This is his initial reaction:

Apparently, it was very soothing! 

Ok - but seriously, not long after that, he woke up, and played with all the gadgets.  He stomped on the piano keys to create some music and batted on the toys hanging above him.  He had a great time with it. 

Tuckered out

After an eventful day hanging out with Mimi and Miss Lynn, little Levi is just exhausted!