One Year Later

I cannot believe it has been a year since we went to Uganda to get our boys. What a change life has been.  A beautiful, chaotic, messy, emotional, lovely change.

These three boys are my world. They are so funny together. Maddox has truly started to do whatever it is Nolan is doing. He watches him all the time and Nolan loves it. He now has a little brother to tell what to do haha. Maverick joins in and plays too but he is currently more of a mommas boy and sticks close to me while he watches his crazy brothers. (Although you wouldn't be able to tell that from the picture above) 

These boys/brothers melt my heart and make me crazy. Yup, I said it. But what do you expect in a house full of boys... It is loud, messy, sometimes smelly lol but so full of love. I laugh at myself on the days when I can't wait for bedtime and then once they are in bed, its so quiet I just want to go snuggle with them.  I can't really say if its easier or harder than I thought it would be because I really wasn't sure what it was going to be like. I mean, I went from one child at home- to three little ones. It was an adjustment but I feel like we have a good routine going now. 

So... 2 TWO year olds in this house now... yay... haha

They are certainly growing up and forming quite the little opinions, but they are also so so SO sweet. They love to give high fives, hugs and kisses, and if they accidentally hurt someone, they are very quick to say "I'm sorry". Its the cutest thing ever. 

Going out is wild and crazy but we usually still have fun. The boys are very independent and always want to do things themselves. So you can imagine the messes we have X2. 

Nolan is a WONDERFUL big brother. Lately he has really stepped up to help me, and he asks to. I know won't last forever so I'm thankful for it now. He likes to get them up from their naps, help them potty and brush their teeth. Oh yay, did I mention we have been potty training for over a month now. I wish I could say it has been wonderful, but well.... it hasn't. There have been a whole lot of messes, a few tears shed (yes by me), some moments I wanted to quick, but I can say we are still sticking with it. They do pretty well for a while and then have horrible days of accident after accident. 

I am very thankful for our carpet cleaner, and steam vac. 

Mondays are the only day we don't have to get up and start running full speed to get Nolan to school on time, so we usually take things pretty easy and I love these moments. All snuggled up in daddy & mommy's bed. 

So, its been quite the year. 

May 18, 2015 the boys officially became Butlers. 

November 5th they turned two  

and November 8th marked our one year Gotcha Day. 

We are so very blessed. 

Happy 2nd birthday Maddox & Maverick

Nov. 8, 2014/Nov. 8, 2015

Notes I jotted down over the year:

Maverick:

In Africa he would sign please

Jan 12- says "Uh-Oh"

Jan 22- "Thank you"

Jan 23- "sit"

Jan 26- Claps his hands

Feb 1- "Who's that?"

Feb 1- Can point himself out in pictures

Feb 5- "Up"

Feb 10- Weighs 15.5lbs

Feb 21- says "Paps"

Feb 23- signs more

Feb 24- Recognized and says "puffs"

feb 26- says "Mama, Papaw, Tessa, Ali"

May 10- Walking

Oct 12- Potty Training and in underwear

Maddox:

In Africa would sign please

Jan 6- says "Thank you"

Jan 26- new tooth

Jan 26- Claps hands

Feb 1- Can point himself out in pictures

Feb 10- 17.1lbs

Feb 21- "Paps" & "Up"

feb 24- signs more

March 3- "Mama"

April 27- walking

July 16- Pooped in potty

Oct 12- potty training and in underwear

Oh my heart

Nov 3, 2014

What a blessed day it has been. God has truly calmed my nerves and has given me such a perfect day. Last night Nolan had a rough night, so this morning I woke up laying next to him and as he woke up he smiled the biggest smile, put his hands to my face and said "I love you mommy". These are the moments I treasure and dream of. Those precious mommy moments. Oh my heart. I sit here with tears running down my cheek as I think of moments like this and dream of these same moments with my babies. I want to be there for them, loving on them as they cry at night, even when you wake exhausted, you wake with love. Thinking of my 3 boys makes my heart burst. We hear things all the time about how blessed the boys and how awesome it is that we open our home to the twins, but honestly, we (both my husband and I) don't see it like that. We feel like we are the ones being blessed and we are the lucky ones to be able to have the honor of being their parents. That God would choose us to raise them, just as He chose us to raise Nolan.

Thank you God for letting me be their mommy!

Learning about "quiet time" with God

Nolan makes my heart smile. Last night after I put him to bed I came in my room to read my Bible and he found me. I explained "quiet time" and sent him back to bed. So tonight after putting him to bed, he got up again and this time I was still downstairs. He asked me what I was doing and said I forgot to do my quiet time and read my Bible. The fact that he remembered... I just love him so much. So we talked about the fact that we will need to make sure he gets quiet time tomorrow to read his Bible. 

He is growing up so fast and I pray he continues to have a loving heart and a heart for God. 

As a parent that is my greatest desire for my kids. To follow the will of God. 

.... He also (earlier) talked about how he can't wait to married. It's pretty cute. He often says he wants to marry me and I remind him that I'm already married to daddy. I remind him that one day he will find a girl and he needs to be kind, loving and respectful and that he will meet a girl who is kind, loving, respectful and loves God just like you. 

5 months later

5 months. FIVE MONTHS! Part of me feels like the twins have been a part of our family forever and the other part can't believe its been 5 months.  Wow, what a change in our family. From 1 boy to 3. Its been great and crazy ha. If you have been wondering how we are doing, we are doing great, we are exhausted but we are doing great. The twins are adjusting amazingly. We couldn't be happier with how they are bonding to us, family, friends and how they are bonding with Nolan. That is my favorite attachment to see grow and change. Maddox and Nolan seemed to hit it off right away. Maverick, well he was a little slower. Now he is started to get in there and play as well. To listen to them all laugh and yell in excitement is truly a blessing. They all also fight, ha. Being a mom to just one I didn't see that much before. Maybe a little between friends but not very often. Now you can screaming in our house a lot.  One has a toy the other wants, or someone has the cup the other wants, or someone is hugging someone else who doesn't want to be hugged. Lol Needless to say, our house is much louder, but our hearts are truly fuller. I do feel blessed to be called these 3 boys mommy. To hear Maverick & Maddox say "mama" just makes my heart smile. The looks I get now, and the smiles, I have truly been given an amazing gift x2.

20 Weeks with us

17 months

Maverick:

Has 4 front top, 4 front bottom teeth, and 3 molars, says so many words (outside, thank you, diaper, mama, dada, drink, eat, up and so many others) and likes to repeat things you say.  He is really starting to open up and be more social. Its really neat to see. He crawls like Nolan used to, with one knee and one foot. Maverick is my snuggler, he will sit on my lap and snuggle and give kisses. 

Maddox:

Has 4 front top, 4 front bottom teeth, and 4 molars, is starting to talk more. He was the first to talk and I know he can, but he likes to let his brothers talk for him. He does the best when Nolan asks him to say something. :) He clings to mommy when people first approach but eventually opens up and plays and smiles a lot.  He crawls on his knees and is quick. Maddox is Nolans buddy and they play together so well. 

They both love playing with balls, balloons, bubbles and being outside. They are both very ticklish and I love to hear them laugh. They both walk, and walk quickly, with the walkers aka pushers as Nolan calls them.  They both LOVE to eat and would eat all day if they could. 

Brothers 

From a new mom of three

Wow what an amazing transition this has all been. It's been a long journey for sure but I have truly never been happier. These boys have blessed me so much! All of them! 

I continue to learn about the twins but also about myself and my family. This is what was meant to be. I will never diminish the sadness, which is the need for adoption, but I am so in awe of how God works through it. Our boys both lost their biological parents and that's sad to me. They were both young and beyond that I won't know much about them but I can imagine they were happy and in-love and loved the children they never really got to know. 

I just read an article mid writing this post

See here: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/better-way-talk-about-adoption

I am so blessed God chose us to complete the boys journey. They truly complete me. I know that's cliche but it's so true. In our family, this has been the best thing to happen to us. Watching my family change has been amazing. I see Nolan in a different light and the same goes for my husband. I have actually never been more attracted and in love with my husband, Joe.  God is so good, all the time. He knows how to work a sad, tragedy thing into something for His glory! 

I watch my sons grow, Maverick is a snuggler and Maddox is a lover of most people but he sits back for a second. Once he knows you are ok he will latch on and love you. He is quick to do it though and isn't a big snuggler. Where Maverick on the other hand will snuggle. He will also be social but might not show emotion right away. You can pick him up but he will judge you until he is comfortable and you won't see his beautiful smile until he is comfortable. They are so different it amazes me and makes me smile. Then there is Nolan. Oh my sweet boy who has grown so much. His heart is so big. He loves fully and completely!  When I watch him with his brothers I just feel joy. His excitement when they are around is pure and beautiful. I could have never imagined all this. We are so blessed by our boys. 

Thank you all for your love, prayers and support. We truly truly appreciate them! 

Nolan, Joe, Maverick, & Maddox 

Maverick

Maddox

Maddox learning to pull himself up today

And the race begins