Half Birthday Letter

Tuck -
You are six months old today and everyday your personality is developing. You are such a fun loving baby and you are eager to make new friends. You smile easily, laugh a lot and giggle so sweetly. Your MAJOR development of the month is just yesterday you said your first word. "Dada" won! But either way you reduced both your parents to tears with your first sweet word!
We took you to get weighed and measured October 5th and you weighed 20 lbs. and 9 oz. and you were 26 inches long. We went early this month so that the adoption agency could get everything sent to the lawyer so we can finalize your adoption soon! We go back this Wednesday to get your 6 month shots and an official report.
You have moved into size 6-12 month clothes and you are still wearing size three diapers during the day but we have started putting you in size fours to sleep in.
Lately, you love to be in the floor. I think you will be crawling soon, definitely by Thanksgiving. You love to look at yourself in the mirror after your bath. You just think that baby is so funny!

You also had your first bubble bath this month. I got a little carried away with the vapor bath, but you had fun.

We have also started baby food this month. I made all of it with Granna's blender and saved a bundle. So far sweet potatoes seem to be your favorite.

You officially become a Gordon in the next month! We are so excited to go to court and for it to be FOREVER. I remember thinking of this time in the life of our family when we first brought you home and it felt like so far away, but it has snuck up on us quickly. We don't have an official court date but we know the petition will be filed this Monday and has to be on file for 20-25 days (because of your Native American blood) before we can finalize.
You continue to bless our lives in more ways then we ever thought possible. You are so loved by so many! You get passed around where ever we go and you just love on everyone right back. You are a local celebrity in Sayre and everyone fusses over you. I fall more in love with you every single day! You are such a blessing and I know you have a special purpose to fulfill. Thank you for making your Dada and I a family. We love you more then words can say!
Momma

A Change is Coming

For a while I've felt like I needed to get a job. Not because Chris has said as much, but because with the speed of our adoption and the immediate need for a bigger car we depleted our savings account and are in the red that I despise so much! So I had began praying that an opportunity would present itself for me to be able to still be a Momma all the time, but would also allow for a little extra income.
About ten days ago a friend from church approached me about the Sayre Chamber of Commerce Director Position. I immediately said no thanks because it was more full-time then I wanted and I didn't think I could have Tucker at work. But she encouraged me to apply, Chris and I talked it over and I decided to throw my hat in the ring - really without knowing for sure if I wanted the job or not.
Well I interviewed last Thursday and I just knew as soon as I left that they were going to offer me the job. And sure enough, Friday afternoon I got a call and I took the job. It's one of those situations where I didn't feel like there was good or bad decision, but it did seem like God's provision.
The job fits my skill set and personality well, I can have Tucker at the office with me all the time, they will be flexible with church stuff, and it's only 9-3 everyday. I will have a lot of creative control and the job is mainly event planning, which is my very favorite thing to do. There's very little downside.
It's good. But it's scary. It's a job I will be invested in. My heart will be involved in a way that it hasn't in my past several positions. But I think that will be a positive. We're going to try it. I also think it will be good for all three of us to be on a more consistent schedule. It's also hard for me to think about losing my free time and easy schedule. I kinda like not having to get ready everyday and I LOVE my sweats.
But all of that is about to change - I start a week from today!

Loyal & True

We got to take you, Emrie and Aunt Cassie to your first OSU Game Day. This was a big deal because it's one of your Daddy and I's very favorite things to do. We look forward to football season every year and this year we knew was gonna be a little different. We have season tickets but aren't going to many games for several reasons, but one of those is that you have to have a ticket. At five months.
We were leaving for vacation after the game and Emrie and Aunt Cassie decided to come up too. Granna came and kept you at Aunt Chelsie's house while everyone else went to the game. Here are a few shots from this fun day!

First Haircut

We knew from the first day of your sweet little life we wouldn't make it to one year before you would have to have a haircut. Aunt Cassie wanted to do it when you were two weeks old. Momma came around a little sooner then Daddy did but he finally agreed it was time. On September 18th you got your first haircut!


BEFORE...


DURING...


AFTER... Good job Aunt Cassie!


Your precious little locks


Happy Family after your first haircut

Five Months

My Lovie,
I cannot believe you are five whole months old! I don't even remember my life before you. You have rocked my world and I'm so thankful it will never be the same again. You are such a blessing in every sense of the word. Every month on the 16th I've reminesed to that day in April. From the first moments with you and through all the milestones you've already accomplished. You amaze me everyday with some new trick.
You weigh 19 lbs. and 5 oz. Are you kidding me? You are gigantic! Everyone thinks you are older then you are because you are so big. In less then three pounds we will have to get a larger carseat because you have outgrown your infant seat already. You are 24 and 3/4 inches long. That my friend is the 75% in length and don't worry you're in the 90% in the weight category. You do get really heavy quickly for other people but I guess I'm just used to it because we manage ok for quite a while. You are wearing size 3 diapers and your about to grow out of your 3-6 months clothes. You have timed that just right for the seasons to change too. You're just good like that, I guess!

You went to the nursery at church for the first time a few weeks ago and while you were there you got your first major sickness. Some sweetness shared her bronchiolitis with you. You had a horrible cough and didn't rest well. It was so scary and pitiful to hear you coughing and not knowing what to do. It was a rough first week but it slowly went away in about two weeks. Needless to say you did not go back to the nursery the following week. After sitting out for one week, we did brave going back and you did great.
You eat 6 oz. of formula every three hours or so during the day. You eat the whole thing and then sit up and burp almost immediately. You still get it all over your chin. You have started craning your head around while you're eating to see what's going on around you, which has been a bit of a challenge to keep you clean. You never spit up until the last two weeks. Now you spit up a little at least once a day. I don't know where that came from, but we have learned to hang on to the burpie for a while after you eat. You still wake up once during the night, usually around 4 am, you eat and go right back to sleep.

We started rice cereal this month and after a few days of getting used to the spoon and texture and the addition of some banana you LOVE it! You dive at the spoon if I don't get it to you fast enough. You make a HUGE mess and we have to go straight to the bathtub after you eat. So cute though!

You are very tricky these days! You can sit up pretty well.
You grab your toes and the roll from your booty to your belly while you are sitting up.

While you are on your stomach you raise that sweet head up and look all around, pushing up on your strong arms.

You roll over both ways, but not very often. It's like you know you can but you chose not to. You have discovered the high register of your voice and you lay and scream as loud as you can and then laugh, take a deep breath and go again. It's so funny to watch you crack yourself up.
You suck on your fingers ALL the time, especially your thumb, and have recently added your toes to you snack list.

You LOVE water! Whether it's a bath or pool you just kick your fat little legs and giggle.

Your hair was super long, like to the middle of your back when it's wet. You got your first haircut at five months and two days old. Your Daddy took sometime to decide it was time for your beautiful locks to be cut.

But Aunt Cassie did a great job and you look SO handsome!
You are ticklish under your arms and hate when people mess with your feet. You are still so sweet and laid back. You have such a sweet contence and laugh easily. People still stop us to talk to or about you everywhere we go!

You love to be outside and now that the weather is cooling off we are spending a lot more time outside. You do great in your stroller and you are ok in the car seat if someone is in the backseat with you.

You give sweet lovies and grab our faces, especially Daddy's beard, a lot.
You like to read and I think you are starting to remember a couple of our favorite books.
You are just so observant. You really study new places and people. This is strange to me because you always wake up in new places and we are around so many different groups of people. You like new people but you give a good look over before making up your mind to show them your sweet smile.

You know Momma and Daddy for sure. You have started reaching for us when you want one or the other. You also recognize your Aunt Cassie, Aunt Chelsie, Uncle Delton, and Granna. I think you already know that they are apart of your Momma and Daddy so you love them extra. You also have your favorite among the kids at church. You are still a big hit and enjoy getting passed around and loved on by so many people.
You have noticed Thatcher and you LOVE him! Next to Emrie he is your very favorite toy. You reach and lunge for him whenever you see him. He likes you to, but he always wants to lick your hands and feet. I think in a few more months you will both be good friends.

Like I said, Emrie is still your very favorite! You both light up when you see each other and makes both Aunt Cassie and I so happy. It's so fun to watch you start to interact with her and reach for her. She does seem to get some of your best lovies.
When you wake up from a nap you cuddle down into my neck and it's just precious. You ease your eyes open and smile and nuzzle down into me again. One of my favorite times of my day.

We also took our first official vacation to Eureka Springs, Arkansas with Gammie Diana, Uncle Delton and Bob. You were so good! I wasn't sure how you'd do but as usual you were perfect!

We also went to Stillwater for your first OSU Gameday. You stayed with Granna at Aunt Chelsie's house while Momma, Daddy, Aunt Cassie, Emrie and Uncle Delton went to the game. We can't wait to take you to your first game! You Daddy is so excited to share that passion with you.
You have been a super busy little fella. We seem to stay that way. You are the perfect addition to our family and we couldn't have assembled a more perfect fit into our family. You are just precious to my heart in a way I only imagined and dreamed of before. You are the best thing that's ever been mine!


I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!
Momma

For a reason

We have been on vacation in Eureka Springs with Chris's family this week, and while it hasn't been the smoothest week of my life, it has brought with it some fun memories from a summer I spent in Arkansas when I was in college. The summer between my sophomore and junior years at OBU I interned at Parkway Place Baptist Church in Little Rock. It was great experience overall, but it was hard. Mostly because I had never been that far from home for that long, but it was definitely a stepping stone as I began to spread my wings.
That summer we took an overnight trip to Eureka and it's been fun walking around and remembering.
While I was in Little Rock God provided a surrogate family, especially a Momma, for me. The Greer's. The pastor of the church had two students in the youth group and his wife was very active. I immediately feel in love with their family, especially both of the Greer Girls!
I spent lots of time with Megan, who I think was about to be an 8th grader and is now a junior in college. (Are you kidding me?) We went to the movies, out to eat and shopping a lot throughout the summer. And I spent plenty of time at their house, as well. She was so much fun and it was such a blessing to be able to love on her for three months.
Nancy, my Arkansas Mom, just loved on me every chance she got. I think somedays her support was the only reason I stayed around all summer. She showed me such a beautiful picture of hospitality, love and discipleship. We talked a lot about what it was like to be married to someone in the ministry (in 2003, three years before I'd marry right into a similar position) I remember her telling me the importance of being supportive and making our house an inviting place for my husband to come home to. She shared with me hard stories of struggle inside of church work and how tough it is when people aren't nice to the man you love. Sweet Nancy taught me so much that summer! She was so fun and such a hoot! She taught me to sew, took me on fun errands just to get me out of the church and we even shared a canoe on a river trip and laughed so hard we both wet our pants a little! Haha.
I hope someday I can be that kind of encouragement to a younger sister who so badly wants to follow the path that God has for her. It was such a pivotal time in my life and Nancy was such a blessing to me at the perfect time.
I made lots of good memories that summer in Arkansas but I think I learned even more.

Four Whole Years

Four years ago this weekend I married my best friend. It was an excellent decision and I haven't regretted it one single time!