August Update

You may have noticed that, thus far, I have not posted pictures that were taken after our road trip in mid-July. (If you haven't noticed that, I suppose that I shouldn't have told on myself!) I also have not written much about what occupied the month of August in the life of the Kovars... so this is my attempt to catch up a bit.

When we returned home from California halfway through July, I resolved to take it easy for the next month. Andy and I really wanted to just spend some normal, relaxed family time at home - both for our sanity, and to help with the kids' continuing adjustment. The first three weeks were very interesting. Neither Lynnae nor Charlie had ever been on a road trip with family... and they were not used to packing up things to take with them, and then coming back to the same house. The trip was very good for the kids to meet some family and have some fun. It was also great bonding for the four of us. However, emotionally it was a little inconceivable for them... and that led to meltdown after meltdown when we first got home. By the beginning of August I was beginning to feel in control again!

We started trying to venture out once or twice a week, and kept our wanderings close to home. Amazingly, we made it through the whole summer without an illness. Actually, the kids have not been sick since they moved in ... (Charlie came to us complete with that lovely flu he gave to me!) It's kind of miraculous, because previously they had been sick all the time. We will see what happens now that school has begun and the germs will be shared amongst the children again.

We made several trips to the library - which is now a place that they both love. Even Lynnae is excited to use her own card and always has a hard time whittling her selection down to 4 books before we leave. Once we're home she likes to read the books again and again. Charlie is also reading. (I know, it's a little early - but the kid loves books, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to encourage him.) He knows about 30 words by sight now. When we read together I pause so that he can fill in the words that he knows. He also read one book all on his own, "Cat and Dog". I figured, since he's picked up sight words so easy, that I would start to work on sounds with him. So he's learning the consonant sounds ... and so far, just the short "a" sound. I think that's plenty for a two-year-old! For her part, Lynnae reads so much better now that it's hard for me to remember that she is the same girl that couldn't make it through a paragraph without help just five months ago.

Also in the month of August, I endured my first experience doing well-child doctor visits. With both kids and just one parent, and a TON of nervous energy... I got more than I bargained for. Both were pretty well behaved once they calmed down... and even sat still for the shots. (Although I had to promise Lynnae a treat.... which earned a disapproving glare from the doctor, but it worked.) Let's just say that I let Andy know that if we ever schedule both kids at the same time again, I will require his assistance. Of course, he would have gone with me this time had either of us realized how interesting it would be!

Charlie was really disagreeable for a couple of weeks, and I couldn't figure out why. Then one day he started running a fever off and on. I realized, in hindsight, that he had been stuffing a lot of things in his mouth and drooling a lot... so I hung up the phone with the nurses line, (while I was on hold,) and opened his mouth to find molars pushing through. That's right, not one molar but TWO! Poor kid is behaving much better now that they've broken through!!! Charlie is really turning into a big boy... he changed tremendously during the month of August. I couldn't keep up!

On top of that, Andy and I celebrated our ten year anniversary... which is a milestone that I can hardly believe we've reached. We also attended several birthday parties... each with a cake... which was, of course, Lynnae's favorite part.

So August was a very calm month, especially compared to the two previous months. I didn't take a whole lot of pictures, but I did grab the camera when we went to the park one day. Here are my two favorite pictures so that you can see how the kids are growing!

Pictures will be posted after adoption is finalized.

10 Year Anniversary

Today Andy and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. Hard to believe that we were married 10 years ago - August 15, 1998 - in Riverside, CA. Of course, I believed that we'd still be together after 10 years, (and many more.) I didn't have a concept of what that would feel like though.

Tonight our good friends Candice and Matt came over to watch the kids so that Andy and I could go out to dinner. We went to Daniel's, which is a nice steakhouse in downtown Bellevue. We had a table that looked over Lake Washington to downtown Seattle and the Olympic Mountains. When we got there the sun was just starting to set. It was a beautiful, warm day today with just a few wispy clouds in the sky. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets that I have ever watched. We had a great time at dinner reminiscing about our early relationship and the changes that have transpired over the last ten years.

I feel very lucky to have had these years with my husband, who I happen to think is the best husband in the world. I love him very much!

Charlie's Obsession with "I Love You"

Both Charlie and Lynnae came to us as very loving children. They love to give hugs and kisses all the time. This may seem like a normal thing, and kind of a weird thing for me to point out, except that our kids don't have a normal background... and often children that have been in the foster care system are not affectionate as an effect of attachment disorder. So we consider ourselves very lucky!

In the last few months Charlie has been progressively building his routine. It started with a "big hug". This is where he squeezes your neck so hard that you actually question if a 2 year old could be strong enough to suppress your breath. Then he started his kissing routine. It is really cute. He will give you a kiss on each cheek, one on the chin, one on the forehead, and one on the top of the head. And then he'll do it again. And again. And again. And if I say that mommy is done, he will kiss his finger and then point to each of the places he wants to kiss. Lynnae explains that this is because they believe that you can move a kiss if you want... all you have to do is touch it and then touch the person where you want the kiss to go. So cute!

Then, a couple of months ago he started with the "I love you" sign. He will wave two I love you's around... and if I tell him I love him, he will hold up "I love you" with one hand and the number "2" with the other hand. Then he'll start saying, "I love you.... too.... I love you... too... etc," while he pushes the appropriate hand forward. Again, so cute.

Speaking of I love you's, the newest thing that he does is suddenly blurt out who he loves. It usually starts out with someone in the family... usually either me or Lynnae... and then it will move on to everything, including his green sippy cup. But this week was different.

We were sitting at lunch a couple of days ago and Charlie just blurted out. "I love Carleigh!" And I said, "You do?" And then he screamed at the top of this lungs, "I LOVE CARLEIGH!!!" So I had to tell him to use his inside voice, so he started whispering, "I love Carleigh. I love JakeJake. I love Joe." This was the first time he had put someone in front of us... it was super cute.

Last weekend we went down to the Stutzmans (Carleigh and Joe's last name) for dinner and games... so they were fresh in his mind. Apparently he had a really good time! We are headed back this weekend for Jacob's first birthday... so let's hope he still loves JakeJake when JakeJake is getting all of the attention. :)

Lynnae's 8th Birthday

While we were in California we celebrated Lynnae's 8th birthday. Actually, Disneyland was something that we did for her birthday as well. She got a lot of presents... we're hoping not too many, because we don't want to set an unhealthy standard! Lynnae got to go shopping with my mom a couple of days before her birthday, and really enjoyed getting to pick out some of her presents and spend time with her new grandma. In fact, I am pretty sure that most of her favorite presents came from her grandparents... two stuffed animals from my mom have taken up the new place in her bed to sleep (Brownie and Caramel - both girls of course, and have you noticed the food name theme with all of her stuffed animals?) She also got a dress that she loves from Grnadma, and a Leapster from Grandpa Kovar. We gave her a big doll house that she has seemed to enjoy playing with, but I think the other stuffed animals are more important to her.

The morning of her birthday we went to church in my parent's ward. It was fun for me because there were several people there that usually aren't... and that I haven't seen in 10 years. She had fun because they sang to her both for her birthday and for being a visitor. Then we came home, had lunch, and later had a birthday dinner for Lynnae. She opened her presents and then we had cake and ice cream. All in all, I am pretty sure it was a good birthday for her.

...Pictures to be posted after adoption is finalized...