My Crazy LL

Today is April 15th.....another MONTH has gone by since Lucy Lane became OURS!! I'm reminded on the 15th of EVERY month that Lucy Lane has been HOME another month..and she's ONE MONTH older since her bday and Gotcha day both fall on the 15th!! Next month she'll be 2 1/2 (i can't believe HOW fast she is growing up)..and on June 15th she'll have been home 2 years!! wow...where did the time go!!!?? She's truly a GIFT to our family and I'm so thankful that God set us on this path!! As I obsess over reading emails these days to hear ANY word that IT IS TIME to head back to Ethiopia to pick up our 6th child, I try to imagine WHAT I'd be doing TODAY if I hadn't chosen to follow God's leading to ADOPT!! I just can't imagine by life without ALL 6 of my kids!!! We've truly been blessed beyond measure....

**We've had beautiful weather lately and I captured some of LL's "craziness" while eating dinner out on the deck the other night....
I can't help but look at LL and PRAISE GOD for her confidence...the security she feels with her family...and for her wonderful personality...I think her OUT GOINGNESS with us..her crazy performing self with us...her HUGE laughter and screams could drive some people nutty....BUT..God knew what He was doing when he gave us Lucy Lane...I LOVE EVERY OUNCE OF HER FUNNiESS!!! I had such reserved, shy children before Lucy Lane...which makes her BIG, FUN, CRAZY personality a breath of fresh air in our home!! She truly thinks of the funniest things to do all the time....Below she attempts to dip her grilled cheese in tomato soup....she decides she really likes it...

And, makes a HUGE mess along the way...
But it hurts her feelings when big Sissy notices WHAT she's doing....cause she was dipping her grilled cheese in HELEN's soup....and Helen reclaims her soup from LL:
Ok, I get her her OWN tomato soup....all smiles again:

Then, of course...she must perform a little bit for the camera:

I'm hoping Wes can survive this BIG personality...LL already says out of the blue:

"Mommy, baby brother in Africa is way too loud!!"

**I said, "LL, you haven't even met him..you have no idea if he's LOUD or NOT!"

And, she laughs...cause she KNOWS she's a silly nut!! :) I'm sure my posts about LL's adjustment to baby brother will be quite entertaining!! ha ha :) AND...Just so you all KNOW what I'm praying for...so you'll PLEASE join me...I'm praying Wes is in my arms by the end of this month!! I know it's a long shot...but so was passing court the first time...so I KNOW prayer works!!! And, I KNOW God wants my sweet boy HOME!!! :) We so appreciate YOUR PRAYERS!!!

**Happy Friday to you all, kj

Happy 4th Bday Georgie!!!!

Yesterday, the 12th, my Georgie turned 4!! I mean, seriously, could a boy be any cuter:George is a simple little guy and wanted a simple little party...so we headed down to our neighborhood playground and invited some of his pre-k 3 friends....
But, George decided Mommy was brilliant when I pulled out his bday present....the giant blow up ball from Costco:It was a big hit....and the weather was PERFECT, by the way...sunny and 72....FAR BETTER than the awful storm that passed through the night before which caused THIS for my poor neighbor across the street....WE HAD NO IDEA...we came out the next morning and saw it...I can't believe we didn't hear it crash...No one was hurt..Praise the Lord!!! :And, ALL of Georgie's siblings had lots of fun too at his party...we all like a park day:

George decided on a Costco Football cake at the last minute..and his football shirt to match....Yes, he made Daddy proud:

My sister Karson made it in for the festivities:

There is also a creek next to the playground which kept the kids entertained the entire time:
Cake Time:

Present time...I love when people buy my george "curious george" stuff...so cute:

Some Mommas hangin around:Lots of fun with that giant ball:
LL and her friend Emma havin some Slide fun:
My two big girls CHILLIN...21 months apart and asked EVERY day if they are twins...

Lucy Lane seriously says, "Momma...take a picture of me in my hat!!" funny girl:

More free fun...the kids roll down the giant hill over and over again:
And, it was back home to open a few more presents....this smile says it all.....We love you so much George!! You are truly the cutest, most wonderful 4 year old EVER!! You are easy, laid back and joyful!! And, he's my only kid to ever be LITTLE (well...until Wes :) He still claims to be a BABY every day!! LL has surpassed him left and right on lots of things....but we dont' care....he is OUR BABY and he LOVES it that way!! :)
And, WHY didn't I post this LAST NIGHT ON HIS ACTUAL bday...Well...cause George's favorite thing to do is to CUDDLE on the couch....and he asks me CONSTANTLY to just come and lie down with him on the couch...He just likes me to hold him.....
*So, as he stayed up LATE like he always does..and as everyone else in the house was sleeping....you can find George and me hangin on the couch for some quality time!! And, it was his bday...so I just couldn't say NO!! :) We love you Georgie and hope you'll stay our baby forever!!!

**Happy 4th bday my sweet boy...and...Happy Wednesday to you all, kj

This Year's ORDINARY HERO Video......

Wow...it is HARD to move on from PASSING COURT to WAITING for Embassy....but I must do it.....So, ONE WEEK AGO TODAY i became a momma to 6 LITTLES!!!! I just can hardly wait to have that 6th LITTLE home with us!! Oh, he's so yummy cute!!! :)

BUT, to pass the time, I attended the Ordinary Hero Benefit Dinner on Thursday night....IT was a HUGE success and so much fun!! This is the video that was shown and IT IS SO GOOD!! I'm so proud of my big sister Kelly and all the efforts she puts into Ordinary Hero!! And, I just can't believe HOW MANY children have found their forever families due to her hard work!! I also have to give a shout out to my Wes's agency, CCI, because lots of children in this video were ONCE waiting children with that agency!! It's a beautiful thing to see families come together....

Enjoy the video..Silence my music at the bottom of my page....visit www.ordinaryhero.org to learn more.....and BE BLESSED.....happy Monday to you all, kj

Real Life Among Us~ Ordinary Hero from Kelly Putty on Vimeo.

My Last Favorites....Then I Promise To Move On... :)

So, yall HAVE to know that there was a professional Photographer on this trip...She wasn't with US...but she traveled with another family and was able to catch some GREAT pics of my Hubby and Wes........ this being ONE of my favs:I just love the fact that she caught my hubby standing in front of the mural of Africa...This one will be framed some day for Wes's room for sure.....

**Another pic was this one.....and I wanted to show you guys this one BECAUSE it shows ALL the cloth diapers out to dry behind my hubby....YOU GUYS sent ALL THESE DIAPERS!! They belonged to YOU!! Thank you, thank you...I just thought some of you that contributed to our Diaper Drive would enjoy seeing them:
And, finally....my boy says: " Ta Da...look at ME" (Yes, i hear he's a slight HAM just like our Little Ethiopian Princess at home!! :)

**And, for the few people that have asked....we do see A LOT of Lucy Lane in Wes!! God is so GOOD!!! I can't wait to see pictures of the two of them SIDE BY SIDE!! Ahhhh....that day can't come fast enough!! Happy Sunday to you all, kj

My Hubby Is Home Safely....(and cutie pics)

Well, after missing almost EVERY connecting flight..and almost 40 hours later...my hubby FINALLY made it home safely. He was extremely tired to say the least, BUT...he couldn't help but COME RIGHT IN and whip out the camera and PROUDLY start showing me all the pics he took!! You've never seen a PROUDER Daddy.....I'm guessing he would have still thought the trip was AWESOME if we hadn't passed court...BUT..to a GUY..getting to say, "HONEY, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" is a BIG thing!! :) And, FALLING IN LOVE with his sweet son was just the icing on the cake!! He couldn't LOVE this little guy ANY MORE THAN HE DOES...
They bonded right away and had a wonderful time together...My hubby loved the CCI guest home he stayed at..he loved all the CCI staff he met...he loved seeing the Transition home and COULDN'T believe HOW NICE IT IS!!!! We've been very blessed in our journey....

(pictured below...our little guy showing off how fast he can crawl)
Below is Wes and his travel buddy DINKS!! She's coming to our town too and they passed court on the SAME day...such a sweet bond they'll have....
Overall...I really think everything on the trip went perfectly...My hubby's FIRST trip to Africa was a positive one...HE DID LOSE SOME WEIGHT (he's a picky eater :) but he said he didn't even notice he wasn't eating that much :)
I just can't begin to tell you HOW MUCH FUN my hubby had with our Wes.....He said our guy is on the MOVE...he, below, is showing off his skill of PULLING UP!! The pic REALLY shows how tiny he STiLL IS! My hubby couldn't get over HOW SMALL he was...Just for some perspective...I sent all 3-6 month clothes...even though he's already ONE...and my hubby had to roll down everything cause they were all too big....
BUT HE'S STILL GROWING and WE'RE SO THANKFUL!! HE still has a long way to go...he'll need therapies and specialists when we get home to help him reach his potential...but I SO look forward to EVERY visit and every NEW milestone he is able to hit...HOW MUCH he's CHANGED just since December is a TRUE miracle...We're just so thankful...

My hubbs said that he NEVER quit eating...He literally ate EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME. And, when he wasn't eating, he was sucking down a bottle....When I met him in December he had never been given a bottle...and didn't KNOW HOW to suck....He's come so far... What a little blessing he is...
And, THE TIME CAME...it was time to SAY Good bye FOR NOW...prayerfully for ONLY a short amount of time...
My hubby had a wonderful peace in his heart seeing HOW MUCH he was loved by his nannies....They truly smother him in kisses ALL THE TIME....
And, they said their GOODBYES....
And, my hubby had to set him down...and walk away....BUT he knew with out a doubt that he would be loved and well taken care of UNTIL I can return for Embassy and pick him up....
So, the MILLION DOLLAR question is "When is Embassy...when are you returning for him??" I bet I'm asked that a hundred times a day... I PRAY it is VERY soon..like in a matter of weeks...BUT..I have to prepare my heart for HOW EVER LONG it may take..... I'm just praying around the clock though...that IT COMES FAST!! Ya know I'll keep yall posted....AND, we'd SO APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS FOR A FAST SUBMISSION TO EMBASSY AND "THE CALL" TO RETURN ASAP!! We all want our little guy home SO BADLY!! :)

*** Thanks for all your sweet comments and prayers...we so appreciate your support!! :) This has been an amazing journey so far.....All Glory be to God.....Happy Friday to you all, kj

New Pictures...New Pictures...

OH, my HEART!! It could just explode!! I've waited all week to see my boy's sweet face again!! My hubby is just saving all his pics and videos to show me once he is home....He should have JUST ARRIVED on American soil....so i'll get his pictures later on tonight some time....BUT...a sweet traveler sitting in an airport that was JUST WITH MY HUBBY AND SON felt for me....AND SENT ME 3 pics from this week....Ahhhhhhhhhh!!

*** Here are the 3 pics that just came through......

OH....and MY FAVORITE...I haven't seen a glimpse of my hubby since he left either....Oh, the happiness I feel seeing them together is indescribable....Thank you Lord for this sweet gift:

**I'm sure there will be much more soon!! :) Happy Wednesday to you all, kj