Mugshot Monday

Snap Shot Sunday

They say a picture speaks a thousand words.

I don't know if these pictures speak quite that many, but they do speak a lot,

so I'll let them explain themselves.

Happy Sunday!

 

 

 



1 Year Home

 On October 4, 2012, the change in our lives

that we had hoped for, prayed for and dreamed about, happened.

It was an amazing day,

and one that we'll remember forever.

It was the day Kaden and Bethany arrived home.

Forever.

What a year it has been! 

It hasn't been all wonderful and perfect,

not at all.

But it was a year that has made us all stronger as individuals and as a family.

We've gone through some crazy hard struggles.

But we've also gone through some amazing times.

we've laughed, we've cried.

Our faith has been tested and our strength has been tried.

My strength failed.

But God ALWAYS came through!

 

So many changes have taken place in this year.

Kaden and Bethany are completely different!

 

Kaden has gone from a languid little toddler,

to a strong, silly, full of personality little man!

It is crazy how he is completely unlike the Kaden only 12 months ago.

He is so curious now!

He asks why about everything.  and I mean everything!

 

2012

 

 

Today:

2012:

And Bethany...

She has changed so much too.

She's come from a sweet little 5 month baby to a cute, active toddler.

 



 

2012:

 

I can't believe that an entire year has passed.

We were talking about it,

and sometimes it still feels like they just got home.

Sometimes in the back of my mind it feels just like a really long babysitting job.

But I'm so thankful it's not.  These two are here to stay.

And even though it can be really tiring and hard sometimes,

we wouldn't have it any other way!

 

Here's a song named Come On In,

that my dad sent me over a year ago.

even though the song is about being saved I think it relates to adoption very well.

 

This Sunday

Look how cute these two are!

Can you guess what they did at church?

 

I'll give you a hint.

It involved the family.

 

They were dedicated!

September 29th 2013...

 Only 5 days away from their 1 year home mark

 

 

We are so thankful and blessed to have them as part of our family.

Through the times when it's going good, or the times when its isn't,

we are so blessed to have these two little Gilbartes!

Playground Cuties

The weather is so beautiful these days.

For the past 2 days in a row, we've gone to playgrounds in the evenings

and then out to get a special treat before picking up David from gymnastics.

Brandon is playing football, so I've been enjoying photographing

Kaden and Bethany on the playset nearby.

 

 

Our week has been full of outdoor fun.

How has your week been?

Angel Spotting in the Bathtub

"Kaden, who's this?" I asked him one night when he was taking a bath.

I held up a toy he got from the first restaurant we went to (about a year ago).

 

"Ummm, a baby?" he answered.

"No, that's not a baby.  what do you think it is?"

"An angel!"

Yeah... it has wings kind of like angels do pictures, so I can understand the reasoning behind the "angle" answer.

and you know what?  I kind of like Kaden's "angel"

 Bethany must have too, but she didn't offer any words of wisdom.  She just sat there looking cute the entire time:)



Kaden

Recently I've realized something.

Kaden has grown up.

A LOT. 

He's no longer the tired, small, languid toddler who came home almost a year ago.

Now he's a smart, active, lively, very curious, energetic little boy. 

He is so smart, and so curious...

he asks "WHY" about everything. 

he asks why there are reflectors on the back of cars,

why David was a baby,

why does everyone have mailbox, and well, you get the picture.

And he's got a personality! 

He's silly...



Creative...

 

active!

Expressive...

 

Now he is so different from the "baby" he came home as:

 

Kaden is a handful,

and sometimes I get tired of his "whys",

but I'm very thankful to have him as my little brother!