Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Castaway (day 1)

So, it has been awhile since I have posted anything. We have been hanging out here at Young Life's Castaway Club in northern MN. I have decided that this week (our third week here) that I am going to try to capture a little of what each day at camp looks like and post pictures. There will be a lot of pics...so feel free to browse.

Right before the campers are about to arrive for the week, we are hanging out waiting to welcome them.
Isaac is trying to give directions to everyone from his stroller. This is the stage that they all stand on to welcome all the kids as they get off of the busses.


Dan enjoying a free moment to give his little buddy a kiss. (I must also mention that Isaac is wearing Dan's favorite outfit of his.)


Dan, Isaac, and I waiting for dinner to start on night 1.


Inside the dining hall Isaac is hanging out with one of his favorite friends that we live with. Caleb is 5 years old and a very fun little guy.

Dan in character as Johnny Bartocki who is running for president in 2012 with his partner "Melv". "Johnny & Melv in 2012". This is right before they are about to enter the dining hall to entertain all the kids.

These are all the little ones that live in our house. There are also two older kids that are not in this picture. We were all hanging out right outside the dining hall after dinner.


These are the three babies that live in our house. Ella is 15 months, then Isaac, and then Beatrice is also 15 months.



At club Dan and Dan come in as Officer Todd O'Conner and Officer James Presbaluski. Pretty funny stuff.

A more close up shot of Dan.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Birthday Fun!

"I love it when my grandma comes over because she likes to give me lots of yummy treats. In this picture I am trying out some red liccorice. Deeeeeeeeelish!"
"Hey Addison, I'm so happy that you came to my first birthday party. You are pretty cute! oh...Did I forget to tell you, you are the only friend of mine that could come. I hope that doesn't make you feel awkward. Trust me, we're going to have fun!"

We had a monkey themed birthday party for isaac.
"Hey everyone, come have some cake. I just tried it and it is goooood!"

Monkey cup cakes (I must say that I am pretty proud of these little guys).


The birthday party buffet table...full of lots of monkey delights! YUMMY!



Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Happy Birthday Isaac

My first moments hoding Isaac.
Isaac in his "birthday suit" on his 1st birthday.

Isaac Orr-

It is hard to believe that only one year ago I did not know this little man. It is hard to believe that I lived totally content and satisfied for over 27 years without knowing Isaac Orr. Though he is not the source of my joy, or my purpose for living, he has provided such an incredible richness and delight to my life that I NEVER thought was possible. I wasn’t someone who always dreamed of being a mom or having babies. Honestly, it was something that really scared me and I wasn’t quite sure how I would feel when I first saw my little baby, but from the moment the Dr’s placed his tiny little perfect body in my arms my heart just broke open with a love that I didn’t know was possible. Those first few days and weeks were spent mostly in awe of this amazing person. I would literally stare at him for hours and couldn’t believe the sense of connection I could have with such a tiny one.


From the first few weeks that I knew Isaac, I had a very strong sense that there was something special about this boy. Maybe every new mom feels that way, I don’t know. But there was a sense of joy and peace around him. From our first hours with him in the hospital he was so calm and peaceful. As I have watched him grow these past 12 months, I have been continually struck by his unbelievable joy; his smiles and giggles and funny faces and how loves to dance to any kind of music. Wherever we go, people seem to be drawn to him and him to them. He see strangers in public places and won’t stop smiling at them. There is something very special about this boy. I consider it one of the greatest blessings and privileges of my life to be his mom.

Some of my favorite things about Isaac:
How excited he get to eat strawberries, even though he eats them every day.
The ways that he tries to make me laugh by making funny faces and crinkling up his nose.
How when there is a song on in the car that he likes he will clap his hands and slap his thighs.
Watching his pudgy little body move around. I especially love his pudgy little fingers (how his knuckles make dimples) and his pudgy little toes.
That every time he hears a siren or a loud train he will start to pout and sometimes even cry.
How sometimes when I haven’t seen him for awhile (usually a few hours) and I come home and pick him up that he will give me tons and tons of kisses (big open mouth slobbery baby kisses).
Whenever I peek around a corner and catch his attention he will always start laughing.
That of all the books I read to him there are only two that he likes or will pay attention to (Goodnight Moon and Noisy Farm Animals).
He is his own little person with lots of expressions and opinions and desires that is blossoming more and more every day.

This could go on and on for a long time, but I will stop there. I would like to say Happy Birthday Isaac. You are more of a joy to me and your dad than you will ever know. You deserve to be celebrated today for being alive and for being exactly who God made you to be. We love you more than words can possibly come close to expressing. You are truly a gift to us. The best kind of gift. It is a gift to us to be your parents!!!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Millenium Park

On saturday morning I woke up and I just knew it was going to be a good day. You know how sometimes you can just feel it, that all those little things that could all go wrong and ruin your day are just going to go right today. Well they did. It was a WONDERFUL DAY!! Perfect weather. My mom was in town and we all went down town to millenium park (isaac's first visit). Then we ate at the Park Grill (which I HIGHLY recommend if you are ever in chicago. They have had the best burger in the city for the past few years. And let me tell you , it is good!!) Below are some pics of our adentures.
Dan and Isaac standing in the Millenium fountain.
The whole fam in the fountain.
In millenium park there is this HUGE silver bean thing. Anyway, it cool because you can take pictures of your reflection in it and it usually looks pretty cool.
The whole gang. Isaac is getting a little sick of all these pictures.
Me and my mommy.

Me and my hubby! (and you can see that my belly is starting to get bigger :) )

BELOW: Isaac enjoying licking ketchup off of a yummy french fry.

New Gifts

Disclaimer - we do not abuse our child. He has had a rough go of walking lately. A few days ago he lost his ballance and fell RIGHT into the leg of a coffee table which gave him a pretty nice shiner which you may notice in some of the pictures below.



Isaac is showing off some gifts that he has been given. First is a hat knitted by my mom's friend Shelley. And then his tie dye shirt and hat (birthday gifts from grandpa).






Thursday, May 22, 2008

Sunset Beach Part 2





More fun on the beach with Isaac. Having a baby on the beach is a pretty funny thing. They just don't know what to think about any of it. The sand is so new and strange and the water. It is beautiful to see this brand new little person experiencing all these things for the first time :)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Sunset Beach Part 1

Hi All! We just recently returned from a very fun family reunion at Sunset Beach. It was Isaac's first beach trip. He enjoyed the sand a lot. He loved crawling on it and putting it in his mouth and basically getting it all over him. But, he didn't like the bath he got upon returning home. Here are some pics from vaction.

The whole group of us!

Dan made the biggest catch of his life!! He reeled in this big fish from the beach. Uncle Jim helped out some too.

Our view each morning as we woke up. We got to share a room with Isaac :)

Isaac enjoying some beach contemplation.

Isaac had to borrow his cousin Riely's beach hat (a little girly, but it worked).

More pictures soon...