Canada: Part 3

     For our remaining time in Canada, we really enjoyed just spending time with family.  We put puzzles together, played in the floor, took a walk to the greenhouses, and took a few videos of the cousins together.  It was a wonderful time, and one of the few times that Marcus wasn't totally out of sorts.  He's back to normal now (thankfully) and has been doing well these last few days.  I hope you enjoy the last installment of the pictures from our trip to Canada.  :)

Emma pulled Marcus around some in the wagon.

Mark and I took Marcus for a walk to the greenhouses.

Marcus with his Grandpa at the greenhouses.

They put Mark to work...just like old times.

Uncle Ralph, bunching as usual. :)

"Do I want to pick flowers or just eat this cookie?"

Here are some of the beautiful flowers they grow.

Here are some of the sweet girls, chatting away as they work.

Emma, Sam, and Aunt Lisa feeding a starving Marcus.  *Notice: She still had plenty of
room to hold Marcus, even though she was 2 1/2 weeks away from her due date*

Emma was really great with Marcus.

Marcus was smiling when he had his paci in, but as soon as we told
Grandpa to take it out, he lost his mind again.

Sam and Marcus BOTH were happier in the wagon.

Grandma, Sam, Emma, Grandpa, and Marcus

I take this same picture every time and none of them seem to age. 
Mark, his dad, and his brother, Greg.

Back at home, playing with his new car from Grandpa and Grandma Schuurman.

He was a smiley boy today.

Ok, I just HAD to take a picture of his sweet little tush and toes.  PRECIOUS!

Canada: Part 2

     I didn't mention this in the last blog, due to time, but Sunday, during the festivities, Marcus was quite fussy and unhappy (most of the time).  He only wanted Mark or I to hold him, cried when others did, and when we put him down to play, he would lose his mind.  Obviously other family members tried to help out, but he wasn't happy unless he was with one of us, for the most part.  I just thought this was because he was in an unfamiliar place with lots of people. 
     Well, we put him to bed as usual that night and we went to sleep just fine, but around 2am he woke up crying.  Mark tried to give him a paci so he'd go back to sleep, but I could tell by his cry that he was far from that.  Long story short, he was awake until 3:30.  I changed his diaper, gave him another bottle, then baby tylenol, tried singing, rocking, etc.  NOTHING worked unless I just held him and didn't give any indicator that I was going to put him down.  Luckily, there was a bed in the room where he was sleeping, so I just propped myself up on it and held him for probably half an hour.  When he was good and limp, I put him back in bed and he didn't wake again until the morning.  It was THEN that I felt his upper gums and realized his top two teeth were making their grand appearance.  His gums are translucent and one of the teeth is just baaaaaaaarely peeking through. 
     So I'd like to chalk Marcus' behavior up to teething alone, but after Mark and I saw him beside numerous other children, all within months of his age, we think he's a different kid.  We were having the "Is he ADHD?" conversation last night and yes, we know it's too early to tell that.  He's just a super busy child who's into EVERYTHING, everybody's business, and who's extremely energetic.  We were joking that when he was old enough to go to school, teachers would say, "I hope I don't get THAT kid..." 
     Now, I say all that half joking, but semi-serious about noticing the differences.  What IF he has a disorder when he grows up?  What IF he has "issues?"  Will we love him any less?  Will that alter our decision to have other children?  And the answer???  NO!
     The Lord has blessed us with the right child for US and we are the right parents for HIM, no matter the circumstances.  Some days we are absolutely wore out and exhausted from hearing him continually cry and/or changing the 4th blowout diaper of the day, but there are so many other times that he lights up our hearts with smiles, laughter, and cuddles.  Last night, for example, he went to sleep sweetly babbling and when we went to check on him a few hours later, he was on his back, hands up, behind his head, sleeping like a precious little angel. 
     We LOOK FORWARD to watching and helping him grow up, no matter the challenges, because we LOVE him.  We love each other, we love Marcus, but most of all, we love the LORD JESUS CHRIST!  It is in HIM we find strength, in HIM we have hope, and in HIM we know the real meaning of love. 

Enjoy the rest of the pictures. :)

Marcus in Beppe's room (Mark's grandma)

Beppe wanted to hold Marcus but he wasn't too sure about it.

Mark, Marcus and his great-grandmother

Beppe with 3 out of her 4 great-grandchildren.  Yes, Marcus was just a joy!

Cousins

They are so sweet!

Mark was making them laugh by making a teddy bear "poop" on my head. 

Sweet Sam

Road Trip to Canada: Part 1

     Last Friday, Mark, Marcus, and I left for Canada around 11:15am.  Mark had surprised me by renting a Sant Fe (mid-sized suv) so it made for a lot easier packing and driving.  It allowed us to crawl into the back seat to entertain and/or feed Marcus.  We drove to just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio and stayed with the Carneys, our sweet friends from UNCA.  It was nice to finally meet their sweet baby boy, Oliver, who's 4 weeks older than Marcus.  We all went out to each, the boys played, we talked, then we bathed them together before putting them to bed.  Even though it was a short visit, it was still great to see them again and finally meet Oliver. 
     We left around 6am and had a few unexpected stops before arriving in Canada around 3pm.  We were immediately greeted by Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Greg, Aunt Lisa (who's BEAUTIFULLY pregnant), Sam, and Emma.  It was just so nice to be out of the car, but even better to see our sweet family. 
     Sunday morning, we went to church and right afterwards, had LOTS of family members come over for sandwiches and snacks.  There were close to 50 of our family members, not counting the 21 children and babies in attendance.  5 women were pregnant, so children were EVERYWHERE!  Below shows PART 1 of our pictures. Enjoy! :)

Oliver and Marcus enjoyed playing together in the bath.

This is where Marcus crawled around Oliver, pushed him out of the way, took his toys, and peed on the wall.  Yes, he's a bully.

Just arrived: Checking out Uncle Greg, Emma, and Aunt Lisa

Marcus got a new, "car" to match Sam's.  They rode around together.

Sunday morning, Grandpa took Marcus out to see the horses before breakfast.

Emma helping Grandma set up the drinks.

Mark, Uncle Ray, Grandpa, and Uncle LeRoy

Mark's cousin Lor holding her new niece, Rachel.  Lor is pregnant as well. 

This is Addison, Mark's cousin Andrea's oldest daughter.

Here's Samara enjoying a cupcake.  Her mom is Mark's cousin Alison.

Emma and Aunt Leah being silly

Sam and Nigel playing trains.

Aunt Ran feeding Marcus chocolate icing (even though I said, "no" multiple times...I just gave up.)

Calvin and Alison's newest arrival: Hollan

Mark's cousin Letitia holding her newest: Hannah Joy.

Addison and Sarah, loving cousins.

Aunt Audrey holding her grandchild, Megan.

Mark's Aunt Corrie and Uncle Frank drove in and here they're talking with Mark's other Uncle, Ralph.

Mark's Aunt Hilda-Ann and cousin Vanessa enjoyed watching Marcus play in the grass.

Grandpa and Emma Grace

Emma and Uncle Mark

Uncle Greg feeding Marcus a freezie pop.

Mark's cousin Ryan and his wife Judy stopped by after most people had left.  Their sweet boy, Jared was "mowing" as we talked.  Judy is expecting a baby as well.