a few new pics

Ok, so we really have been trying to post for a few days now and I'm giving up hope on the video I tried several times attaching of Jacob trying cereal for the first time. Perhaps I'll try again another day. Meanwhile, Jacob continues to be a very happy little fella. He loves it when mom or dad pick him up from daycare and go home to play. He is gaining strength in sitting but isn't stable enough yet. I did sit him in teh glider and gave him a few pushes to which he enjoyed!
We are 1 out of 4 in liking and eating all of his cereal that we offer him. The first time went a lot better than what I expected, the 2nd time I must have made it too runny, the 3rd time he was a cereal monster (pictures below), the 4th time Nate was solo on that one, but Jacob wasn't super interested.

After I finished feeding him here I allowed him to play with the spoon. We set it on his tray to see which hand he would use - the right hand. We couldn't believe it when he got it in his mouth right away! Of course what he didn't realize was that if he puts it in too far it makes you gag! oops!

He got a little messy, but it wasn't too bad. He is stuffed full!

Jacob super happy in the evening playing with the kitties and daddy.

WHAT?! Ok, so the other day Nate was going to the store and saw this along the side of the road. He had to tell me about it as soon as he got home. Later that day we were heading out of town and decided to drive past it and we proceeded to take the picture (I of course did NOT get as close as it looks in the picture - the crop function is fantastic.) Needless to say - how on earth does this happen? Is it road kill? It doesn't even look hurt. Did the poor thing just freeze to death? Perhaps... it was on a pretty cold day (below zero).

We enjoyed eating and talking with a couple who adopted in November and hearing about their story on Saturday night. It amazing the timing that God gives and how we see Him at work. Our stories are vastly different, yet SO similar!

Last night I went to a meeting for mothers/mothers-to-be of adopted children. It was again great to gather with people of similarity. It's so different than talking to mothers who gave birth to their children (...yes, we can share in parenting, but we can't relate on the same level, it's just different if you don't understand). I am looking forward to this group gathering monthly.

Jacob will be 5 months on Friday. He is changing so much! Before long he will be cutting teeth, sitting on his own, crawling all over. For now, we are enjoying his non-mobile stage! We'll have to find a few baby gates to block off areas of our house and we'll be hurdling those daily. (I wonder how the cats will deal with that - their cat liter is in the basement, where we intend to put a gate at the top of the stairs to prevent falling babies...I'm sure they'll figure out a trick.) He also likes to arch his back on his changing table to add a little twist into diaper changing. This is also starting in his car seat when we're trying to buckle him in. I am glad he is learning to use his different muscles that God has given him. He loves reading books, listening to music, putting things in his mouth and drooling.

Jacob's new adventure

Here I am again...Nate this time, trying my hand at posting a blog again. 'Tis been a while. But MB has a lot of school stuff that is weighing on her right now, and we had some pictures that we wanted to share. First of all, we bought a box of the rice cereal for Jacob to try something different. If you would ask me "Is it going well?" I am not sure what I would answer. Some seems to be going in...some does not. The best word that I could use to describe Jacob's reaction to it is that he is 'exploring' the new food. You tell me what you think his response is!



After supper tonight, Jacob wanted to help Daddy read devotions. So we read the Resurrection Story from Matthew as a family. Kind of fun to read an "out of season" story, but its a story that really is the focal point of our entire faith. As you can see from these pictures, Jacob has quite an interest in devotion time. Seems he may be following the Breen male tradition by being a preacher! We pray that he will breathe the Word of God in his life as he grows up. Tonight, he was definately EATING the Word of God! :)


On a much more serious note, this month is the month to celebrate Sanctity of Life. We had a service about life and children on Sunday night at our church. Because I had to help lead the worship time and Mary Beth was caring for Jacob (at times in the back of the church) we did not sit together. So I asked her afterwards if she was sad during the service because we were not able to naturally have a child. I knew that I was. But she had a different answer. She was thankful for Jacob's first mom who picked life for Jacob. She had options, but chose life - a monumental decision that has affected me, Mary Beth, and you - whoever you are! So join us in thanking God and mothers who choose life. Also, pray for mothers who don't want to choose life that God will work in their hearts.

Well, that's all for me for another few months.


Bye all!
-NB

Tuesday - pictures & video

Wintery weather has kept us in for some time. Saturday I waited for Nate to get home so he could care for Jacob while I went to the grocery store. It really is easier to go without him. Even though I'm sure it will be easier now than when he is three and is asking for things that I won't agree on. Saturday night we hosted our Bible study group and had a GREAT time! We were able to go out on Sunday to church for our niece Faith's baptism. Monday brought a late start to school and an early dismissal (let's just hope it counts as a day!). Tuesday brings another late start (which for Mrs. Breen means no school because Preschool is cancelled on late start days!)

I get the joy of spending an entire day with my son - which usually only happens on the weekends. I love going through his routine and seeing how he has created an excellent schedule. I didn't mind getting up to feed him at 6:45 this morning even though I would have loved to stay in bed and sleep a few more hours. He is all snug in his swing this morning having his morning nap.

While I have a pile of laundry to fold, report cards to start working on, lesson plans that need planned for next week, journals to read and write in and give back to my students, test results to graph, standardized tests to read through to give next week...many of those things I planned on doing after school yesterday but my principal said to get home. I am really thankful he sent me home because the roads were absolutely terrible when I left at 1:25, had I waited any longer I would have been in bigger trouble. Nate's sister Sarah watched Jacob until the neighbors sent her on her way home before the weather got too bad. We are so thankful to have loving and caring people watch out for Jacob. We will miss Sarah when she goes to Washington D.C. for the semester.

Many people in Sheldon lost power yesterday afternoon. Including the Pizza Ranch - no wonder they didn't answer my telephone call - I just figured they were ignoring the bosses wife! Nate proceeded to get the delivery car stuck a few times prior to deciding it was time to close up shop for the day. In the mean time our neighbors truck was stuck in his shop at work so my neighbor girl came over to play while the wife goes to pick him up. They brought over O's exersaucer from when she was a baby so Jacob can borrow it for awhile. He seems to enjoy it so far! We were very grateful that we did not lose power at home. I was a bit concerned about losing it and wondering what we would eat for supper - we don't have much in our cupboards - it would have been an interesting meal - cereal, chips, oranges, carrots, and a cherry salad left over from Sunday. Perhaps bread in the house wouldn't be a bad idea.

We love spending time with Jacob and helping develop to his next milestone. He has a slight flat head - he always lays his head to the right, so we're trying to correct that and do a lot of sitting, belly time, and positioning him on his left side while he sleeps. He's very strong on his belly now and rolling over pretty easy to his back. He can turn his body on to his side while laying on his back, but can't quite figure out what to do with his arm so he can get over all the way to his belly. He also enjoys standing (with the help of others). He is making all kinds of crazy sounds and has learned to spit through the holes in his pacifier! We love reading books to him and telling him stories. I tried attaching a video the other day and its just a pickle. I don't know why I think the next time I upload a video it will be easier and quicker - it NEVER is. It always continues to frustrate me. Well, after just leaving and letting it go, it made it!

Jacob's Aunt Sarah made a video set to the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire song of them 'rapping' and dancing to the song (perhaps you've seen in on facebook). Here is Jacobs first rap by himself!

We are awaiting the arrival of Jacob's next cousin to be born in Michigan. I'm sure they are ready for baby to be here too! Please pray for Tim & Tami & baby.

I'll try to get some pictures uploaded from the past few weeks...
(captions under each picture)

Baby Jacob & Faith meet for the first time.

Nate and Dan holding each others child.

Jacob (19 weeks old - or 4 1/2 months) and Faith (3 weeks old)

Reading stories before bedtime is one of Jacobs favorite things to do!

O and Jacob playing with the exersaucer.

Reading and belly time is a great thing to do together.

It's Tuesday

Nate said a few days ago, "It's going to happen on Tuesday."

So what you ask. Way back in May (graduation day to be specific) Nate and I were shopping in S. City Target. I had an open toe sandal (important detail) on with about an inch or so heal. I remember we were in the Home & Garden department browsing when I unfortunately rolled into my big toe on my left foot. It wasn't one of those 'oops' things, it was one of those 'OH MY WORD THAT WAS SUPER PAINFUL, I CAN'T WALK NORMAL' things.

I knew I wouldn't be keeping that toenail. It was bruised for a very long time. It finally started dying and I've been waiting a long time for that thing to come off! It was just hanging by a little bit which made putting on socks difficult. So I sat down and decided to twist and pull it off. Then I realized it was Tuesday, no way!!! I called Nate at work to tell him the 'big' news!

So that's what happened on Tuesday.

A few other things that happened on Tuesday:
*my little friend I. had her appendix taken out. Jacob and I enjoyed making it to the hospital to visit before she was dismissed.

*Jacob is making progress - no poops (so far) today! He has been enjoying gatorade for the past 24 hours.

*The temperature made it above 32 degrees!

Something I want done today:
*the Christmas tree needs to come down! The needles aren't dropping and it does still smell good, but it's time.

Hopefully I didn't gross you out too bad about my toe. :)

picture

I put the picture up at the top of the blog a few days ago. Soon after I was holding Jacob near the computer (unintentionally) and he started laughing. I wondered what he was laughing at - it was his picture at the top of the blog! It was the cutest thing ever. Then recently I was talking to my sister and telling her about Jacob doing that. I wondered if it was just a fluke - so I decided to show him the picture and he started giggling again!!

Unfortunately, Jacob still isn't feeling great. His poor tummy and bottom. Rest is definately his favorite thing to do now. Screaming fits (tummy aches) are usually followed up by a diaper change and lots of snuggling. We hope he feels better soon! We're trying to keep him away from babies, we don't want to spread his yucks to anyone. (Which stinks cause we like babies!)

Enjoy your weekend!

a year ago...

...we were at the jail in sioux county getting fingerprinted as part of the beginning stages in our adoption process. We also had our first meeting with our agency a year ago. My closest friends know that I sweat A LOT at WEIRD times. (Now the whole world knows!) It makes me sweat just thinking about last year and how nervous/anxious/excited we were to take the beginning steps in the process. (And to think about where God has led us in this year.)

It truly is amazing to look back and reflect on the path God hand picked for us. (....lots more thinking and reflecting....so much going through my mind I can't type it all!) but WOW!

With this blog we are so vulnerable. I feel everyone knows what is going on in our life and can watch baby Jacob grow. Don't get me wrong, I like the blog and enjoy writing on it (it's really for my own sake of writing things down and then being able to reference it later and to share with Jacob as he grows older) Another thing is that I write about what's going on - sometimes concerns with Jacob. I really appreciate how no one has sent messages saying we should try 'such and such' with his stomach virus.

I know the Lord placed important people in our lives during our journey. When I needed someone to 'relate' to He put someone there. (It truly is hard to relate to someone when they haven't been through what you are going through. Even if a person as known someone close to suffer similar circumstances, it still isn't the same.) Anyway, I wonder how God is going to use us and our story to help others. I hope I can be the person that others were to me during those really tough times, when someone just needs someone to understand and agree and not judge their feelings. Feelings are not bad, but how we act because of them can be sinful. (That's really difficult to deal with - I know there were times I acted sinful because of my feelings) But truly I wonder where God will lead us from this point on.

I love to use songs as my inspiration - the song "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath is my inspiration for 2009. Here's the chorus:

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones who are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

So using this I wonder how God will give me His eyes or His arms to reach out to those who are struggling with infertility or pursuing adoption or wondering where God is leading them.

So a year from now...what will I be reflecting on for the coming year? What will 2009 bring? May God bless your family in this new year.

N, MB, J

Happy 4 month day Jacob!

Poor baby Jacob! If only I could report that it was a good day. Jacob of course had his 4 month appt today at the dr office. We were prepared - tylenol had been given in prep for the shots that he would receive. We went with questions/concerns and came away with some good information.

Some of you know the past couple days haven't been the best. Jacob has not been himself - we've blamed it on teething. He does seem to have teeth moving - but ya never know when those pearly whites will actually cut through. His very stinky diapers have been pushed off onto each other (or our neighbor - she did volunteer!)

Jacob seems to have the stomach flu - which is going around. I guess it's good that I don't teach this week. So between teething symptoms, a rosy bottom, achy tummy, and shots today is not a typical Jacob day. Thankfully it's only come out the bottom end - however - it means we are going through way more diapers than normal!

I was able to capture a few snapshots while he was somewhat happy. You know I like to take pictures, and of course I had to get his 4 month shot!

And if you weren't sure what color his eyes are...they are BLUE!

Hopefully he will make a turn around and get feeling better. Until then, we'll keep snuggling and rocking him and giving him LOTS of love!