KEEPING UP WITH TYLER

FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 8-2011

2011-10-14T07:06:00.002-05:00

TYLER'S 3 1/2!!!!

2010-07-19T07:35:00.004-05:00

PICS TAKEN JULY 2010

TYLER'S THREE!!!

2010-03-05T07:38:00.002-06:00

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER........

FAMILY PIC 2009

2009-12-21T11:26:00.003-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009!!!

2009-12-19T15:58:00.002-06:00

I'm quite proud of our Christmas card this year!!!

2009 SANTA VISIT

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

EASTER 2009

2009-04-16T19:30:00.005-05:00

This is my whole fam....minus my siser.
Grandma, Brianne, sis, Julia, Tyler and my momma:)

How cool is this dude?!?!

Cheese!

Look at his dimple:) he has only 1

1 hot shot!

Even a bigger CHEESE than before:)

Tyler's checking out what the East Bunny bought him....

His Easter surprises!

So Pretty.....

This is the look that you get when you ask Tyler to make a "mean" face:)

Coloring that egg....

SMILE!!! finally a decent pic of Tyler and I

Fun! Fun!

Writing is "name" on his egg before we color it.

Hope everyone had a great Easter!!!

TYLER TURNED 2!

2009-03-30T14:52:00.003-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGZCpymwWE8

This video was taken at Monkey Joe's on Tyler's 2nd birthday:)

Still Catchin' Up

2009-02-16T20:37:00.003-06:00

Catchin' Up!

2009-02-16T18:39:00.011-06:00

I'M SUCH A BAD BLOGGER!!!

2009-01-05T13:40:00.002-06:00

My excuse?????

We spend most of our time in the family room with Tyler. His train table and most of his toys are in there......so, I'm on my laptop most of the time. The reason pics don't get posted is that my laptop takes to long to load them!!!! I have to get the time to get in the spare bedroom on the desk top computer to post pics ......and there is way to much for Tyler to get into in there!!!

I'm so behind!!! So much has happened! We have had our Gotcha Day(Christmas Eve), Christmas that lasted a week, New Years and Tyler turned 2 on the 3rd!!! I can't believe I have a 2 year old! It doesn't seen possible!

Stay tuned for Pics!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

2008-12-12T09:44:00.005-06:00

Now that everyone has had a chance to receive their card, I thought I would post it. I am quite pleased with the way it turned out:) He's such a cheese!

THIS KINDA CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.....

2008-11-14T16:12:00.003-06:00

I FOUND THIS ON ANOTHER BLOG AND IT PULLED ME IN....THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH YOU.

Trip to Australia

Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia. You've heard it's a wonderful place, you've read many guidebooks and feel certain you're ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you can look forward to being pampered on the trip.

So you go to the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is no seat for you; you'll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait—and wait—and wait.

Flights to Australia continue to come and go. People say silly things like, "Relax. You'll get on a flight soon." Other people actually, get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry "It's not fair!" After a long time the ticket agent tells you, "I'm sorry, we're not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat."

"By BOAT," you say. "Going by boat will take a very long time and it costs a great deal of money. I really had my heart set on going by plane." So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than air. But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat. It is a long trip, many months over much rough seas. No one pampers you. You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three times, marveling about each trip.

Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. It is more exquisite than you ever imagined, and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea. You have made many wonderful friends during your voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather than by air.

People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are able to travel only once, perhaps twice. Some say things like, "Oh, be glad you didn't fly. My flight was horrible; traveling by sea is so easy."

You will always wonder what it would have been like to fly to Australia. Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty of Australia is not in the way you get there, but in the place itself.

So you see... No matter what path we travel, how long it takes, only Good can come from it.

IS IT JUST A RUMOR........

2008-11-12T08:52:00.002-06:00

OR WILL IT BE TRUE????

Last night on adoption.com I read that Guatemala may be opening adoptions to the U.S. again in January 2009....maybe. No one knows if this is true, some have heard this from different sources. You have no idea what kind of EXCITED feeling I got through my body:) MY HEART IS TOTALLY IN GUATEMALA!!!

Until something happens and decisions are made, please continue praying for the people of Guat. The government to make the right decisions in the best interest of the babies, for the birth mothers and everyone else that has been affected.

FOR NOW.....MY FINGERS ARE CROSSED AND I'M PRAYING THEY GET THIS MESS STRAIGHTED OUT SOONER THAN LATER:)

OK....I HAVE A LOT OF CATCHIN' UP TO DO!!!

2008-11-10T15:58:00.002-06:00

Here's just a couple pics of my Lil' stinker for now:O)

1 YR AGO....cont.

2008-11-10T15:28:00.007-06:00

HERE ARE A FEW PICS OF TYLER 1 YR AGO TODAY.....I'M MISSING A COUPLE WAY CUTE ONES BUT TYLER WOKE FROM HIS NAP BEFORE I COULD GET THEM POSTED.......I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH HE'S GROWN!

ON NOV. 10TH LAST YEAR and YESTERDAY.......

2008-11-10T15:00:00.004-06:00

One year ago today I visited Tyler for just the second time ever, he was already 10 months old and wanting to walk so bad! My Mom and my sister went with me to meet him, we had an awesome trip of course. 1 YEAR AGO TODAY!.......Where does this time go?!?!?!

We were in PGN with what we thought was no end in sight until I made a call to Laura that works at PGN and answers the phone there the day before we had to come home and she said our file was on "Barrios" desk waiting to be signed out!!! At that time, before the mess going on in 2009, being on his desk meant that your file would be out of PGN in about a WEEK! Knowing this, and hoping it was true made it so much easier for me to leave Tyler with his foster parents the following day....this meant that I would be back within the next few weeks to have him for-ever!

1 YEAR AGO we had no end in sight and YESTERDAY, NOV. 9th Tyler has been home for 10 MONTHS!!! Can you believe it!?!?!

21 MONTH OLD PICTURES!!!

2008-10-13T21:59:00.002-05:00

www.tyleredwardcarlos.blogspot.com

2008-09-28T14:35:00.001-05:00

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!

2008-09-14T21:05:00.003-05:00

Monday, September 15th is Independence Day in Guatemala!

HAPPY

INDEPENDENCE DAY

TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS!!!

JUST SOME RANDOM PICS

2008-09-13T11:03:00.013-05:00

This is Tyler with Gibby, Neal and Melinda's dog....they were our next door neighbors a few years ago. Chance(our Lab) and Gibby loved each other! Tyler really liked hanging out with a little dog for a change:)
This pic was taken over at Neal and Melinda's house, they hosted a Mizzou/Illinois football party. After this night, Tyler now calls slides....Weeees:)
This is 1 of the many girlfriends Tyler has:) How cute are they sittin' next to each other:)

And are these boys for you or what???:) It was such a nice evening, the flat screen had to come outside. Moms and kids went upstairs and inside when the bugs came out. Tyler gave it up pretty early, he didn't have his usual naps....
The Grateke's have an awesome play set! The kids loved it! Here is Tyler going down the...WEEEEEE:)

The annual Labor Day Party at Aunt Sara's house, so much fun!
Carson and Tyler hangin' out on mom's raft:)

Last Monday my sister and I took Tyler to a park in Lake Saint Louis. It would have been so much more enjoyable if it would have been about 10-15 degrees cooler....it was way to hot to get on any of the equipment. Hence all of the water pics:) We made the most of our time and can't wait to go back when the weather cools off!

I love the hair!

How cute is this little guy!?!?!

CAN'T SEE WITH CHOO-CHOO UNDERWEAR OVER MY EYES.......

TYLER IS VERY INTERESTED IN GOING POTTY ON THE BIB BOY POTTY, SO WE WERE NAKED MOST OF THE DAY ON FRIDAY:)

I LOOOOVE ELMO!!!!!
DOESN'T EVERYONE CLEAN NAKED WITH UNDERWEAR ON THEIR HEAD??? :)

**edited to remove the pics without a diaper on.......gosh darn the sick old people in this world.......**

NEVERMIND....SCRATCH THAT LAST POST.

2008-08-31T01:08:00.002-05:00

TYLER'S BLOG SPOT IS BACK TO NORMAL!! I WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE IT SOMEWHERE OUT IN LONG LOST INTERNET LAND. THANK THE LORD:) I CAN RELAX AGAIN.......

OH NO!!!!

2008-08-29T13:05:00.002-05:00

AS EVERYONE CAN SEE....I DID NOT DO MY BLOG WELL TODAY.....I WAS TRYING TO ADD A NEW TEMPLATE FROM A DIFFERENT SITE AND OBVIOUSLY IT DIDN'T WORK.....HOW DO YOU GUYS DO THAT!?!???

AND I LOST SO MUCH!!! DANG-IT!!!

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW???
THANK YOU:)

TYLER'S 1ST CARDS GAME!!!!!

2008-08-24T21:22:00.001-05:00

GO CARDS!!!!!!

TYLER WENT TO HIS VERY FIRST ST. LOUIS CARDINALS GAME TODAY! WE HAD SO MUCH FUN:) MY DAD RECEIVED OUR TICKETS AS A FATHERS DAY GIFT, THEY WERE IN THE "REDBIRD'S CLUB". IT IS THE BEST EVER UP THERE.....GOOD SEATS, AIR CONDITION WHEN YOU WANT TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT, YOUR VERY OWN BAR, AND AN AMAZING SELECTION OF FOOD! MY MOM IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET THESE TICKETS FROM HER BANK A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR, THE BANK HAS SEASON TICKETS AND ONLY THE "SPECIAL" ONES GET TO USE THEM. TODAY DAD TOOK MYSELF AND TYLER AND MY BROTHER AND SISTER.

PaPa and Tyler smiling for the camera before we made it to our seats....our first little photo session:)
What a CHEESE!
STL Cards are #1!!!!
Trying to get a couple good pics of Tia, aka aunt Andrea, my sister:)

He's a NUT!
Look at those shinny whites!

Still Trying to get him to look at the camera.....not working:)

The view from our seats........the famous STL arch!

Look at this cool DUDE:)
PaPa, Tyler, Uncle D, aka Derek and Tia, aka Andrea:)
Here's Tyler and Mommy's photo shoot:)

Oh, and did everybody notice his hat??? He is so proud of his hat and keeps that thing on! He's been wanting a hat since last night when I took him in Dick's sporting goods and I couldn't find the toddler section.....went to Dick's again today before the game, same thing, wanted a hat......Finally got a hat when we got to the game and he had loved it since! FUNNY!!!

I think this is the most perfect pic he has ever taken.....so cute with that little hat on:)

The STL view again....
Sis and her man:)
He pointed to every air plane that flew by.....probably 5-6:)
And I think he experienced his 1st sugar high....it wasn't pretty. He he is drink our soda:) He LOVES it and gets upset if you take it away.....today was a special day right????

Not anymore, we got in to the car and he was so tired but he couldn't fall asleep....he just cried, he was sooooo uncomfortable. Needless to say, he crashed early tonight:)

And another drink..........

We took some of his "tractors" aka, cars and trucks:) It kept him busy for about 5 min in the middle of the game.
Dad and his kiddo's and grandson:)
MOM and BABY
Peek-a-Boo Tyler!

This pic was taken after the game at my mom and dad's house.....since my brother is in from Springfield, we had dinner tonight before he drives back tomorrow morning. We had such a good weekend of fun with him!
Here's our pose by the infamous.......
And my most favorite player........Albert
Tyler has be really puckering up lately......How SWEET!
And MOM even got to wear hos favorite hat.........what a lucky woman! :)

JUST A SWIMMIN:)

2008-08-22T09:22:00.003-05:00

Sorry, Just a few pics for now.....in the middle of posting them my camera battery died:(

More to come.

These few were taken at a public pool in O'Fallon, MO called Alligator Creek. Tyler absolutely LOVES it! It has a zero entry in the kiddie area and is just the right depth for him all over! The deepest is about 2 1/2 feet:)

We were just hangin' out this day.....It was a Sunday and DAD got to come with us!!!

Oh, By the way.......Tyler learned how to swim all by himself in his life jacket!!!! He has the balancing thing down! He LOVES being independent in the POOL and playing with his cousin Jay and all of the other kiddo's:) He grew up way TOO BIG when he didn't need mommy in the pool anymore! Allthough, it's kinda nice, the weather is cooling off and so is the pool water:)

DAD AND KENNY'S FISH FRY

2008-07-28T12:24:00.006-05:00

On Saturday, my dad and Kenny had their "Annual Fish Fry". It was soooo HOT outside, but that didn't slow Tyler down. We had lots of GOOD FOOD and FUN with FAMILY and FRIENDS!!!

OH, AND HIS SHIRT IS SO FUNNY.......IT SAYS,

DON'T

LOOK AT ME,

THAT SMELL

IS COMING FROM

GRANDPA!!!

HAHAHA!!!!!!!!

These few pics are of Tyler and one of his first juice boxes ever!!! He loved it, his mouth never came off the straw!
What a cool, BIG kid with a juice box:)
Do we have a sports player???? Tyler had so much fun playing with all of the different kinds of balls, the wiffle bat and the Frisbee.

Grandpa (my dad ) playing alittle frisbee with Tyler......Think he knows how to do it now??? It look like there's so serious thinking going on:)

Ang more pics posing with the juice box in hand!
With the tongue out???

WHAT A FUN FRIDAY!

2008-07-28T10:56:00.010-05:00

THE RITTER TRIPLETS!!!!

On Friday, we had some first time visitors to the house! Tyler's friends Evaline, Kate and Nicholas came over to play for a couple hours. The kids had so much fun and Kelly( their mom ) and I had some much needed catch up time.

Kate and Nicolas playing with one of Tyler's Birthday balloons, those two absolutely LOVED shaking that balloon around......as you can see, Evaline wasn't so sure of it:)

Look at Evaline go!!!! Evaline and Kate are getting so good a taking several steps in a row! They love to "practice":) The babies turned 1 in May and Evaline and Kate are almost walking and Nicholas is such a good crawler, he is so good at walking...when he's holding fingers:) He's not far behind those girls!

Here's all 4 of the stinkers........winding down. They were all getting tired and HUNGRY! Aren't they soooo CUTE though???

The kiddos thought Tyler's bug house was pretty cool! This is Evaline having so much fun going in and out!
Nicholas is sooo Cute, look at the way he crosses his legs. Kelly says he does this all of the time!!! I LOVE HIM:) He sat back and played with the ball popper for awhile and then decided to join all of the crazy kids in the Bug House:)

Here's Kate with that balloon! She was having so much fun shaking it, giggling and screaming.....way too funny! You can kinda see Nicholas behind her with the biggest smile ever:)

I love the pics of all 4 of them, the had so much fun together! Tyler learned to share his toys so good:) This one balloon wasn't enough, I had to goo grab another out of his room. 2 balloons = way fun kiddos!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!

2008-07-09T13:35:00.003-05:00

TYLER HAS BEEN HOME 6 MONTHS TODAY!!!!

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE???

I FEEL LIKE I AM LIVING AN AWESOME DREAM.......I LOVE BEING A MOM!!!!!!!!!

18 MONTH PICS

2008-07-08T11:38:00.001-05:00

HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAV. PICS THAT WE GOT TAKEN OF TYLER ON SUNDAY.

JULY 6, 2008

WE REALLY THOUGHT THIS BEACH SCENE TURNED OUT REALLY CUTE!

HE LOOK'S LIKE HE'S STRUTIN' HIS STUFF ON THE BEACH:)
YUM! THIS SAND IS GOOD:)

ONE OF OUR FAV SHOTS!
TROUBLE:)

TYLER EDWARD CARLOS HASEKAMP

I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER

2008-07-08T11:22:00.003-05:00

I GOT THIS AMAZING POEM FROM ANOTHER BLOG AND HAD TO SHARE IT! ENJOY!!

LEGACY OF ADOPTION

Once there were two women, neither knew the other

One you do not remember, the other you call mother.

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name

One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you an aim.

Two very different lives shaped yours into one

One became your guiding star, the other was your sun.

One gave you emotions, and one calmed your fears

One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.

The first gave you life, the second taught you to live it.

The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it.

One gave you up—it was all that she could do,The other prayed for a child—God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears,The age-old question of all the years,

Heredity or Environment, which are you a product of?

Neither darling, neither ... just two different kinds of Love.

-Author Unknown

MORE FIRST VIST PICS

2008-06-30T09:24:00.007-05:00

THESE ARE MORE PICTURES TAKEN ON OUR FIRST VISIT TRIP

TYLER WAS 6 MONTHS OLD

JUNE 30TH - JULY 4TH 2007

ENJOY!

TEN LITTLE PIGS:)
HE HAD 4 TEETH WITH SEVERAL MORE WANTING TO COME THROUGH SOON
GETTING SOME DADDY LOVIN'
GIVIN' SOME TOO!
SOAKING UP THE SUN!
I LOVE THOSE BIG BROWN EYES!
SO SWEET
AMAZING!
GO CARDS!

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY............

2008-06-30T08:50:00.006-05:00

WE MET TYLER FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!

JUNE 30TH, 2007

OUR VERY FIRST FAMILY PIC! TAKEN IN THE LOBBY OF THE MARRIOTT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AFTER MEETING HIM:)

AND

MARK AND TYLER POSING FOR A PIC ABOUT A HALF HOUR AFTER GETTING HIM IN OUR ARMS......NOTICE, IT DIDN'T TAKE US LONG TO GET HIM CHANGED:) I DIDN'T DO ALL THAT SHOPPING FOR NOTHIN':)

POSING WITH MOM!
THIS IS EVERY ONE'S FAVORITE.....WE ALWAYS TOOK PICS OF OURSELVES HOLDING THE CAMERA UP ABOVE US AND HE SMILED EVERY TIME:) IT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING! AS YOU CAN TELL BY OUR EYES, THIS ONE WAS TAKEN ON ONE OF OUR MORNINGS JUST HANGING OUT IN BED:)
THIS ELEPHANT WAS HIS FAV! AND IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT....HE STILL FITS INTO THIS OUTFIT TOO! (WITH A ONESIE EXTENDER:))

One of the most amazing days of our lives! The day we had anticipated for since we saw Tyler's picture for the 1st time on March 21st.

Mark and I flew out of St. Louis on a 6am flight and arrived in Guatemala at around 12:30, after getting our luggage and finding the Marriott driver to get us to the hotel, we probably didn't get there until around 2:30 or so. We got to our room and started to get the gifts ready that we had brought for everyone.....mostly to take up time, you can only imagine how our stomach felt. Tyler wasn't expected to arrive until 4:00. It got closer and closer and we got more and more anxious. FINALLY........the phone rang! It was our fallicitor and our attorneys wife and what ended up in the end to be Tyler's foster dad:) They were downstairs in the lobby! We couldn't get down there fast enough. I had no idea what these people looked like and who to look for but I sure knew exactly who they were when I recognized Tyler:) That was an awesome feeling to know him already.

OLD PICS!!! MEMORIAL DAY WEEDEND AT GRANDMAS FOR FRIED CHICKEN DINNER:)

2008-06-20T11:54:00.002-05:00

AUTHENTIC GUATEMALAN SHIRT FROM FOSTER PARENTS!!!!!

2008-06-11T23:06:00.003-05:00

THIS SHIRT WAS GIVEN TO TYLER BY HUGO AND MONICA, AKA MIMI, FOR HIS 1ST BIRTHDAY GIFT.....WE WILL TREASURE THIS FOREVER!

I WILL BE POSTING MORE PICS SOON.....AS SOON AS I GET SOME TIME:) RIGHT, HUH??? WHAT TIME??? I HAVE LOTS TO POST! CAN'T WAIT TO GET THEM UP!

TYLER'S 1ST STL ZOO TRIP!!! 6/2/2008

2008-06-03T22:37:00.001-05:00

MON, MAY 19TH

2008-05-30T00:19:00.003-05:00

THIS WAS A MONDAY WHEN I WAS OFF WORK AND I GOT TYLER DRESSED IN THIS OUTFIT THAT I JUST LOVE!!! I BOUGHT THIS FOR HIM BEFORE WE WENT ON OUR 1ST VISIT TRIP 1 YEAR AGO LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS SIX MONTHS OLD, I'M SO EXCITED FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO WEAR IT SOME THIS SUMMER!!!
MY STYLIN' LIL MAN
HOW AM I GOING TO KEEP THE GIRLS AWAY????? OTHER MOMS OUT THERE.....ANY HINTS???? lol:)

AUNT JODI'S COLLEGE GRADUATION

2008-05-29T23:27:00.004-05:00

HOW HANDSOME IS HE????
UNCLE SCOTT HANGIN' OUT WITH JAY AND TYLER WAITING FOR GRADUATION TO START.
LOOKS LIKE THEIR TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING PRETTY SERIOUS HERE:)
AGAIN, DON'T MIND ME, PICS ARE OUT OF ORDER......THIS IS THE GRADUATE....MARK'S SISTER, TYLER'S AUNT POSING FOR A COUPLE PICS AT HER DUEPLEX BEFORE THE CEREMONY.
JODI WITH HER 2 FAVORITE NEPHEWS, TYLER 17 MONTHS AND JAY, 3 1/2 .

GRADUATION WAS FINALLY OVER AND THE BOYS WERE ABLE TO RUN AROUND AGAIN, THIS "GATOR" WAS OUTSIDE WHERE WE WERE TAKING PICS. TYLER LOVED IT~
CHEESE!!!

DO YOU THINK ANYBODY WOULD KNOW IF WE TOOK THIS THING FOR A SPIN????

MY VERY SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY AND TYLER'S DEDICATION

2008-05-29T23:03:00.003-05:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ME!!!!!

HERE WE ARE, IN CHURCH. ISN'T HE CUTE???? I COULD JUST EAT HIM:) HE WAS SO SWEET WRAPPING MY NECKLACE AROUND HIS NECK ALSO.....WHO NEEDS TOYS WHEN MOM HAS A NECKLACE???

***MY MOM IS WHO TO PICTURES OF TYLER'S DEDICATION.....AS SOON AS I GET THOSE PICTURES FROM HER, I'LL POST THEM**** (HINT, HINT MOM:))

THE MOST PERFECT POEM

2008-05-29T22:17:00.001-05:00

Instantly

How can I comprehend what I am about to see? The years of waiting now becoming a memory. Your eyes, your skin, your hair. Oh, the wonder of your face! I can’t believe this day we have finally embraced!
Instantly the pain I felt so deeply has now gone. Instantly I have a child to call my very own. Instantly and suddenly you are my dream come true. Instantly, so instantly I have been blessed with you.
I can hardly believe it, how beautiful you are! Practically perfection, the most precious one by far. A gift that was tucked away until this very day that we could meet, I feel complete knowing you’re okay.
Instantly the pain I felt so deeply is now joy. Instantly I now have met my handsome little boy. Instantly and suddenly you are my dream come true. Instantly, so instantly I have been blessed with you.
How can I begin to thank my Father up above for allowing me to know the depth of mothers’ love? Tears I’ve cried before this day don’t matter anymore. There’s joy in my heart from the start that was not before.
Instantly a good, perfect gift was bestowed on me. Instantly we get to share now ‘til eternity. Instantly and suddenly you are my dream come true. Instantly, so instantly I have been blessed with you.
I will try my very best to love and care for you. That’s what your other mom would have wanted me to do. A responsibility and honor to enjoy molding you into a man from just a little boy.

Michele Cervone Scott

EXTRAS

2008-05-23T10:38:00.005-05:00

having a seat~
watching a little TV getting ready to get "bucked" off very slowly.....

Tyler has Chance's tail in his mouth in this pic, not sure what he's thinking.....but isn't Chance so handsome?!?!

Chance and Tyler get along great! Tyler LOVES him and Chance mostly just tolerates him because he has taken all of the attention. Tyler is always hugging and rolling and climbing all over Chance and he doesn't mind it but as soon as he gets a chance to move closer to me, he does:)

AND THEN HE THOUGHT.....

2008-05-23T10:21:00.004-05:00

TAKING A BREAK......NO DIAPER NEEDED:)
HE'S TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM US AFTER HE TOOK IT OFF....QUICK LITTLE DUDE!
LOOK AT HIS SWEET LITTLE BOOTIE, HE'S GOING TO HATE ME WHEN HE GETS OLDER:)

HE DIDN'T WANT HIS DIAPER ON ANY MORE!

HE TOOK IT OFF!

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS COMING NEXT:)

YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT TYLER DID TONIGHT!!!

2008-05-19T20:19:00.003-05:00

*SORRY...I POSTED THESE PICS OUT OF ORDER, STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED THAT ONE OUT YET:)
THIS IS TYLER'S ITTY BITTY FIT HE THREW BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO GET OUT OF THE TUB THE 2ND TIME....IT DIDN'T LAST LONG.
AS YOU CAN TELL, ALL IT TOOK WAS GETTING BACK ON THAT 4-WHEELER

(WITH WET CLOTHES ON:))
KICKIN' AND SPLASHIN'

WE WERE CRACKING UP!
WHAT? IS THERE A PROBLEM?
BOTTOM WET, TOP DRY. LOL

HE HOPPED IN THE TUB VERY GRACEFULLY WITH HIS CLOTHES ON!!!!!! IT WAS HILARIOUS!!!!! I GUESS HE JUST WASN'T FINISHED PLAYING WITH HIS BATH TOYS:) HIS HAIR AND TOP OF HIS SHIRT DID NOT GET WET WHEN HE GOT IN......ALL BY HIS SHORT LITTLE SELF! SO FUNNY!!!! HE WAS NOT VERY HAPPY TO GET BACK OUT OF THE TUB EITHER.....THERE WAS A LITTLE FIT THROWN BUT WAS OVER ONCE HE GOT BACK ON HIS 4-WHEELER AND WENT ON HIS WAY:) WET!!!

FELIZ DIA DE LAS MADRES

2008-05-11T22:09:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was Mother's day in Guatemala.....this day has such a special meaning to us. It makes me think of the Mother's that Tyler had in his life before me. I think of his birth mom ALL of the time, she and her 2 other children hold such a special place in my heart. If it wasn't for her Mark and I wouldn't have Tyler. I pray she holds comfort in the decisions that she has made and knows that Tyler is safe and sound when she goes to bed at night. We hope she knows how much respect we have for her. We think of her often. FELIZ DIA DE LAS MADRES MARISOL!

Mark and I didn't get to meet Tyler's 1st foster mom but know that she gave Tyler so much love and great care.

And then Tyler was went into Monica and Hugo's care.......I can't say enough about Monica. She loved Tyler as her own. Tyler would not be the person he is today if it wasn't for the Love and amazing bond that Monica had for Tyler. We have contact with Hugo and Monica and plan to keep it for years to come. I can't wait for the next visit we have with them! I want Tyler to know who his 1st family was in Guatemala. We talk about them often. FELIZ DIA DE LAS MADRES MONICA! WE LOVE YOU!!!

MY GIRLFRIENDS TRIPLETS ARE 1 !!!!!

2008-05-05T21:03:00.004-05:00

Kelly and Nate with their BIRTHDAY kiddos
(Kate, Evaline and Nicholas)

Evaline, Kate and Nicholas......So Cute! I just LOVE them!!!!

After the "Walk for MS" on Sat. we went to a 1st Birthday Party for Kate, Evaline and Nicholas.......My girlfriend, Kelly and here husband Nate's babies. Tyler had so much FUN! Kelly got pregnant with these babies on her 1st try, my 4th try of In-Vitro, but we went through the cycle together.....goes to show, God has a plan for all of us......ours was to pursue adoption:) Kelly and Nate have their hands FULL! The babies are beautiful! So amazing! Thriving and growing and getting so big! I can't wait for Kelly to send me pics,when she does I'll post a couple:)Their real birthday is on Thursday, May 8th. * Edited to add pictures*

OUR WEEKEND....

2008-05-05T20:54:00.003-05:00

Our weekend started Saturday morning with going to a "Walk for MS" in support of our Sister-In-Law and Aunt to Tyler. As you can see in the picture Kim has so many friends and family that come. This is our 2nd year to walk in Troy and both years it has been a complete success!

HANGIN' OUT AT GRANDMA BETTY'S

2008-04-30T10:11:00.004-05:00

Tyler and his cousin Jay play so good with each other.....Jay loves Tyler so much and Tyler loves him just as much:)
Kim and Jay were making a Tyler sandwich on the floor, so much fun!

Just playin'
Tyler thinks he needs to sit on everything to drive it....he was a little to BIG for this car:)

He popped a wheelie!

my sweet baby boy

BATH TIME FUN!

2008-04-30T08:04:00.005-05:00

As you can tell, I haven't figured out how to post pictures to where the will show in the right order....Oh Well.
BIG DRINK!
Splasha, Splasha, Splasha!!!
Tyler LOVES to blow bubbles and thinks it's so neat!
When he's in the bath he call's this HUGE rubber duck his baby:) He gives it kisses and when he hugs it he pats it like we pat his back......it cracks me up!
What can I say about this picture?!?!?!

MORE PARK PICTURES

2008-04-27T21:38:00.003-05:00

Look's like a pretty serious talk about rocks is going on:)

Tyler tried to do everything his cousin Carson (5 yrs) did. It was too cute watching him trying to keep up:))

Tyler's favorite thing to do at the park was play in the rocks! We had do bribe him out of the rocks to get him to the slide:)

Carson's so CUTE!!!

OUR DAY AT THE PARK

2008-04-27T21:07:00.004-05:00

So happy to get to go down the slide with Tia!!!!

YEAH!!!!!

Let's do it again!!!

I LOVE THIS!!!

Carson's turn....here he goes:)

Last Monday, 4/21, we had amazing weather....it was warm and SUNNY!!! About 80 degrees, PERFECT!!! I took Tyler to the Avery Park in Troy for the very 1st time:) Carson also came with us. They had such a good time. Tyler really enjoyed playing in the rocks and going down the slides with Tia, aka Andrea. Carson just hung out and didn't get very crazy but still had fun! These are fun pictures that I took that day:)

just throwin' a couple out there....

2008-04-27T20:25:00.004-05:00

This pic is the only pic I have of Mandi with Tyler.....Tyler absolutly adores Baby Alli. In this Pic, Tyler is 15 1/2 months old and Alli is about 2 1/2 months. I took this on 4/19/08 at Staci Youngs baby shower! :)

We have such a super happy man....but to take a pic of him is so difficult, when he realizes the camera is on him, he comes toward you and this is what you get! :)

THIS MONTH, LAST MONTH....YOU KNOW:) these are pics that i noticed hadn't beed posted and needed to be....too cute!

2008-04-14T22:09:00.007-05:00

What a sad cowboy:(
this was so funny...i was going to change his diaper and after i took the diaper off he no longer thought he needed to lay long enough to put another one on....it was time to take a ride in his car:)
CHEESE!!! LOOK AT THOSE SHINY WHITE TEETH!
Andrea, aka "TIA" with 2 VERY tired boys .......

Paw Paw and Tyler at Easter:)
Having fun upside-down with uncle Derek.
One stylin' Easter dude:)
Yummy Cupcake, Maw Maw
Look! I found 2 eggs!

We now have 4 generations on our Crouch side of the family....My Grandma Violet Crouch, My dad, Larry Crouch, Me and TYLER! Pretty exciting!!!

Such a pretty day outside to play!
Hanging out with ELMO:)
Look at this mess....we couldn't resist a picture of this:)

THESE ARE MY FAVORITE PICS SO FAR....TAKEN 4/7/08

2008-04-14T20:55:00.001-05:00

He was pointing at the "flash" light.

You can see MY fingers in the side of this picture....I was playing "throw the blocks out of the wheel barrow" to maybe smile:)

I bought this pose! I LOVE IT!
Those eyes again....
This picture is the whole reason I went.....this is EXACTLY what I was wanting!!!

This is what he thought of the guy trying to get him to smile...this isn't the easiest age for him:)

How cute are these pics????? Unfortunately I could only buy two of the poses because of getting the others taken a couple days before....he doesn't like shopping but I can get a couple good pictures out of him:)

I'M CATCHING MYSELF SLACKING OFF.......

2008-04-14T20:50:00.002-05:00

Try to hang in there.....I'm going to try to post some more pics soon....I didn't really think I would slack off this much this soon....but.....I don't know, I guess I can say, I warned you:)

A COUPLE PICS SIS FORGOT....

2008-04-09T22:40:00.002-05:00

how funny is this one!?!?
LOVE IT!

these 3 are just a few more shots that I thought were pretty good also....i'm so proud to finally have a family of 3

OUR VERY 1ST REAL FAMILY PIC:)

2008-04-09T22:34:00.002-05:00

TAKEN 4-6-08

New Pictures of Tyler. He is already 15 months.

2008-04-09T20:29:00.008-05:00

Hey, It's Tia. For those that don't know Tia means "aunt" in spanish. Tia is easier to say than Andrea. Mommy is rocking Tyler to sleep. He was soo tired, he couldn't get into her arms fast enough. So I'm just updating with some of the pictures they got taken on Sunday.

Look At Tia's Sweet Angel!!

Getting Pumped for Pictures

Aww....Nighty Night. We love You!

Just Kidding...not sleeping, time to dance! All Famous "Tyler Dance"

"Cheese"

ODDS AND ENDS....EASTER AND....

2008-04-06T21:11:00.005-05:00

Here is Tyler in his Easter outfit. He was so CUTE!

And what's so wrong with Halloween a week after Easter????? Tyler wasn't home for Halloween in '07 but I had bought the costume "just in case". I had it hanging in the closet and Tyler wanted me to get it down. He thought it was pretty funny to have on. He liked looking at himself in the mirror:)

MORE PICTURES OF HUGO AND MI-MI:)

2008-04-04T22:46:00.005-05:00

Most of these pics were taken on Tylers Birthday, 1-3-07. A couple of them were taken they day before we left, 1-8-08, when Hugo and Monica were dropping off Tyler's VISA. Since we were in Guatemala for such a lenghtly time we were so fortunate to see them a couple times.

For Tyler's Birthday we invited Hugo and "MI MI" to the hotel for dinner, they were excited to come and we were so happy to share Tyler's 1st Birthday with them!

This was the day before we left Guatemala.....don't worry, we'll be back!!!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!

They got him a shirt for his birthday gift....I can't wait for him to wear it this summer!
And the ELMO pinata, a little to BIG to get back home......but the stick made it:)
A couple of pics of "Mi Mi" and Tyler getting a little last bonding time in....

TYLER'S FIRST FAMILY

2008-04-04T21:15:00.006-05:00

Tyler's first family was and still is so amazing.....unfortunately Tyler was moved from one foster home at about 9 months old and we were not able to meet that family, so I am speaking of Hugo and Monica....aka MI MI. We met Hugo on our 1st visit when he brought Tyler to the Marriott for us. He was a translator for his dad, our attorney.

It was my 2nd visit that I found out that Hugo and his wife Monica were then fostering Tyler....we were so excited to have him in their home. Hugo was my attorneys son and we felt very, very comfortable.

There is no way to thank them enough for what they did for Mark and I. The way that they took care of Tyler and the way that they LOVED him made the difference in the way that he transitioned in to our lives....he is the most unbelievable child!

Monica e-mailed us today telling us how much she thinks about him and how glad she is that he came into our home and made our lives so happy.

Feeling are so mutual....I think of them everyday, wondering how they are, when we will see them again so Tyler can remember who made such an impact in his life. How do thank someone for something like that???

More Catch Up Pics!

2008-04-03T23:17:00.013-05:00

This is his 1st Saturday morning out to the farm....dad had to put the stylin' bibs on him.
What a pose!
Just Playing. He loves his Ball Popper!
Thanks Melissa and Jill!

and the 1st snow,
he really didn't care for.
His puppy towel is so cute! I LOVE it! He's a fan of anything 'PUPPY':)

He loves his cousin Jay, here is a little bonding time...
Christmas!!! Only a few weeks late:)
Just sittin' back
Another family pic taken at the Hawk Pt. Athletic Ass. dinner and dance.
This robe is so cute on him! He thought he was pretty HOT stuff too:)

These pics were all taken from the time we got home on the 9th of Jan until right before Easter.

I'll post more soon!

THURSDAY NIGHT DOS DATE

2008-04-03T22:44:00.004-05:00

For about a year now Mark and I have been going out to dinner to Dos Primos in Troy with Brad and Mandi Todd about every other, if not every Thursday night....We have continued this now that we both have our babies. Dinners are definitely more interesting now than they were before Tyler and Alissa were here. They keep us on our toes for sure!

So...I guess you can say that Our Babies have already went on their 1st date:) Tyler was so sweet to Alissa tonight, he just smiled and wanted to touch her arm really soft, he did so well with her...he is so dang cute!

This is the only picture that I have of Alyssa and Tyler and it happens to have us in it also....Sorry. I stole this pic. off Alissa's blog.

Tyler's 1 yr Pictures

2008-04-02T21:49:00.005-05:00

TAKEN AT ABOUT 12 1/2 MONTHS OLD...ENJOY!

WE'RE AN ELMO FAN!

WHAT AN EXPRESSION!

MY LITTLE MODEL.....

About 2 weekS after we arrived home I took Tyler for his 1 year pictures, he did so good and like all first time moms I couldn't make up my mind between all of his great pics and got WAY too many! Oh WELL:) I CAN't bELIEVE i HAVE A 1 YR OLD!

Lets Play Catch Up....

2008-04-01T21:19:00.000-05:00

Ok....As most of you know, Mark and I just completed the adoption of the most perfect boy in the world in January. I should have started this blog a long, long time ago.

Mark and I started thinking about adoption at the end of Jan. '07..... we didn't think long because we signed a contract with our agency on Feb 9th, 07. The paper chase started. We had NO IDEA of what we were getting ourselves into.....

On March 21st, 07....a little over a year ago is when we saw the first picture of Tyler....it was a day that changed our lives for-ever....he was 2 1/2 months old in the 1st pic we got of him, it was instant LOVE and CONNECTION.

Good Intentions....

2008-03-31T21:35:00.000-05:00

I had very good intentions on getting so many pictures posted today/tonight.....as you can see, it hasn't happened. This whole slide show thing has proven to be a challenge for me.....so I have been downloading pictures all night to flickr....it's taking forever! I just thought a slide show would take less room. I was wanting to play "catch up" with all of our pics since we've been home:)

WILL I REALLY KEEP THIS GOING???

2008-03-30T22:56:00.000-05:00

I don't know.........but I think I might give it a shot! I have been "stalking" blogs for quite sometime now.....maybe it's my turn to start keeping one.

I'll try to post as often as I can with the latest happenings of Tyler:) Maybe this will make my picture taking habits a little better also.

SO HERE WE GO!!!!