Baby D's NEW name and adoption update!

I know I haven't posted any updates in awhile, but life's been sort of busy! Since D's mom relinquished her rights back in February we've just been coasting along in the adoption process...by that I mean filling out paperwork, having home study's redone, having adoption worker come to home repeatedly, more paperwork, calling attorneys, and finally more paperwork;) 

However, we are almost DONE!

We had 'disclosure' yesterday morning where you sign a bunch of papers basically and then they give you this 100+ packet of papers listing everything that's happened(that they know of) since your child came into custody and as much(or little in our case) history they have on bio family. Ours had 68 pages of the 'unknown' box checked lol. Very informative let me tell you.

Next step is meeting with attorney next week and then setting up our court hearing to finalize. Our attorney said we should finalize in August!!! It's perfect because that is his birthday month, so we are coming full circle! 

With disclosure comes the time to give them your child's new legal name. We have discussed changing his name since he was placed with us 1.5 yrs ago, but today we had to decide once and for all. As with everything we have had many support the decision to change his name and a few who didn't understand.....in the end he is (almost) our child and we feel this is the best decision. Potentially for safety reasons and it's a parents right and joy to choose their child's name! I also, of course love how God gave people a new name in the Bible signifying the were a new person with a new identity---the old has gone the new has come!

Since Valentines day 2013(placement day) most of you have known him as just 'D' standing for Deasean(De-Sean) Tyirell.

Now to be known as Sean Marshall Long. 

Still to be known as big 'D' on occasion because that's a nickname that will probably stick around for a little while:)

We had shortened Deasean to Sean quite some time ago, so that is the name he knows and we have decided to keep it. 

Little did we know---Sean means 'God is gracious'. 

That could not be more true for the indescribable gift of a son that God has given us! Thank you all for your prayers throughout this entire process.

Sean Marshall LONG...last name has a nice ring to it for this momma:)

Lyla~ 9 months old.

9 months old already sweet girl!

Tid bits from the past month:

• This past week you weighed in at 16lbs ..your still my petite (yet chubby) girl:)

• You love finger foods! Your are pretty much over baby food and close your mouth mostly when we offer it. You prefer to pick up bites and feed yourself. You have had all kinds of things over the past few weeks..bites of anything we eat that are healthy:) Dad even gave you your first tiny bite of steak. Favorites are steamed fresh green beans, carrots, baked potato, cut up tomatoes, chicken, and any fruit!

• First tooth came through right after you turned 8 months! ! I think the second will break through anytime.

• You are very mobile by the end of 8 months and refuse to be still now for pictures haha. First of the month you army crawled/rolled...then you figured out crawling on all fours and are fast now. We have to keep up with you because the boys leave a lot of small toys/crumbs around. Your big brothers help keep you from eating things you accidentally find on the floor thankfully:)

• Starting saying 'dada' to your daddy this past week...it seems more intentional lately;) You babble mama still, but of course I don't notice you saying it around/towards me so much.

•Sleep: it's been all over the place this past month. You were sick for a week and very congested so you woke up every 2-3 hrs that week. Teething and an ear infection(I believe--never took you to dr just did home remedies and it went away) woke you up the week after that. Mostly you wake up twice a night though when things are going smooth. 

• Naps: now that you can sit up and pull up in your crib sleep can be a fight! I end up rocking(or nursing) you to sleep pretty often just to get your naps in. I've done that with you and your brothers until about a year old when you no longer need it...so this too shall pass:)

• You are definitely a water baby! You love love the pool, bath, shower! You don't even mind briefly going completely under at the pool and just splash nonstop of course.

• You keep yourself busy exploring all over the house now that you are able and still love to watch your brothers every move!

I will be leaving you for the first time next week over night---I have not left you for more than 3hrs before and I've only done that about 3-4 times! Your daddy and I are going to a marriage retreat for adoptive parents. We signed up end of last year and at the time it seemed so far away...so I just cant believe it's here!! It's  stressing me out greatly lol. You will be with your two wonderful grandmas(and your bubba's), so I'm praying you do just fine without me for the night. More so that I do fine without you! You still don't take bottles well, however, Im hoping you make do while I'm gone. Third time around does not make it any easier to leave one of my babies for the first time!

 

Here's pictures from this past month! You are changing so quickly and beautiful as always!

Ice cream date with daddy!

Lovin splashin in the pool!

Eating at Cheesecake Factory for Mommas birthday! First time to have chicken and loved avacodo as usual.

Brushing your one tooth;)

 

You acted tired and laid down then popped with a huge grin:)

On the move as usual!

4th of July! 

Lovin on your daddy!

Lyla~8 months old

 Eight months old today!!! Time sure isn't slowing down:( 

Even though this is our 3rd time around it's always amazing to watch how fast you learn and grow! You truly bring so much joy to each of our lives! Even D gets so excited to see you when you wake up! He yells, "Lyla, Lyla!!" You two love to play games where you rollover together and both laugh histerically! 

Then Breyton loves to be your protector...he is the first to let me know if he thinks your in danger and makes sure you don't get into anything your not supposed to. Both boys love to entertain and spoil you! They are always bringing you toys and doting on you. Your daddy is completely wrapped around your finger of course. We truly are blessed and thank God everyday for you.

Tid bits from the past month:

• You are pretty much always smiling!! You are a way happier/laid back baby than B was lol...about tied with D haha.

• You love to laugh at your brothers antics and are joining in on making them laugh back now. 

(Pic of Breyton doing a puppet show for you! You loved it:)

• You have very ticklish armpits and feet:)

•NO teeth still! Breyton was 10 months before his first came through..so I'm just thankful for late teethers! No real biting mommy yet:)

•You really enjoy eating solids! You've had all kinds of things by now and I haven't really found anything you just refuse to eat. We were mostly doing one meal a day until this past week I've been consistently feeding you solids twice a day now. You love teething biscuits as a snack!

•You nurse every 3 hours and still refuse bottles pretty much. You have had 1 bottle in the past several months. It hasn't really been a problem though. If I have to leave I plan it right after you eat and now that you can eat solids then they can feed you that if needed.

•Mobility: You have really started to become mobile now, so I have to be real careful where I leave you and what toys the boys leave laying around! Still just army crawling more and more plus rolling around lots. You get up on all fours lots to rock back and forth and will push up on your tippy toes..like a push up position lol.

•Sleep: There has been some steps forward and steps back lol. You were miraculously doing awesome for a couple nights and sleeping 5-6 hr stretch and one night went 7 hrs! However, this week we are back to 3.5-4hr stretches mostly. Oh well, I'll take what I can get!

•Naps: most days take 3 naps still....you will take a short one in the morning bc we are usually out and about and then 1 longer one in the afternoon when we are home. Then depending on afternoon nap you still need a 30min cat nap in the evening. We will have to drop that later this month bc bedtime has gotten pushed back pretty late to 9:30ish. Which I don't mind too much for now!

•Each month you change so much and actually look less and less like Breyton did as a baby! Your hair has stayed the same color lately and eyes as well. 

Trying to steal bubba's ball at tball practice early this month. 

 

Hanging out by the pool! You love it.

At your check up:) You loved the noisy paper!

At daddy's Battle of the Brave baseball game!

Kisses from bubba.

All snuggles up. You love having your back scratched:)