Gotcha Days

I used to sit and bawl at those "birth stories" on a cable channel (when I used to have time to sit and watch TV - what was that now - 10 years ago?!?!?!?) years ago - now I also sit and bawl over "Gotcha Day" videos. Bethany has put together these two videos - almost as good as our own!!! :) If you've never seen a Gotcha Day - these are wonderful to watch- it is amazing and will touch your heart to see God match up familes across this big world with an even bigger plan in mind!!

Chloe - http://speedstream.netro.ca/bcs/china1.wmv
Addie - http://speedstream.netro.ca/bcs/china2.wmv

Oh and can't resist - here's Chloe's referral picture - I love looking back!!

Our latest family photo

That Joe - self timer on the camera and look at him go - maybe he should make a career change!!!

5,4,3,2,1 BLASTOFF!!

We had our annual rocket launch last night for Summer Reading Program at our library. Our family loves to build and launch rockets so this night is so fun for us - Chloe's even getting to enjoy it as well!! (She could care less about the rockets, but she loves the cones!!)

Not crazy - just good with bleach!!!

I have had email comments on how brave I am to put a child in white - no, don't kid yourself, I am not brave - just great with stain stick and bleach. By the end of the dress-wearing venture, we had M&M's, flower pollen, dirt, and who knows what else on the dress - I'm still in process of getting it all out!!! I've relaxed a lot since my three boys - they mellowed me out!!!

They Both Smell Sweet Too!!!

Sleepy Heads

I had two boys up and Chloe and decided to take a shower. When I got out of the shower I went to find Chloe - she had come up to find Aaron (the last one sleeping) and this is what I found.

She had crawled in bed with her blankie by Aaron and was laying very quietly with him - yes, he was rousing, but she was trying hard to be quiet!!! So Sweet!!!

Look Who's Two!!

The Birthday Girl!!

These were Chloe's first words this morning, "Birthday!!" Gotta love it!! Then she promptly went potty in the potty chair AGAIN - we are on a roll. We love it and yet, it's sad too - she's growing up way too fast!!

We'll share some pictures of her birthday -

See my new bracelet!

She is ALL GIRL!! Purses, bracelets - you name it!!

My Princess skirt that plays music when I put it on - I knew what to do with it!!! That girl's got rhythm!!

Loved these fruits and veggies - I wanted to take them all to bed!!

Chloe and her brothers!!

Who are those Cute Kids??

We do wierd things at our house for a picture!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day to our Dad - one of THE VERY BEST!!!
From Micah, Caleb, Aaron and Chloe

A Little Naughty - A Little Nice

Well - we have had a day!!! Mom is trying to be productive and Chloe is trying to be 2!!! While I was organizing closets - I was calling, "Chloe, where are you?" After a few minutes of that I decided to find her myself. I went looking and here is where I found her.

Yes - she found the chip cupboard!! Those are definately some of her favorites but it wasn't lunchtime!!!

BUT - the good part of the day is that Chloe just told me she had to go potty and so I sat her on the potty and within minutes she had gone!!! We have done this many times lately but usually no potty - so we are flying high - we all had to clap and cheer (yes, she had to call the boys upstairs and tell them too) and then have a couple of M&M's!! Wouldn't it be nice for that to continue?!?! Not even 2 yet - that is a record in the Bilby house!!! :) Just had to share! Even if she doesn't do it again soon - we are glad it happened once!!

Exactly One Year Ago

We took this picture last June - My how much we've accomplished in one year - last summer Chloe had just learned how to sit up, was beginning to crawl more, and started toddling around furniture - it is amazing to see how things have changed in one year - babies are amazing, aren't they?!?! God's plan is so good!!

Tagged....

I got tagged so here goes:

What were you doing.....

20 years ago.... (wish I could say I was just being born - but not quite!!!) I was almost a sweet sixteen - (whew - I'm younger than I thought!!) Who knows what I was doing - working part time in a Christian Bookstore - (I've always loved to be surrounded by books!) - going to High School - well, I would have been on summer break right now - probably sleeping in - doing chores in the morning, and spending my afternoons with friends and working. What a life, huh?!?! Oh yes - and driving my Chevette all over town while squirting wrestlers ( they were attending a wresting camp at our local university) with squirt guns - just when they thought we'd give them a ride - (those were my crazy days - hope my kids never do that!!)

10 years ago....My oldest, Micah, had just turned 1 in April - we were loving on that little guy - as only you can with your first - and now would have been ready for our second - Caleb - due in September of this year. Whew - looking back I am not sure how we did it - Joe was working full time, attending seminary part time, and I was trying to supplement our income by teaching after school/Saturday morning classes. We were living in Grand Rapids, Michigan in a townhouse and actually getting ready to move to yet another larger townhouse.

5 years ago....We had moved to Iowa by now and were settling into our lives here. The boys were keeping us busy along with church responsibilites, Joe's job, and now, my part time job as our local Children's Librarian.

3 years ago....We had begun our process of working toward adopting Chloe. (Yes, we had a slow process - we got her after over a year and a half of waiting.) We were still knee-deep in kids, work and church. AND all of our boys had begun hockey - that'll keep you busy!!

1 year ago....We had just finished celebrating Chloe's arrival here. We brought her home in April so we were settling in and I had just had to leave her with a sitter for the first time as I had to start on our Summer Reading Program at our library (only part time days, but it was still hard to leave her!!!). She was still getting up probably once a night but otherwise we were settling in!!! (We may have even had her off the bottle by then - it all blends together!!!)

Yesterday....We began our Summer Reading Program again - this is my busiest time of year - I worked almost 10 hours yesterday alone - YIKES!!! So, we are juggling my busy job, the boys summer REC activities, and a new sitter this summer. The boys are at the pool every afternoon while I am frantically trying to make the most of a few quiet hours to get house things done.

Today....Back to the Reading Program but I only worked 4 hours and then came home. Chloe decided today was a not a great day for a nap so we spent a lot of time together this afternoon and consequently, I didn't get much done except read, play and watch Dora!!! I spent the evening helping my husband outside in the yard - I was watering flowers, pulling weeds - you know the routine - I love to help outside though!!!

Tomorrow....You got it - Summer Reading Program again!!! Then, when I get off work, we have two important meetings - tomorrow needs to be covered in prayer!!! Well, everyday should be covered in prayer right?!?!

Wow - makes you think!!! SO - now I tag Sara and Verna!!!! Go Girls!!

Happy Birthday (a Little Early)!!

We celebrated Chloe's second birthday with Grandpa and Grandma while we were at their house this past weekend. (We're only a little early anyway!!) What a fun time - she danced, clap and sang along during "Happy Birthday" and blew out her own candles - who said they were the terrible two's?!!?!?

All in our jammies too - she was almost ready for bed since we had to wait for Dad and Mom to get home from their conference.

Hmmmmm

Some things just make you wonder - we had been out all morning doing errands and came back to my Dad and Mom's for lunch and then were planning to run out again - we were home MAYBE an hour - we went back out to get in the van and when I opened the driver's door all you could see what black stuff all over - when I opened the door behind the driver's door - we could see exactly the cause. Our portable DVD player, attached behind the driver's head, and basically blown up. The batteries were blown out of the machine - a whole side of the machine is melted - the batteries were just empty cases laying on the floor of the van and we are left with soot and black crud all over the van.



We proceeded to take some pictures and then the work of clean up.














Wow - as we were cleaning AND CLEANING and cleaning - we were thinking out loud - Chloe's car seat was covered with black sticky stuff and down below her seat is where the force was so strong the batteries blew out and shot down through the floor mat - rubber and all - and then burned the carpet underneath. We can only imagine what would have happened had it exploded when we were in the car MUCH LESS with Chloe sitting in her seat - which is where the impact really was. God is Good!!

I already called our insurance and they will take care of it - minus our deductible, of course, - we weren't planning on a big deductible right now - but we know God will take care of that too! So - we will just keep cleaning and thanking God that we are all ok and that we can drive our van home. We are still using rags that are coming in the house black - it is so gross, but wow, we have much to be thankful for.

If you have a portable DVD player - check the recalls and battery info - that is so scary!!

Helping Grandpa

I'm sure I can help you grill - Grandpa. Those hot dogs look tasty!! Everybody needs a grilling buddy!!

Pretty In Pink

Well - I thought it was a beautiful day and we needed some new pictures so I took Chloe outside for a photo shoot - she was not cooperative!!!


We tried by the peony's - China's national flower!











I said, "Stand up straight." Not "stick your arms up in the air."



















She kept pulling her shirt up when she finally put her arms down......




















I gave up!!!!! (They did tell us that Hunan girls were "spicy"!!!!!)

Think She Has a Career Possibility??

She's even got the form!!! :)

Bathing Beauty

Ok - I admit it - this is my first time to the pool this summer - I do not like the pool!! My boys go everyday on their own but usually they go while Chloe is napping and I stay home and get something done, but today I felt like venturing out - maybe it's that one of my boys told me my legs were scratchy and white!!! Out of the mouths of babes - SO - that's all it took - off we went to the pool. And - it called for a photo opportunity - although the boys said they were NOT going to be in my "First day at the Pool" photo - stinkers!!! :)

We found these cute kids in the badlands

THOUGHT WE'D KEEP THEM!!!!
:)