|
|
8.21.08 hi... It's hard to believe that the summer is almost over. Carsyn has grown and changed so much since his birthday in May. I have finally accepted that he's not a "baby" anymore, but he's a "big boy" a toddler and is exhibiting signs of it each and every day. The first evidence is in his speech. Carsyn is talking so well, speaking in sentences and saying new words every time we turn around. His current obsessions are animals, cars and motorcycles. He is definitely all boy! Well, since my updates are usually so wordy, I decided to tell the rest of this story using few words and mostly pictures. Enjoy! We all started taking this seriously... which means we've seen enough of this to last a lifetime! this is how carsyn feels about me posting the above picture... sorry, kid. first of many yet to come. for all the great potty efforts, carsyn got this: we also got rid of the crib and upgraded to this (thanks, papa for making it!) which led to mommy doing all of this to carsyn's room: let's see what carsyn thinks... what!?!?!? oh, you were just kidding? okay. so what do you REALLY think? that's better :) it has been a busy and wonderful summer at the evans house. hope yours was just as full of fun and adventure and less naked bottoms :) love, steve, melissa & carsyn July 6, 2008 Hello Everyone, I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful summer weather and the holiday weekend! We all went to see fireworks on the 3rd and Carsyn really enjoyed them. He kept saying, "Mom, fire...boom! boom!" He did enjoy how beautiful they were in the sky until later that night when he heard them going off in the neighborhood...it wasn't so fun then, but we made it through. Carsyn has turned 2 since the last website update. I know I say this often, but I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone by. We had Carsyn's party at the zoo and it was definitely memorable. The forecast was sketchy all week but we decided to just go ahead with the plan. Everyone showed up with great attitudes, armfuls of gifts and umbrellas. Unfortunately, we needed them. It kind of sprinkled on and off throughout the day, but right when we were ready to cut the cake and open the gifts it was literally hailing. The wrapping paper was so soggy Carsyn barely had to rip the gifts open! The day was full of funny events...my poor nephew, Aaron, got pooped on by a seagull and a little bird was eating away at Carsyn's cake. It really was a fun day for everyone and Carsyn loved it. Because of the nasty weather it felt like we had rented the zoo out for ourselves for the day! The animals were very cooperative and we got to see more than we ever have before. The baby rhino was definitely the favorite for the day. Here are some pictures: Our Happy Little Family :) 
Carsyn and MeMe 
Carsyn with Papa and Booje 
One of my favorite pictures from the day...it's raining and everyone is smiling! 
Carsyn and his snake cake...he was eating all the spots, the gumball eyes and the airhead tongue way before it lunch was even over! 
poor, poor Aaron... 
this was the scene about 2 minutes after we got into the van :) 
Carsyn enjoying time with MeMe. 
Carsyn is just full of personality and smiles and freely passes out hugs and kisses. We've been working on him to say "I love you" or "love you" and today it paid off! I was carrying him into his room and he hugged my neck really hard and said, "Love you!" Wow...it was so powerful to hear those words from him without any prompting. Being a mom is so wonderful and powerful and tiring and challenging and fulfilling and rewarding! How can one little word mean so much? Incredible, is all I can say! Right now Carsyn is completely and 100% obsessed with all things airplane, diggers and motorcycles (or bikes as he likes to call them). He always has at least one of these things in miniature form in his hand at all times. Where we live there are always airplanes flying overhead and Carsyn can spot them no matter how high up in the sky they are. It's one of the things I truly love about having a little boy...how they attach themselves to things and want to carry them around in their hand. It makes me smile every time. There's lots more pictures under the picture tab on the left...please take a look at how cute and how big our little guy is getting. Enjoy the summer! Love, Steve, Melissa & Carsyn may 8, 2008 So much has happened since we last edited the website. I honestly thought people had stopped looking at it, but Microsoft just sent me an e-mail with viewing reports and this tiny little website is getting over 100 views a month! It's incredible that people stumble across it and I hope it is a help and encouragement to everyone who does. Where do I begin? Carsyn is going to be two years old in 10 days. Wow, I am the mother of a full fledged toddler! He is so fun and energetic and 100% BOY! Carsyn loves to play with cars, talk about choo-choos, antagonize Nugget (our dog) and watch Sesame Street, Dora and Diego. He is talking in a language that oftentimes requires an interpreter and he loves to walk around holding my cell phone between his ear and shoulder and dialing up any number of our friends and family on his own! Just a few weeks ago Carsyn called and invited my sister, Lori, over to Budja's (Gramma's) house for pizza. Lori called and asked if Carsyn was the only one who wanted her to come over or if she truly was invited. It was so cute! Carsyn has a very loving and affectionate personality. He freely gives out hugs and kisses and smiles and says "hi" to everyone we pass when we're out. He loves to sing and dance and ride his bike...all the time. The bike is definitely the favorite thing right now...oh, and hopping. He loves to hop all around like a frog. Our life is so full and complete with Carsyn a part of it. With Mother's Day just around the corner I realize once again how blessed I am. I reflect on how many Mother's Days went by with my heart breaking and my arms empty. Now, this Mother's Day I have the greatest gift of all...I'm a mother! Lovingly, Steve, Melissa & Carsyn
march 10, 2007... wow, time sure does fly! i sat down at the computer tonight and realized i haven't updated the website in TWO months! sorry, but hopefully i can redeem myself ;) as i'm sitting here typing steve and carsyn are wrestling on the floor and the sound of baby laughter is filling the room...still can't believe it sometimes. carsyn is 8 days shy of being 10 months old...no more single digits! i can't believe that either! it seems like he started to do everything at once. he has 6 teeth (4 on top, 2 on the bottom), he's still army crawling but can move at lightning fast speeds, he says "uh-oh", "mama"...both only when he feels like it...he loves to play pat-a-cake and is just the joys of our lives! carsyn and i went to florida to visit the durham grandparents for 10 days in the sunshine and we just got home yesterday. steve sure did miss his little boy. last year when i was in florida was when we got the call that a carsyn's birthmom wanted to meet us and this year he was a busy 9 month old boy crawling and climbing and filling everyone's hearts with joy and love! i'm posting some picture under the "pictures" tab in my best attempt at a chronological order. i may not caption them all as there will be quite a few as i have 2 months to cover! enjoy them...we sure do enjoy the moments behind them. love, steve, melissa & carsyn CARSYN'S ADOPTION DAY!!! Wednesday, January 10, 2007 2:10 p.m. What a surprise when Aunt Annie walked in a courtroom in Gaylord, Michigan when she lives in Escondido, California! Waiting to be adopted with all the "fam"... (from left to right) Aunt Annie, Grandma Durham, Grandpa Durham, Cousin Aaron, Mommy, Carsyn, Amber and Daddy. In a few minutes I'll be your mommy...for real!!! It's official...Carsyn Edward Wayne Evans (from left to right) Hon. Michael Cooper, Carsyn, Mommy, Daddy and Laura Field (social worker) 
We were so thankful for all the special people who came to celebrate this amazing day with us. (from left to right) Amber Theriault, Hon. Michael Cooper, Carsyn, Mommy, Daddy, cousin Aaron, Aunt Lori, Aunt Annie, Grandma Durham, Laura Field and Grandpa Durham 
The judge was so nice and was almost as excited as we were! 
Carsyn with our social worker, Laura...without her and Child and Family Services, Carsyn wouldn't be a part of our family. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! After the big event... A SURPRISE PARTY!!!! 
Yummy food prepared by Aunt Annie and Aunt Margo. Thank you for the perfect finish to such an amazing event! Jessie kept tickling Carsyn with her scarf and he was loving it...such a flirt already! 
On Saturday we had an adoption party for everyone who wasn't able to attend on Wednesday. The theme of the party was the 'Lil Prince...perfect for our baby boy. 
What a cute cake...with a cute baby on it made especially for you with love from Aunt Lori. Here's the party decorations that Mommy and Aunt Lori made for Carsyn's Kingdom. After the pictures is the "fairy tale" that Mommy wrote to explain the party and all the fun decorations. It was such a nice day...such a good feeling to know that Carsyn is ours forever and ever and ever! 
Our Fairy Tale: Once upon a time in a land not so far away, there was a beautiful fairy trying to find her place in the world. In order for her to earn her fairy wings, she had to help someone. One day while walking through the woods wishing for her wings, the fairy stumbled upon an old soup can. "Hmmm..." she thought, "I wonder what might be under that can." So the fairy picked the can up and underneath was a beautiful silver ball. At first the fairy only saw her reflection, but after taking a closer look, she saw a couple crying. "I wonder why they're so sad?" She gently placed the ball next to her ear and heard the couple saying how empty their hearts were as they had no baby to love. Seeing the couple so sad made the fairy sad, but then a thought made her happy! If the fairy could help the couple, she could get her wings. But where would she ever find a baby?!? The fairy looked night & day, day & night for a baby, but there were none to be found. When the fairy had all but given up hope, she saw a fair maiden in the distance. The fairy slowly walked toward the girl. As she got closer, the fairy saw the maiden held a baby in her arms...how exciting!...yet the girl was not smiling. The young maiden was talking out loud to herself..."I already love my little prince, but I can't give him the kind of life I want him to have. Maybe somehow I could make a difference with my decision." After the fairy heard all of this, she softly rolled the silver ball so it would stop near the maiden's hand. The maiden looked down and saw the silver ball. The fairy was hoping and wishing the maiden could see the couple too, and she did! "But how will I find them?" the maiden said. "I'll help you," said the fairy as she stepped out from under a flower. So the maiden and the fairy walked as far north as the path would take them, where they found a little cottage with warm, glowing lights. Nervously, they knocked on the door and there they were...the couple from the silver ball! The maiden told them her story and as she did, everyone was crying. After a few moments, the maiden looked at the couple. "Will you take my baby boy? Would you raise him and surround him with love and family? Will you have my little prince?" Without hesitation, the couple said, "YES! We will love the little prince and we will always tell him about you and how brave and unselfish your decision was." At that moment the fairy felt a tingly feeling on her back and then a "poing" and a "zing!" She looked back and she had beautiful, glistening wings. The fairy flew around the room and the new family...the couple, the maiden, and the little prince laughed in delight and they all lived happily every after. The end. Baby Dedication Sunday at Grace Baptist Church Carsyn with Pastor Jenkins...of course our curious little boy had to reach out and grab the microphone! 
The Evans Family it's official! on january 10, 2007 carsyn became carsyn edward wayne EVANS! our entire family was absolutely thrilled to see the last step of our adoption process completed. welcome to our family, carsyn...officially! 
what a big week for all of us, but especially for carsyn. on tuesday, grandpa and grandma durham, aunt lori and cousin aaron came in from new york. on wednesday, carsyn had his adoption court date, a surpise visit from aunt annie all the way from california and a post-adoption luncheon that was a surprise. thursday was a family day then friday great grandpa and great grandma shoults, grandma evans, uncle scott and aunt dormalee came in from flint. saturday great uncle melvin, great aunt rose, and cousins rebekah and jonathan came from flint and we had a big adoption party for the little prince. on sunday, it was baby dedication at church in the morning and carsyn was used in the sermon on sunday night. no wonder the lil' prince took a 4 hour nap on monday morning! i know we've said it a hundred times before, but we are so blessed! check out the pictures here. love, steve, melissa and carsyn EVANS! we are so blessed... carsyn stole on our hearts on may 18, 2006 and finally, the state of michigan will agree on wednesday, january 10, 2007 2:10 p.m. Otsego County 46th Circuit Trial Court 800 Livingston Boulevard Gaylord, Michigan those who are able to attend are welcome we will be celebrating carsyn's new "official" status on saturday january 13, 2007 3:30 p.m. our home: 231 e. petoskey street gaylord, michigan dinner will be served what a way to start 2007! Carsyn's First Christmas Our first Christmas with a baby sure was a hectic one. We wanted both sides of the family to be a part of it, which involved a lot of time in the minivan, but it was well worth it. Friday night before Christmas we drove to Flint and stayed the night with Grandma Evans, then got up bright and early Saturday morning to drive to Buffalo, NY to see Grandpa and Grandma Durham and the rest of Melissa's family. We stayed there Saturday, Sunday and Christmas morning and then drove back to Flint to celebrate Christmas night. WOW! Carsyn is such a good little traveler and did really well...even as we got pulled into immigration and waited in two hours of bridge traffic going into and out of Canada. Carsyn really got into opening the packages. We'd tear the paper a little bit and let him pull the rest. He caught on rather quickly and really enjoyed seeing what was inside making the most adorable little faces in response. It sure was fun for all of us. He was definitely interested in the wrapping paper and boxes, but really enjoyed the toys and clothes inside as well.  Here's Carsyn on Christmas morning with Grandma Durham. We didn't bring the toys and clothes we bought Carsyn with us as we knew the family would be doing a good job spoiling him, but Carsyn did get a fun-filled stocking from Daddy and Mommy. The traditional Christmas Eve family gathering...Carsyn opening a toy from Aunt Lori while sitting on Grandma's lap. Carsyn and Daddy in their special Christmas 'Jamas from Mommy. Opening presents with Mommy... Some family snapshots before leaving for Flint... with Grandpa and Grandma Just "one of the boys"... then it was off to Flint-town to see Steve's family: If you thought Grandma's spoiled you...you should see what a GREAT-Grandma will let you get away with! Inspecting Great-Aunt Rose's holiday "BLING"! |
|