Lilypie Second Birthday tickers

About Me

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Ryan and I began our journey together over 9 years ago, when we began dating. We became life partners in August of 2004, and this past fall we welcomed a baby into our family. Topher Van Sol was born Oct. 3, 2009. We have two wonderful dogs that bring joy everyday and are getting used to this attention stealer! I am a counselor in training, and Ryan is an Educational Assistant at a residential treatment center. He is also working on his MSW. We live to serve and love. We are blessed my our friendships and family.

Friday, January 28, 2011

January is OVER?

I was writing the date on some paperwork today and I cannot believe how fast time is flying... I am used to writing 2011 on things... although it never ceases to amaze me that it is a new year! Wow.

With a the new year, begins a new semester! Wow... has it been busy! Ryan is still going "part time" to school and I use quotes because there is nothing partial about it. He is taking 2 classes and a practicum AND working a full-time job. He is doing great work and although he misses his wife and son, he is wonderfully present with his clients at work and the boys he works with.

I am taking 3 classes, 2 practicums, and 1 traverse (30hr internship). I am doing my 2 practicums at Cibola High School in the 9th grade academy. This means that I need to complete 300 hours this semester and co-faciliate 10 group sessions... with 9th graders! So any prayers will be appreciated. I am doing my traverse at Engender Cousnseling, Inc. and so far all is going well.

Topher, sweet Topher, is taking some time to adjust to the new schedules! He and I need to be out of the house pretty early and Tophie has decided that sleeping late is better then waking up! It makes for a rushed morning and a quick good-bye when I have to drop him off at care! Poor dude! Topher gets taken care of by some friends from church and he is loved and has a great time when he's there... it's just the initial drop-off that is diffcult! (For baby and momma!)

He does get some fun one-on-one time with Daddy on Tuesday nights when I am in class and I get some great time with him Thursday and Friday afternoons. These are fun times together!

Topher has gotten 4 new teeth, some back molars came in and they seem to be taking a toll with a slight fever and not much eating. Hopefully soon, though, this will mean even more and more new foods to introduce! He is signing more and more and is learning more and more words! His favorite words include "eye", "trash", "dog", "eeee/iiii" (as in Old McDonald), "mom", "weeee" (says when playing), and "asshhh ashhh...blar blar down" (as in ring-aroung-the rosies) and of course, "dada".

He signs "more", "milk", "help", "please". He is such a quick learner and soaks things up like a sponge! I need to watch what I say more and more!

Anyway, all is well in this little Porter house! Just wanted to do a quick blog to catch up!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Tio E turns the BIG 3-0!

What a wonderful weekend adventure we had! Ryan, Topher, and I took a plane to go surprise Ernie for his 30th birthday! This had been in the works for a while and I never thought that it would be possible! Sweet sister, Daley, said that it just wouldn't be a party without Topher, so we packed up and went! Needless to say, I was super nervous about flying with a 15 month old! Topher loves to sit still for books, and that is about it. He always wants to play chase or run to go get a new toy, so sitting still on a plane was not going to be easy!

We packed snacks, milk, toys, and books... it was wonderful! Topher loved being on the plane! He loved to open and close the window and point to the wing of the plane. We read his books and he waved to all the people that walked up and down the isle. There was even a 20 month old blonde beauty that sat behind us that loved to say 'hi' to the baby! She was a great distraction.

We arrived in Dallas and Daley picked us up from the airport. We drove the hour back to their house and waited for Ernie to get home from work! I called Ernie on our way, because we saw a black car on the freeway and was certain it was him. Luckily, he was just leaving the office and we had time to beat him home and hide! As Ernie pulled up Ryan, Daley, and I hide behind the walls and let Topher walked and roam around the living room. Ernie opened the door, and saw Topher! He was shocked. This was surprise number one!





Surprise number two came the next day! Ernie said that he wanted to go out to dinner for his birthday, so that was the plan... or so he thought! We ate a big breakfast and then Ryan had made plans with Mike to get Ernie out of the house. Topher, Daley, Megan (Daley's sister) and I got the house ready to party! When it was time for the boys to come, the house was full of people, Ernie and Ryan were no where to be found! They wanted to go run errands and get things done... Ryan is not very good at being sneaky!
We finally got them to come home and surprised Ernie! He said he was scared as he opened the door and got "SURPRISE" screamed at him and tortillas thrown at him. It was wonderful!





This is Javier and SK welcoming the birthday boy home!


The Brown's and the cake! Daley ordered a Dave Matthews Cake.
The lyrics read, "Celebrate, we will! Life is short but sweet". It was cool looking and delicious!


Ernie got some hats for his birthday, so they made their way around the party
keeping people's ears warm!

Even though there was a party happeneing, Topher got Tia Meggy to read him a book!
The party last well into the night, and one of the best parts was when Daley become the keeper of the quiet after Topher was put to bed!
The next day, Ernie introduced us to a new board game and we drank espresso and relaxed. We got lunch and watched the snow begin to fall! We packed up, loaded the car, and returned to Dallas. We flew home and Topher did great on the plane again! He is such a sweet boy! It was a wonderful weekend with surprises and lots and lots of laughs!
Thank you, Daley, for making it possible!

AND HAPPY 30th, ERNIE!