More new pictures!!!!

My friend Beth, who went to visit her son in Korea this month and took a care package over for us, returned with something even more precious...more pictures that Baby J's foster mom took for us!!!!!  Our sons have the same social worker in Korea and she gave Beth a packet of photos before she left.  We had no idea they were coming until she got home and told us.  I'm pretty sure the foster mother got the hint that we wanted her to take pictures when I've sent a disposable camera with every. single. care package we've sent over!!  It has not been the norm, from what I've heard, to receive updated pictures and we're not sure if this is an indication that things will be taking longer.   Regardless, we are just ecstatic to have more pictures of J (TEN!!!!) in time for the first baby shower, which is today!!!
Here are the 6 that we've scanned in:

I cannot wait to get this sweet baby boy home in my arms!!!  We love you!!

More projects

Here's what we did last Sunday:

the fan Chris put up in Baby J's room; he's a pretty handy guy!!

And a teaser for the quilt...here is one row that I have sewn together so far.  I will be working on the others today and tomorrow.  One down, seven to go...

I can't wait to have it all completed!!!

With a heavy heart

So, I am having a hard time right now dealing with "the wait."  It has been hard recently thinking about how much Baby J is growing and changing halfway around the world from us.  Getting the recent photos of him was such a great gift, but heartbreaking because we are seeing in him the changes that have taken place in just three months!!  What will happen in the next 3 months, if we have to wait that long to get him?
I have especially had a hard time today.  I received the quarterly email from the head of our agency saying that the families with May referrals from 2009 will hopefully get to travel to pick up their children at the end of February!!!  After reading that, my heart hurts and feels so heavy.  This means that, with our October referral, it will be a much longer wait than we had been hoping for.  I have to come to the realization that we may not meet our son until close to, or even after, his first birthday in mid-April.  (tears)  That makes me feel so sad and hopeless at this stage of the waiting, when we don't get any information or answers from our agency.  I cannot accept that yet in my heart, though.  I keep hoping and praying that things will start moving faster.  I am not sure that this is wise, but I cannot convince myself that, with everything we've been through already, we will be made to wait even longer to finally become parents.  Our paperwork is in Korea; why can't they just push this through for everyone who has already been paired with a child and get them to their forever homes?!  I am waiting here with a heart full of love and arms devoid of a child's warmth.  I just want my child home.  Now.

Project updates

Chris and I both had Sunday and Monday off of work and we got a lot of projects completed.  I left him a "honey-do" list on Saturday when I went to work and we got most everything crossed off by last evening.  Let's see, we lowered the springs on Baby J's crib, got the shower doors taken out (we're switching to a shower curtain while J's young, so we don't have only half the tub to work with when bathing him) and a new shower rod up.  I bought the new shower curtains on-line and they should be here by the time of my baby shower at the end of the month when we're going to have family staying at the house.  At least, I hope it gets here in time!!  I finished up the other half of the closet organizer and cleaned out the spare bedroom closet to put the organizer in there.  We bought a ceiling fan/light for J's room, which Chris is going to put up (he's a pro at this; I do love my ceiling fans!).  We finally decided on a car seat...yeah!!!  Can't believe what a decision that was to make, but you know, it's our baby's safety.  We did find out that there is no one car seat that everyone likes; that would make things too easy.  Chris got his work bench in the garage cleaned up and put up a bigger shelf in his "man cave."  And I finally started on the quilt!!!!!!  I got all the squares cut (only slightly messing up once) as well as the sashing that will go between each one and am ready to start sewing.  I can't believe it!  I'm hoping to have a good start on the top of the quilt by the shower so I can show it off.  I will definitely be posting pictures of that.  We also have the letter to our foster family translated; I just need to print it off on some nice paper.  Chris has a Korean friend from college and he was able to translate our letter almost over night...thanks so much, Sang!  I still have a few areas of the house that I need to clean out and get organized; start getting gifts for the trip to give the foster family and any other people who help us out; check to see if I can upload video from a video camera Chris' aunt/uncle are loaning us for the trip; and maybe start getting lists together for what to pack for our trip!  Unbelievable that I am actually, finally writing that!!  We have NOT heard anything, but I want to be prepared in case things start going quickly (which I am hoping and praying for with all my heart).  Oh, I'd also like to get our bedroom painted before we bring him home, but that's at the bottom of my list right now.  That's all for now.

9 MONTHS OLD TODAY!

Happy 9 month birthday to our sweet Baby J!!  We are thinking about you today (and every day).  I did get one of my projects completed yesterday; installing a closet organizer in J's closet.  I only put the bottom half in, but it will give us extra shelves and another rack closer to the floor so that he can reach his own clothes when he gets older!  Plus, we have the sliding doors on that closet and this will help us be able to use one half for his stuff and the other half for storage.  I did all this myself, including drilling it into the wall.  That puppy is not moving!!

full-length of that side of the closet

close-up of the unit and lower bar

We also found this Willow*Tree statue at, of all places, Cracker Barrel.  We had some gift certificates to use there (thanks, Mom and Dad!) and had money left over after lunch.  We were looking around the store and I found this statue:

the statue is called "Child of my Heart"

The card that comes with it reads: "Child of the world, Into my heart you came - Bringing sun into my life, Making family our name."  How very appropriate.  Happy 9 months, our child of the world!  We love you!!

Up North

This past weekend, Chris and I made the journey, sans pop-up camper and dogs, up to our land in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  I was a little nervous at first because of the snowstorm we had through here on Thursday, but by Saturday morning the roads were clear and actually got better the farther north we drove!!  We have never seen our land in the winter and wanted to take a quick trip to see what it looks like decked out in white...and boy, was it beautiful!!

If you look close, you can see our footprints going up the driveway and our "gate," some wire with marking tape tied on it.  The fir trees were gorgeous with the snow clinging to their greenery and the maples and ash with their coating of white.  Chris forged the trail up to our campsite, but even stepping in his footprints, I got snow down my new Christmas boots!  It was deeper than mid-calf on me.

My Christmas boots.  Aren't they snazzy?

Here's a view looking down the road from our driveway:

It was so pretty and peaceful and quiet there.  We're very glad we made the trip, even though it wasn't very long.  There is a ski resort in the nearby town of Iron River, called Ski Brule, and we rented cross country skies to try out.  Well, I should preface this with the fact that Chris hasn't done cross country skiing for at least 18 years and I have never had the "pleasure."  I always thought it would be fun, not necessarily funny and, in some instances, downright hilarious!!  We took our rented skis to a state park close to town and started on trails that were not for beginners.  Chris did pretty well; I, on the other hand,  for all the talent I have for sports, am totally and completely uncoordinated when it comes to cross country skiing!!  Maybe if the trail had been straight and flat, I would have done better, but of course that was not the case.  It had turns; I went straight.  It had hills; I ended up crawling up the stupid things (with the skis still snapped on or else they would have slid back down), or falling down them half-way down (some were pretty impressive, let me tell you!  the falls, not the hills!!  ha!).  But the whole time we were there, I was laughing my butt off because we I was soooo bad!!!  I just kept imaging what someone would have thought of watching us and our my bumbling attempts at this sport.  I was laughing so hard one time that I couldn't get up!!  I fell off to one side of the trail in some deep snow and couldn't manage to move; Chris pulled me up enough to where I could get my feet under me and then I proceeded to fall over to the other side.  I just wish he had had a video camera or was taking pictures constantly at that point because that would have made a great blooper!  Anyway, we had a great time but my poor knees are so bruised up from falling on top of my skis so much.  I would try it again, but I want a long straight trail. ;-)  Here are some of the few pictures we managed to take.  The first one is when we had just started out and I was still standing upright!

I actually look like I know what I'm doing here!  At least I was warm.

That would be me again, not able to get up due to laughing so hard!  At the left of the trail is my first fall at that spot, less than a minute before.

I also had to put one in of Chris.  He slid and fell trying to get up a hill and was trying to get his skis back underneath him; instead, the backs of them got stuck in the snow.  A classic picture (he was a good sport and held still until I got my laughter under control and the camera out!  Thanks, honey!).

It was a fun trip and now we're home and I'm starting to work on some projects around the house that I've been putting off.  I will save those details for other posts as they are completed and crossed off my list.  Nesting, perhaps?!?!

Holidays and Reflections

So I know I have been promising this post for a while now, but between work, errands, trying to stay warm (hel-lo cold weather!), and the excitement of getting updated photos of Baby J, it's been crazy trying to find a time to sit down and write.  I had actually received an email from our SW this past Monday about the main office having pictures of J, and then she proceeds to tell me that they are going through snail mail!!  Even though I knew there was no WAY those pictures could be in my mailbox that day, I ran out there and checked.  Sure enough, nothing.  But, we finally got them and they were worth the wait!  He is so adorable.  I cannot wait to have him in my arms forever!!  So here's the rest of the post (it is long and has a lot of pictures, just to forewarn you!).

Chris and I opened gifts before going to his family's for the holiday.  He got me a pair of nice warm slippers that I wanted and a pair of very nice boots that he surprised me with.  I also got a snowflake necklace that I had asked for; he picked out the design, though, and I have received lots of compliments on it from patients/co-workers at work.  I got him some hunting items from Cabelas that he asked for as well as this mug:

He has been using this every day since he got it.  I found it on the same website that I found the "Expecting a precious child from South Korea" shirt.  Love it!

The Christmas holiday was spent with Chris' family: Taylor Christmas Vacation 2009, Day "X"!  We got there Christmas Day at noon and spent the rest of the day visiting with family at their various houses.   His older brother's family drove through the blizzard that day, but made it safe and sound, if somewhat tired, for a late dinner.  Of course, Grandma Mary and our two nephews wanted to open presents that night.  The boys had obviously been good this year, evidenced by the pile of gifts that they were each surrounded by!

grandma Mary, Zach, and grandpa Gerry

And no, Noah did not get a case of beer for Christmas!!

The next day, "the boys" mostly played video games and me and my SIL's got down to our holiday business...puzzles.  Yes, we spend our holidays putting together puzzles, and we don't choose the easy ones!!  It is something we all like to do, but don't have time to do during our daily lives, so we see how quickly we can put some together over the holiday/vacation.  This time, we were able to finish the first one (which was very hard and we were all sick of by the end!) and had most of the second one completed before Chris and I left two days later.  Here, Suzanne is hard at work trying to finish up our first one:

The last full day we were there, Sunday, Chris and I went to Mass with his mom and grandma.  I don't know why, but during the Our Father, I always think of my grandmothers, both of whom have passed away in the last 2 years.  I miss them so much and they were both such loving, caring women that I can only hope to one day emulate.  But I completely lost it during Mass right before going up for Communion; I have no clue what people were thinking when they saw me crying my way up and then down the aisle!  With this being the first Christmas after suddenly losing my mom's mom and knowing that I will never get the chance to personally introduce either of my grandmothers to my son, it was really hard for me.  These holidays are bittersweet because J is growing up without us, but as we know from the pictures, he is growing up healthy and happy, thank God!  And I like to think that my grandmas are sitting right there beside Him, whispering our prayers in His ears.  :)

Here are some more pictures from the holidays:

the Taylor brothers do NOT smile for pictures!

Grandma and Grandpa, married 65.5 years!!

love the shirt, Zach!  Go Irish!!!

Lexi found the largest dog toy in the house, I swear!!  It was as big as she was!

something Jinx and Lexi do not get to do at home...

(you will always see them laying on one of us)

all four dogs that were there; it looks like Jinx is hooked to the back wall in this picture!

"The Nose and The Bandit"...I swear, they were cold!!!

When we got home, I finally got my squish book updated.  All the wishes that I currently have for Baby J's quilt are in it instead of sitting in a pile.  They should also all be pictured above in the slide show, so if you've sent one, look for it!  I know I keep saying this, and then keep putting it off, but I am planning on starting on the quilt the end of February when I have taken a week off of work; that is, unless we are traveling or have traveled by then (don't get too excited, might be wishful thinking on my part!).  I also want to get our bedroom painted before J comes home because that is not a project I can start and stop with once I get the brush wet; I plan on doing it in two-day increments, as I don't have more than that off at one stretch until that week in February.

I also got off our (possibly) final care package to a waiter friend who is going to visit her son in two weeks!!  Thanks, Beth!  Have fun on your trip.  Hopefully we will soon be the ones carrying care packages over for others as we go to pick up Baby J!!  Beth's son and Baby J have the same SW in Korea, so she is going to try to ask about him when she is there.  I don't know if they'll tell her anything, but you never know.  We sent another outfit to him as well as a soft book and also sent another camera and some face cream for the foster mother (I have found out from some friends that Korean women like nice face cream/anti-wrinkle cream; and you can tell, they always have such nice, smooth skin!).

if you look close, you can see my camera in the mirror taking the picture  :)

We also got the stroller put together and of course, had to use our "guinea dog" to trial it out.  She fit, but not as well as Baby J will!!

Finally, just some reflections about the past year, well actually, a year from last Thanksgiving.  I still remember driving out to Chris' brother's for Thanksgiving of '08 and that that is when we decided we were going to go ahead with adopting a child.  We had some questions for his brother and his wife, who had gone through the adoption process themselves a few years ago.  They were able to answer some of our questions and dispel some of our anxieties about the process.  By the middle of December, we were officially "on the list."  We did not tell our families until Christmastime, as we were excited and nervous at the same time to be taking this huge step.  We had decided that, more than anything, we wanted to be parents and have a child/ren whom we could love and teach.  At the time we, or probably just me, was very naive about the whole adoption process; you see, I was worrying that we might have to miss my sister's wedding in July (yes, July of 2009, only 7 months after we got on the list!) because we might be traveling to get our child!!  ha! Wow, did that bubble get burst quickly!  Adoption is all about "hurry up and wait."  Hurry to get the paperwork done for the first step, w-a-i-t for whatever is to happen to it, and then repeat...multiple times!  We are finally in the last stretch of waiting.  With the new year, we are hoping that things (things = emigration permits + visa interviews + travel calls) will start rolling in.  Our SW told us there are about 10 children ahead of Baby J from 2009 to come home; we do not know if Eastern will be handing out their EPs in batches or what, we will just have to wait and see.  We just want him home soon!

On the way home from Chris' family, I commented to him that "wouldn't it be great to get some updated pictures of Baby J?" and whaddaya know, we got some!  Now I'm saying, wouldn't it be great to have a travel call for Chris' birthday, which is the beginning of February?  Probably way too much to hope for, but remember, I do have a few angels up in Heaven who I KNOW have a lot of leverage with The Big Guy!

NEW PHOTOS!!

What a great way to start the year...we got three new pictures of Baby J, with an outfit we sent him in his first care package (Rita L., do you recognize it?!) and the cloth photo album we sent in that package as well!!!!  He looks so happy and healthy.  And so curious about his new mama and papa.  I love how he is touching the pictures like he is trying to actually touch our faces!  He looks so soft and I cannot wait to be able to hold him and snuggle with him.  So enough writing, here's what you all want to see:

I am STILL working on a post from the holidays and general stuff going on, but I HAD to get these pictures of our a.dor.a.ble little boy posted to share with you all!!  Hopefully we'll have good news on the emigration permits this month and things will start to pick up with more referrals and travel calls for us and all of my "waiter" friends!  Keep praying!!

3 months ago...

I can't believe it's been 3 months already since we got our referral call for Baby J!!  The time seems to have flown past, but at the same time, crawled along.  We are hoping, now that it's 2010, that the EPs will be processed quickly for all the babies ahead of us so that we can finally go meet our son and bring him home!  Our paperwork is hopefully at this moment in Korea and moving along.  I will be calling them next week to see if they (the Embassy over there) have any updates on our paperwork (no updates on Baby J until we go to get him :(  ).  Can't wait to see what the next 3 months bring...or maybe shorter?...Hmmmmm...

Longer post to be coming about the holidays.