Movie Monday - Outside Fun

Taken last weekend when Grandma and Grandpa K were here to watch J while daddy was in Belize and mommy was at work.  He had a great time with them and cannot wait to see them again!!

After grilling out yesterday at a friend's house for the holiday weekend, they got out their sprinkler and the boys had a blast drinking playing in it!  Daddy is playing tricks on them by stepping on the hose and then letting it go...they thought that was so funny.

First Gotcha Day Anniversary

It is hard to believe that I am actually, finally writing this post.  Today is the first anniversary of J's Gotcha Day!  That's right, he has now been home one. whole. year.  Wow.  It seems like both yesterday and forever ago that we had our second meeting with him and he was placed in our arms for forever.  It was an amazing, overwhelming day and just a tiny little bit scary about being handed a 13 1/2 month old and waved on our way.  But it's been a wonderful year, getting to know our son and adjusting to our new lives together.  J has attached extremely well to Chris and myself and has definitely become a true daddy's boy, which I love to see.

I have never written in detail about the day we first met Baby J and figured I should finally get it down here since this is going to be a kind of scrapbook for him.  After we arrived at the adoption agency and handed over the care packages that we had brought for other family's children, we were informed that J and his foster mother were not there yet.  We were led to a small room off the social worker's main room and asked us to fill out one piece of paper with our travel itinerary and passport information.  Yep, ONE final piece of paper - that was it - after months of reams of paperwork prior to that...a little anticlimactic.  Believe me, I was expecting to fill out much more!  While I was in the middle of doing that, Chris nudges me and says, "I think that's J and his foster mom!"  So what do you think I did?  Huh?  Can you guess?  Do you think I looked up from where I was gripping that pen until my knuckles turned white to get a first small glimpse of my son?  Do you think I jumped up from my chair to try and peek through the blinds that weren't quite open but weren't quite closed?  Yes?  Ha.  You're wrong.  My butt stayed glued to that chair and I continued to very carefully fill in the boxes on that one form with a shaking hand.  You know why?  I was afraid.  I was afraid that if I looked up it was going to be someone else's son out there and that would have been disappointing.  I was afraid that if I looked up it was going to be my son out there, yet I was not going to be able to go to him.  I was afraid of becoming a parent.  I was afraid of the imminent change that was about to transform my life.  But most of all, I was afraid of the change I knew was coming in J's life, the one he had no clue was going to happen.   No matter how many books you read on grieving, bonding, attachment, etc, and thinking "well, I'll help him through it by doing ____," it doesn't compare to actually having to go through it for real.  And I was afraid I wasn't going to be up to the challenge of helping him through it.

So, I didn't look.  And believe it or not, I'm glad I didn't.  Because the first time I saw J in person, I was able to drink him up with my eyes (is that weird?!).  I didn't have to settle for a swift glance of him through a window with him riding aboobah (on her back) in his carrier.  I was able to gaze and stare at him for as long as I wanted (well, for the hour we were there anyway!).  And I got video of that very first meeting when he and his foster mother walked into the room.  And I can watch it over. and over. and over.  She handed him right over to Chris, calling us omma and appa (mommy and daddy).  I think Chris and I were both smitten from that time on!  Not to say we weren't in love with him already, but once we saw that sweet little face in person and held him in our arms, well, we were done for.  And I knew I could face all my fears...for him.

It's interesting to look back on the pictures and video we have from our first meeting with J and see how much he's grown in just one year.  It's amazing how much he's picked up verbally and how quickly he started to understand what was said to him (although he still has selective hearing when he doesn't want to do something!).  We were lucky enough to be able to experience his first steps and watch him go from a crawling baby able to pull himself up and cruise along furniture to the toddler he is now that is running down the sidewalk in front of us when he asks to go on a walk.

These two videos are from the first day we met J, on May 24, 2010.  This following one shows how quickly he took to Chris; they were fascinated with one another from the get-go.

And then it was my turn to hold our son for the first time:

I always thought I would look be a mess that day, crying through everything.  But the weird thing is, it was so overwhelming and surreal and an over-the-top dream-come-true, that there wasn't time to shed those happy tears I had built up inside me.  There was so much to learn about our little guy from his foster mother and in such a short period of time.

The next video is from Gotcha Day, May 27, 2010.  This is at the hotel the evening we picked him up.  Even though he couldn't walk, he was into everything in our suite!  And still in a good mood.  No crying that night at all!!

These are the first steps I caught on video last summer, when he was just turning about 15 months.  It was so exciting to experience this first with him when we had missed out on so many others.

And now look at him!

Our beautiful boy has been such a blessing to us and we couldn't have gotten to this point without the support of our family and friends and the hard work of our social worker, as well as J's Korean social worker.  We have absolutely loved this past year.  There have been some times that have been less enjoyable than others, but at those times I try to remember that there are other couples out there that would give a lot to be in our shoes...and I speak from experience, from being on that side of things.  I love the fact that our son has been home for a year.  I love having gotten to know him and seen his infectious personality emerge and shine.  I love his giggle.  I love when he leans over in his chair with his arms reaching and demands an "ug" (hug).  I love everything about this little boy, but most of all, I love the fact that he is my little boy.

Gotcha!

Just last week, Dr. Kim, the founder of ESWS, which is the Korean adoption agency we worked with, passed away.  We were not fortunate enough to meet him when we were there to get J, but we will be forever grateful to this wonderful man.  Because of what he began, Chris, J, and I were brought together as a family.  And that's the best gift.  Ever.

Movie Monday?

Okay, so it's a couple of days late, but it was a crazy Monday.  Here's what you are all waiting for...

How can you not laugh along with him??

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

J found the Imag*narium train table we bought to give him for his Gotcha Day at the end of the month.  I think he's already in love with the box!

Camping and Mother's Day

First time camping this year and we had so much fun!  We picked up our new camper on the way up to our land and, let me tell you, we absolutely love it.  So much easier to get set up than our pop-up, plus (and this is a big one, ladies!), we have a bathroom!!!  Suffice it to say, Mommy loves that part!

We left after I got home from work at 8pm and drove about three hours so that we wouldn't have the entire drive to do the next day.  This worked out pretty well as J slept for a little while in the truck (although we hadn't realized he would be so excited about riding in the truck that he didn't fall asleep for at least 90 minutes!).  Got up the next morning and drove to about an hour south of our land in the UP, where we picked up the camper.  Chris stayed at the dealership to learn about it while J and I met a friend for lunch who has just recently gotten her referral for their son who is in Korea right now...and what a cutie he is!!  He and J are going to be buddies when we go to camp, I'm sure.  Can't wait for next summer when we'll hopefully get to meet him on one of our camping trips north.  Congratulations, Jessie and Jay, on your little boy!!!!  We also met up with both of them on our way back home to visit a little more, and wouldn't you know, I didn't take any pictures of our time with them!  Geesh!  We'll have to remedy that when we come back your way...don't let me forget, okay??

Anyway, once we got to our place, we pulled in the driveway to see a tree had fallen across it.  To Chris' consternation, it wasn't big enough for him to have to use his chainsaw, though.  We were able to pull it to the side of the drive and get the truck and camper up to the clearing.

Our new camper!!

J was absolutely thrilled to be up there and to be outside so much.  He definitely prefers to be outside, getting dirty, going for walks, picking up stones, etc., than to be doing anything inside!  Pure, unadulterated little boy, that's for sure.  He follows Chris around and mimics/tries to help his Daddy with whatever he's doing.  Of course, that means it takes Chris longer to do anything, but he's such a great father to our son and loves having his little shadow next to him.

making sure the blocks are behind the wheels

getting the hose out for the water

helping put together the new wood rack

Going for a walk on our road. Aren't they just too cute?

There are not very many people that live on this road, so it's safe for J to run around on it picking up rocks and looking at whatever bugs are crawling along.  We went for at least three walks one day because he kept saying "walk? walk?"  Even when he was too tired to walk and we would have to carry him, he still wanted to be out there!

He started doing this new thing up there, where he would say "walk...walk...ru-un!!"  I didn't get that on video, but did get the one above.  Kind of funny, though, if he falls down inside, he acts like it's much more traumatic than if he falls outside; I guess he's just too interested in being outside to notice a little stumble now and then.

Snack time in the camper.  We did not take his booster seat with us because there wasn't room to stuff it in the truck when we left, but I do believe we will next time.  The kid does not sit still when he eats and ends up getting more food on the floor than in his mouth!  Without the dogs around to clean it up and the possibility of bugs coming in to do the honors, I was cleaning that floor after every time we ate!  Yeah, yeah, I know we were camping and I should expect bugs, but did you see the camper???  More like an apartment on wheels than camping, according to some...and I'm okay with that.  :-)

Playing in the camper.  My family will recognize the reason for this shot!

Learning, even at camp!  

J does love this book and I think it's helped him with his verbal skills a ton.

Chris' project this time besides getting the new wood rack put together was to get the tree stump out of the ground from the tree he had cut down last year to widen our campsite.  This is the hole and tree stump after he finally got it dug/chopped/chainsawed out.  These pictures don't really do either one of them justice; they are both actually bigger than they seem here!  Way to go, hubby!!

J had no trouble sleeping in the camper.  All the fresh air wore him out!

(I took so many pictures of him just sleeping during this trip, it's ridiculous!  But I don't really get to see him when he's asleep that much, so it was a treat for me.)

He looks completely ticked off in this picture when we were going to town one day...

...but just kidding, mommy, I LOVE the truck!

Back at home, J is ready to go camping (or anywhere) again, as long as it's in the truck...and he's driving this time!!

This next picture is the only one I have from Mother's Day!  Yikes, you think I would have thought to get a better one of the two of us on my very. first. Mother's Day.  It's hard to believe that it has been almost a year since we came home as a family of three and that this time last year, Chris and I were still waiting for our travel call.  We never imagined that we wouldn't be celebrating Mother's Day last year.  Because how can you really feel like celebrating Mother's Day when you don't have a child to hold?  We couldn't believe that we still didn't have him home at that point.  That day, and his 1st birthday, were actually the worst ones for me during our wait.  Because he wasn't home.  And we wanted him here.

But this year...this year, I woke up on Mother's Day to my child snuggled up beside me and his Daddy looking at me with tears in his eyes as they both gave me a big hug.  This year, I got to wrap my son up in my arms and smother his chubby cheeks with kisses until he was giggling uncontrollably.  This year, I got to hear my husband prompt our little boy to say "happy mommy's day."  This year, I got a mother's day picture...as a mother.

And happy belated Mother's Day to my mom, the best mom a girl could have!!  I can only hope to emulate you as I travel along my path as a mother to my little boy.  If I even get close to how amazing you are, my son will be one lucky guy!  Thanks, Mom, for always being there for me, for listening, for teaching, for guiding me throughout the years.  You are one very special lady and I am so glad you're my mom.  I love you.

Movie Monday

Bubble gun from Grandma and Grandpa T = lots of fun for J and Jinx!

Playing football with Daddy:

(Notice how he comes to the camera as soon as he sees it...he wants to "watch, watch" which is what he's saying here.  It is getting harder and harder to get a good picture of J these days because he wants to come see the picture or video, but that's usually before I've actually taken it!  I need a camera with a quicker shutter speed so I can catch what he's doing.  And he hates the red light that comes on to focus the camera.  Any suggestions out there?  Do I need to get a new camera to get these pictures I want?)

Just a cute video of J pushing his stroller; this is how he'd rather go on a walk most times anymore!!

New beginnings

A couple weeks ago before we left to go camping, we had a new roof put on the house; our little guy loved seeing all the trucks that the men brought with them.  He and Daddy watched them unload the shingles.

Okay, so Daddy has his eyes closed, but J's smile is so sweet and excited I had to post this picture!

The guys starting to tear off the old shingles.

I didn't get any more pictures from this day because we were out quite a bit so we didn't hear all the stomping on the roof.  And they stomped and dropped shingles so hard that one of my glass dolphins dove off its shelf and broke a fin off.  Chris has glued it back on so well, though, you can't even tell where it broke...thanks, honey!

This week we will also be having a new garage door put up.  Not by choice, but because our old one fell apart, literally, as we were leaving for work last Thursday.  I had to wake Chris up when I was leaving because I couldn't get it closed and one side had a couple of wheels off the track.  He fixed that, but when he tried to close it when he left for work with J, it fell off even worse!  The only funny thing about it was that he told me he heard J say from his car seat: "Uh-oh!"  Yeah, baby, "uh-oh" is right!!

And one final picture, this one of Jinx, our first fur-baby together:

Smoking her corncob pipe!

(that's a plastic corncob she picked up from J's kitchen set.  too funny!)

Movie Monday - Mother's Day fun at camp

Movie Monday - Driving

Because we take soooo much video of J, I've decided to start "Movie Mondays" (thanks to the hubby for coming up with that one!).  That way, I can get through more of the video we have of him and you all can see just how absolutely adorable our little peanut is!!!  Even though it's Tuesday already, here's the first installation of Movie Monday:

Our son is infatuated with trucks!