Just because....

Sometimes I just want to share some of my favorite pictures-

1st Anniversary Pictures!!!

That was then..........

Let me start by giving a huge, huge thank you to our friends, Barbara & Alesia, for taking these beautiful pictures of our family on the first anniversary of our "Adoption Day". We've come a long way baby!
This is "just a few" of my favorite pictures (I did show restraint believe it or not) so get ready. You'll be here a minute or two :-)




This is now..........

"Jackson, give Isabel a kiss"

My brave little man

This past Friday we, after much thought and consideration, had Jackson circumcised. It was a one day surgery at Children's Hospital. We arrived at 6:30am and he was taken back around 9 and back in my arms around 10:30. I could not be more proud of my little boy. I expected things to be much worse than they were. As I have mentioned before, Jackson is addicted to his "ba-ba" (he must have milk and lots of it and it may not be in a sippy cup but in a bottle. This is not up for discussion with him). His last bottle was Thursday night around 9pm and I thought he would drive us crazy all day Friday asking for it. Now don't get me wrong, he asked for it many times but never went to the extreme I had imagined.
After the surgery we were told that we could leave as soon as he peed. Great, the kid overflows overnight diapers all the time. We could be home by noon, right?
No..... not even close. I thought we were going to be overnight guests. He was not interested in the clear liquids he was being offered to drink because he wanted a "ba-ba". I think around 3pm he was sleeping and Kevin asked the nurse to put some apple juice in a bottle. I didn't think he would drink it but I slid that nipple in his mouth while sleeping and he sucked a good 6 ounces. We were on our way to being released. We checked his diaper every 30 minutes all day and nothing. We broke the record for the time it takes a toddler to pee after surgery. I asked what happened if he never went and she said that they would probably send us home but only after inserting a cathater. I was shocked and terrified. How could they stick a tube into his poor little boy part after cutting on it? No chance in hell. They were going to have to get through me first. He had to pee!!!!
We requested more pain meds and while she was gone we took his diaper off for another check and out it came. That sweet little thing peed all over me, the bed, the floor. It was a thing of beauty! Kevin and I were really jumping up and down and cheering. She came back and we very proudly showed her the mess. We were free. She took his IV out and 12 hours later it was over.
We got home and gave him his "ba-ba" and he slept all night long.
He gets better every day. The first week is the hardest and we are almost there.
He is an amazing little boy. I couldn't love him more. I am a very proud Mommy.

Our First Anniversary!!

Today, April 16, is the one year anniversary of the happiest day of our lives. We held our children for the first time and our lives as a "Forever Family" had finally begun. Looking back on these pictures from Vietnam reminded me just how far we've come. Not only Jackson & Isabel but Kevin and I as parents. We didn't have a clue about how we were going to go from zero to two babies in the span of one amazing moment in that orphanage. Overall, I think we've done a pretty good job if I do say so myself. :)

All of these pictures were taken during our 2 1/2 week stay in Hanoi with the exception of the first. It was taken about 2 weeks before we left and is of the wonderful caregivers who took such great care of our babies. They loved our children for us while we waited. Jackson's even wrote him a sweet poem/letter that was translated for us while we were there. I'll share it with you one day.

Tonight we took the kids to the Botanical Gardens after work to start our new tradition. Every year on this day we want to have a family picture taken. Some wonderful friends of ours (very talented photographers - thank you Babs & Aleisha!!!!!) met us there and took a few (300 or so) pictures of us and the kids. I think our odds are pretty good that we'll get a few great ones. (You'll see the best ones here soon so stay tuned!)

Potty Update

Just a brief update.:
Isabel has now peed in the potty 5 times!!!! And once was at Nancy & Bernards (K's parents) on an adult sized toilet! I'm such a proud Mommy. I think I'll start looking for training pants. Never a dull moment here. Just wanted to share my news.....

Jackson & his 1st Mud Puddle

Last Saturday was the Spring Picnic hosted by our local adoption agency, Villa Hope. We were all very excited until we woke up and it was raining. Not thunderstorms but it varied between a light drizzle and heavy sprinkles. We made a phone call and found out that it would go on, rain or no rain. Kevin took his car to go and get the food and I took the kids. I try to always take a change of clothes for the kids because Jackson, in particular, is known for either a good diaper leak or playing in water. (I had a rain coat for Isabel but not for Jackson.) There was a really good turn out considering the weather - probably 50 or so.

Anyway, lots of cute kids and their happy parents. It was really nice to see all the people from Villa Hope that helped us out along the way. We especially enjoyed seeing the 2 other little girls from Vietnam. Both live within 20 minutes or so from us which will really be nice, especially when the kids are older.

But I must say that the best time was had by Jackson and his new friend, Maven. I didn't see how all this began but these 2 adorable little boys found themselves in a puddle o' mud. I had strangers asking if they could take pictures of my filthy child. I heard more than once how cute the boys were but "thank goodness he's going home with you". If he could've told me, I think Jackson would have said it was one of the "best days of my life".

Isabel had fun as well, just CLEAN fun!!!

Jackson's new friend (& partner in crime), Maven (from Guatemala)

Sweet (most of the time), little Isabel. Not a spot of mud anywhere (Thank goodness)

This is sweet Ellie. (10 months old) (Bac Ninh, Vietnam)

Our new friend, Aeryn, also from Vietnam (Lang Son). She is a month older than Isabel

Time to go

Sleeping like an angel

One tired little man!