Things Keep Getting Better!!!!!!

Today we got home from work, checked the computer to find the cutest little face staring back at us. We got updated pictures of Jae-min!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We were nervous to look at first, but quickly got over that and saw the cutest baby ever..... We didn't think he could get any cuter but we were wrong. This proud mommy and daddy are just soooooooooooooooo in love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's perfect. We don't know how old he is in the pictures or any updated measurements, but we'll take what we can get. We stared at the photo so intently and know its him by the nose... it's the same as his referral photo. He's definately being well taken care of as he looks chunky (and short, he'll fit right in).

Of course its bittersweet to see him growing halfway around the world and we're missing it. But we have these pictures to hold us over and we are thankful to his foster family for caring for him so deeply. They will always hold a special place in our hearts.

So, without further ado, here's a grown up Jae-min!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cute huh?

Where's his neck? you ask. We're wondering that too Haha

The Best Christmas Gift Ever!!!!!

Santa came to our house early this year and brought the best gift ever....... On Dec 2nd we were matched with a beautiful baby boy from South Korea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We can't believe it and it all feels so surreal!! Today we had an appointment with our agency to officially accept his referral. We met with the head of the Korea team and the first thing she said to us was "oh my, he is the cutest baby" with this huge smile on her face. I sat a little straighter in my chair with pride thinking "we think so too". He was born on 6/12/08, so just turned 6 months old. We think he's perfect.

We are over the moon with excitement and can't believe this is really happening!!!!! We have waited soooooooooooo long and when we saw his picture we instantly knew HE was the one we had been waiting for. All the tears, heartbreak, and worry (well, not really the worry, it's just a different kind of worry now) have begun to melt away and our dreams are coming true. Yahooo!!

We now have a pile of acceptance papers to fill out and notorize and then mail back to our agency. We are thinking to travel in about 3-6 months to bring him home. There are certain things that have to be completed before we get that travel call, but we'll be patient.
We can't believe how lucky we are!!! We can't wait to travel half way around the world and meet this little man!!! This is what we have been waiting for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10 Years Of Wedded Bliss!!!!

Today we celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary!!!!! It feels like just yesterday we stood on that altar with butterflies in our tummy and made our promises. It has been a great 10 years and I can honestly say I love Joe more today than the day we got married. I'll never forget the fun we had, nor will I ever forget the smile on Joe's face when he opened that door for our blind date. He truly is my best friend. Happy Anniversary.. We're heading up north for some rest and relaxation, staying at our favorite B&B. We've had a very busy week, so we're looking forward to getting away for alittle bit :)


We attended our waiting family group last night and low and behold, a miracle did happen. They announced that the group will continue!!!!! I guess the reactions from others were a bit more than they could handle. We're very excited as we really have begun to connect with other families. Yay. Things are looking up!!!
We also got an interesting email yesterday from our social worker. It was very interesting because we had talked with her just the day before and she didn't mention anything. Apparently yesterday was her last day working there. That's it, no phone call goodbye or anything. We were alittle worried so contacted someone today and they assured us we wouldn't fall through the cracks, and we now have a new name for contact. Don't worry we're getting very good at standing up for ourselves when it comes to our kids so we won't let them forget about us!!!!

Off we go on a weekend getaway. We're planning to go to an island in Feb. for a big trip to celebrate as that's when the winter will feel long and we'll really need to get away.
Here's to 10(thousand) more years!!!!!

We Are Thankful

As Thanksgiving approaches we thought it was a good time to put things into perspective and to be thankful for all that we have (which we know is alot). We are blessed with so much its sometimes easy to overlook what's right in front of you. So, tonight we are thankful for:
1. Each other. We continue to be 2 peas in a pod, happy. There is no one in this world I would rather be on this journey with.
2. Our family and friends. All the support and your health as well as our own. Stay healthy everyone so we can all enjoy KB and Ava together.
3. This journey to our children. We are thankful we had the courage to listen to our hearts and follow them. Even though this journey is tough at times, we're thankful for our spots in two lines. We have learned so much about our selves and each other and we look forward to discovering even more.
4. And lastly, a birthmother who will be so courageous in making an adoption plan. We only hope we make her proud.

At the Thanksgiving table we will bring KB and Ava in our hearts. You won't be able to see them, but if you try real hard I bet you'll be able to feel them. We can.

3 Months Down!!!!!

Today marks 3 months in our wait for KB!!! Tonight we celebrated quietly at home thinking and talking about our future. We just can't wait to meet this little bundle and find out what all this fuss has been about. So...in honor of this upcoming day I finished my first knitting project since my class last spring (I know, I know get a move on would ya) but ta da................a special gift for KB made especially by me, mom to be. Isn't it cute? It came out great and I loved making it. It was a little surreal when it was finished and we put it on the table downstairs. We both just looked at it and around the same time started laughing. Someday there will be a cute little head and face under that hat. How stinkin cute. Joe was afraid that KB will get made fun of at the park because of the pom pom but I think it's cute!!!!
You may be wondering why blue? Do we know something you don't. No, we still don't know if KB is a boy or a girl. Initially they were thinking boy but others have been surprised by a girl referral so we just don't know. I knitted blue because, well, I just did. Maybe a mommy to be intuition, maybe I just liked the color, or maybe I'll knit a little pink or purple one next. It was just the project I needed and we love it. So...tonight we think of KB bundled in a little blue hat made with love, enormous love!!!

Oh, and Martin can't wait for KB either. He wants to give up the modeling and go back to just being a DOG!!!!

Just One More Disappointment

...in this journey!!
Last night we attended our monthly waiting family meeting (which was rescheduled from last Thurs due to scheduling conflicts with social worker). We were excited to go and became more excited when three families who have been home for 2 weeks from China brought their babies in to show them off. They were adorable!!! All around 10 months old and one just loved Joe!! It was so fun to hear their stories and see their faces so happy. We also met two other families in the process adopting babies from Korea. The night was going so great and we were feeling so uplifted and then the disappointing news. Our agency has decided to end these monthly groups for reasons they would not discuss. Needless to say there were shocked faces as some of these families have been coming for 3 years (China waiting families). After the initial shock the tears started flowing from families who have been with the group a long time. Then it was almost a mutiny.

I am saddened because we finally felt like we found a place where we fit in and people "got us". I am sad to not form those bonds with other adoptive families and to share in their joys as they would one day share in mine. I am sad that now poor Joe will have to again listen to all my ramblings and he is so sweet to do it. I had found a place where I didn't feel "crazy" and could feel the way I felt and others were feeling the same way. Somedays I feel as if my head is going to pop off and it was nice to know I wasn't alone. We know that unless you have ever been where we are you just can't understand, and we are sad that those that know are being taken away. I thought I had found a glimmer of hope in this hellish journey. Disappointingly, I guess not.
There will be another group next month and then maybe one in Jan. but that's it, unless of course by some miracle they rethink this decision and let the group continue. I didn't realize how dependent I was on that support after only just a few times going. It just always feels like we are truly alone.

Update:
China referrals arrived this week. A huge disappointing month as they only matched two days. That's right...2 days Feb 17,2006 is the new cutoff. Disappointing to say the least!!!
For our agency Korea had 11 referrals for the month of Oct which was very large. We hope for more big months!!!

Thanks for listening. Just keep us in your thoughts as some days are just so hard.

A Fantastic Find

If you know me even just a little, you know that I love a good book. I love to read, heck, it may be a slight obsession!!! I always have a book that I'm into on my nightstand, in my car, on the back deck in the summer. I love fiction, and have now become in love with books about Korea and China and anything adoption related. If I could change one thing about Joe it would be that I wish he loved to read as much as I do. He just can't get into it. I guess I read enough for both of us.

So, last weekend we were out and about and we stopped at a discount store. Once inside I told Joe I'd be in the book section. Well, I found a fantastic find. Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul. Its a compilation of stories celebrating forever families. They are feel good short stories that warm your heart. I'm enjoying catching snippets of stories here and there. They definately warm the heart and lift the spirit. What a great find!!!!!