O' Christmas Tree!!!

This weekend was full to burstin' with Christmas trees. On Friday night we went to our town's tree lighting. Jae-min stared into the sky as the countdown began (I don't think he really understood what he was looking for). And then all of a sudden the giant tree lit up and the look on Jae-min's face was priceless. He then started clapping and shouting "Yay" over and over and over again.

Santa then rode by in his fancy car. Boy, Jae-min hasn't even had the chance to sit on Santa's lap yet this year, but he sure has seen him in motion alot!!!
On Saturday Jae-min and I went to cut down a tree at a tree farm with my parents. Unfortunately Joe had to work, so we went along with them for the ride. Jae-min had a blast pushing the cart, helping with the saw, and then wheeling the tree back to the car. Martin also had fun running among the trees!!!

Today we went to pick out our tree. Jae-min had fun walking among the trees.....but he mostly had fun...

collecting rocks!!! Yup, you bring the boy to a tree farm and he just wants to collect handfuls of rocks.

We all had a great time and picked out a short, fat, tree....my favorite!!!

Jae-min kept exclaiming "amazing, awesome...I like this one" Gosh, he sounded just like his momma. We picked the perfect tree, set it up, and will decorate it in several days. Jae-min can't wait!!!

Today is also a very special day....its our 12 year wedding anniversary!!! Gosh 12 years Who woulda thunk it? Huh honey? Just kidding. Its been a crazy 12 years. When I thought of that day today I can't believe where our life has taken us. Halfway around the world and back. On that day 12 years ago, I would never have thought it. But....I am so happy with every minute of the past 12 years.

Happy Anniversary honey. We've come a long way baby. Can't wait to see what the next 12 brings!!!

2 Years Ago....

My phone rang....and I heard the sweetest words I had every heard....."I have great news for you"! Jae-min was matched with us and in that moment, in that phone call, I became a MOM. This sweet little face was officially mine, all mine!!! I remember the day like it was yesterday. I remember being so scared, excited, overwhelmed, and nervous all at the same time. I remember the joy so vividly. I remember continuing to work the rest of the day and meeting Joe at home at night with flowers and a teddy bear. I remember it all because that is the day I became a mother. It would be 3 short months later before I got to hold my little bundle. And then the days would never be the same again.

It's hard to believe that this sweet face turned into this adorable little boy. With a sense of humor, a heart of gold, and a little bit of a sneaky side to boot.2 years ago I became a mother.....a role I had longed for. The last 2 years have been more than I ever imagined. When I got that phone call I don't think I truly "got" all that was to come. The really really hard times, and the really really good ones too.

My life changed on that day 2 years ago on the side of the road listening to my husband, the man that I love above no other, tell me that we had a son!!!! Our prayers and dreams had been answered. And we have never looked back. It's amazing how one little phone call can hold so much power to change your life forever.

Happy referral day sweet Jae-min. I knew from the moment I saw you, you were meant to be our son!! Thanks for making me a mom.

Thankful....

We had a wonderful day yesterday sharing Thanksgiving with our families. We obviously have so much to be thankful for and it was nice at the end of the busy day to take a moment and remember all of our blessings....
One little blessing at home safe and sound, and a second little blessing still in our hearts.
As we sat with our families here at home, we had a heavy heart remembering our "family" halfway around the world. In light of the recent scary and disturbing events in Korea, our hearts are very unsettled. When that plane took off from Seoul, I knew that I had left a piece of myself in Korea. Although I didn't realize how much. We have a family there, because we have Jae-min here. His birth family, foster family, and all those working at Holt are our family as well as his. We laughed with these people, we cried with them, and we grew to love them. Isn't that what family is about? So...to our family half a world away.....stay safe and know that we are thinking of you and love you. And that we are eternally thankful for each and every one of you.
And to KB too's family, whoever you may be, may you also stay safe and have peace in your decisions that are to come.
Thankful is an understatement. Please pray for our families safety half a world away.

A Playdate, A Parade, And A HoHo Sighting!!!!

On Friday we went into the city for a follow up appointment with one of Jae-min's specialists. The appointment went great and then we got to meet up with one of Jae-min's little buddies. Miss Allie (from Korea) and her family met us for lunch and then the kids had some fun playtime. We love getting the kids together and its so fun to watch them now as they are now interacting more. And what's even more fun is that recently we've been talking to Jae-min about being born in Korea. Now when asked "where were you born?" He squeals "KOREA"!!! and he knows his friends Allie, Ryan, and Auntie Kim were also born there. We love having these connections for him.
On Saturday we attended our town's annual Thanksgiving day parade. Jae-min had a ball and all we heard were......
"more shoot" for the guns going off
"Jae-min turn drums" yup was going to run into the street to play the drums
"hug Elmo, Cookie" sadly Elmo walked right by and Jae-min still talks about the snub!!!
"Cool, awesome" could be heard for just about everything else.

Here is the little man waiting for the parade to start. He was excited for the "marching feet" and had fun demonstrating his own.

This float was very unexpected but very beautiful. The figures are actually living people made to look like statues. It was such a wonderful reminder of how well our little boys 2 countries get along. Korea and America, united!!!! It makes us eager to visit the war museum on our return trip to Korea. We hear its great, a great tribute to our loyalty to each other.This sweet Panda came all the way across the street to snuggle our little man, and totally make his day!!

Jae-min was enjoying the entire parade until he saw the BIG man in red coming. Oh boy a Hoho (Santa) sighting!!!

There's the big man himself. We've been very good this year Santa.

On Sunday we actually went and saw Santa arrive in a sleigh in an outdoor mall area near our house. We told Jae-min to yell to Santa what he wanted. All of sudden we hear "Hi Hoho, Choo choo trains, crayons and scissors"

Um Santa did you get all that?

4 Months....

Today marks 4 months in our wait for KB too!!!Jae-min was funny tonight when he came around the corner and saw the number 4 in feathers, he immediately sat down next to it and said "cheese"!! Yikes wonder what he'll be doing in the many months to come as the count down continues.

He then found it funny to feel the feathers and re create his own #4. We asked Jae-min again what he wanted, a brother or a sister.....and his response....

"A sista, silly". The juries still out buddy, but we think either way he'll love them just the same!!!

We went out for some Korean food tonight to celebrate. Jae-min ate, and ate, and ate, and had lots of fun.

We got word this month that travel times have been extended for our Korean agency. Families who received their referrals in July and after won't be submitted for their EP until after the first of the new year, making travel for them around Feb. As you can imagine they are heartbroken and our hearts go out to them. Obviously this does not directly affect us at this time as we don't even have our referral yet, but we're not sure what this will mean for the future. It is not uncommon for travel this time of year to slow down or stop, but its still scary. I can't imagine having to wait 7-8 months after referral for a travel call. We were so lucky with Jae-min to have our travel call come within 3 months. We just hope when our time comes travel will be quick. But....as we are often reminded in this world of adoption you just never never know.

Please keep these families in your thoughts as they celebrate the holidays without their little ones!!!

Rock A Baby...

Rock a bye baby, on the tree top
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall
And MOMMY WILL CATCH YOU, cradle and all!!!!Jae-min has been requesting "Mamma, rock a baby" hundreds of times throughout the day lately. He comes up to me and wraps his little hands tightly around my neck, his little legs wrap tightly around my waist, and he rests his tiny head on my shoulder. I sway with my boy and sing this special song (and as you can see I changed that scary part, you know the one where the cradle falls and breaks, I thought mommy catching you sounds alittle sweeter Haha).

There is nothing like feeling your son holding onto you so so so tightly and relaxing as you sing this special song. The best is now he sings it back to me...you can hear him saying the last lines of each verse until he gets to the part "and mommy will catch you" which he sings full out, looks into my eyes and smiles...each and every time. At that moment my heart skips a beat and I just snuggle him alittle tighter.

I will be honest, there have been days lately where I've been doubting if I can physically endure this wait again. And then these moments happen and I know if KB too if anything like Jae-min I will wait till the ends of the earth and endure anything to feel another little set of hands wrapped tightly around me.

Rock a baby...someday soon I'll be able to rock a 2 babies!!! How sweet that will be!!

Diggin' Halloween!!!!

We had a fun Halloween!!! Jae-min started out the night passing out the candy. Then our little man wasn't anything cuddly, sweet, or snuggly....but he did dress up as the thing he likes best in the world (besides his mamma that is)

A diggerThat's right. We dressed Jae-min up as a construction worker and then created a digger around him. His costume was honestly the hit of the street!!! Some kids at Joe's school made the digger outline and made our son's night. He was a real trooper "driving" the digger door to door.

Although he had fun" trick or treat" (ing) he really liked passing out the candy the best. He even chased down one of his little girl friends on the street to put candy from his pumpkin into hers. Ah, what a gentleman.

Marty got in on the action and had fun walking door to door.

Jae-min sat down on the walkway when we got back to the house to empty out his loot. The funny thing is he has never had candy, or chocolate of any kind. We went through the bucket and offered him appropriate candy for a 2 year old. We also offered stickers, crayons, and some cookies he had received. Well, he looked in the bucket and pulled out the stickers and the little bag of teddy grahms!!! Thats our boy!!! He had fun decorating us with stickers and eating his "cookies, yum!"

Happy Halloween. Jae-min was definately "diggin'" it this year.

Oh and if you remember last year he was dressed as tigger. Hmm, interesting.