Playtime with Ty and Cody

"Spring" Break

Diva In Her Own Mind

I Give UP. This child will agree to wear sensible outfits on school days and when we go in public. But at home, she comes up with her own, ummm, creations. I rearranged her closet a little the other day and shuffled the clothes to the basement that no longer fit and brought up the the ones that now do. She was very very much involved in this process. When I would find a piece that I was fond of that no longer fit, I would tell her how sad I was that she was growing. Each time, she came over and gave me a hug, telling me, "It's okay." She agreed that her U of M jersey could go to Ty, which was shockingly generous as she loves her "football shirt." She was also eyeing her summer dresses and trying to negotiate some wear-time on them now (the high today was forty). However, they were sent to the back of the closet till warmer weather is upon us. In our cleaning of the closet, she discovered a hairbow, her sparkly black dress and lavender tights. Of course, these items make a fabulous Sunday afternoon outfit, as you can see.

The other new development is her social monitoring skills. Today, at lunch, I would not give her a cookie. She had a PB & honey sandwich, peaches and yogurt and only ate the sandwich. Very simply I told her, "Eat your lunch and you may have a cookie." She dawdled, waiting to see if I meant it and, I did. At this point I was informed that, "You are not being nice to me." !!!!! Later, Jim was helping her get her boots and snow pants on to go outside and play. At least, he intended to be helpful. She went off on him about how he was in her space and then evidently thought he was not listening so she ended with, "LISTEN to my WORDS!!!" How could we not? We don't know whether to be pleased with her attempts at working out "issues," frustrated with her rudeness in these misplaced attempts or just laugh at her trying on the new phrases! Which way would you go?

A Surprise Gift

We were given quite the gift today - this picture. A lady that I "know" via the Bethany discussion board has twin girls from South Korea. She and her husband went to bring them home in November 08. At that point, we had just received information about Ty and were waiting for our paperwork to be processed so we could eventually go to get him in Feb 09. When parents go to receive their children, they go to the Holt offices to first meet them and then the next day receive them for good. The Holt offices consists of many parts, one being the doctors office that the children go to for the well-baby visits. When Jim and I were there, we saw many babies with their foster mom's.
In short, when this lady was in South Korea getting her twin daughters, Ty and his foster mom were in the waiting area, likely waiting for a doctor visit. She snapped their picture and sent it to us today!
I can't tell you what this means to us. We do have some pictures of Ty that his foster mom took for us so we are not completely in the dark about his first months. But, how can a few photos ever tell us about the months we were apart? Our hearts ache that we were not there for him, although we KNOW he was well loved and taken care of. Still...we wish that we knew more so that one day we could answer any question he may have. To have this candid glimpse into his life as a baby in South Korea, is just priceless! THANK YOU Kris!!!

Why We Are So Blessed

You'll have to forgive me; the astute ones out there will know these are old photos. But the camera has been without batteries since this weekend so these were the best I had.

Anyways, I have had the opportunity recently to visit with lots of people - some via email, some face-to-face, some on the phone. And it has just been so overwhelming to me how incredibly blessed my family is. First, that we have each other. Second that we are happy, healthy, safe, warm and do not have to worry about necesseties at all. Third, that we can wake-up without any pressing concerns - we have the luxury of just enjoying the day and each other. We are at a point where laughter is easy. The other day it was the witching hour - 4pm. I called Jim to see when he'd be home. As we were on the phone, I noticed M was doing the "I-gotta-go" dance. No sooner did I hang up then we made a mad and almost successful dash to the bathroom. During this time, Ty, no dummy, makes a mad breakout crawl for his favorite thing - the dog's food and water bowls. He reaches his goal and spills water all over him and the floor. M and I are covered with something else, as is the floor of the bathroom. A few weeks ago, this would've been tears for me; now I realize, "What are you gonna do? Laugh and get out the rags. No sense crying over spilled, er, stuff."

But there are so many other blessings right now too beyond our little family of four. Things as serious as the recent successful surgery of my brother helped along by my dad and stepmom, to more pleasant blessings like a wonderful vacation for my mother and unusually warm weather here in Northern Michigan so people got to go out without layers! We read about others blessings via their blogs- a friend's son's academic success and the improvement of Abby (from the button on the upper right), another friend's photos published for the first time and yet another getting through a stomach flu episode. And of course, lil Jack-Jack in Chicago, the newest addition to our extended family! We can't wait to welcome him personally!

There are others, though, who are not on the upswing we are. So, if you are a person of prayer, I ask for a moment from you. Specifically, a young lady I know who is going through a difficult time. She recognizes this testing period has given her strength she did not have before but her heart still aches over the difficulties in her life right now. Please keep Nicole in your prayers. Also, for my sister-in-law's mother, who we very much feel is part of our extended family. Her health has taken a turn for the worse and the outcome is not optimistic. She has been a wonderful friend to us, welcoming us into her home and family and always such a loving Grandma to our nieces and nephew. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

I ask one more thing. Take a few moments to count your blessings. Let us know if you have any requests for prayers as well.

Return to "Normal"

Hmmm...I can't seem to get my cursor to allow me to type at the top. Oh well. And that, my friends, is growth. Normally, I would obsess about that and demand a fix to it but I am gonna let it go. Anyways...
These are some pictures of a small part of what Jim and I concluded is a normal day for parents-of-two. This is Jim and Marie getting on the "Magic Carpet" at Crystal Mountain. Yes, there are 2 weeks left of ski season and it is the first time she has gotten out there. But, hey, she's there!
This is Ty, wondering what ever he did to deserve this??? Having to sit on the cold, hard, plastic thing while his sister gets to have fun. People kept coming up to me and commenting that I was getting him started very early on skiing.

Jim and Marie her first time down the "Hill." Along the left you can see both the "Magic Carpet" and the sharp incline of the hill called "Thor." She insisted that she was ready to ski that and couldn't understand why we didn't take her on it.
Arriving at the bottom safely. They repeated this 5 more times and then she proclaimed she was done. It was nap-time. We got in the car and she ate more than I have ever seen her eat and then she fell asleep. Jim drove them around while I went to Sam's Club. After dinner, she insisted on going back out to ski with Jim in the front yard. Thata girl!

Ok...so why was it normal? Well, we ALL got out and did stuff together as family. First time. Up till now, the thought of BOTH of them out and about was too much. Today we were able to figure out how to manage their different needs/wants at the same time. It was not easy! It took me dropping Jim and Marie off at the bottom of the hill with their boots, parking the car and schlepping Ty, the sled and Marie's skiis across the parking lot, Jim navigating getting their ski boots on and meeting us outside with his skiis, getting Ty safe in the sled, getting Marie to the ski area, managing her needs and Ty's and then UNDOING it all to get back in the car after 1 hour! At one point, they were both tired and hungry in the back and simultaneously crying. So we fed them (and were able to laugh) and, sure enough, they fell asleep. I believe Marie was crying because Ty had touched her little bag IN HIS SLEEP, mind you. Ty was crying earlier because, frankly, he got the shaft. He had to sleep and eat in the car so his sister could enjoy the ski hill. Why do second children have issues??? Since they were sleeping, Jim dropped me off at Sam's Club and he kept driving. I bought a few necesseties (wine and cheese) and then called him to come get me. They had both just woken up. There were still some tears and overtiredness but WE DID IT.
We thought of all of us going together to church tomorrow but decided not too. Realized that tomorrow, Marie and Jim have swim class for the first time and that would be pushing it. So Jim and Marie will go to 9am service and I will hit 11.

Rice, Anyone?

Ty was tickled that we had rice for dinner.

We plopped it on his plate...
He knew exactly what to do.
Sort-of.
And then Marie insisted we get her picture too!

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink

Just another exciting Friday night at the Whall house...

Some Much Appreciated Help

My cousin Ab came for 2 days to see Ty up close and personal. By the end of day 1, she was calling herself "Cinderella" because we put her to work. Actually, she constantly jumped in and lent a hand without our asking her to. Dishes, folding laundry, playing with kids...she did it all! I was able to get Ty to nap a little in his crib as this has been a serious work-in-progress. I also was also able to finally get some needed baby items and to clean a few places that were needing it. Ab takes pictures too besides cleaning; here are some I stole from her camera.

Marie on her way to school Tuesday morning. She still insists on wearing only skirts and dresses. Now that I am home in the morning, she also insists on having her hair done in braids or some other fashion daily. Yes, she is still getting attention with Ty home!

Aunt Ab with the two watching an episode of "Ni Hao Kailan." Marie is riveted. This was at the end of her long day at school when she does not take a nap. She can be difficult or easy on these nights as she is dog-tired. Tonight, she had stripped to her undies and was helping us give Ty a bath in the kitchen sink. She was starting to get r-e-v-v-e-d up so we told her to just drop trou and get in the sink right after Ty - she was going to have a "baby bath." She giggled and giggled and got in the sink and took a bath just like Ty does. She past out shortly into her cuddle with me in her bed. Usually, it is a discussion about why-we-need-to-stay-in-bed; tonight she was asleep within minutes. *PHEW* She has Thur and Friday off from school as there are P-T conferences during the day. In other words, I will be home alone with Tweedly-Dee and Tweedly-Dum. Oh my!

And, finally, our FAVORITE picture from the visit. Ty with his silly scrunchy smile!

Some Winter Homeslice

Marie loving the winter hat sent from friends in Georgia. She loved loved loved the little pocket in the hat and the puppet it contained. The puppet is in the foreground. Ty has a matching hat and this thrills her to no end!

Jim and Ty out enjoying the snow. Or is this our plot to get Ty's body clock on local time by exposing him to sunlight even though it's extremely cold out? We wouldn't do that! (It has worked, by the way!)

Our 'little' man. Can't imagine life without him. He is eating pretty well now. He loves the same foods Marie did at this age. Congee and cheerios, sweet potatoes and bananas. But he's eating. Whew! Every day is better than the previous and it really has only been 2 1/2 weeks!