A Day in the Life of Ty...

Standing, unassisted, thinking about walking but usually dropping back to the safe crawl...

Climbing into and over anything my mom will let me try...

Trying out everything I see my big sister doing...

...and finishing off the day with a new skill - straw use!

"My China Sisters"

Ty in Tenn

Ty loved air conditioning!

A Good Rocking Chair...

Nothing like kicking back on the deck, relaxing with a lollipop and a friend...

A Peek...

I am pretty sure Marie had fun at her China-Sisters Reunion, aren't you? Here she is well rested after a long day of napping, crashing and weeping.

The View We Oh-So-Enjoyed

For Conway...Thank you for the butterfly wings. I have had to pry those and her glitter gloves off her body numerous times already...
More to Come

I am done fighting...

He's definately a boy with a curious mind...but stick with the milk, buddy.

Hey Ty, You want to drink the dog's water, go for it.

Baptism

We are very happy to share the news of Ty Ji-tae's baptism. Thank you Godparents Heidi and Rob! Ty is resplendent in his hanbok his foster mother gave him. And very slippery.

Birthday Party

Breaks my heart that this is out of focus...Oh well.

We had a family party last weekend for Ty's birthday and baptism. We held it at the park for space to spread out and run. Not sure how much of Ty took in but it was a lovely time!

Uncle Rob, Jim and Ty. Rob, where is your hat???

The kids chasing after Jim during our game. Jim, Scott and Rob had balloons tied around their ankles and the kids chased them around the baseball diamond, attempting to pop the balloon.

Ty eating his cake.

Best Buds - Marie and Lukey

Birthday Peeks

First Birthday Pictures

"Am I the cutest thing or what?"

My Boys

They are trying to look goofy....it's really intentional : )

Nice, Ty....very nice.

Ty was given some special gifts from afar for his first birthday. This week, we received from Holt International, the adoption agency, a necklace with a pendant of the South Korean flag; his Korean name and date of birth engraved are on the back. Today he also wore one of his two Hanboks or traditional Korean clothing. We purchased this one ourselves in a horrible, tourist trap and his foster mother gave him a beautiful, authentic one as we left. (He will wear the authentic one for his baptism next weekend.) You may notice that he actually has jeans and a t-shirt on underneath. The hanbok swalled him whole and the pants were two huge balloons; Jim called them MC-hammerbok pants. Didn't even bother with those. I thought that the jeans and t-shirt underneath the traditional Korean attire sent just the right message! He INHALED his food at the chinese restaurant (no Korean restaurants here in TC). It was as if he was telling us THIS IS MORE LIKE IT!!! Bring on the noodles. Once he was full, he continued to try and feed me. Very sweet. Tomorrow is Marie's last day of school so expect more picts soon!

Birthday Morning

Ty Ji-tae is ONE!!!

Big sis enjoying the fun!

Ty's Korean Bear (although I swear those are Chinese symbols!)

Even Cody got in on it, enjoying some birthday bacon grease.

Both are napping so I figure I have a 20 minute window to get this posted and kitchen re-cleaned. Morning was nice; I think Ty got it that there was something special going on and Marie handled not being the recipient of gifts fairly well.

Today is the day we remember Ty's first mother too...I cry for her and pray that this day is not a day of sadness. We realize that the gift of our children came at great love and sacrifice on another's part and we try to honor that by doing the best we can to raise them while letting our children know of their beginnings in an honest and loving way. Tonight, when we hold them and put them to sleep we will remember that we are holding and loving them for ALL their parents.

Night-time Sillies

Overtired child + too many stickers + lacksadaisical momma =

Morality Lesson by Milton Bradley

Tonight was one of those nights you just don't want to forget. Tonight, both Marie and Jim met "Chutes and Ladders." (I don't know how Jim managed to be the only child from an upper middle-class family who never went to Disney and NEVER played "Chutes and Ladders" but alas, he is. Don't worry, he is fine.)

It was h-y-s-t-e-r-i-c-a-l. Jim examines the board as I explain the rules and I see his face contort as he starts to wonder....within minutes, he turns to me and says, "There is a little morality play with every chute and ladder, isn't there???" Yes, dear. This image is upside down but you can get the gist; you do something good, you go up the ladder. Bad things like writing on the wall with crayons, well then you go down the chute. The board is littered with all these mini-themes.

In case you don't know Marie well, let me tell you she is extremely reflective. She actually ponders. This game board was just a bonanza of wondering questions. She would point to the bottom of a 'chute' and ask how the unfortunate soul ended up there. "Why did that boy fall off the counter? Why did that girl eat too many cookies? Why did that little boy fall through the ice???" And for each and every one we had to explain how the lost soul made a fatal choice and tragically ended up at the bottom of a chute. She would listen, be silent for a moment, maybe grab Charmin for a quick nuzzle and then move on to the next question. Here Jim is explaining yet another of the lessons contained within the board...

Oh...and Aunt Abigail??? There are 4 game pieces. One each for me, Marie and Jim. The last piece is a little boy with curly brown hair in an awesome 70's maroon vest and pants. She decided that was you. You can see your game piece on the upper side of the game board, watching.

We had a wonderful time. Marie is in her PJ's as we declared this a pajama party. Jim declined the PJ's, rightfully suspecting that he would have to walk the dog when it is all over with. The dollar I spent today at a garage sale for this game was well worth it!

King of the Sippy Cup

Ty has mastered a new skill. He is one proud babe. And pretty much the cutest thing evah.

WHEN...

...Oh When, will Daddy come home??? I wait and long for him....(sigh).