Full of Surprises

This little boy has surprised me from day one.

We expected screaming and terror.  We got a little bit of that, but mostly we got a happy, mellow baby who adjusted really quickly.

We kept waiting for the "honeymoon" phase to end, but it never did.

He really is just happy and mellow.

We decided this week to move him from his crib to a toddler bed.  Pretty soon an awesome train table will be making its way into his bedroom and we thought we'd try to get him settled in his bed before then.  Plus, we wanted to make the move while he was healthy and sleeping well...and after a full year, we finally have both of those things happening at the same time! 

I expected it to go pretty well, considering how well he goes to sleep and how easygoing he is.  But part of me still wondered - would this be our first battle?  Would we see a new side of him, a stubborn side perhaps?

Nope!  I thought the first time night might have been a fluke, but it's been four nights and four naps in his toddler bed with no fussing, no escape attempts - he's only sat up in bed twice!  

That's just him.  As long as he's not sick or teething, he's happy.

Here's to hoping he stays that way!!!!

Wordless Wednesday {Trampoline Fun}

New Friends

Last week I was so blessed to meet some new friends.  I met three wonderful ladies who I had previously only known through blogs (which, don't worry, is not as creepy as it sounds!!!).  All three also have little boys from South Korea so we already had a common bond.  I was so happy to start some new friendships and to find some more South Korean buddies for Matthew!  

We were thrilled to meet Josiah and Rachel on Wednesday (and blessed to share the time with another dear friend, Wendi).  Matthew and Josiah were so adorable together and we had a great time chatting and getting to know each other.  We probably should have done picture time with some less interesting props!  I could not get Matthew to look at the camera for anything!

And if I thought it was hard getting two little boys

to look at the camera,

I soon learned that it is virtually impossible

to get four boys

all under the age of 3

to all look at the camera

at the same time!!!!

Oh well, I suppose 2 out of 4 looking is pretty good :)

Matthew and I took a little trip on Friday to a beautiful park (one that we will most definitely be visiting again) to meet Abby and Sara and their adorable kids.

I am so thankful for my new friends Rachel, Abby, and Sara!

"And Stay In There!"

That's kind of what it looks like I said to him, doesn't it?

Actually, only moments before he was climbing

in and out

with great excitement and smiles

having a blast.

And then out comes the camera

and this is the expression I get!

Oh, and don't forget

the arm crossing attitude :)

Just a little boy who hates the camera?

Or perhaps this almost two year old

is giving us a little glimpse of what is to come?

I shudder at the thought.

Baby Steps

The adoption has taken a turn from "abstract" to "concrete".

In my mind, before we knew who our child would be, the paperwork was tedious and mildly annoying. I always knew it would be worth it in the end, but being we knew it would be so long until we'd be matched with a child that it was hard for me to be that excited about it.

Until Nathan, that is.

Until we saw his sweet face, his amazing hair (seriously, you will not believe it!), his beautiful eyes. And once we knew we wanted him to be ours, my perspective changed.

We received our formal application from our placement agency yesterday. I must admit I've been stalking the mailman! The mail becomes oh so exciting when you're adopting :)

I opened it up, realized we had quite a bit more paperwork to do, and felt...excitement!

Because now, every piece of paper we fill out, every form we sign, every minute of training we do, it's all done with that little boy in mind.

He's changed everything :)

That old familiar "waiting ache" is back, and yet it's so different this time. It's different because I have seen the ending, and I know that it will come. It may not feel like it sometimes, but the day will come and he will be ours. So for today, I'm content to fill out paperwork, take our baby steps, and dream of the day when two little boys will call me Mama.

{Simple Things}

It's the simple things that have me smiling today.

Simple things, like homemade biscuits that are safe for Matthew.

And using my rolling pin for the first time since I bought it...

5 years ago.

Don't judge.

Simple things like seeing him enjoy the biscuits...just delightful!

Simple things like a boy and his Daddy playing with a new train from Grandpa

that Daddy just fixed last night.

Simple things like a trip to the park

with my sister and my boy

to play in the leaves

and the wood chips which are, apparently, awesome fun!

To be with people I love

Yep, that makes it a good day!