Easter 2011!

Okay, okay, I KNOW it has been a bazillion days since I have updated this blog! I am so sorry about my less than stellar blogging skills! But, here I am, Easter Sunday finding myself with time to update a little!

How has everyone been? Our lives have been so hectic lately. I HATE when we are so busy that we don't even have time to breath! That is where we are right now! The boys are in music and 4H clubs. Taryn is now in a Mother's Morning Out program (WHOOT! WHOOT!) which has been wonderful for both of us! Gives her time to play with others and me time to go shopping or whatever, by myself! LIFESAVER!

Today is Easter and we spent it with family. Right where we wanted to be...hectic or not! The weather here in Ky. has been Tornadic now for 3 days! Our egg hunt was canceled at our church yesterday due to weather so we had one today in Grandaddy's back yard. This was Taryn's first egg hunt...she got the hang of it very quickly though (as you can see by the pics). The boys had like a "ninja" egg hunt. :) We tried to hide the eggs in the hardest of places for them (cuz' that is the kind of parents we are!) and the harder the better according to them!

Anyway, I just wanted to stop in and say Happy Easter to everyone! Hope your day was filled with family and friends and that you took time to remember the reason for the day...the gift of Resurrection and eternal life granted to us by our Lord! Amen, and until next time...(which hopefully will not be too long!)...

Gotcha Day #2!

Taryn showing the book she recieved for Gotcha Day!

The girls!

Awe! I love this one!

I can't believe it has been 2 years! 2 wonderful, fast years since we brought Taryn daughter into our family. I know that celebrating "Gotcha Day" is a controversial subject in the adoption world. But, for our family, we have chosen to celebrate this special day! I bought 18 gifts in China while we were there to give her one special gift a year from her country. We DID eat Chinese food last night, but I decided (after the plans were already made) that eating Chinese food specifically on Gotcha Day is a little "hokey", so we might not be doing this one anymore! We will let her pick the restaurant from now on I think! However, we DID enjoy the Chinese food with the wonderful family we traveled to China with! This little girl and Taryn were in the orphanage together so we have a special "bond" with this family. Fortunately, they live close by so we can see them every once in a while. The girls are very cute together, at least I think so!
2 Years! 2 Years! It is just so hard to believe!
Until next time...

Living Cinderella...

Lately my days have been the same. Wake up, get the boys off to school and then wake up Cinderella. Yes, I said Cinderella...our beautiful Asian Princess has taken a fascination lately with the beautiful, blond Icon...Cinderella! I have to admit, she IS my favorite. So, when I bought the movie for her this Christmas I had no idea that I would be starting such a phase! She wears her Princess gear EVERY day! I mean EVERY day! No breaks...except for when we go out in public! I probably wouldn't care if she did wear it in public, except it is getting a little stinky! She tops off the ensemble with a tiara and heels...it is very cute! We have also taken to dancing like I am the Prince while singing "so this is love..." now THAT is a sight I tell you! ;) I am hoping though, that soon we will branch off into other Princesses...Belle, Ariel, Tiana, Sleeping Beauty...just for a variety! So, for now I live with a Princess...but, don't we all?

Christmas Time Is Here!

It has been way too long since I have posted and pretty much feel like a non-blogger right now! But, here I am ready to redeem myself! Wow! Has this season not flown by! It seems like just last week was Thanksgiving and now we are embarking on Christmas! This is the FIRST year I have actually been "ready" for Christmas in time. Meaning, I have bought and wrapped ALL of the gifts already...no last minute shopping for me! Can you believe it? I sure can't...usually I am wrapping or doing something crazy like that Christmas Eve night! Anyway...yay me! :) The boys are beside themselves excited and Taryn is just along for the ride with it all! I don't think she really understands yet. It is so hard to know how much she actually does understand because of her speech delay. I would say she knows that "Christmas" is something special and that some of the presents under the tree are for her...but, that might be all she gets out of it.
She is STILL so delayed in her speech. She is talking on an 18 month old level (she is 2.5 yo!). We had her hearing checked again in the beginning of December and everything came back okay...again! So, it definitely is NOT her hearing! She is just not "getting" it when it comes to talking. She IS getting better though. She is saying 2 word phrases "I do...", "I can..." etc... So, that helps her get her point across most of the time. And she is right on age level appropriate in every other level of functioning...just not the speech! I will have to record when she starts talking and post it on the blog...because it will be a HUGE deal when it happens!
Well, I hope everyone has a blessed and Merry Christmas! Remember the reason for the season and that adoption is the center of the whole Christmas story. Maybe you and your family could help a child this year by giving them a forever family. Or maybe you are waiting to bring your child home and it feels like just another lonely Christmas without him/her...Take heart and know that YOUR CHILD IS OUT THERE! She is (or he!)...I promise and hopefully this will be your last Christmas without them. God bless....
Rebecca

Adoption Sunday...Coming Up!

We go to a really BIG church (10,000 members!) and there are a fair amount of adoptive families involved in our church. We all took pictures of our families, along with short summary's of what adoption meant to us for adoption Sunday. They were taken by a gentleman (photographer!) in our church who is compiling pics for an adoption book. He also has a great blog that I posted on my blog list. The blog highlights different adoption experiences from every angle...from the birth mother/father to the adopted child...check it out! Anyway, here are our pics...happy Fall Y'all (from Ky!)

Days of Color...

At first I couldn't believe there were pumpkins at the orchard already! We had gone to pick apples and there were pumpkins everywhere. Then, my husband pointed out that the first official day of fall is Wednesday (only 2 days away!)...so, since we were there picking apples I went ahead and took all of our "fall" pics as well! Why not? Of course, the kids were dressed for picking apples (i.e. dirty play clothes), but when an opportunity arises...we take it...right?

Can you believe it is Fall! The year has passed by so quickly...too quickly if you ask me! Our oldest is in 5th grade...his last year in elementary school! It breaks my heart to see him turning into a preteen...seriously! I love him so much and I really don't want the teenage "drama" to begin with him! I know it changes them completely. Morphing them into overgrown 2 year olds almost overnight. I am not ready for that! Not that any parent ever is! And then, to have a 2 year old on top of a preteen...wow! That is enough to make you feel like an "old" mother! :)

We are all doing great though! The boys are well into the school year by now. Taryn and I are still getting used to each other. It is hard to be her soul source of entertainment during the day! I have her on a waiting list for a mother's morning out program...but, she has been on the list now for 2 months with no calls regarding openings! So, until then, we are together ALL OF THE TIME! Can you tell I am getting a tad "burnt out" with parenting! I need a good break...maybe a vaca with the hubby by ourselves...HA! A girl can dream...right?

We have some friends whose LID is the NEXT TO BE CALLED! Yeah! I love it! I love seeing a long wait come to an end...don't you? Adoption has been such a blessing for us...I would do it again in a heartbeat if the wait wasn't 7 years now and the cost wasn't through the roof! But, to those of you still in the process I have to say-it is SO WORTH IT! Hang in there people!

Until next time...

Better Late Then Never!

It took a while, but we finally got Taryn's 2 yo pictures taken! She is only almost 2 1/2! Look how cute our little Princess is! I will be back to blog later! Enjoy!