Going to meet Grandpa and Grandma!

This is a picture of Nathan and Daddy waiting to board the plane that will take us to North Carolina. Fortunately this plane trip was MUCH easier than the last one. This is the first time Nathan will meet anyone from Ron's side of the family.

He wasn't thrilled about getting on the plane. I think he remembered the last trip but he settled down and enjoyed looking out the window.



At the end of the journey was the best part -- Grandma and Grandpa! Nathan has been getting in some good snuggles since we have been here.



Mom and Dad's Shitzu "Buttons" has been following Nathan around since we arrived. They were nervous about how Nathan would interact with the dogs but he has had LOTS of experience at our house and they are getting along great. Nathan was a little distressed about being in a new house at first but now he is enjoying having a new place to explore.

Happy Birthday America!!

Nathan is showing his patriotic colors.




















Nana (Mom) put on a great feast! All my life, I've never seen my Mom use a grill. I didn't know she knew how. Here is the proof!





Nathan gets a hug from Aunt Jennell. He poses with his cousins Daniel and James.








The Redhawks played and we braved the crowds to go to the game. It was Nathan's first baseball game! He stared wide-eyed at the crowds of people and I wished I could read his thoughts.




When the crowds would cheer or the music would play suddenly he would leap into our arms, like he is doing with Nana in these pictures, and squeal. In about the fourth inning he started to enjoy the noise and began dancing to the music much to the entertainment of people around us. He had a great time and was exhausted by the time we left downtown.


After the game came to an end, the fireworks started over the ball field.















We were concerned that the fireworks might scare Nathan but he loved them. After a while he began to "Ooh" along with the crowd.

New Additions!

For my birthday Ron agreed to get me a kitten. Typically, I couldn't decide between two kittens at the shelter so we ended up bringing home both of them. They are such sweeties and I love watching them play.



This is Scout. he is about ten weeks old and I fell in love with his eyes which are the color of the Carribean sea. He is a polydactal and has extra toes on all of his feet which give him the appearance of having catcher's mitts for paws. He is a wild little thing who already loves playing with the dogs.




This is Taser. She is an itty-bitty kitty about six weeks old and I can tell she is going to be a beautiful cat. She loves to cuddle and will walk up to us purring wanting to be picked up. She even wants to snuggle with the dogs. We have a lap cat in the making here.





Taser, surprisingly, is not afraid of Nathan even though he squeals loudly when he sees the kittens. He is quite gentle with them and likes to pat Taser on her head when she walks up to him. The kittens are confined to the sunroom and we go "visit the kitties" several times a day.




Our other kitties don't want to meet the new kittens yet but that is normal. We have four now and I know that sounds ridiculous but we have the ability to give homes to a couple of kittens who needed a family. I encourage everyone who has room in their hearts and their homes to adopt a dog or cat from the shelter. They add so much joy to a home.

Nathan At 22 Months

Nathan is growing and learning new things all of the time. He makes a great deal of noise right now and "talks" to us in his own language. At the doctor's office, Nathan was measured as 31 inches tall and 18.5 lbs. He just discovered that he can climb so our lives are about to get more challenging.

I don't like having children in the kitchen while I cook because I'm afraid I'll trip over them or drop something hot on them. Nathan, however finds it impossible to stay out of the kitchen when he knows food is being prepared. We reached a compromise in that Nathan sits on the island with his drink and gives me his opinion while I cook.

Here's a video of my little man at 22 months.


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Happy Father's Day!!

On Father's Day we went to church and then to a very manly sports grill and had BBQ. It was our first Father's Day since Nathan became our son. We all had a nice time.

A New Word

Nathan has learned a new word. It is "Hey". I noticed him walking around saying it the other day and wondered where it came from. Then I caught myself telling him "Hey...put that back." I realized that I say it all the time.

So now Nathan is saying it all the time in the same reproving tone. He tells me "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay" when I am not paying attention to him.



Then when I turn and tell him to stop making fun of Mommy he bursts into laughter like he is glad I got the joke.



Then I get the seriously-wasn't-that-supposed-to-work? look.


So today he reproved all of his toys with "Hey" and all three of the dogs got a good talking to. Even a cat that passed by was soundly "Heyed". Nathan looks at me out of the corner of his eye to see if I'm watching. When I finally say, "Hey, stop mocking Mommy" he laughs like it is the funniest thing. Ron is really enjoying this.

Six Months Ago

Six months ago today was Thanksgiving Day 2006 and it was the day we brought Nathan home. Looking at the picture of us at the airport I am struck by how tiny Nathan was and how red his cheeks were from rubbing them on our shirts during the long flights.




When I think about all the changes that Nathan has gone through in the past six months, I am amazed at the resilience that babies have. It has been such a time of transition for all of us while we got used to each other and to the dramatic changes in our lives. Ron says that it seems like he has always been here.

I cringe when I think of all the mistakes I've made as a new mother. The first six months was not what I expected and yet Nathan greets me with big smiles and squeals and I know that I'm not required to be perfect. We are getting better at this family thing all the time and I am loving being Nathan's Mommy.

Six months ago Nathan completed the long journey from China. I can only wonder what was going through his mind. Today it's easy for me to know what he is thinking. I hope he can tell that I am thinking how very blessed I am when I look at him. We love him so much. We look forward so much to what the next six months hold.

Update on Nathan

Nathan is doing so much better! Yesterday he got the okay from the doctor to have solid foods again. He is very happy about being able to eat. Thank you so much for all your prayers!


This year is my first Mother's Day! Ron and Nathan took me out to my favorite tea room earlier this week since we will be working this Sunday.


I enjoyed going out with my guys. It's so much nicer to be out and about now that the weather is warmer. Nathan is still getting used to going outside. He hasn't loved it so far but more tolerates it. I'm sure by the end of summer he'll be begging to go out.

The Surgeries Are Over!!

We are so pleased that the dreaded surgeries are finally over! They all went very well. We had just a couple of glitches as one of the surgeons didn't get scheduled but he came over anyway. The Children's Hospital was so wonderful to Nathan and to us!

Nathan and I got to the hospital at around 7:30am and Ron joined us as soon as he got off work. Nathan was so glad to see him.



We spent a while in the pre-op playroom. Nathan really enjoyed that part.





He is really into little matchbox cars right now.




We tried to be upbeat for him but eventually he began to suspect something was amuck especially when we started dressing oddly.



After his surgery we held him as much as possible. The braces on his arms are called no-nos and they keep him from putting his hands in his mouth.



Nana came to the hospital to see Nathan and he was pleased to snuggle with her. Here we are trying to get some fluids into him.

The surgeon who repaired Nathan's palate said it looked very, very good so he likely will not need more corrective surgery on it, We are so happy to hear this.

We didn't get released until 2:00pm today and we are glad to finally be home. Nathan is happy to be home. I can't help but wonder how the horrible experience translates to a baby's mind because we can't explain it to him. He will be on a liquid diet for a week.

Thank you to everyone who remembered Nathan in your prayers!