Nathan the Night Owl

Lately Nathan hasn't been wanting to go to bed. Even when I try to put him to bed on a regular schedule, he sits in there and plays. It's very entertaining to listen to him making all of that noise but it's better when he goes to sleep.

On some Fridays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, he goes to daycare at about 0615 which is way earlier than his usual 0800 time. He doesn't appreciate these days because they do not have his breakfast waiting for him as usual. Most of the time he is a good sport about it and will allow us to find him a book or game that he can play with. Unfortunately, everything becomes more dramatic when he is tired and he has just bawled the last two days when he arrived and there was no food.

This morning he was fussy and I loaded him into the truck. The dogs usually ride with me because I have to come home and get my patrol car after I drop Nathan off. Liberty hasn't been wanting to ride lately because of the puppies at the house so she has stayed. This morning I asked her if she wanted to go and she turned around and looked at the house so I told her she could stay and I closed the back door. Nathan burst into tears and started wailing. When I opened up the door he pointed at Liberty and cried.

So Liberty was loaded into the back seat to sit next to Nathan. He gave her a hug and patted her head, and we were off to daycare. She looked at me with confustion and I told her, "I can't figure our what makes him cry either. Just go along with it!" My mornings are way too dramatic.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

We have much to be thankful for! It has been one year since we brought Nathan home! This will be a considerably less tiring holiday and Nathan will be able to enjoy himself. He loves seeing his relatives come for a visit. Everyone is coming here so he will be able to show off all of his toys to his cousins.

I wish I could think of something eloquent to say about this occasion but all that comes to mind is how blessed we are. Because it's so close to my heart I think about all of the children throughout the world who have never and may never know what it is to sit down to a table abundant with food in the presence of family. It is something I have always taken for granted.

I guess we are never too old to grow in maturity so I am still learning how to be thankful and see the blessing in even the little things. The truth is I am abundantly blessed in so many areas of my life. I hope that all of my friends and family have a very happy, fulfilling Thanksgiving Day!



From today...Nathan watching TV with his new panda bear.




This was us last Thanksgiving...

The first is on the red couch at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China. It was Thanksgiving Day that morning before we left to head home.


Twenty-six hours later we landed in Oklahoma City where it was Thanksgiving Day!

One Year Ago Today...

A couple from the other side of world arrived in the mountain city of Chongqing. At The Office Of Foreign Affairs, our long-awaited son was placed in our arms and three lives were forever changed.

Here is my post from that day:

http://twoinblue.blogspot.com/2006/11/together-day.html

And here are the pictures!

http://twoinblue.blogspot.com/2006/11/here-are-pictures.html

I intend to put together a photoshow but...Ron made a new shelf for my computer tower and when he disconnected the computer, he didn't know how to get it back together correctly. We don't have internet at home until we get this worked out.

I can hardly believe its been a year! It still feels so new to me! Maybe because I'm still trying to figure out this mommy-thing and get it right.

Ron says he feels like Nathan has been with us his hole life instead of just a year.

Our little guy has come such a long way in a year!

Love Without Boundaries 2007 Video

It's been my pleasure to meet Amy, whose voice in on the video. She and others involved in LWB have such a big heart for these children. They coordinate with doctors and nurses to go to China on misions to repair cleft lips, birth defects, and heart defects. In addition, they help the orphanages get the children's paperwork ready so that more of the children can be adopted. Something as simple as the orphanage not being able to afford the medical examination is all that stands between some of these children and their forever families.

When I see the pictures and videos I think about Nathan. If he hadn't been placed for adoption, he would have grown up without a family in an orphanage. He likely would not have received the additional surgeries that he needed. He might not have been able to go to school or even have enough to eat. When I think of it, my heart breaks that there are so many children still waiting. Every one of them deserves more.

Please visit the Love Without Boundries site: http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/ Maybe you will find something in their store that you can use

Bath In The Sink

This kid loves his baths! Anytime...anyplace.

Grandma and Grandpa Were Here!

Ron's Mom and Dad came to Oklahoma for a visit. We had such a wonderful time. Nathan recognized them instantly and enjoyed them so much. The weather was nice so we were able to do a little sight-seeing while they were here.





The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Reservation



















At North Pole City and Bricktown

Naughty Nathan

Nathan is having so much fun playing with the puppies. He discovered that if he climbs on his slide, they can't reach him. Beau, the little grey puppy really likes Nathan so I put him on his slide and we discovered that Beau actually likes to use the slide. He was not altogether fond of sharing the slide with Nathan who displayed his naughty side.

September Is Here

Nathan is really putting us through the paces with this two-year-old thing he is doing. Just when I reach the point of total exasperation, he switches gears and becomes really cute. It has it's ups and downs but it's a fun age.

He is doing well in daycare and has started playing with some of the other children. We were hoping daycare would have that effect so we are pleased. Sometimes we don't even get a wave goodbye when he hits the door because he is so eager to get in there and start playing. We are so glad he is enjoying it.

He is still enjoying his Veggie Tale videos in a big way. This pictures are of him while he is watching one. We also have introduced him to Bugs Bunny and friends and so far, he seems to favor the Roadrunner/Cayote cartoons. I admit it is fun to watch these cartoons I haven't seen since I was a kid. I wish I had stock in that Acme company!









To all my friends and family who are doing the back-to-school thing, I hope you have a non-hectic fall season!