We're in for it!

Charley looked down the hall and exclaimed, "Oh no!"



Yes, folks, he's climbing already!!!!!!!!

Worthy of Mention

Go here http://browneyedfox.blogspot.com
and see this:

“There are no such things as limits to growth,

because there are no limits to the human capacity
for intelligence, imagination, and wonder!”

Ronald Reagan

Her pictures are wonderful and so uplifting!!!!!

Copycat Post

Well, since Jyll told one of her "Asian" stories at Hearn Happenings, it inspired me to share one of ours. (I say "one" of our stories, because we have many.) John and I were at the mall a few weeks before Thanksgiving. It's the first and only time I've been to the mall since we've been home. I digress. Ok, so we're strolling past the area where the Massage chairs are set up and several Asians are giving back rubs, etc. One man in particular looks our way, sees John and walks right up to us speaking Japanese. He's smiling and talking away while I'm nodding and smiling, totally confused of course. I just shrug at all he's saying and say "have a good day!" Then, he looks at us in confusion. I wish I'd had the foresight to say..."look, my son is Chinese and I don't speak Japanese." Too little, too late. I certainly don't mind all the stares and the "oh, how cute" comments. But, it sure gets old when people ask, "is he yours?" Duh. No, I'm 30, and my occupation is a babywalker. I think I'll say that next time someone asks. Oh, dear Laura, that makes me think of you - that's something you would be proud of me if I said, right!?

Old Fashioned Christmas

Go here, http://waggoner.blogspot.com/2008/12/wilmores-old-fashioned-christmas.html, and see some neat pictures of our annual hometown Christmas get-together. Ok, so only the first 2 pictures are relevant to our family and friends. Although, the Waggoners sure are a cute family! Back to last weekends festivities...we ate a Turkey dinner with the Wymans and their friends (we knew a few too) and then briskly walked downtown in the cold and a little snow for fellowship and hot chocolate. It was a clear, beautiful night and we surely enjoyed being a family of 3 this year! This weekend we are going to finish decorating our tree and will prepare for my family to come up to this southernmost northern state! (I like to pretend I'm still living in the South, but in truth, Kentucky is just stuck in between - with cold weather in the winter, enough snow to keep this cold-blooded girl indoors, and less-than-polite kentuckians that choose a matter-of-fact tone over true southern charm. I can't say that too loud lest they hear me.) Have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving in the real South...

Daddy plays with John!

Helping grandmama in the kitchen!

Uncle Norman, Mommy, me, Aunt Cis and John
Thank you, Charley, for the picture!

Uncle Norman with John on Thanksgiving morning

Look at Me!

THANK YOU!!!!

Thanks for still checking up on us even tho we disappear for weeks at a time!

Whew! The month of November has been a whirlwind for our new family. We are looking forward to December...maybe things will slow down a little?!?! Ha. Sure! In the beginning of November Charley's (paternal) Grandmother Neal passed away. She was such a sweet lady and followed her husband home to the Lord. We traveled up to Illinois and then Iowa - the funeral was lovely and it was a dear time to spend with family as we visited them with John for the first time. Below is a picture of Grandma Adelaide, Charley's maternal grandmother who traveled over from her town in Iowa to the funeral about an hour away. The quilt on her lap is one that she and Charley's mom made for John. Great to see the 4 generations together all in one picture!

After heading home for a week or two, our dear friends threw us a Welcome Home shower! It was so fun and such a sweet time with great food and lots of fun. There were several little children there and they had so much fun playing together. John loves his friends!

Next we traveled to Atlanta for Thanksgiving. It was so fun watching our precious boy see his Grandpa and Grandmama Wells for the first time. He went right to them, as if he'd known them forever! He grinned and giggled and was totally charming. It was also wonderful to see how attached he is to his mommy and daddy. My Aunt Cis and Uncle Norman were down from North Carolina too! We took lots of walks in the warmer GA sun -it was such a sweet time with family. I have pics I'll share from the weekend soon!

P.S. The only thing about this blogging thing is that you have to be organized to accomplish it well...hmmm....needless to say I'm not the most organized. Just hang in there with me!

Taiwan

I thought I would share a few of our pictures from Taiwan. Below is a typical meal. We ate at round tables in a small dining hall with the older children in the Home. It was so nice to be part of their 'family' for a time.



We piled a little of everything in our own small bowl (on the left in the picture) and then finished off all of it with a little soup. The apple/pear fruit in the forefront of the table is dessert.




The Home is near a beautiful lake and we were able to walk and bike around it (about a mile) several times. The weather was, of course, hot and humid. Just the way I like it! In the distance is a Buddhist temple.



Above is Anna with John's completed paperwork and passport!



Bev and Ted with John!



The Home



The Home from a distance

Fall!

We went to Boyd's Orchard several weekends ago and here are a few pictures from the day!
John has on his serious face. What's new?! He giggles, laughs, and grins a lot when it's just the 3 of us, but he is selective upon whom he bestows smiles when we are out and about.

http://cydilphoto.blogspot.com/

A dear friend whom we met through our adoption group happens to be an amazing photographer and she took some exceptional pictures of our family this past week! We are blessed to be involved in the Waggoners lives. Thank you, Cydil, for your great work! If you need a photographer, Cydil is it! She is cool, calm, collected and fun! It was great to see her in such a professional mode, having only known her wit and sweet humor in a crowd of friends! John was a cranky guy the evening of our shoot, but she made him giggle and crack a smile or two. Go here, http://cydilphoto.blogspot.com/, to her blog for a few more fun pictures she shot of us!

100% Sold

It's almost been a month since John has officially been a U.S. citizen! And, since I think pictures speak louder than words I want to share some of our trip in Taiwan with you. However, our internet speed stinks. So, I'll have to wait. But, in the meantime I'll tell you a little about our weeks since we've been home.

Our family and friends have been so generous to John. Every day we've been greeted with a new treat - meals, packages in the mail, thoughtful gifts, and more. I'm listening to John snore a little bit while I write. He is the most precious child - I know ever parent thinks that. And, I guess that's the beauty in your own child - God makes them so unique to each family. We thought we loved children before...but, we had no idea of the love of a parent! We can see ourselves in John in so many ways - he is quiet, gentle, likes people but needs his alone time, loves to hear us read aloud, enjoys music and theatre (ha...mom's attempt at thinking she's an actress), loves to laugh but reserved much of the time too, etc. He is a gracious host and loves people, but when he sees mom and dad he lights up. That is thrilling to us. What is also thrilling is that Charley looked at me today and said, "I think I love him more than I love you." Ok. So, I know you are thinking, "huh?" I know what he meant. But, I have to say, the three of us are bonding so well. After having 7 foster children and attaching to them and then unattaching it's been, well, to say the least...excruciating! And, to hear my dear husband say those words was like music to my ears b/c he's finally allowing himself to fall in love. I don't think it's totally sunk in yet - that he is ours and we are a family forever - on earth and in heaven. Our hearts are sold 100% on John. But, our minds are slowly catching up.

This post has turned into a Jackie's Journal. Funny how that happens.

Going back to our weeks together - we visited a pumpkin patch and picked out three pumpkins - a large (daddy), medium (me) and a small (little man). We've waited so long to do that! And, I know it sounds corny, but it really was all I had hoped! We've taken lots of walks, picked up leaves and John's had fun crunching them up in his little fingers. We've visited his Dr. and she was duly impressed with him and the care he received in the Home. Of course! John has crawled from the living room to the kitchen on his own. And, the other day, while I was in the kitchen intent on my pumpkin bread, I looked around the corner and found he had used the ottoman to pull himself up. He was just standing there looking up at me, so proud of himself. And, when he sees me he smiles. Big. And, sometimes there is a giggle with the smile. He's saying mama and dada and papa and baba and more gurgles than we can count.

Enough. I could go on and on. We are all madly in love. That is the bottom line!

Signing off now. Love to all.

Jackie

Laughing!

Beth and Eric brought a delicious dinner and we got some great shots of John giggling and playing. And, of course, teething!

These teeth hurt!

This is the most loveable and handsome boy a mommy and daddy could hope for!

Shawnee, Katie and John

John with his new toy from Grandmom and Granddad Wells

John and Erin!

Charley's Cousin and new C-in Law!

Aren't these two quite the most beautiful couple!?
We love you!

Finally!

So, we have the slowest internet speed known to man - DSL Light is cheapest! Hence, no postings! We will have to traverse elsewhere to upload pictures in the future, and it will be easier to do as I am staying at home with John full time beginning this Saturday! My two weeks' notice will be complete on Friday of this week and I am so excited! John pulled up and stood all by himself yesterday for the first time! And, today, Charley is staying with him this week and called to tell me that his first tooth is coming through today! I was just writing in his baby book last night and I'll have to get it out again tonight!

Since we've been home John has:
1. moved from the slow army crawl to pulling up his knees and crawling fast!
2. pulled up to stand on mommy and daddy yesterday!
3. cut his first tooth!

That's all in the first two weeks he's been home!
We think his hair is even starting to grow in more too!
Needless to say, we are proud parents and excited to see all of these "firsts."

Ick, Jetlag - Yay, John!

We are crazy with the jet lag! We feel like it has taken us so long to get on a schedule. But, it's only the 3rd day we've been home. So, we can't be too hard on ourselves. John is, of course, doing better with it than us! I can't post pics without a higher online connection. So, I am hoping that this will post at least. Pics to come tomorrow. We are settling in well. The little man is doing so well! He's greeting all of friends so graciously. Then, letting us know when he's had enough and ready to eat and sleep! We aren't having any visitors today, Sunday, as we just need some time alone together, just the 3 of us. It's been a great relaxing day. Well, amidst all of the laundry and rearranging of the house to accommodate our boy! Friends are bringing us meals and it's been a really welcoming past several days back in the States. Talk with you soon! Love to all!

Here in Taiwan...

We arrived late last night! What a long trip! But, it was all worth it. We have to say...our John is the BEST guy, the CUTEST baby boy, and SO SWEET and loving. Yes, I just heard the word humidity behind me...there are about 15 people in the kitchen right now and it's Mama Bev's birthday! Ok. So, it's HOT and we're wet from head to toe. And, I love it! Charley has not complained once, I have. More than once :). Funny, huh? And to think, I couldn't wait to be in the humidity :).

Anyway, gotta run. So much going on. Love to all and we can't to post pictures when we get home! Love, Love, love! Kisses from John!

C and J

Only one month away!

Dear Charley & Jackie,

“Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” Proverbs 25:25

Your first court paper is approved! Praise the Lord! It is a copy of the civil adoption decree and you passed! From this date it is usually about a month before we get the final paper and everything is in hand for you to travel.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say: Rejoice!” Phil. 4:4

So, we'll travel either the second or third week of October!

September Update

We received our monthly update! Here are some pictures of John at 6 1/2 months. A dear THOGL friend (found at Chism Trail) is in Taiwan now picking up her little girl and took the below pictures. I'll post the pictures from Mama Bev later.

There's a little smile!

Thrift It

I love a great thrift store find. And, I am so excited that the blogging world allows me a window into others who love the same! Below are my most recent jewels. Some are perfect the way I found them...others need a little work!

Here's a great plate that I propped up on a bookcase behind a frame. Found it for a $1.50.

The wrought iron plate rack was also $1.50 and blue bag was $3. The white ceramic Thanksgiving turkey salt-and-pepper shakers were .50. I'm repainting them - picture soon!

Here's the finished product on my wall! First I tried the green plate - nope, didn't work. I looked around and realized I had these plates from Pier 1 - perfect size!

Now We're Palin, I Mean Playin'

This race has gone from b-o-r-i-n-g to hold-on-to-your-seat exciting! It's about time! If Condy won't run, Sarah Palin may be our next best bet! Have you looked at her credentials!? Check it out at http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/29/mccain-to-name-running-mate-on-friday/!

"Informed of the selection, a Barack Obama spokesman questioned Palin’s experience.

Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same,” said spokesman Bill Burton." ~ www.foxnews.com

Ok. My two cents. Ready? I love that all the "others" can say in the first sentence of their criticism is that she is the former mayor of a small town. Let's see...how far has she gone in a short and successful amount of time?! "They" are impressed. That's what I think. And, is overturning Roe v. Wade really "more of the same?" I thought handing out condoms in school and planned parenthood was "more of the same?" Oh, I guess I was wrong. And, I'd like to point out...just how much experience does Osama, oops Obama, have in foreign policy and legislative decision-making? Oh, that's right, none.

Anyway, I don't usually get on my box about politics. But, again, if Condy won't run...we have to settle. But Palin just might be the reformist we need!

Lexington Home Show

Sunday was a beautiful day in the Bluegrass. A friend and I checked out a few of the remodeled homes in Lexington. Below is what we saw. Enjoy!



A bit over the top for my taste, but elegant and well done



I couldn't resist this picture!



Wouldn't this be perfect for an outdoor wedding?!
Add an addition and pay for your daughters wedding all in one fell swoop!







The wine rack is a horse!





















The last nine photos are yards and water features that my husband helped create! He is just breaking into Sales...so if you need an excellent company to transform your home or office and a sweet creative listening ear (read: not a pushy salesman!), call my Charley! They travel all around the United States, so spread the word!

Nature's Expressions, Inc.

859.885.0015

www.nei-lex.com