Our Chinese Takeout: 2009

Monday, March 2, 2009

1 Year Ago Today...

Those first moments... so uncertain.

Very serious, no smiles.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Our boy 1 year later! Full of laughter & smiles, hugs & kisses.

God brings families together in many different ways.

This is our miracle!

Monday, February 9, 2009

I remember this time last year, during our excruciating wait, telling myself that Nolan's 3rd birthday would be here before we knew it and that we would not believe how fast time had gone by. Well, it is hard to believe that his bday is already here. We have had many "firsts" with Nolan in the past 11 months, but this celebration has to be one of the most special ones!

Nolan first birthday celebration ever!

We have a tradition of eating cake for breakfast on the actual bday of each family member. Early the morning of Nolan's big day, we could hear him calling from his bed, "happy cake, Mommy, happy cake." So I peeled myself out of bed (early for a Saturday) and served up some happy cake. (BTW, "Happy Cake" is what Nolan has called bday cake from way early on.) He blew out the candles SO fast, we didn't even have time to snap a pic!

Sometime that morning, Nolan was walking around the house calling Milton, "Dad." This went on for several minutes & we don't know why he suddenly changed from "Daddy" to "Dad" especially since no one in the house calls him "Dad". Maybe he was feeling all grown up on his big day.

Here's Nolan listening to Mimi & Papa sing Happy Birthday to him over the phone.

He picked a Mickey Mouse cake after the show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He loves, loves, loves that show!

Very experienced now at opening gifts from what he learned at Christmas, here he is breaking into his presents.

He couldn't fake any excitement for this gift! You can tell that by the look on his face.

A shirt, woo hoo!

Big, scary rc dinosaur he named "toot" ??? Not sure why he picked that name, but how cute!

Daddy trying to teach him how to work Toot.

All the sibs enjoying the new toys.

Feeding Toot leaves.

Precious (and occasionally rotten) Nolan who is now 3 years old!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Okay... I give!

I realized that I am never going to be able to complete my year in review, just way too much going on with this crazy family. But I promise to get an update on here soon! Saturday in Nolan's 3rd bday, his first birthday home with us! Check back soon.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

A Look Back Over 2008

The year started out waiting, waiting, waiting, to finally receive official approval from China that Nolan was ours. This took SIX weeks longer than expected. Apparently, someone took a very long vaca while our paperwork collected dust on their desk, at least that is the reason we were given!

Finally, after celebrating Milton's 40th Bday on the 23rd of January, (I've looked for pics from the party we had for the BIG bday, but could not locate any) we got good news on the 25th. Nolan was officially ours, unfortunately now we had to wait again to receive travel approval.

January 31st was a bittersweet day... Nolan would turn 2, still in China. But, we celebrated with Chinese food from Pei Wei and the kids made a gift for him at Build a Bear.

In the meantime, our 12th Anniversary came and went and celebrated by going out to a nice dinner & shopping for things we would need for our trip.

We also managed to squeeze in a birthday party for Landon. This would be the 2nd time we'd be in China over his bday! What are the odds! But, being the overall good sport that he is, he forgave us and doesn't bring it up too terribly often!

Sometime in the crazy month of February 2008, Summerlyn dusted off the bike she'd gotten for Christmas well over a year beforehand, and decided she was ready to ride. It took no time at all, and she was off and riding.