5 years and counting.......

Yesterday was our 5th year anniversary of Natalie's referral day!  I can not believe that she has been in our lives for 5 years.  It seems like yesterday and forever, all at once.  

Jon and I will never forget that wonderful day.  We knew that we were going to be getting our referral call, the referral packets were due to arrive on the 25th from China, it was just a matter of them coming from the airport to our agency.  We knew that the delivery service usually comes just before noon, so at about 11am Jon and I began our pacing.  The hours passed and still no call.  Thankfully, we live in the computer age, because without that we would have been frantic.  We found out that the delivery service had gotten lost, delayed, waylaid, or something, but the packets were 'in transit'.  So we continued to pace.  Just before 6pm our time, the phone rang.  Time stood still........Neither one of us moved.....we just looked at each other....one second, two seconds......then we both scrambled to the phone.  "Congratulations, you have a beautiful daughter!"  

 We rushed to the computer, waiting for the e-mail that would contain a tiny picture....THE picture!  Of course, it took   f.o.r.e.v.e.r!  Slowly the e-mail came up, slowly her precious face was revealed.  And in the blink of an eye, our lives were forever changed.  We fell hopelessly in love with a tiny little girl in a over-sized red outfit.  Two more pictures followed, but they were just icing on the cake.  We looked at those pictures, tears streaming down our faces, amazed at how perfect she was (and still is!).  What had we ever done to be so Blessed?  

 

 I can't remember much more of the conversation with our agency, just that our referral packet would be arriving in the next couple of days and IF we wanted this child???  our acceptance letter was in the packet.  We would need to fill it out and send it back.  I do remember thinking "IF? IF? Are you kidding me?!!?!?"  Needless to say, the minute we received our acceptance letter, it was signed, notarized and overnight-ed back!  


Both Jon and I knew that the moment we answered the phone, that our lives had irrevocably.  We had become a Family.  

I have said that the moment I saw Natalie's face for the first time, the clouds opened, the sun began to shine with a new glow and color returned to my black & white world.  To this day, I still feel this way. 

Honest-to-Gosh Walking!

I know that I posted earlier that Jake had taken his 1st steps.  SInce he does not feel as thought he  needs to prove anything to anyone, he decided to leave well enough alone.  He likes crawling, he is good at crawling, so why walk? 

This afternoon, Jake had his PT appointment (for his torticollis) and he decided that today was the day!  He took 16 consecutive steps - without holding on to anything.  He was so proud of himself, he was shuttering with happiness at his accomplishment.  He then proceeded to walk, in bits and pieces, clear across the room and back (and this was a long, rectangular room).  He was so excited that he forgot himself and 'Hi 5ed' the therapist!!

Of course, on this monumentous occasion, did Mommy have a camera? Heck NO!  But the moment was indelibly marked in my heart.  I will never forget how joyous he was, grinning from ear to ear.  Way to go, Jakey!

Not that I didn't get excited when Natalie took her 1st steps, but she was so matter-of-fact about it.  She needed to get from point A to point B and walking seemed, to her, to be the most efficient way to get there.  She is my practical child. 

Jakey Hi-Jinx! Ice Fisherwoman, Natalie and some more Christmas Pics

First, let me say that we have been Blessed with two children that have very interesting senses of humor.  Natalie is into slapstick humor (she can do a very good prat fall) and Jake, well, he is the biggest goofball....ever!

The other night, Jake was in bed with me.  I was asleep, and I thought he was, too.  In between snores, I was awaken by a weird feeling.  Jake had put his pacifier in my mouth!  I guess he thought I needed it.  When my eyes shot open, there he was, sitting next to me, with the sweetest grin on his face, his eyes a-twinkle.  I could not help but start laughing, he was just SO cute.  This kid has his mommy wrapped tightly around his tiny finger ~ and he knows it.

Here are some more Christmas pictures I found on my camera.

Gentleman Jakey!

Not-so-patiently waiting for Santa

Snacks for Santa and Rudolph

Waitin' for the fish to bite - enjoying some hot cocoa!

Merry, Blessed Christmas!

The Stinker and the Angel

Santa surprises Natalie at Lunch

Jake doesn't seem to like Santa

A few small steps!

As we were all either enjoying a full blown bout of the flu, or beginning to feel ill, Jake decided that he was not too sick to surprise us all. 

Jake has been stubborn about trying to walk.  He didn't really see a need to move for himself when he could get someone else to do it, so why bother.  But with Daddy and Grandma coaching him on, Jake decided to give it a try.  I think he really likes it.