My Beautiful Almond-Eyed Boy

This is the little boy that is about brighten up our world! His name is Rocco, and he will be forever ours on March 14th as the orphanage worker will hand him over to us at the Giving and Receiving ceremony in Vietnam. We fly out in just 9 days. I can't even sleep at night any more. Just to think we will be united in less than two weeks. It's surreal; I am one blessed mother to be. His almond shaped eyes are so sweet. I can't wait to hold him and rock him to sleep. Oh the books I'll read him. We have so much to look forward to. I'm about to be a mom!!

Animal crackers and such . . .

Okay, so I am so excited about the animal crackers that I bought today. Most people would not understand.
If, on the other hand, you're like me and have waited for over 7 years to be a mom you can certainly identify.

Sippy cups, animal crackers, and hand prints on the stove are such little things in life that people take for granted. But all of these are about to be a part of my world for the first time. Every night I cry when I start to think about it. I've got to get a hold of myself. . . but, hey. . . I'm going to be a mom in just 15 days!!



We board a plane in just 10 days for Vietnam. Can't wait to hold his sweet, soft, tan face next to mine and tell him, "I love you." If he doesn't understand my words, he will hear the message coming clearly from my heart.

Proud Aunts and Uncles

One of God's greatest gifts that He gives to us is our family. . . and I think we have the best! My husband and I hope both have siblings that are anticipating the arrival of our little boy.

Jason has a sister named Tonya. She's four years older than him, but I can safely say she can still probably beat him at any sport. Beyond her athletic abilities lies her talent with words. She is a speach pathologist by trade, and she has written a lot of inspiring poetry. Along with her rough and tumble fun spirit, she has a soft side and is full of compassion and love. I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law. (And her husband comes along with the family package. We can't wait to call him "Uncle" Ben. . . by the way he has his claim on getting to hold Rocco first since I was the first family member to hold Drew first.)

I have a brother, Tyler, and he is 12 years younger than me. He was certainly a miracle that I prayed for growing up. I treated him like he was my little baby doll; he was good practice for me being a mom much later in life. I couldn't be more proud of him. He will graduate from high school this year, and he plans on going to college. If you want to be sung to just hang around him. You'll think Josh Turner walked into the room. Look out girls. . . that deep voice of his and his charm may make you fall! But he's taken . . . well at least for now.

Rocco's Maternal Grandparents

My parents, Danny and Teresa, are way excited about their first grandchild! Even though they live over 4 hours away, we talk almost every day. What would we do without cell phones? My dad owns his own auto repair business, and my mom works as a medical receptionist for 8 different doctors. My parents had me early in life, so my mom is more like a sister or best friend. She is beautiful, both inside and out. Without the support and Christian upbringing of my mom and dad, I would not be who I am today.

Rocco's Paternal Grandparents

Jason's parents, Gary and Carolyn, are anticipating the arrival of their newest grandson. They are the best in-laws that anyone could ever have. Gary is a retired administrator and educator. He spends his "extra" time on the cattle farm back home in Georgia. Carolyn stays very busy as a secretary at work. At home she trys to keep "silly granddaddy" straight.

Our Nephew Drew, Rocco's First Cousin

Where would we be without family? Although we live over 4 hours from both sides of our family, we stay in close contact with our parents. Both my parents and Jason's parents have been so supportive of our adoption. Through prayers, encouraging words, acts of kindness, and even financial help they have shown us that they are right beside us every step on this adoption path. This will be my parent's first grandchild, and it will be Jason's parent's second grand-son. Drew was their first, and we are so proud to call him our nephew. (This is the little guy who was using words like "miniscule" at the age of 2). He is only in 2nd grade, and the other day he corrected his mom when she offered to buy him some American flag stickers for his Andrew Jackson research paper. "Mom, our nation's flag didn't have 50 stars back then. It only had 26." Don't ask me how he knows all this. He constantly amazes us!! He's a little genius, and we know that he is going to teach Rocco a lot.

Our little "adopted" boy

Tuan is his Vietnamese name, but when he is adopted into our family he will go by Rocco. Jason and I decided on this name last April when we were watching a golf tournament on TV in our California hotel room. There's a famous golfer with that name. We thought it was unique and different. At first, some of our family members raised some eyebrows about the name but now it just seems normal. He's known as Rocco, and even though we've never held him there are many people crazy about him. This little fella' doesn't know what he's getting into.

It's kind of like when God adopts us into His family. When you first begin your relationship with the Lord you know it is a good thing, but you really have no idea what He has in store for you. Life. Abundant life. The more you grow as a Christian the more benefits you realize you have in being His child.

Baby's Room

I had to post another picture of his nursery. This is the main wall that you would see as you walk into Rocco's room. I can hardly wait to bring my little boy with his brown almond eyes into his room. It has been quiet for much too long and is ready for laughing, cooing, and . . . yes. . . and even crying. I better go rest while I still can. . .

Jason and Heather

Now that's more like it! I finally found a way to resize our photos so that all of you can see who we are. Check out the bulldog Santa behind my head. Don't be fooled by us living in South Carolina. We are big Georgia Bulldog Fans!!

I'm still trying to post pictures on my really S...L...O...W dial-up computer. If all goes well, you should be able to see a picture of my husband and me. We've been married for 9 1/2 years and are expecting our first child in 16 days (I'm adoption pregnant).

Airline tickets

Our airline tickets came in the mail today. We'll be flying with Carla and Kim-Lan's family. It was too bad that Rachel's family could not get the same flights. They live way up north and are flying out of Chicago. All three families have e-mailed us pictures of themselves so that we'll know what faces to look for. Out of our travel group, we are the only first time parents.

We only purchased Rocco a lap seat which means we'll have to hold him the entire 20 + hour flight. It was either this or pay $900 for a seat he may have little to do with anyway. Most one year olds don't like being restrained for any length of time. I bought an Ergo carrier on-line, and it should be just the thing for holding him on the flight. Only 16 days left. . .

Rocco's Nursery

My pictures finally uploaded! I was so excited that I decided to see if I could publish several images of his room. He will certainly be stimulated in his nursery. The pattern is from Pottery Barn and is called "A to Z." He'll get an jump start learning the alphabet just by looking at his walls as I change his diapers. The soft tones of sky blue and apple green are soothing as well as child friendly. I've had 6 years to think this room over; it's everything I'd dreamed it would be. The only thing needed is the baby to go in it. Vietnam, here we come!

One day closer to Rocco!

I've started a list of items that I need to pack. I figure by the end of this week I'll actually start putting these things in a suitcase. We have 17 days left before we fly out of South Carolina.

Our flights will be the same as Carla and Kim-Lan's. Rachel will meet up with us at the hotel in HCM. Some good friends of ours at church, John and Carlene, are going to take us to the airport on our departure date. They'll also pick us up once we return.

I'm getting excited about my baby shower. For so many years I've gone to them, but now it is my turn to have the baby. It is surreal!!

Rocco's room is ready. I'll try to post a picture of it. We had a mural professionally painted to match his pottery barn bedding. Very cute!

The Countdown is On!

February 19, 2007
I'm starting a new blog for the sake of our family and friends who will want to monitor our progress while we're in Vietnam. In just 18 days we will be leaving for Vietnam where we will adopt our first child, Rocco. This little tike was born on March 29, 2006 in Ninh Thuan and has been waiting for us in his orphanage since April 17th. (Well, he doesn't know it yet, but he'll find out soon enough). This adoption process started on January 25th of 2006. Thirteen months later we find ourselves creating a packing list, booking our flights, and getting ready for a baby shower!

Jason's visa came in the mail today. The Embassy of Vietnam had messed up on his dates. They only gave him a time frame of March 1 to April 1st. Although this would have probably sufficed for when we needed it, it was too close of a call. I sent it back to them and asked that they honor my original request: March 1st to June 1st.

We booked our flights today with a travel agency. My family know the specifics, but for the rest of those reading we will be leaving South Carolina on March 10th and returning on March 29th (my baby boy's birthday). What a birthday. . . and an answer to prayer!

We will be travelling with three other families. 1) Kim-Lan and her husband are from TX and are going to get their first daughter, Maile Noel. They already have two boys. 2) Carla and her family are going to get their toddler boy, Lucas. They are from Oklahoma. 3) Rachel and Tim have previously adopted a little girl from Cambodia and are going to get their second daughter, Sera, who is three. They are from South Dakota. Our little boy will be the youngest one in the group of newly adoptees.

Kim-Lan's girl and our baby are in the Ninh Thuan orphanage together. Carla and Rachel's toddlers are in the Vinh Long orphanage. We have all been e-mailing each other and anticipate getting to know one another.