Christmas Time's A Comin'

Every year I get a special family ornament with the year on it.

Here is 2007's.



Look at our handsome boy so intrigued by the Christmas lights.

8 months ago today

Eight months ago today, Rocco touched down on American soil for the first time and officially became an American citizen. That was an indescribable moment on the plane as the wheels landed in Atlanta, GA. That day was also Rocco's first birthday. Wow! Hard to believe he is 20 months old today. Every day with him is such a gift from the Lord. He has brought us so much laughter and enjoyment. In our home is right where he belongs.

Praise report. . . We took Rocco to see a specialist today about the flattening of the back side of his head. The doctor said that this was probably due to the fact that he laid on his back a lot in the orphanage. Rocco was also in the hospital a couple of times in Vietnam before we adopted him. During this time of sickness, he probably was too weak to sit up much. Regardless of the mild case of flattening, there is no real problem and it is barely noticeable. It has not affected any of his development. In fact, the doctor said that he was going to be a genius, such a little guy and already very sure of his opinions. Even though he hated the 5 second scan on his head, I have to admit he was so cute in the tight stocking they put on his head with only his eyes, nose, and mouth visible. He looked like a little racecar driver. The sweetest part was looking at the image of his head on the computer screen. It was the first time I'd seen a picture like that of him; it looked like an ultrasound that I had never viewed before. "Oh, that's my baby!" I said. It was a special moment that I'm sure other adoptive mothers would understand. Thanks for all of your prayers. It looks like he won't have to wear a head brace!



We celebrated by having lunch at Chuck E Cheeses. Rocco enjoyed the cucumbers and ranch but did not like any of the kiddie rides. Jason and I had to use up the tokens ourselves. Can't believe we spent $40 for some lousy pizza. Could have eaten at Outback for that. Oh well, the things you do for your kids. And besides. . . we made some memories. ;)

20 Months Old

At 20 months, Rocco just keeps on growing and accomplishing new and amazing feats. Every day is a new adventure. Here's a list of his latest.

1) looks at his reflection in the stove and makes faces at himself
2) goes and gets the bubbles underneath the bathroom sink and wants us to blow them / said "bubble" on 11-10-07 / tries to say Jesus and juice
3) tries to jump (cousin Drew taught him this)
4) raises both arms up to make the sign for touchdown when he hears the Georgia Bulldog fight song

5) says "Bye, bye," perfectly several times (on 11-28-07 and just laughed when we rejoiced over it)
6) feeds himself more independently with a fork or spoon
7) goes around the house looking for me and saying, "Muh!"
8) does the sign for "Home" and nearly says it, too
9) loves to play the Copy Cat game only if he can be the leader (touching his nose, pointing here and there, making the Oh my! face with both hands on his cheeks, moving his head down on his shoulders, etc.)
10) still drinks his morning and nightly bottle and still sleeps between mama and daddy
11) still enjoys hutting the ball between his legs (he'll even hut a roll of paper towels if he gets the chance)
12) knows when to laugh at the Wiggle jokes on his DVD
13) likes to push buttons on our cell phones and calculator
14) laughs when I brush his teeth with a vibrating toothbrush
15) exercises (cutest thing you've ever seen) He's learned to do squats, calf lifts, leg kick, and shoulder rolls by watching nana Carolyn
16) is really into making vroom noises and playing with tractors and toy cars / also loves to play ball

17) recognizes the G symbol for Georgia Bulldogs

18) finds comfort in touching my face with his little fingers while he lays next to me
19) still is very much a mama's boy - though he's not screaming quite so much at strangers anymore

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had! This is my favorite time of year. The weather is cool, the leaves are an awesome display of our artistic God, and there are many holidays to share with family. We were blessed to have everyone around the dinner table this year. . . my parents and brother, both of my grandparents, Jason, and Rocco. That in itself is enough to give thanks for. I think of the many families who lost loved ones over the past year, and I realize how good God is to us to allow us to all be together. So many things to be thankful for. . . where could I even begin? I suppose I'll just list the top ten for now. Then, I'll share a few photos of our first Thanksgiving with Rocco.

1) My salvation and relationship with Jesus
2) My marriage to Jason
3) Rocco is finally home with us where he belongs
4) Good health
5) God entrusting us with another place to serve in the ministry
6) Getting to live close to family again
7) My family and Jason's family
8) Having my old job back
9) Peace of mind
10) Good insurance that allows me to see my regular cardiologist again

Our Thanksgiving morning began with an old tradition, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Believe it or not, Rocco actually repeated after me and said, "Big Bird," when the float appeared on tv. Although he liked the music, dancing, and bright balloons, he prefered to make his own music. Here's Rocco's first attempt at playing the harmonica. His music and laughter added so much to our family gathering this year.

Who needs a turkey when you have a cute fella like this in your pot?

Little man ate his weight in mashed potatoes. I know he had several helpings all throughout the afternoon. And. . . he fed himself. This is a new milestone. Looks like he's getting more independent.

But not too big to love on mama!

Rocco and his Uncle Tyler. . .

A big tradition of ours for years has been shopping the day after Thanksgiving. On Friday, Rocco, my mom, my nana, and I left for the stores at 9:30 am and didn't get home until 9:30 that night. Rocco was a great sport! Here's a shot of Mimi and Rocco trying to find some great deals, but it's a little difficult considering Rocco's shredded the sales papers.

And a favorite Thanksgiving tradition for kids of all ages. . . just lounging around in your favorite chair.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Down from the bonus room came some old Christmas doo dads I've been collecting over the years. Now that we have a little one around the house, decorating for Christmas will be more challenging and fun. I found the Hallmark singing snowman. Rocco took a screw driver and helped me insert batteries. When they lit up, started singing, and began dancing he laughed. He swayed back and forth with them. Then, he decided to check them out as he sat in his famous squat. And then he did something that totally cracked us up. He started dancing and swaying as he was still squating down. How in the world he does it I just don't know. But I do know that he is going to be a sight this Christmas!

Rocco's Talking. . . Just a Little

Rocco is actually saying a few words lately. When we're in the house and he's looking for me, he says, "Um muh." He can say,"Mama," when he wants to as well as "Daddy" and "Nana." On our way home tonight from the Cattleman's dinner, Jason was telling Rocco that he was going to feed the bulls some hay, and as clear as day Rocco repeated him by saying, "Hay." A little fussy in the back seat, even though I was sitting beside him, Rocco was told over and over that we were almost home. Rocco repeated that too. "Home!" He immediately picked up on the sign for it, too. Of course he's been saying, "Moo" when he sees the cows. A few days ago, he was begging for me to blow some bubbles. I actually got him to say it. "Bubble!"

For the most part he tries to repeat some of the words we say, but he especially mimics our actions. He's already caught on to nana Carolyn's exercises, mama and daddy's driving the steering wheel, and mama's crazy dance moves.

I know it's only a matter of time before he starts using the words that he has understood for so long now. It's been a one sided conversation for a while now with him, but I have to give it to him. He has caught on so fast and understands everything we are saying to him.

Mini Toys

For some reason Rocco thinks he can ride mini toys. We caught him trying to sit on this 4-wheeler. After he squatted down, he turned the handle bar like he was driving. One time he sat on a mini lawn mower toy and did the same thing at Nana and Granddaddy's house. Rocco brings us the greatest entertainment. There's never time to be bored when he's around. I could sit and just watch him for hours.

South Carolina Friends

Our friends from South Carolina came up this weekend for the first time since we moved back in August. It was so good to have some girl time with Jennifer. We were faithful Curves workout partners while I lived in SC. Oh how my flabby body misses her encouragement and accountability!

During her weekend stay, we showed the boys the farm, let our boys race match box cars, had a birthday party for her four year old, saw Santa and Mrs. Claus, watched a cartoon movie titled Spirit, went to church, and took a wild golf cart adventure with the kids. Her husband, Bill, hunted with Jason. He took his sons for their first hunting experience on our farm. While they were stalking deer, we were hunting for good bargains. We loaded up at TJ Max. Yeah. . . my first experience helping Santa!!

They headed back to SC this afternoon. Hope I'll get to see her again soon. I'll close with a cute shot I took of our boys. They had the best time jumping on the blow up air mattress. Hayden and Chase were Rocco's first play date when we lived in SC. It was fun to reunite them, even if it was for a short time.

New Calf on the Farm

Several calves have been born lately on the farm, putting little man to work. This black cow was a twin and needed some extra attention that the mother cow wasn't giving. Every day we've been feeding him and giving him plenty of love. Rocco will stroke him one time and then laugh. He's very gentle with the animals and loves being on the farm. And I got a big thrill for a first I was able to experience. . . picking up a cow! This calf is about the size of a dog and wasn't too skilled in walking, so I did what any good cowgirl would do. Moved him myself.

The black calf has become our new family pet. I know. . . we better not get too attached. He'll be going to meat market soon. For now, though, we're enjoying bottle time with the sweet calf. And here's Rocco doing what he loves to do best. . . giving kisses to mama.

Choo Choo Train

Every kid needs a good train set, especially a boy. Rocco received his first one today. Teresa gave it to him. Her son, Matthew, played with it in the past, and before it was his it belonged to Claire and Ava. It's amazing how hand-me-down toys can bring so much joy to so many kids. It's a Leap Frog train that teaches all the letters and their sounds. Within minutes Rocco had it figured out. He learned quickly how to interchange the blocks, push the button to make it go, and remove the sides of the bridge so that he could sit on the tracks himself. He especially liked walking along the track. It's fun to watch him interact with the world around him as he explores so many new things. He sees the world through a different perspective. I would never have thought to walk on the train tracks or sit on the bridge. He is so small I guess he thought it was just his size. I'm so thankful God has allowed us to be his parents and share so many things with him. To think of the many children who were left behind in Vietnam saddens my heart beyond words. They may never get to play with a choo choo train or have animated toys that teach them their letter sounds. I could never put into words how grateful I am that God allowed us to bring Rocco home and give him so many opportunities that he would have never had in Vietnam. Even though he is a blessed little boy, we are far more blessed to call this handsome little man ours. Sometimes I look at his face and think to myself, "Is this real? I can't believe I'm actually a mom, and I've been blessed with such a beautiful son."

Fall Festival and Rocco's Play Date

The elementary school I work at had their fall festival today. Jason and I enjoyed seeing Rocco have fun at the various booths. He played Go-Fish with a long fishing pole, picked up ducks out of a kiddie swimming pool, raced match box cars down a ramp and came in 2nd place, jumped inside the inflatables, and zoomed down the slide with momma. Here's a few photos of the great time we had. I'm not sure who had their breath taken away more on the slide. . . Rocco or me.

Racing cars. . .

Rocco had his first play date with 2 1/2 year old Matthew today. His mom, Teresa, and I have been good friends for about four years now. We met at church when we went to Live Oak. Both of us prayed to have children and were blessed with our boys. Watching them play together is to see a miracle from God. Teresa is so much like me in that she cherishes every moment with her little man. From the looks of it, these guys are going to be really good buds! They played so well together. I was really impressed at how well Matthew shared his toys and books. When we ate lunch he made sure Rocco had a napkin and went as far to wipe off his mouth and hands. They were really sweet together. Take a look at them playing doctor. . .

hammering like two big builders. . .

playing workshop. . .

and doing their own thing at the Little Tikes table.

Happy Veteran's Day

Our school held a special ceremony today to honor the Veterans. My dad is a veteran who served in the army back in the early 70's and was drafted for Vietnam, and he was one of the many that was honored today. After the Veteran's Day program, Dad, Rocco, and I enjoyed lunch together. It was a short visit but very memorable.

Thanks dad for selflessly giving yourself for this great nation. Having a great love for our country allowed you to get on that plane that was headed toward the heat of the battle not knowing what all you would have to face. Thank you Papaw Billy for facing the dangerous and daunting task of war in the middle east and courageously protecting our freedoms during Desert Storm. Papaw Odis, thank you for the valiant stood you took for America in Germany during WWII. Thank you all Veterans for standing up to those who try to stamp out the liberty bells that ring, take away our freedoms, and mock the name of justice. Freedom doesn't come free; thanks for the price you paid!

Brokeness

I've been pondering over the thought of prayer a lot lately. In fact, I'm reading a book titled Prayer, Does It Make A Difference. Many times I've prayed and felt God's presence. Other times I've felt like I was talking to myself. It's human to doubt and wonder how much your prayers can do.

It wasn't so long ago that I was in a state of deep depression. Having a conversation with God became hard. During those dark, dreary days I did not feel any sunlight penetrate into my soul. Infertility took me down like a hungry villain. It grabbed hold of all of my joy and refused to let me go. So many times I would go down to our dark basement and just cry. I saw no end in sight. And then there came a point where I was so low I couldn't even cry. I couldn't feel anything. How my heart ached to be a mother. If God knew the desire of my heart, why was He withholding it from me? Had he not heard my prayers, seen my tears, felt my sorrow? So many times I asked questions that were met with silence. The brokeness I felt was like nothing I had ever experienced before.

On the opposite side of the world God was working. He was orchestrating all of the parts of the great musical that I would soon hear. While my heart was aching, believing my dream of motherhood would never come to pass, he was working in the life of a Vietnamese woman that was about to give birth. Though I'll never know what events led up to her pregnancy, I know for sure that the baby she was carrying was not an accident. The little boy she carried was crafted and designed for a special purpose. God would soon take the broken mess that she found herself in and unite it with my brokeness to bring healing. I know that she loved Rocco because she tried to care for him a month before taking him to the orphanage. Too tired and poor, no resources available, she took him to an orphanage 2 km from her home. Perhaps she cried when she left him, maybe she still does. But the son she bore would be the answer to the prayers lifted up all the way around the world by little, ol' me. God used my brokeness to bring us together. When his sweet face kisses me or when his head lays down into my chest, I am reminded of God's goodness and that He does hear our prayers. Though He answers in ways we do not forsee and cannot predict, He does come through. He does care. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

This blog is dedicated to my friends who find themselves still struggling with infertility.

Helping on the Farm

"Granddaddy, you been farming long?"

Rocco may be a little boy, but he's a big help on the farm. Here he's carrying the feed bucket. He's adjusted really well and made friends with the cows.

Checking out the cow's feed trough. . .

Time to lock up and head to the house.