tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89324229773450156582024-03-19T08:57:43.530-02:00Life on the Seoul TrainWe are the Murry family...Michael, Amanda, Taylor Won. We started this blog so that we can journal our experiences as we ride out our adoption journey. We brought home our first son, Taylor Won, in April 2012. Welcome!Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-32280842310438915362014-05-06T01:05:00.000-02:002014-05-06T01:05:45.859-02:00Two Years a Family of 3I remember so vividly that moment when I was walking down the exit terminal on May 5th, 2012, and my eyes found Michael's. I wanted to run into his arms, honestly, because of the emotional rollercoaster that had ensued the previous several hours with flight delays, an extra overnight trip in San Francisco, a seizure on our departure day from Korea (complete with an ambulance ride and experience in an ER in Korea). But, I was also overwhelmed by the moment when Michael first met our son and we were all together, a family of 3. The several weeks that followed were HARD. As Taylor grieved the loss of a wonderful foster family, he began bonding with us and learning to trust us as his parents. I remember, when we were home about 3-4 weeks, when I felt like it just clicked. It did not become magically easier, but something happened that made me believe that this amazing little guy was finally starting to understand and trust that we were his mom and dad. We were looking at photo albums on the dining area of our apartment (let's just be honest, he was pulling books off of the shelves) and ended up pulling out our wedding album. <br />
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Let me back up...when I met Taylor's foster family while in Korea, they told me that they were referring to us as mommy and daddy, so, naturally, we called ourselves mommy and daddy as we were trying to teach him who we were. We also thought it would help him differentiate between us and his foster family during talks with him. Okay, back to the story...<br />
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I began finding pictures of us in the wedding album and pointing to them, asking, "Who is this?" As I pointed to one picture of myself, Taylor looked at me and said, "Umma." I pointed to a picture of Michael, and Taylor responded, "Appa." I could tell by the satisfied look on his face and the deep intent in his expression that he GOT it. He did not understand what all of this mommy/daddy business was about, but he knew what an umma/appa were and knew that we were his. I melted. "Yes, buddy, we are forever your Umma and Appa." I am not sure when/if he will ever begin to refer to us as mom/dad (he knows what this means now and understands we are his mom and dad), but I fondly remember the moment he knew he was ours and we were his, a family forever.<br />
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Isn't this what happens when our heavenly Father adopts us? There is no worrying about being placed in another family or being un-adopted if we do not follow all of the rules. He loves us, as His children, unconditionally and eternally. I am so grateful that God gave us the opportunity to see a glimpse of His love for us. As I am overwhelmed with love for this sweet 4 year old, I sense Abba whispering to me, "This is how I love you, and so much more than this. Trust me constantly with your heart and life." Taylor Won Murry, you are such as abundant blessing to us, and we are delighted always to be your Appa and Umma!<br />
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In celebration of the day, I wanted to share a video of one of our skypes with Michael while in Korea. Thanks for following!</div>
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And, I promise, I will give a Daniel update soon!!</div>
Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-30152652185480330502013-05-01T03:49:00.004-02:002013-08-21T20:37:12.940-02:00Happy Gotcha Day, Taylor Won!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A year ago today...</span></div>
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This is what I saw when I first walked into the restaurant where we were meeting Taylor Won and the foster family for the first time.</div>
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He missed his nap that day and fell asleep being rocked on his foster umma's back as she did often to put him to sleep or soothe him. His foster appa held him at the table after he had fallen asleep...one of the sweetest pictures we have from the trip. No question as to whether he was loved while in Korea...absolutely, he was.</div>
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Below is a picture of the first time I was able to really touch him without him becoming upset. I remember thinking, "It's really him. The one we have prayed for and loved and waited to hold. Our sweet baby boy."</div>
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The pictures that are missing from this post are the ones filled with tears and brokenhearted goodbyes, but the memories are forever in my mind and heart and I thank God for the love my child received while cared for by his sweet foster family. They will always be a precious part of his story that I plan to share with him over and over again to honor them and to show Taylor how he was loved from the beginning.</div>
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The hard part had begun. Taylor sobbed for the whole ride back to the hotel in the cab and was inconsolable once we got into the hotel lobby. So, my sweet and selfless friend, Brooke (who I owe a million more thank-you's to), brought our stuff up to the hotel room while I got the carrier. We snapped him in it and just started walking down the streets of Seoul. My heart was broken, and I felt helpless. I knew this grieving was part of the healing process and was a very good sign, but it was SO HARD to witness. This is when I first sang him the song, "God is So Good," as we were walking down the street with him in the carrier with my arms wrapped tightly around him. We had sent him a video a couple months before travel so that he could get used to our voices, see what we looked like, etc. I added a part at the end of the video where I sang "God is So Good" while filming his room that we had set up for him (his toys, bed, etc.). I almost did not keep it in the video because, well let's face it, singing is not a talent of mine, but I kept it in there because I knew (bless his heart) that I would likely find myself singing to him once he was with us. And, I am so glad I did. That is the only thing that soothed him for those first several days:</div>
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<em>God is so good,</em></div>
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<em>God is so good,</em></div>
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<em>God is so good, </em></div>
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<em>He's so good to me.</em></div>
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<em>He loves Taylor Won so,</em></div>
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<em>He loves Taylor Won so,</em></div>
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<em>He loves Taylor Won so,</em></div>
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<em>He's so good to me.</em></div>
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<em>He answers prayers,</em></div>
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<em>He answers prayers,</em></div>
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<em>He answers prayers,</em></div>
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<em>He's so good to me.</em></div>
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And he finally relaxed and fell asleep...</div>
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When he woke up from that first nap, I expected him to get upset again, but he just sat quietly in my lap and pulled stickers from the Thomas the Train activity book I had brought and stuck them on this pants and the pages of the book.</div>
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Then we walked and walked some more, knowing the visible grieving would come again (and it did, a good bit over that next few weeks, mostly at night), but he was much easier for me to soothe after those first couple of hours. I know that God prepared his little heart because he seemed to know I was his umma and that I was his "safe place"...he began attaching.</div>
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He was pretty stoic throughout the whole first day, and then, all of a sudden when we were eating dinner in the hotel restaurant, this scared little guy started to smile...and not just smile, but laugh and throw his head back in excitement as I swung him around. He started to climb...<br />
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And what do you do on your first day being a parent to this sweet boy who has just experienced what no two year old should have to experience in their short little life? You let em' climb, encourage it even, and ignore the stares :-)<br />
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And, caught on camera (again, thanks Brooke!), that first kiss!<br />
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After dinner, we watched the dvds that his foster mom sent of some of his favorite Korean cartoons/singalongs (complete with the "Three Bears" song, a Korean childhood favorite). DJ, our agency social worker in Korea, had called earlier in the day to get a report for the foster family because they were worried about him and wanted to be reassured that he was okay. They wanted pictures posted to the blog asap...thanks again, Brooke, for pictures added ;-) I also talked to Michael and filled him in on the day's events (with the highlights being "I have our son!" and "I am already sooo tired!").</div>
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I put a pair of his pajamas on him that his foster mom had sent (she sent several outfits for him so that he would have some familiar things)...his dinosaur pajamas that he stills wears, a little high-water these days. I wrapped up his "gotcha day" clothes and sealed them in a vacumn-tight ziplock bag to preserve the smell...one of the things recommended by the lady that created the Lifebook. Side note: We also bought a newspaper from that day so that Taylor can look at it one day and see what was going on in Korea during that time.</div>
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And, we snuggled in and watched the dvds until well into the night...</div>
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...when he finally drifted off to sleep.</div>
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The beginning of something GREAT!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">One year later...</span></div>
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You constantly bring us joy and laughter, and we are so blessed that God brought us together to "make family!" </div>
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Happy Gotcha Day! Your Appa and Umma love you all around the world and back again!</div>
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Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-54828806938022643392013-04-16T01:15:00.000-02:002013-04-16T01:19:32.631-02:00We're Official!Finalized the adoption today! Thank you Lord for blessing us with this amazing child and for showing us the most eternally wondrous picture of adoption through the cross. So blessed.<br />
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<br />Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-5719997482949456852013-02-10T19:44:00.003-02:002013-02-10T19:44:47.813-02:00Taylor is 3!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-50761517085511852742013-01-31T23:45:00.001-02:002013-01-31T23:45:59.594-02:00Photoshoot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-21741785822301552052012-12-01T12:57:00.001-02:002012-12-01T12:57:33.424-02:00Getting Ready for Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Santa's little helper...</div>
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Taylor tapping his "thinking finger" on his chin as he tries to decide where to put the next ornament.<br />
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Hope everyone is having a very Merry Christmas!Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-80823074974192999062012-10-19T01:50:00.003-02:002012-10-19T02:13:47.917-02:00Go Go Power Rangers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Taking care of some "big monsters" early in the morning :-)Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-86976808247109303602012-10-15T23:28:00.000-02:002012-10-15T23:28:16.832-02:00Long OverdueI kind of just stared at the blinking line on the screen of this blank blog page for a while trying to think of how to sum up the past (almost) six months. I am just overwhelmed to look back at this whole process, from when we first laid eyes on a sweet little 10 month old boy with a smile that just melted my heart, to today as I watched my happy 2 1/2 year old son run at full force across the yard at Nana's house laughing and playing with the sweetest contentment while gathering leaves to add to his collection in his (and his cousin's) toy car. How we did get from there to here? By God's grace alone and by living one day at a time, thanking God for the little steps of bonding and for oh-so-patiently teaching us what it truly means to be an appa, umma, and son through His unfailing love and pursuance of us. <br />
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Now, I do not want to sound like adoption is glamerous and all roses and sunshine. I mention this only because it can be discouraging to other adoptive parents (especially those just getting home with their new child) when all they read on adoptive family blogs are how wonderful and carefree it all is. Adoption is HARD, and it is traumatic on many levels for all involved (at least for us it was). BUT, God is faithful, so faithful. If you are just getting home with your new child and feel like the whirlwind of grieving and push/pull feelings of your little one are about to send you over the emotional edge, hold on. It <em>will</em> get better. Words cannot express the love I have for this child. He is <em>our </em>son! Ha! We are so blessed! I am still kind of at a loss as to how to sum it all up but hope that these pictures and little random thoughts/comments can show some of the love and fun that we are having. (Some pictures are blurry because they are taken with my phone and because Taylor is a fast mover!) Enjoy.<br />
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This kid is not lacking in silliness and happiness...<br />
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Getting the hang of country living...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, we are riding in the back of a pick-up truck, but we are on a family road driving a few miles per hour ;-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windows down, sunroof open!<br />
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Have I mentioned how much he loves his Appa?</div>
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First haircut since home...</div>
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When he learned how to work the pedals...</div>
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Favorite action character (red "go go power ranger")...<br />
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Taylor Won strong!<br />
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The next picture needs some explanation, so here goes...We were eating spaghetti for the first time one night (first time for Taylor) when he started getting upset because his nose hurt. Michael said, "I think he might have sucked a noodle up his nose when he went to take a bite." I said I didn't think so because I did not see a noodle up there. He was getting more upset, so I grabbed a kleenex and took this moment to try to explain how to blow air out of your nose (blew air on this hand, imitated, etc. etc.)...nope, he was trying to do what I was telling him but just kept sucking air in to try to get his nose to feel better. Finally, I gave up and just tried to soothe him...I did not see anything in there after all. WARNING: This next part is awfully gross (but funny), so reader beware. Okay, consider yourself warned. You know how, when kids get upset and start crying, their little noses start to run? Yes, I finally saw the end of a white noodle "playing hide-n-seek" as he was breathing in and out. I had to time it just right to grab that slippery little thing and avoid breaking it off and leaving a smaller piece in his nose, but we (I mean "I"...notice Michael is not mentioned in any part of this story after he makes his guess as to what he thinks he saw happened) got it out successfully...measuring at least 2" long! Ah, the joys of parenthood :-)</div>
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So, this is the crazy life we share as a family of three :-)</div>
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Amanda</div>
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Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-52044065472284538902012-08-25T12:11:00.000-02:002012-08-25T12:11:47.904-02:00Come home, Umma<a href="http://vimeo.com/48165009" target="_blank">This is the message I get from my little buddy while I am sitting in traffic on my way home from work...couldn't get home fast enough :-)</a>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-50154239975531707782012-08-25T12:04:00.003-02:002012-08-25T12:07:24.947-02:00Dance King :-)<a href="http://vimeo.com/48165347" target="_blank">Our little dancer!</a>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-2532995100849955812012-07-26T22:29:00.000-02:002012-07-26T22:29:47.530-02:00Housework, Playdates, and OuttingsLate in posting this blogpost...these happenings are from 3-4 weeks ago. I will have to do another post for the past couple of weeks. For now, here is a "late" glimpse into our lives... <br />
<h3>Housework</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BK7di2NcTKG84bJITvWqgSj0_2DfnzVok9rae1MFIHSFssNwUaDlvYza4BNL-PgmCw_ymO-nFkJHz8eodrMu2RXpxCZCGwc4tNnF1mCVHYlr_kcK-q35ThV9jmETtZnD5EPvGtf9YO0/s1600/IMG_1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BK7di2NcTKG84bJITvWqgSj0_2DfnzVok9rae1MFIHSFssNwUaDlvYza4BNL-PgmCw_ymO-nFkJHz8eodrMu2RXpxCZCGwc4tNnF1mCVHYlr_kcK-q35ThV9jmETtZnD5EPvGtf9YO0/s400/IMG_1139.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Taylor loves to help Umma "cook." Muffins are the goal in this baking event :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4iUll4aeLPRNC0ttmU6wAhIm0JmM7h0U7I0A9Oy68swbwcLbr9fw2D-M-sP0ms4su-xBjYoOm1wCarBpOSMLdST7ldR9dK-OZx8uWpN9gzEyibVZ9DJ1dD65grth8AMiSPWehTVsMIM/s1600/IMG_1141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4iUll4aeLPRNC0ttmU6wAhIm0JmM7h0U7I0A9Oy68swbwcLbr9fw2D-M-sP0ms4su-xBjYoOm1wCarBpOSMLdST7ldR9dK-OZx8uWpN9gzEyibVZ9DJ1dD65grth8AMiSPWehTVsMIM/s400/IMG_1141.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">Kid loves his cozy coupe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRgYqUL4I1pO1UInxNs3Mg6gp7eiwyfCzOrD853qGRm8xJ9oGNBkY5D7ZREeDrI-7n4hfsxAVTp6Yiq5AH8zjwjKNcEVewlniaS521oethibCXuvAphy1iZrsfB6dk0itexKZamBjJkE/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRgYqUL4I1pO1UInxNs3Mg6gp7eiwyfCzOrD853qGRm8xJ9oGNBkY5D7ZREeDrI-7n4hfsxAVTp6Yiq5AH8zjwjKNcEVewlniaS521oethibCXuvAphy1iZrsfB6dk0itexKZamBjJkE/s400/IMG_1146.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">Nana gave Taylor Won a buggy that he loves to push all over the place. Here he is asking, "Where are the groceries that are supposed to be in here?"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis09iW9S6dZT0ZMhI72Fw2AWQjMTOT5mRmT5PEKZLTKAuwewOCaJ7gKvzNrvjEZLXhZXz_4LNmIDb_46-_TnFLO9Huv8vjF_k4lhSCVR-J6oEPfC2OaXGbIdltb41cOMtiEle5wkICyrw/s1600/IMG_1147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis09iW9S6dZT0ZMhI72Fw2AWQjMTOT5mRmT5PEKZLTKAuwewOCaJ7gKvzNrvjEZLXhZXz_4LNmIDb_46-_TnFLO9Huv8vjF_k4lhSCVR-J6oEPfC2OaXGbIdltb41cOMtiEle5wkICyrw/s400/IMG_1147.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">...he even uses it to help out with the laundry.</div><br />
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<div align="center">His new word..."messy messy"</div><h3>Playdates</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwVtqCdeMV_p_iV47QkSlRXBA4EXbjm6u0ymce3ECFMjUMEBveJai-3ZWoSV6lXCGvdeowxqlDxGy6nhNUmhNAofv77viOJ12iXcvTzt3jlSb6wjbB6rpQefBke2q35eCcmMJCNqJgOM/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwVtqCdeMV_p_iV47QkSlRXBA4EXbjm6u0ymce3ECFMjUMEBveJai-3ZWoSV6lXCGvdeowxqlDxGy6nhNUmhNAofv77viOJ12iXcvTzt3jlSb6wjbB6rpQefBke2q35eCcmMJCNqJgOM/s400/IMG_1196.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Painting at Zoe's house with 'geen' and 'ellow' </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNuL4pyiomt1WoFZUMWD1kY4Kg7tOhA4KRFUX1znWcxApZ9NQGWkDXKVHSOzAocmfkevaRWuosm-63w82HWmh17YGDDnohoiinahQw5bUtXDwngcu3YPEmzlRihbtJfje4R-SOECU1k8/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNuL4pyiomt1WoFZUMWD1kY4Kg7tOhA4KRFUX1znWcxApZ9NQGWkDXKVHSOzAocmfkevaRWuosm-63w82HWmh17YGDDnohoiinahQw5bUtXDwngcu3YPEmzlRihbtJfje4R-SOECU1k8/s400/IMG_1198.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
Painting partners...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0-T0Im0fZrBfQau2zIYO8OGJ-vCvt7252DReJkFjroX9mq2M4ZQQmG0hRj9mj78VjQfIc0qszXgFx1EijwIMVLfy6kpfaQ10BOaE7xMAQz9_NUNatc6F8PfK5z7SUIn-hw47lPRRKEc/s1600/IMG_1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0-T0Im0fZrBfQau2zIYO8OGJ-vCvt7252DReJkFjroX9mq2M4ZQQmG0hRj9mj78VjQfIc0qszXgFx1EijwIMVLfy6kpfaQ10BOaE7xMAQz9_NUNatc6F8PfK5z7SUIn-hw47lPRRKEc/s400/IMG_1195.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet lovin'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGB7cFdY52EiBNymGiCPrfN2SRtVcTHfG6Bt7TKzLHF-qfwJ_Fu427QE1583E_U-6OI2o9NAPlIa4p74yHwir4qyB5JcRPFKBcsVPNpB-w8A7HVHtk_G67KX7AVGJvVLIoJ_Ig2xzsKRE/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGB7cFdY52EiBNymGiCPrfN2SRtVcTHfG6Bt7TKzLHF-qfwJ_Fu427QE1583E_U-6OI2o9NAPlIa4p74yHwir4qyB5JcRPFKBcsVPNpB-w8A7HVHtk_G67KX7AVGJvVLIoJ_Ig2xzsKRE/s400/IMG_1194.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
Lunch in their 'house' makes eating much more fun.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpDd2Ri8o3XdZDLxHWC0fG38u4E6-XcIq37SuTqUDN9J-4zpetwtd6cYjHlgMAqnJk3Q2E_suo7-ASfwnD4vs08vu9mURPHem233wCGNyRq1t1GUYAluYw30aVq9CYxUMyobgzYaUau8/s1600/IMG_1197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpDd2Ri8o3XdZDLxHWC0fG38u4E6-XcIq37SuTqUDN9J-4zpetwtd6cYjHlgMAqnJk3Q2E_suo7-ASfwnD4vs08vu9mURPHem233wCGNyRq1t1GUYAluYw30aVq9CYxUMyobgzYaUau8/s400/IMG_1197.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><h3>Fun at Cabella's Outdoor Store</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcC-C36q3YxdLNAGaDX4_gSE2U2bfzBI6unTCWJLRpsCGejQPkU0sV1XhDX9_k8RpPFzd8Cr8WSn_GS7x-oZPwfoP-MHYK4EK83VY7tuu30lU-IGs5b7vbeFXpFd11Q24lxm_Wf4XwGg/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcC-C36q3YxdLNAGaDX4_gSE2U2bfzBI6unTCWJLRpsCGejQPkU0sV1XhDX9_k8RpPFzd8Cr8WSn_GS7x-oZPwfoP-MHYK4EK83VY7tuu30lU-IGs5b7vbeFXpFd11Q24lxm_Wf4XwGg/s400/IMG_1165.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">Exercising his right to bear arms...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZUVACqs4MIJCRRx0LxriCpuK030a7hjj8p01Wp_G088_HDSEyZg4HbaB5SkVyWjyQvqlOkIMavwpFlH-JW_P_B0YVLHHC_v0-UcnZBx8gT751ZSHtyh-aNWtYTO3VJ15q9ek-WB2sdM/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZUVACqs4MIJCRRx0LxriCpuK030a7hjj8p01Wp_G088_HDSEyZg4HbaB5SkVyWjyQvqlOkIMavwpFlH-JW_P_B0YVLHHC_v0-UcnZBx8gT751ZSHtyh-aNWtYTO3VJ15q9ek-WB2sdM/s400/IMG_1167.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kicking up his feet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfR2-nLJBZLyzwg-eEA6_9F5o748g6p4LoWz-_2YLxJDoJR7qo7yzdRMhjzCeMgl3fIHy145wi5nnlJte2St1vSScj2THW4IGJuWKhwV71bMMwRzKjtRy_w-NIg0QmGpqpyaTO6-ovjU/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfR2-nLJBZLyzwg-eEA6_9F5o748g6p4LoWz-_2YLxJDoJR7qo7yzdRMhjzCeMgl3fIHy145wi5nnlJte2St1vSScj2THW4IGJuWKhwV71bMMwRzKjtRy_w-NIg0QmGpqpyaTO6-ovjU/s400/IMG_1170.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
Riding the escalator was his favorite part of this outting...</div><div align="center"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDXo4s_qmZpQd13sk41W8CPO3KGkb5KiIYZF0olorXXxylUAYM9DrtV34BTFiWKkAbnu3rHPCNvVixhM7wxTeY-1i9kc0AkUWd01qi-GriTGE_fdz6em6BlHvWuNcfd_fCtfOa0Ui170/s1600/IMG_1176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDXo4s_qmZpQd13sk41W8CPO3KGkb5KiIYZF0olorXXxylUAYM9DrtV34BTFiWKkAbnu3rHPCNvVixhM7wxTeY-1i9kc0AkUWd01qi-GriTGE_fdz6em6BlHvWuNcfd_fCtfOa0Ui170/s400/IMG_1176.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Checking out the umma fish, the appa fish, and the taylor won fish :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7p_ZD1fJRGIuuu5V2DSXpPe7YHz9qsASN-ezUimtbHmMGFOcrEQwgA43nzV8yLub0KhiJ4BZREKtdAzbp86u22cvQhXHbLA0wzUzsAbfuzAM3X5gE5eK3gE3mjOiFGSGjc7cwDVW0ok/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7p_ZD1fJRGIuuu5V2DSXpPe7YHz9qsASN-ezUimtbHmMGFOcrEQwgA43nzV8yLub0KhiJ4BZREKtdAzbp86u22cvQhXHbLA0wzUzsAbfuzAM3X5gE5eK3gE3mjOiFGSGjc7cwDVW0ok/s400/IMG_1181.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div align="center">Did I mention he liked the escalators? Here is him saying, "Can we do it again?"</div><br />
<div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRH2UN6UCnAZExgfjD9jGOPtsI9t_GLwl5clzNtndhMa_cEaLUAyTeTgl6G4JIIChKrmZxqXJMlBLOGq_mhPq2Kix9rl_fKwc2oT8BaktZtAgx0g2KwmtQZrwZFZImQvq_6f3Sw4kFao/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRH2UN6UCnAZExgfjD9jGOPtsI9t_GLwl5clzNtndhMa_cEaLUAyTeTgl6G4JIIChKrmZxqXJMlBLOGq_mhPq2Kix9rl_fKwc2oT8BaktZtAgx0g2KwmtQZrwZFZImQvq_6f3Sw4kFao/s400/IMG_1184.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-32643019794628176892012-07-26T22:11:00.000-02:002012-07-26T22:11:40.490-02:00Kitchen Silliness<a href="http://vimeo.com/45804173" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1343347629_1">http://vimeo.com/45804173</span></a><br />
Password: taylorboyMichael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-49713424898349497092012-06-23T14:10:00.001-02:002012-06-23T14:44:51.998-02:00Bulgogi and Silly FunWe recently took a trip to New Orleans to eat at the only Korean restaurant in the area and had some good bulgogi and bap and to let Taylor enjoy some birth country cuisine :) It was also our first attempt of dining out since we have been home, and he did pretty well (of course it was slow during lunchtime, and he did spend some time walking back and forth between the table and the fish tank to see the Umma fish, Appa fish, and Taylor Won fish...Appa/Michael introduced the concept of the "Taylor Won fish" lol).<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He loved eating the bulgogi, bap, and a delicious soup that I do not know the name of.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mmmm Mmmmm good! He did have to be a little patient with me as I am surely not as efficient with the chopsticks as his foster family was, but I am getting better.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I want more of that, Umma." Side note: I sometimes find myself forgetting to offer him the foods I am not particularly fond of...in this case, giant cooked onions...he loved them!</div><br />
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We also spent a little time at the local Learning Express Toys store. Why would you need to buy these toys anyway when you can just visit the store and play with them. Price of that buggy to bring home = $69.99...Cost to play with it in the store before saying "bye bye buggy?" = priceless :) This store really was a lot of fun. They had a train station, grocery section, pretend play section with baby dolls and beds, little pianos, etc.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We couldn't pass up a chance to add a little McDonald's to our day, so Taylor and I went to enjoy a nice cold chocolate shake for dessert after our Korean BBQ lunch while Appa went into a computer store. The idea was to share, with one straw for me and one for him...that grin tells me he thought <em>his</em> plan was better!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G6KC-ZLK5PIPN4S2AqeYIH_562BRZVlDPU_BBIYlM7FTT_71ytQo9gCtM92hHoX4tjFKnRHFKFODGhYs_o5EWiv2M4eA-da4afZ5ScWLZeDsLqTfSzkCF1zoOfgEX5O7WyB07buSsaI/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G6KC-ZLK5PIPN4S2AqeYIH_562BRZVlDPU_BBIYlM7FTT_71ytQo9gCtM92hHoX4tjFKnRHFKFODGhYs_o5EWiv2M4eA-da4afZ5ScWLZeDsLqTfSzkCF1zoOfgEX5O7WyB07buSsaI/s400/IMG_1084.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and my little fella ;-)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmU43MTdbhwLsr1LEFp42MsYKX4_873dZBefOdG0Vqv3uBCtQCK5xRqhKcFr3EUfD04-3B3k5XW_1kBe5c-sr__p5qsRgrcRr9ZhAkU7zuWMqKe33uRn4FyE_38UaZ0T57GFdbkjKp8M/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmU43MTdbhwLsr1LEFp42MsYKX4_873dZBefOdG0Vqv3uBCtQCK5xRqhKcFr3EUfD04-3B3k5XW_1kBe5c-sr__p5qsRgrcRr9ZhAkU7zuWMqKe33uRn4FyE_38UaZ0T57GFdbkjKp8M/s400/IMG_1090.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Silliness!</div><br />
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And a few shots from another day at the park...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirn7E9fg70poxhBbqA_DHXlyViEi2lUG0THhH6nhlv1dNJCLo-3T8ghbh45QYMqE1MKMmeLiYivpGiV6X9bUrKvSUjqKy79QUI45fSMMaqAZVEOzuqLEHC5GofqbNH5xktoyKNhZb9tro/s1600/IMG_1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirn7E9fg70poxhBbqA_DHXlyViEi2lUG0THhH6nhlv1dNJCLo-3T8ghbh45QYMqE1MKMmeLiYivpGiV6X9bUrKvSUjqKy79QUI45fSMMaqAZVEOzuqLEHC5GofqbNH5xktoyKNhZb9tro/s320/IMG_1055.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hydrating with a little H20 while watching the fish...</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's not all fun and games...a little grocery shopping after the park.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have been home 7 weeks today, and Taylor is really getting into the swing of things. He is mostly sleeping through the night with only an occasional waking up for a little chocolate milk every 3 nights or so. He now likes pizza, cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, and brownies (oh yea!). He is getting better with hearing the word "awnyo" (i.e. 'no') but what 2 year old really likes that one anyway. He is saying/signing well over 60 words and understands so much more...such a sponge! He is putting together 3-word phrases and stays with the sitter for 3+ hours at a time. I have one more week off of work and then will be starting back....hopefully easing back in to seeing patients. Not sure I even remember what an occupational therapist does ;-) Grateful for prayers for a smooth transition and wisdom/discernment to balance mommyhood, being a wife, and being an OT. Of course, prayers for Taylor's attachment and for him to relax and enjoy his time with Umma away. Thanks for visiting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-17434319131031694442012-06-09T12:29:00.000-02:002012-06-09T12:29:55.296-02:005 Weeks HomeHas it really only been 5 weeks? Time has flown by so quickly these last few weeks. It is hard to believe I have only known this little guy for 6 weeks now and even harder to imagine my life without him. He is such a blessing. He seems to fit into our family so well with his witty and sweet personality. He loves to be outside and is learning that we cannot spend all day in the Louisiana heat. He fights taking a nap but cannot seem to stay awake when taken for a ride in his carseat :) He is getting much better about going to sleep and following our bedtime routine to prepare for settling down in the evenings. He loves his Appa (daddy) and asks about his all day when he is working. His favorite thing to do with Appa is wrestle and practice his Power Ranger moves where he uses his "powers" to make Michael fall on the floor over and over again :) We also spent some time at Michael's parents house a couple of weeks ago where he met his cousin, Lillian, and got a good taste of country living...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAH9H1Wm2kDPSzSNZmGvF9Kbn7DaKUd-ZZCi9YGDT7Iu_78oj641tVCHPsyZX7P4EpJxG7JrJMbcYyfSF6qyeH6m7HieJ6hvZl9Esyft-Zh8CTPvYDpMjOyvLN-gp799jMR84DCvfhEY/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAH9H1Wm2kDPSzSNZmGvF9Kbn7DaKUd-ZZCi9YGDT7Iu_78oj641tVCHPsyZX7P4EpJxG7JrJMbcYyfSF6qyeH6m7HieJ6hvZl9Esyft-Zh8CTPvYDpMjOyvLN-gp799jMR84DCvfhEY/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tractor at Pa's (great grandfather) house</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGUYhfiRwV5J5M1Bj17soEcpVG54InvuwNx9dRqiYj-G7EOjSSPXKMRkx4Hd_LDg8r2zqwfgd8o-nop380Df_quUi-p4Y9rbo07LR4IBuQaixGqylYz6hBPd3gXMghHPZ5uLoYt2AmOY/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGUYhfiRwV5J5M1Bj17soEcpVG54InvuwNx9dRqiYj-G7EOjSSPXKMRkx4Hd_LDg8r2zqwfgd8o-nop380Df_quUi-p4Y9rbo07LR4IBuQaixGqylYz6hBPd3gXMghHPZ5uLoYt2AmOY/s320/IMG_0113.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvxJjcAYauZ17eE9xRQKkCiuoB18nD95DtXCYlbXnUDeLTpE-FzpMfWZ0raBEt9f1ltEPunqfe7JvWPnOC0Q_1dMTdKR2cTYCN26In1p6Y58_jbXaXbhLDnDiQUS9KISLL4X3RTFsuJ4/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvxJjcAYauZ17eE9xRQKkCiuoB18nD95DtXCYlbXnUDeLTpE-FzpMfWZ0raBEt9f1ltEPunqfe7JvWPnOC0Q_1dMTdKR2cTYCN26In1p6Y58_jbXaXbhLDnDiQUS9KISLL4X3RTFsuJ4/s320/IMG_0120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Our mode of transportation from Nana's house to Pa's house...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t6lNnnbdP2wXe-aEZCkO_jF526N6GmSybbISEncTbELd1J7QJuqRbqaOWeh9GR2rnHGsikTrBMHKCSQH6bgxp57b3_eHUnnIcJxHZF383tKeWewsjw3FPQtEMaZC02OR8Zhig_kzEKg/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t6lNnnbdP2wXe-aEZCkO_jF526N6GmSybbISEncTbELd1J7QJuqRbqaOWeh9GR2rnHGsikTrBMHKCSQH6bgxp57b3_eHUnnIcJxHZF383tKeWewsjw3FPQtEMaZC02OR8Zhig_kzEKg/s320/IMG_0124.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Took him a little time to learn that he cannot ALWAYS be the driver...learning.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4vLBmxKxZF_GMUimQY_Ck3aG21XaNJBXFPuE0-jzEcdB3gbn7BqqX8bO97eQk4cIK8BQJW6uHseJA8c-9aiACRw0v6mYx9ZysAn_E9xIojwHN5u3GKzpnhf7nbr5TI2LK2bXF6AyMRQ/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4vLBmxKxZF_GMUimQY_Ck3aG21XaNJBXFPuE0-jzEcdB3gbn7BqqX8bO97eQk4cIK8BQJW6uHseJA8c-9aiACRw0v6mYx9ZysAn_E9xIojwHN5u3GKzpnhf7nbr5TI2LK2bXF6AyMRQ/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fishing for tadpoles (gross but the kid loves to scoop them up...with his hand...and put them back in the water after we catch them)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcwMRCU6AnZB1q3PQmjqEPJwKH4shKc65v4s1bBr6eRDs-ka8_5Q9LfKQPNfc28QtGUX239fm3eIfXvsbeuHRPcsYUs_X2Ncp5WDVqOqTmdarIWShLE2ZDSRoxmUdX2vpmlGWWq6Adlk/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcwMRCU6AnZB1q3PQmjqEPJwKH4shKc65v4s1bBr6eRDs-ka8_5Q9LfKQPNfc28QtGUX239fm3eIfXvsbeuHRPcsYUs_X2Ncp5WDVqOqTmdarIWShLE2ZDSRoxmUdX2vpmlGWWq6Adlk/s320/IMG_0058.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago...loves the tigers and ducks. Does not love so much activity around naptime and fell asleep about 30 minutes into the fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJRUPAA0yKFAWMNf26JBiwVZQNEAp9W2rY-ldXerrWj8BQFURn0nIyfyRBGg6s9NAmhiQawOqfV9DACasRa5PFt8eY2t7LiP626tEwMPJ0pr-ZCuToWPnyEYGYdzi1j5U3fik7wVyImk/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJRUPAA0yKFAWMNf26JBiwVZQNEAp9W2rY-ldXerrWj8BQFURn0nIyfyRBGg6s9NAmhiQawOqfV9DACasRa5PFt8eY2t7LiP626tEwMPJ0pr-ZCuToWPnyEYGYdzi1j5U3fik7wVyImk/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4cMH0ZrmNfckIeRqqbBLVkoeoc4zYJhY9UsY-tqmEcaq1oq229bHCqHABMjjMC9wned1r7b73Gb40BdZbQgcNL8fbaJPpaPChuDY1tAyIGUIgxuwa3AuhlAmFfLAc1xkGSSx1tHsZ90/s1600/IMG_0698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4cMH0ZrmNfckIeRqqbBLVkoeoc4zYJhY9UsY-tqmEcaq1oq229bHCqHABMjjMC9wned1r7b73Gb40BdZbQgcNL8fbaJPpaPChuDY1tAyIGUIgxuwa3AuhlAmFfLAc1xkGSSx1tHsZ90/s320/IMG_0698.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fun at the local splash pad!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLYSX6pCsLkSDH9KoAHZ2YP4wHcjlK6jqkGkqw9o8lsw1bm1FHC-HIjZ9otfzGhtJ1KvHoZJhhyUlGk6p3bmBkp4DM3C8apTbUq7nHBjxcZxlwgyPK39nXIjzq_HjYhECN7iKPoBcj2U/s1600/IMG_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLYSX6pCsLkSDH9KoAHZ2YP4wHcjlK6jqkGkqw9o8lsw1bm1FHC-HIjZ9otfzGhtJ1KvHoZJhhyUlGk6p3bmBkp4DM3C8apTbUq7nHBjxcZxlwgyPK39nXIjzq_HjYhECN7iKPoBcj2U/s320/IMG_0883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Our big boy on his bike wearing his watch like Umma...has not quite gotten the concept of pedels yet, but we are working on it ;-)</div><div align="center"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvbpXoU6G-KdC5_8aIVG96gQQUYUW6sJh8P6Ilgq6V8xIxHjoGiD8LLYsMLj65koQriCLP4vdj76lbNjheO-flxevIEKa16fxn3Kln91xj0Yt5QgG3pko22uaPxrkweu53hiTk22_yBg/s1600/IMG_0913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvbpXoU6G-KdC5_8aIVG96gQQUYUW6sJh8P6Ilgq6V8xIxHjoGiD8LLYsMLj65koQriCLP4vdj76lbNjheO-flxevIEKa16fxn3Kln91xj0Yt5QgG3pko22uaPxrkweu53hiTk22_yBg/s320/IMG_0913.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Appa and Taylor "fixing things"...darn toys kept "breaking" (as per Taylor) and needed to be fixed with Appa's tools</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOSQ6f2W7q3zC0S5MdY8HNkizaTeiJ7zzQKb6-bA4KC8mV3jOhjl8SVdpZhEKmNVMy2o1lowzeluN7doUH1djsS29xMvts3_rZv6s8NpH8qmS3zmoKU07YblBWhdWPHZ1aY4igKUMdk8/s1600/IMG_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOSQ6f2W7q3zC0S5MdY8HNkizaTeiJ7zzQKb6-bA4KC8mV3jOhjl8SVdpZhEKmNVMy2o1lowzeluN7doUH1djsS29xMvts3_rZv6s8NpH8qmS3zmoKU07YblBWhdWPHZ1aY4igKUMdk8/s320/IMG_0923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cheesin during playtime :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqwkS_Hd_EIqMdazvMci85dlkD7wtpVOUnll3fhhZDxO1f51S1BSWO1pynAOz-JkQilTpzlbKiU7qilcrh2PLpu6pLqK5gWgCWu-TRCuWLApC14321EPW1M3NR8coKDnmuJ_76g4Uzro/s1600/IMG_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqwkS_Hd_EIqMdazvMci85dlkD7wtpVOUnll3fhhZDxO1f51S1BSWO1pynAOz-JkQilTpzlbKiU7qilcrh2PLpu6pLqK5gWgCWu-TRCuWLApC14321EPW1M3NR8coKDnmuJ_76g4Uzro/s320/IMG_0773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Okay, so some of these are sideways because I could not get blogger to post them correctly :/ but wanted to get them on here for those special people half a world away that want to see how their sweet foster child is doing ;-) I was cleaning out his dresser drawers when Taylor spotted a choo choo train t-shirt like Umma's (that I wore during our trip to S Korea) and insisted on putting it on...still a little big, but that did not seem to phase this wild child from running around in it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVHcQ4MGggEfufvZRtVMKLLI5j-bXeibZAn9VFVeO8voaOyg7HrvoLIGRDi2ViJTWe-_FRCOjIdxYr7NTewfrld2Zpcn8unBd5axsSqQaWe1UHHbPTvmkUeYPfEVIyaTmo6DIJYpqJ-c/s1600/IMG_0869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVHcQ4MGggEfufvZRtVMKLLI5j-bXeibZAn9VFVeO8voaOyg7HrvoLIGRDi2ViJTWe-_FRCOjIdxYr7NTewfrld2Zpcn8unBd5axsSqQaWe1UHHbPTvmkUeYPfEVIyaTmo6DIJYpqJ-c/s320/IMG_0869.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Painting on the porch...swiped that brush right across his face when wiping sweat and never knew (until we went to wash hands) that he has war paint on</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVDf64qOVPCk3GNSVgmuI25MURwJvHs0ExpY9GaQRHY_-1mhKBh6QvApkr8m2teXwJW6vMLBbLHjBYwmIbOGEs8-1MTb5iCFQdh3ATnTDHornh-lYQKbP6Qj-dcEmeI7lX1o_H8lPZCI/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVDf64qOVPCk3GNSVgmuI25MURwJvHs0ExpY9GaQRHY_-1mhKBh6QvApkr8m2teXwJW6vMLBbLHjBYwmIbOGEs8-1MTb5iCFQdh3ATnTDHornh-lYQKbP6Qj-dcEmeI7lX1o_H8lPZCI/s320/IMG_0893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Kid loves to swim!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8mWbfzRHjDFCU11k2jKem3vrk68TSjTWIL1B2Z9dIyWCs02dFzNX7dQidAnyLAgDTJUmpSdD4uFbfbUHlXpqP2vNocrrzHkhibWJqqm-tCYz46GGJTcsauAaxVN0y9gBPUr8cAjjvHg/s1600/IMG_0928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8mWbfzRHjDFCU11k2jKem3vrk68TSjTWIL1B2Z9dIyWCs02dFzNX7dQidAnyLAgDTJUmpSdD4uFbfbUHlXpqP2vNocrrzHkhibWJqqm-tCYz46GGJTcsauAaxVN0y9gBPUr8cAjjvHg/s320/IMG_0928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Favorite lounging spot at home...his good ole bean bag with his pwee (blanket) to keep him comfy</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_Eeurh9v7DDQsCpgZwcCgnhY9uxJtl1wtMJl-Tgqwoo05VhgzR7IMtQZa-lmyb12dKDZBc6K8HOX_ePjYxMTWmKEtXTp7S8HN8af7uRzpduAuE-Cu4KoFhQTqOUijwDBIOa6pICv4XY/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_Eeurh9v7DDQsCpgZwcCgnhY9uxJtl1wtMJl-Tgqwoo05VhgzR7IMtQZa-lmyb12dKDZBc6K8HOX_ePjYxMTWmKEtXTp7S8HN8af7uRzpduAuE-Cu4KoFhQTqOUijwDBIOa6pICv4XY/s320/IMG_0625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mornings with Appa looking for silly objects in his Look and Find book...introducing his "thinking finger" where he taps his lips and says "hmmm" when looking hard for something.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, I guess that is all for now. I have 3 more weeks off from work before I have to start back and Taylor starts spending some time with his babysitter. We would appreciate prayers for all (especially sweet Taylor's heart) as we get closer to yet another transition for our little guy. Prayers for a peaceful transition and a little one who knows when Umma leaves Umma ALWAYS comes back and that he has good laid back fun with his wonderful new babysitter and their woof woof and meows. Thanks for following. God bless!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. Dear Foster Mom, Thank you so much for nurturing and loving this precious boy. He is doing so well and has such a happy and carefree personality. He is also super smart and knows 45+ English words. He still says the Korean words for 'no', 'do not', 'blanket', 'ouch', 'big', 'yes', 'it's okay', etc. He also still loves to watch Pororo, Tayo, and Chiro on the computer and phone. He is beginning to eat many different American foods but still loves our Korean food nights where he eats lots of noodles and meats. We have your picture from his Tol up in our living area, and talk about you often. He still knows you are his first Appa and Umma and obviously loves you dearly. We will continue to talk to him about his first years in Korea and how he was so very loved from the beginning. We hope you are doing well and settling in with your new addition. Blessings for the U.S.!</div>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-29499726428077162092012-05-22T23:31:00.000-02:002012-05-22T23:31:39.597-02:00Photo UpdateI have no idea how those super mamas come home with their kiddos and have time to keep their blogs so beautifully updated...I obviously do not! I figured I would post a few pictures of our first 2.5 weeks. I cannot believe it has only been two weeks. We have a long way to go to get into a new "normal" swing of things but have come so far these past 17 days.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fUYP1c7je783WfMStB94pbR7Ix5zEjaAnh4scGSh9qV3chh0dcj34bqp9TKu9oRoAl3n0SWQLPUiOVPvGUbyBG80cHkyHmwKDUCaS0I5RYgpten1F4sSGcMXAYTOASmFurK34URUwEk/s1600/photo.1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fUYP1c7je783WfMStB94pbR7Ix5zEjaAnh4scGSh9qV3chh0dcj34bqp9TKu9oRoAl3n0SWQLPUiOVPvGUbyBG80cHkyHmwKDUCaS0I5RYgpten1F4sSGcMXAYTOASmFurK34URUwEk/s400/photo.1.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He loves to go outside our apartment and feed the ducks, turtles, and fish every day (usually multiple times each day). He yells at them to come so that he can throw some bread in the water to them.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl4nAL6mFis0ZdB9fXOpAnhzDQNYWPUWZj_aCzXw4NCMH1xmTc8XP2-dflOmpCkCdHkFonMmn_RZL3bY2J6Tz9VsenR4q0iHtuDqJy3kOVMUo3tbb_ekgqTs8aSjlQbFtmU8A8eD_pAE/s1600/photo.2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl4nAL6mFis0ZdB9fXOpAnhzDQNYWPUWZj_aCzXw4NCMH1xmTc8XP2-dflOmpCkCdHkFonMmn_RZL3bY2J6Tz9VsenR4q0iHtuDqJy3kOVMUo3tbb_ekgqTs8aSjlQbFtmU8A8eD_pAE/s400/photo.2.JPG" width="322" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He also loves playing outside, kicking his ball (sometimes into the lake...oops) and swinging on the playground.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTcggdEM21YjUAhoRKPDH2-xkOJmObtvoxfk4-EMAPoRlUgnABomS__Cya-nwTqvWi8mqFPbeStinMsM8ZuBg8Jl3Zdzx5R-tkBsMA060zeKfepnAvfD143cCEVeZ8sgpoLJ7hrA4c5w/s1600/photo.3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTcggdEM21YjUAhoRKPDH2-xkOJmObtvoxfk4-EMAPoRlUgnABomS__Cya-nwTqvWi8mqFPbeStinMsM8ZuBg8Jl3Zdzx5R-tkBsMA060zeKfepnAvfD143cCEVeZ8sgpoLJ7hrA4c5w/s320/photo.3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baths are all fun and games...until I try to get the shampoo out of his hair :-)</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just some typical Taylor silliness and activity.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa5ohwx9MGgx80Y45LhxQykRkkgnwG7Fj3FJIhIkUP8zh3OpR88iidLZ4TxqWDzo1Zn0D0RJmcHdlECJKRW9zVHthAMDb1av2eFiFvTpMLJsgKjaFVZooAkjqNVT-bIlvKvfuPrq4xD4/s1600/photo.5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa5ohwx9MGgx80Y45LhxQykRkkgnwG7Fj3FJIhIkUP8zh3OpR88iidLZ4TxqWDzo1Zn0D0RJmcHdlECJKRW9zVHthAMDb1av2eFiFvTpMLJsgKjaFVZooAkjqNVT-bIlvKvfuPrq4xD4/s320/photo.5.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cuddling is a must after getting out of the bath because, as he says it, it's coooold!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHk8qe2RRhGr4Q5vbpjxolqquc32Q2DL5MHWy9TYsL7HVJmFOOucxqG0_WGQAWJoUuHaYUMSUNax3MNgBVFVUrMshUbOtPyYIkqvrrjBXWMKoNAaOo6qADRwOuu8HKD1eQSXEwBNTTbc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHk8qe2RRhGr4Q5vbpjxolqquc32Q2DL5MHWy9TYsL7HVJmFOOucxqG0_WGQAWJoUuHaYUMSUNax3MNgBVFVUrMshUbOtPyYIkqvrrjBXWMKoNAaOo6qADRwOuu8HKD1eQSXEwBNTTbc/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chillin with Aunt Savannah in my new shades that make me cool like Appa :-)</div>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-73327401674809877042012-05-12T10:18:00.004-02:002012-05-12T18:17:22.231-02:00Veggietales Singsong<a href="http://vimeo.com/42029322">http://vimeo.com/42029322</a>
Password is taylorboy :-)Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-68884475359223859052012-05-05T05:46:00.001-02:002012-05-05T05:46:58.734-02:00On American SoilExhausted but thought I would write a few sentences...Thanks for prayers. No more seizures since that one episode. Spending the night in San Fran b/c of flight delays with plans to leave for home near NOLA where we can be joined as a family of three. So ready to see my husband again...no more trips around the world without him if I can help it! I am so grateful for your prayers, knowing God hears them and answers. Taylor did great on the plane and slept for 8 of the 10.5 hours. He is sleeping well beside me now with his sweet little hand on my back. Getting up in just over 4 hours to get ready for the next take off...more prayers needed to carry us home. Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-73474889886526706112012-05-05T03:47:00.000-02:002012-05-05T03:47:09.052-02:00Guess Who's in America?!<br />
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SWEET TAYLOR!!! </div>
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... and those two barely-hanging-in-there women who are traveling with him!! :D</div>
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{Brooke updating again.}</div>
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Honestly though, our flight was really as good as you could have asked for. I mean, yes, there was insane turbulence 75% of the flight and, yes, Amanda <i>did</i> get fussed out by the flight attendants a few times for sleeping in the floor with Taylor, but hey? It's not like we're ever going to see those same flight attendants again.... or at least not for quite some time.</div>
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We have made it to our hotel in San Fran, ordered some take out that included pasta alfredo, philly cheese steak and a patti melt with REAL lemonade, coke, and apple juice. Amanda and I thought it was delicious. Taylor Won... not so much a fan. He snacked on cheerios and some yummy bread the diner sent over, all while jugging some apple juice. </div>
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We have also all finally showered and don't smell like travel anymore, thank heavens, and we're all piled onto the beds playing and resting and getting psyched up about tomorrow's travel plans. Ok, so I'm trying to put on my "game face" here. </div>
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We are SO close to home and SUPER excited about it. Amanda has already made Tay an appointment with his pediatrician for Monday and is eager to get him all the medical attention he might need. She has truly been super-mom. I am SO proud of her and excited that Tay has found his forever Mommy and Daddy, who can't wait to take care of him and love him like crazy. </div>
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I'm really going to be sad to have to split from them in the airport tomorrow. I hope we don't get too many stares as we say our good-byes... though it couldn't be any more than the stares we got while eating Burger King on the floor in the que lines in Seoul.... we waited in line to check our bags for TWO hours and were STARVING!! (They were rescheduling everyone's flights. It was a small disaster.)</div>
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Anyway, I suppose my next update will be from HOME!!! :D Eeeeek! And also, I'll definitely be filling everyone in on the "missing" days in Seoul. I've got lots of photos I'm eager to share!</div>
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xoxo-</div>
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Us</div>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-9192625518683672682012-05-04T09:14:00.001-02:002012-05-04T09:14:32.943-02:00Prayers Needed, PleaseHi everyone!<br />
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This is Brooke updating. Amanda is currently walking sweet Taylor around the airport getting him to sleep. <br />
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We've had some issues today that we'd really appreciate your prayers about. The morning started normally, with sweet Taylor giggling and playing, then all of the sudden, he fell into a seizure (of which he has no history of) that lasted about 6 1/2 minutes. It was incredibly scary, but we immediately called emergency assistance and were rushed in an ambulance to the emergency room in Seoul. We then spent the next two hours or so speaking to several different doctors (Seoul and US) to come up with the best plan of action. The consensus seemed to be to get on a plane and get to the US as soon as possible so that Tay could be seen by his pediatrician. <br />
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We arrived back at the hotel just in time to throw everything into our suitcases and get to the airport on time- only to find out that our flight has been delayed for FIVE hours. Which greatly frustrates us because it in turn messes up our connecting flights, causing us to have to spend an extra night in San Francisco, California. This means, we will arrive at our final destinations approx 6:00pm on Saturday night, Alabama and Louisiana time. <br />
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We are both incredibly nervous, exhausted, and just SO ready to be home. We humbly covet your prayers for travel mercies and a happy, healthy Taylor as we travel back into familiar territory.<br />
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xoxo<br />
UsMichael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-75681300999328015522012-05-02T01:34:00.007-02:002012-05-02T01:34:49.720-02:00Day 3: All About Taylor!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Okay, quick update about our cutie (no time to talk much about site seeing...this kid is active!). It may sound like rambling because I am writing as things come to me, and I just want to get as much info on here for him to have down the road. Also, it is 6:40 a.m. here, and he is due to wake up any minute (few squirms here and there). So, I guess I will start there; he is a wonderful sleeper. Has gone to sleep each night about 10:30 pm (will have to start pushing that back later on) and wakes up about 6:30 or 7 for the past two mornings. He usually stirs 2-3 times during the night and whimpers a little bit and needs to be patted back to sleep. AND boy can that kid squirm! He did a lot of it the first night (like literally squirmed in circles, laying his head down and picking it up to reposition), but he did not seem to move around too much last night (or maybe I was just too exhausted to notice). </span></div>
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The language barrier does, of course, make things more difficult, but we are working through it and doing other things to communicate too. I know how to say 'it's okay,' 'thank you,' 'I love you,' ' peek-a-boo,' and 'potty,' and some more that I try but am pretty sure I am not saying correctly because he moves on as if I am rambling in a foreign language :-)</div>
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BUT he is amazing and learning English soooo quickly! His first word was playdoh, second was duck (one of his favs), and his third word was 'Daddy!' (when talking to Michael on Skype Tuesday morning). He can say 'duck' and 'quack quack', 'goat' and 'baaa' (we went to the zoo yesterday :) , ' he tries to mimic songs I make up, he points to what he wants, he just starting swiping my hand away when I am helping too much or doing something he does not like (uh-oh).</div>
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He is leery of other people (Brooke included) and kind of buries himself into me if someone tries to touch him or gets close. This does not sound good, but it is a great sign that he is learning who his mommy is and does not respond to everyone (stranger or not) equally. He wanted to be held the whole time at the zoo. I think he has been there before because he pointed past the park area to the zoo where the animals were. Great zoo, btw...AND free (my favorite kind of fun!).</div>
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His foster mom said he watched the video of Michael and me often in the last few weeks, and I think I am definitely seeing blessings from that. He seems to respond well when I sing him the song I sang him on the video (and 'no' you cannot see it...rough). It is "God is So Good" with lines of 'He loves Taylor (or Won, interchanging right now) so' and ' He answers prayer' (boy does He). Your prayers have definitely been felt as I have noticed some elements of attachment that give great hope. He does not seem afraid that I will leave him....sometimes follows me into another room (mostly I am with him anyway). We went to the zoo/park yesterday and he wanted to be held by me the whole time (great great sign...sore sore arms/back)! </div>
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It is hard to keep up with his potty training because he does not try to let me know he has to go (could be that we are go go go but also stress from all of the changes). When I take him and put him on the potty to pee pee, he always does (drinks a lot of liquids too), but is not potty trained for BMs yet. Thinking we will focus more on that in a few weeks when he gets more comfortable. I have read that several adoptive parents (and I am sure for parents of bio kids) have had trouble with dressing/bathing become the child is resistive, but we are not seeing too much of that with him. When watching a children's program during the first clothes changing, I undressed/dressed him and he just held out his arms the put in the sleeves at the right time and stepped into his pants when held for him (all while watching the television)...so cute. His foster mom sent about 9 Korean children's videos that we have on most of the time when we are in the apartment...a great buffer, and he loves to sit and watch for sometimes 20-30 minutes at a time. He usually glances at it for a few seconds and sings all with the songs (saying similar sounds here and there...hand motions included) while we are playing with different toys. He is a very good-natured little guy and has a happy and laid back personality.</div>
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Speaking of foster mom, I will probably write something on that later on. It is still a little too fresh, and the whole experience was a difficult and emotional one. I do want to say that he was wonderfully taken care of and obviously so loved. He grieved hard for the loss of his foster family on Monday, and I got to experience watching him with them (with video for Tay when he gets older) and with two of his aunts and cousins and could see that he was dearly loved and certainly as Appa's (his foster father's) boy.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">He was pretty grief-stricken and stoic during the first several hours after getting back to the hotel on Gotcha Day and just seemed to be in a trance as I carried him around. He completely avoided eye contact and only laid on me loosely (i.e. loose fists, tense posture) when I held him. </span>He did NOT want to be in the hotel room at first and seemed to calm down when walking around outside (thank goodness for good weather).<span class="Apple-style-span">He fell asleep while walking outside when in the carrier (life-safer that carrier, btw...really helps to calm him down) and woke up upset for about 5 minutes in the hotel. We went down to the lobby to eat our first meal (a place that is a great friend to us as it is so convenient and has both Korean and western foods). I put a little of everything on our plate to see what he wanted. He ate galbi (basically a beef that tastes a little like beef jerky to me). His foster father said that he loves meat...I agree! He also ate a little rice and some other things I cannot remember right now. Oh yea, kid likes him some goldfish, and it took him some hesitation before he decided to share...at which time, he thought the best way was for him to feed them to me ;) Basically, he is a great eater...likes fruit, some rice, meat, hamburger (yay!), etc.</span></div>
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It helps that his foster family referred to us as mommy and daddy (sometimes they do appa and umma) because it is understand who we are and does not get confusing or trigger his getting upset when we try to teach him who we are. We Skyped with Daddy Tuesday morning, and Taylor showed out! Blew po pos (kisses) and waved. They placed 'do what I do' (Michael imitating Taylor of course), and he even said 'Daddy!" (his third word)!</div>
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In other news, I have been healthy so far and just exhausted from chasing him around (and of course with the emotional part of being in unfamiliar environment, trying to bond with Tay and form a healthy attachment, being sleep deprived (even though he sleeps okay there is some jet-lag to deal with...also, I am not sleeping very deeply and wake up frequently to make sure he is okay...welcome to motherhood I guess :-). Sometimes I am overwhelmed with the wonder of what is happening, and sometimes I am in some sort of state of shock still processing everything.</div>
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Can I just say that my friend, Brooke, has been a God-send. She has been my right hand, helping with things like strapping him in the carrier, ordering room service (oh yea! hamburgers...it felt wonderfully like home. Tay likes them too...but I digress), carrying all of my stuff and hers while I pack him, chasing me down at the zoo while we are go go go to see every animal there is and being guided by Taylor's pointing to the next location after 1-2 minutes making noises at each animal (totally forgot to video, oops), carrying my plate and fetching drinks at mealtime (I am getting a little more proficient at finagling that one), and on and on! I am forever grateful for her and how to understands the importance of loving at a distance during this transition time. I know there are many different emotions and thoughts that she is dealing with as she is also in process, and I pray that God would fill her up with peace and joy from all that she has learned/experienced during this trip. Love her and pray blessings on her ten thousand hold the blessing she has been to us.</div>
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Okay, that is it for now. Thinking I should brush my teeth and get dressed before those little almond eyes start fluttering :-) Thank for so much for following us and for your prayers and encouragement. Flying high!</div>
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Pictures below. Gotta go...buddy is up :-)</div>
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Love,</div>
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Amanda<br />
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Day #2</div>
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Playing with Pororo camera :)</div>
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Loves to jump and climb.</div>
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Day #3</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn4d-hSS6JUlr2VA6eQkysBqK-E3_w5KAGYkWezfChKKRn8pTdZGHVD0mFXgD7mhK3wm59uaYtWG_flvY6tSOLkRvP_bA4901Zne_99QsO7lj8SywVy2mpU4yVvJ-3nISvY2A4MiLQt0/s1600/DSC_9605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn4d-hSS6JUlr2VA6eQkysBqK-E3_w5KAGYkWezfChKKRn8pTdZGHVD0mFXgD7mhK3wm59uaYtWG_flvY6tSOLkRvP_bA4901Zne_99QsO7lj8SywVy2mpU4yVvJ-3nISvY2A4MiLQt0/s400/DSC_9605.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little nap on the way to the zoo/park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at the zoo/park (that is Mina, yesterday's tour guide and new friend)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XeCTbHlhlB2IP2YVfJrT7PmnMKsRPnhzfhoCbVmBGw5mzFAE6EFbTrdW9R2dJRobVZlMRZMJeLebeBhgFttyzrnVqP3HqsRcZUoBFWjAESEj9_pZP74QTfF1vLOryRyF915kbIoovM4/s1600/DSC_9682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XeCTbHlhlB2IP2YVfJrT7PmnMKsRPnhzfhoCbVmBGw5mzFAE6EFbTrdW9R2dJRobVZlMRZMJeLebeBhgFttyzrnVqP3HqsRcZUoBFWjAESEj9_pZP74QTfF1vLOryRyF915kbIoovM4/s400/DSC_9682.JPG" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi and her new daughter, Yee (her and Tay share the same Gotcha Day!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr8i9YFNdG7Gj5qdRHkMKGCn64LF1Y17Dn6f7ONonBhJMJ0kABf4OjkOraF4Wagnpzg5JOvI0DPVR7p48bhVXiGdW4kjC2qbf8F4zL6yqw6nAOaI7IAftIiI3P2cyNzpi4mmdUbhtGs0/s1600/DSC_9706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr8i9YFNdG7Gj5qdRHkMKGCn64LF1Y17Dn6f7ONonBhJMJ0kABf4OjkOraF4Wagnpzg5JOvI0DPVR7p48bhVXiGdW4kjC2qbf8F4zL6yqw6nAOaI7IAftIiI3P2cyNzpi4mmdUbhtGs0/s400/DSC_9706.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loves animals...especially lion/tiger and ducks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9clXG-La2d-ZlAr8i3UYJKe4Kcj4-zJOP-IN5PflbUceNkaDjo3j8hXqry-Hznq9hnm6h4p4ujh33Q_gj6UBABlSq5-SGIStOVeBHp7x1GItZASUQMeqQ0U9POq6E0sho_qhG1Xwe_A/s1600/DSC_9737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9clXG-La2d-ZlAr8i3UYJKe4Kcj4-zJOP-IN5PflbUceNkaDjo3j8hXqry-Hznq9hnm6h4p4ujh33Q_gj6UBABlSq5-SGIStOVeBHp7x1GItZASUQMeqQ0U9POq6E0sho_qhG1Xwe_A/s400/DSC_9737.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A refreshing treat...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgs57HhBPA3m20JhEMiBGY8YANZhBhAaxKAhYEO6e5n0di8ptdhD0MOAKeyqdeYC64ghl45DQ9yYaa_I9K-zZG7Im0vsEBClBr7Labhel_VscbRz7rW-whoJbM1aJqCS4W1grB-ANTe2o/s1600/DSC_9740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgs57HhBPA3m20JhEMiBGY8YANZhBhAaxKAhYEO6e5n0di8ptdhD0MOAKeyqdeYC64ghl45DQ9yYaa_I9K-zZG7Im0vsEBClBr7Labhel_VscbRz7rW-whoJbM1aJqCS4W1grB-ANTe2o/s400/DSC_9740.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and one of my few opportunities to sit down while we were there :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj575RSi-7sHaqBq-D6VIDhm9eeskB9iTHoB0Z1xaUthcL16s2HLfZKY4C2FzEDu6_peCxe_Tjw_N-wGgWdVeZPGXXRbs9PitlSTJsBJQw3tXtPi1QTaR5d71-QM7txVcixNVw0HNRky48/s1600/DSC_9785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj575RSi-7sHaqBq-D6VIDhm9eeskB9iTHoB0Z1xaUthcL16s2HLfZKY4C2FzEDu6_peCxe_Tjw_N-wGgWdVeZPGXXRbs9PitlSTJsBJQw3tXtPi1QTaR5d71-QM7txVcixNVw0HNRky48/s400/DSC_9785.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My baby loves to go bare-chested (a cultural no no, but he was sweating so much :/ They usually layer about 2-3 layers, even in 80 degree weather. Yikes!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagdXieAHVbEKF0bHMR6kpwL8yYR33TandTSm6qnRFu8Esu2lZo5YMbgZgYq6Bvlbl6Z0huK0pJVXn4znxaClyMCOYmlxg5YfXzffRNBftppcWz9axsb3hoOup-TB93T7USx8bxVTq7RM/s1600/DSC_9783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagdXieAHVbEKF0bHMR6kpwL8yYR33TandTSm6qnRFu8Esu2lZo5YMbgZgYq6Bvlbl6Z0huK0pJVXn4znxaClyMCOYmlxg5YfXzffRNBftppcWz9axsb3hoOup-TB93T7USx8bxVTq7RM/s400/DSC_9783.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The problem was trying to get him to put a shirt back on! First glimpse at a little stubbornness...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTiH8gsbQlm_UCf8wNycS1vONKKFc050y7ZlRW__qii03vb2Piw_YQLUQB4Y27MCT6gLx49leIM60WP4j44QgSe31MvwBor2N9S1f5tDKv9c2APyWhuZposwuGj09AyA4jGtSS2FOVrw/s1600/DSC_9630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTiH8gsbQlm_UCf8wNycS1vONKKFc050y7ZlRW__qii03vb2Piw_YQLUQB4Y27MCT6gLx49leIM60WP4j44QgSe31MvwBor2N9S1f5tDKv9c2APyWhuZposwuGj09AyA4jGtSS2FOVrw/s400/DSC_9630.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meeting new friends (Meet Hannah and her Daddy, John)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And her Mommy, Jessica...see the difference 4-5 weeks make :) They are staying with her in S Korea until they are cleared to leave.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The greatly anticipated ducks...he learned how to say 'duck' and 'quack quack' yesterday and kept letting me know he wanted to see the ducks...loved them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pick me up to see the ducks, mommy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuckered out! Didn't even make it out of the zoo before he was zonked out. And yes, it is hot and sticky here, and that is sweat running down my face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clean and ready for dinner...a bacon cheeseburger with fries with a Sprite on the side (Sprite for me, not Tay). So glad he likes hamburgers. Those Thomas the Train PJs are too small, but he insists on wearing them. Gonna have to get more Thomas pjs before he loses circulation in his feet :) Oh yea, and I definitely realize how I keep getting more and more rough looking with each passing picture, but fatigue has won out and moved makeup and cute hair to the bottom of the list.<br />
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So, that's it for now! About to go to Insadong market today for a few must-have items ;)</div>
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<br /></div>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-56422657392528081542012-05-01T20:29:00.001-02:002012-05-01T20:29:08.985-02:00Photo Gallery of Tay-Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Details at another time, but some pics to celebrate with us (and to prompt prayers for this grieving foster family).</div>
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Gotcha Day: Monday, April 30th, 2012</div>
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<br /></div>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-21229775542786146242012-04-30T23:31:00.003-02:002012-04-30T23:37:05.086-02:00Telephone! It's for Taylor!<div>
To view video, click play on the video screen above :-)</div>
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<br /></div>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-88041559490169563072012-04-30T06:14:00.003-02:002012-04-30T06:14:28.381-02:00Our SonHis is a beautiful and precious gift from God, and I am so in love with this child. He is grieving the loss of his foster parents very hard, and I would appreciate your prayers as we begin the long journey of attachment and healing with our sweet son. We are so very blessed.<br />
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<br />Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-7935083030089633962012-04-27T08:31:00.001-02:002012-04-27T08:31:58.794-02:00Up Up and Away!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The wait is over. The time is now! So, I have been bad about updating this blog when we received travel call, but we DID receive travel call and are leaving THIS morning (myself and my dear friend Brooke) and will be Seoul bound in about one hour!!! I will try to at least post a few pictures while we are there and, hopefully, if I still have my sanity, write a little about our experiences during the trip. Seoul, South Korea is 14 hours ahead of us in LA for those of you who have committed to cover us in prayers as we go along. We will land in Seoul Saturday evening (1 a.m. central time in LA/AL) where we will be taken to our hotel for the night. Our city tour is scheduled for Sunday morning at 9:30 where a volunteer with the Holt adoption agency will show us the sites and help us learn more about the culture there. Then....on Monday at 12 noon (10 pm LA/AL time) I get to meet my sweet little Taylor who we have prayed for and loved for the past 15 months. We will meet him and his foster mother who has been caring for him throughout his life, and then we will have lunch with the foster family so that we can, hopefully, make the transition a little smoother and to get to know the foster mom a little more. After we eat, goodbyes will be said by the foster mother (please pray for her heart as she grieves the loss of the little one she has loved and cared for for the past two years). And then.........HE IS OURS!! Yep, family day is scheduled for Monday, April 30, 2012!! I am anxiously waiting to board the plane to begin the loooong flight to my son's birth country to meet him, hold him, and finally, to bring him home!! I am so excited to meet him and then to visit with him and his daddy via Skype. So anyway, that is the quick update. Next time I post, I will be 12,500 miles away is South Korea!! Blessings!<div>
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Amanda</div>
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<br /></div>Michael and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156189297310439879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932422977345015658.post-27753117438280789002012-04-15T19:58:00.000-02:002012-04-15T19:58:37.782-02:00Our Attachment PlanImagine for a moment that you are pulled from everything familiar and dropped into a life that is completely Unfamiliar:<br />
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You look around. You are in a remote place in the middle of what seems like nowhere in particular. You have no maps or signs to tell you where you are. Suddenly you are surrounded by strangers, all of whom are overjoyed to see you. These people smile, laugh, and talk loud and fast, and they act as if you can understand them. They touch your hair, your face, and your shoulders, and they hug you repeatedly. You notice they have a peculiar odor. They dress differently from anyone you have ever met. Their language is unintelligible and sounds like gibberish. You have no clue how or why you are here. You have no idea if you will ever find your way back to your former life. [Do you feel tense yet?]<br />
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You feel hands beginning to remove clothing, and there, in public, these strangers dress you in new garments. Some people appear to be assessing you, sizing you up, looking at your hair and teeth closely and noting any moles or scars on your body. You are given strange food and invited to play unfamiliar games. You are handed a container of strange liquid and encouraged to drink. Everyone continues to laugh and smile and act as though this were a perfectly ordinary and normal situation. (Excerpt taken from <a href="http://www.pattycogenparenting.info/book.html" target="_blank">"Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child" by Patty Cogen</a>).<br />
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This is not a post I have looked forward to writing but one we believe is necessary to share before bringing Taylor home in the next few weeks (hopefully sooner rather than later). We are sooo excited about becoming a family of three very soon but have learned through discussions with numerous other adoptive parents, meetings with our social workers (in both AL and LA), and research concerning international adoption and the transition process. We have made some decisions based on all of this information about how we are going to care for Taylor during those first weeks/months when he comes home. (Some of the following information has been borrowed from others who have gone through the adoption process but is completely in line with our thoughts/plans.)<br />
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The issues surrounding attachment, bonding, and cocooning can be sensitive and controversial. I want to be very clear that this is how our family is doing things, and that we have landed here after many hours of research, training, and prayer. Our views could change. These standards that we are planning to follow are not our Bible. However, at the moment, this is where we land, and we feel confident, at this time, in the conclusions we have come to. It is not necessarily the best plan, but we do feel it is the best plan for our family at this time. We are dedicated to taking extreme measures during the first critical weeks of introducing Taylor into our family. The first six weeks at home will be spent in a cocoon. Our plan is subject to change as we get to know Taylor on a deeper level and as we feel out how our family is melding together. <br />
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In her book mentioned above, Patty Cogen says that "no matter how wonderful international adoption is for a parent, it is a surreal and stressful experience for a child." Absolutely adoption is a gift from God as a means for bringing orphaned children into loving families (with His much bigger gift of adoption in redeeming a sinful people and bringing them into a relationship with Him as "His own children"...but I digress ;). We do not want to make adoption sound that an awful experience and certainly do not want to deter anyone to adopt....we are obviously big advocates!! But, we do want to be realistic about what to expect during those first several weeks/months so that we can prepare to love him well. We are honored and blessed that God would allow us to be the parents of this amazing little guy and are getting prepared as best we can for this critical transition period. So, without further ado...<br />
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Our Attachment Plan (Much of this has been borrowed and tweaked from others):<br />
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* For the first six weeks that we are home with Taylor, our home will be our cocoon. We will not be welcoming any visitors at this time - family or otherwise - and we will not be going out. An exception will be made for doctor appointments as these are very important for Taylor to attend. Our cocoon has the potential to extend if need be. <br />
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* Michael will resume going to work as soon as he needs to, but will try to stay home at least the first couple of days. After Michael has gone back to work and I am home with Taylor, I will be very conscientious to not take too many phone calls during the day. We will do everything we can to make our home quiet and calm and structured without over-stimulation - such as excessive activity, toys, etc. We have learned that structure and routine bring comfort to adopted children during this transition phase. <br />
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* All of my attention will be devoted to Taylor during the day to work on bonding/attachment to teach him who his mommy is (and who his daddy is when Michael is home with us).<br />
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* Taylor will be carried in a carrier for the first several weeks that he is home, as much as possible pending it is comforting to him (children in Korea are typically carried in a sling or pack for up to the first three yeares of life). Physical contact is one of the best ways to bond, and it will help Taylor begin to develop trust in us. Carrying him will help him to know our smell, our heartbeat, our language, and familiarize him with his two primary care givers - Mom and Dad. <br />
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* Taylor will likely be cosleeping with us (or with me on a pallet on the floor depending on needs) so that we are always there with him when he wakes up (as many children are reported to have frequent nightmares and night terrors during the first few months home). As time goes by and Taylor becomes more securely attached we will slowly transition him to independent sleeping, but we will come very quickly when he cries. He will never be left to cry it out. We want him to understand that we are always going to take care of him and that he can trust us to meet his needs. <br />
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* Michael and I will be the only people to hold Taylor during the initial 6 weeks. We want him to understand our role in his life and how it is different than anybody else that he encounters. Only when he has securely attached to us will we begin allowing others to show him affection of any kind (as long as we know he is comfortable with it).<br />
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* After the initial 6 weeks (or more depending on how he is doing) we will slowly start to shed our cocoon. We will go out of the house to places with little stimuli at first and gradually introduce him to more and more of our world and the people who love him. <br />
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* At least for these first 6 six weeks, Michael and I will be the only ones to provide for Taylor's four most basic caretaking functions, including feeding, changing, bathing, and putting to sleep. We will do this in an attempt to establish ourselves as Taylor's primary caregivers to ensure he does not "mommy shop," a tendency of children newly adopted when numerous people are caring for them.<br />
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So there it is, our attachment plan. I am sure it seems overwhelming and excessive to some. For sure this will be exhausting and taxing. We cannot do it without the grace of God. Even if you think we are crazy (at times I am sure we will feel the same), we ask for your support and understanding, knowing that we did not arrive at this place lightly. We have spent much time preparing, planning, and praying about what this should look like and feel this is the best plan for now. We have never heard of a family that has cocooned and followed an attachment plan and regretted doing it, but we have heard of several who have regretted <em>not</em> doing it. <br />
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These first critical weeks are vital to transitioning Taylor's attachment from his foster mom/family to Michael and I, and we are praying for him constantly as God is preparing his heart for healthy grieving and as smooth a transition as possible. Thank you for your support. We are so very excited to introduce him to all of you and will let you know when he is ready for meeting his new family/friends! I will, of course, try to keep the blog updated in the beginning so that you can follow our new family's growth during all of this newness (and to give me some connection with the outside world!). <br />
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With love,<br />
Michael and Amanda<br />
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** And here are a couple of new pictures of Tay (he is one cool dude)!! We cannot wait to hold him in our arms and welcome him into our family forever! We are sooooo close!<br />
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