Thursday, September 17, 2015

Happy Birthday {JackCruz}

Two weeks ago today on September 3, this precious little stinker bug turned three years old.

THREE.

How is that even possible?!


One year ago on this same date was the most amazingly bittersweet day of my life.  We were given the  sweetest privilege of sharing an extra day with our son to help celebrate his birthday.  But as amazing as our time together was, it ended quickly as I hopped out of the car, in the middle of a busy intersection, in the pouring rain, ruining my favorite flats and kissing my beautiful birthday boy goodbye until I would see him again.  

Oh my heart.  That's hard to relive.  

You know that goodbye is gonna sting.  

But you don't realize how much until you actually have to do it.  


So the fact that we got to spend this birthday together-the entire day with no goodbyes-was almost more than my heart could handle.  


We took two special outfits to document this day in:  his smocked birthday shirt from his Auntie Becky that he also wore on his second birthday while we were in Korea, and his beautiful new hanbok that I was able to pick out for him.  My sweet friend was in Korea bringing her little boy home and gave me the opportunity via Iphone to shop in Seoul all through the comfort of my bed.  Technology, ya'll, is simply brilliant.  That was such a fun night!  In Korea, they don't really acknowledge traditional pink/blue as gender prominent, and I absolutely LOVED the green and pink combo on this one.  Pman also got a new one that is more purple and green and I think they are both stunning.


Of course, I may have a slight hanbok obsession as we now own six... But I think they are so beautiful and I love the uniqueness of each one and how special they are in honoring JackCruz's culture.  I also just love that Perry calls them his 'king outfits.' 


As I snapped away, I couldn't help but choke back tears.  Because, if you know me, I'm a bit emotional and wear those emotions right on my sleeve for everyone to see.  And even at almost a year home, I just still can't believe he's here.  Three and a half years in process and truly a lifetime of longing for him... and he's here.  


And he's so amazing.  And loud.  And joy filled.  And crazy stubborn.  And lovable.  And charming.  And opinionated.  And silly.  And strong willed.  And intelligent.  And absolutely adorable.  


And mine.  


I am the luckiest girl in the entire world.  


Happy Birthday JackCruz JiHwan.  You are loved from the East to the West, to Forever and Back, and EVERYWHERE in between.  

{thankful for}
a selfless birth mom who loved her son the very most
adoption
beautiful hanboks
gorgeous weather
getting to chase mulgogi
my littlest baby
those little red shoes
shopping the markets of Korea on a smartphone
my brave big boy rocking his new big brother role more and more each day
redemption
that love truly crosses oceans
Omma and Appa, and all the other amazing foster families
Holt International, Villa Hope, and our amazing Social Workers
my precious husband and his heart for adoption
that security didn't see us picking the flowers! 

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

{Summer} Break

JackCruz is snoozing beside me, Mr Perry is learning away at school, so I decided it was a good time as any to return from my hiatus.  I have always loved this form of documenting our lives, but over the summer it just didn't get touched.  Or thought too much about, even.  We were just too busy making the memories to document them!


To quickly recap our summer, we spent our time getting good news from JC's doctor, celebrating our blondie turning SIX!, watching P graduate from Kindergarten, catching tadpoles and crawfish, splashing on the beach and finding starfish and shark's teeth, painting, sleeping late, making fresh/home grown salsa, canning pickles, tubing at the lake, twirling batons, home-improving, McWane Science Centering, reintroducing home cooked meals, celebrating our Taco turning THREE!, and just soaking up being a little family of four.


And it was a gooooood one.  Crazily full and yet blissfully not.  It was good Sabbath.


Some of it, I may go in and recap, but I'm not putting much pressure on myself to do so.  So, we'll see....

{thankful for}
summer sabbath
homemade dinners around the table
homegrown salsa
lazy winding creeks
shady trails

Our Adoption Timeline

  • June 19, 2011- We are officially "Paper Pregnant!" We have submitted our Waiting Child Application to Holt!
  • July 5, 2011- Submitted our formal Home Study Application to Villa Hope
  • September 6, 2011- Submitted all of our paperwork for our Home Study
  • October 8, 2011- Completed our First Home Visit
  • October 17, 2011- Completed our Second Home Visit
  • November 14, 2011- Home Study Approved
  • December 1, 2011- Filed our I600a
  • February 1, 2012- I600a Approval Letter
 
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