Wednesday, November 16, 2011

New Day Foster Home

I've been following the blog for New Day Foster Home for a couple of months now and they are doing wonderful work with Chinese orphans. I ran across a page on their website with a link to Amazon.com. If you use this direct link, you can help the children at New Day Foster Home. The prices are the same and 5% goes to the kids. It's a win-win in my book.

Here is the link: ">

If you plan to shop at Amazon anyway, please use the link; it costs you nothing. If you hadn't made up your mind, please use the link; you'll help a child and you'll be the living embodiment of the Christmas spirit.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween 2011

We had a great Halloween. It started at 6:20 this morning, when Jacob raced into our room shouting "Is it Halloween day? Is it Halloween day?" I'm molding him in my image - to love Halloween just as much as I do!

He dressed as a prisoner for school (needed a two piece costume). Thanks Tiffany and Annie for the loan! He and his class went to the nursing home to trick or treat, then back to school for a party.

When we got home, he changed into his Spiderman costume and it was off through the neighborhood. He had a lot of fun trick or treating and made a new friend, a little boy named Vince who was dressed as Bumblebee from Transformers. His grandmother lives across the street and up a few houses and we're going to have a play date, hopefully soon. They had a fun time running around the driveway and hugged each other goodbye.


Saturday, October 29, 2011

October Fun

Anyone that knows me, even for 5 minutes, knows that October is my favorite month and Halloween my favorite holiday. So, you would assume that there would be lots of haunted house action, hayrides, corn mazes, Halloween decorations, etc. And you would be right.

We had a good October and can't wait for Halloween. We enjoyed a hayride, haunted corn maze and pumpkin picking with our besties, did some decorating in the front yard and made mummy dogs. Here are some photos of the fun...

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Apple Picking

We took our annual visit to Seven Ponds Orchard in Watermill, NY. It's always great to see Elissa and we have a good time picking apples, wandering through the corn maze and playing on the playground. Jacob was sporting his newly colored hair (I think it looks great)! We got some wonderful apples,a kick-ass blueberry pie and other assorted goodies. Pics are here:
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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Snuggle Puppy

One of Jacob's favorite books is Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton, possibly because I tickle him while I read the book. We've read it so many times, I now know it by heart. Here is a video of tonight's performance...
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Karate & Other Random Photos

Jacob officially starts at the Kempo Martial Arts Dojo this Saturday (9.19). He had his last trial class this past Saturday. The sensei and I think he's ready, so we signed him up and got him a gi. There are also some random hanging out photos (Home Depot, home). Enjoy. He is a cutie.

First Day Of Pre-K - 9.7.11

Some photos of Jacob on his first day of Pre-K at the Brentwood Montessori Center. He's been going there since last year. Pre-K includes binder work. My little guy is getting big, too fast for me. :o(

Hanging Out With Mommy & Baba - 9.5.11

We had a nice family morning, breakfast out, then a trip to the park and mall.

Jacob Meets His Cousins

A couple of weeks ago, Jacob's Uncle Chris, Aunt Tammy and his cousins Joseph, Maria, Theresa and Jonathan came for a visit. Jacob had a great time with everyone.
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Out & About

Jacob and I hung out with Bonnie, Sabrina & Trav on the September 1st & 2nd. We went to Jungle Safari, which Jacob LOVED. There were bouncy houses and climbing setups. He had a blast palying with the other kids there. On the 2nd, we went to the LI Game Farm. There were lots of adorable animals, and even more unadorable flies. They had a great time checking out all the different animals, riding the carousel, having a pony ride, spinning in the teacups, etc.
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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Empty Stroller March

Jacob and I are registered to participate in the Empty Stroller March at the National Mall in Washington, DC on August 26th. This is a really great cause - details are below...

Parents who have been waiting for their adopted children to come home, adoption advocates and potential families that have been denied the opportunity to adopt will push empty strollers August 26 in Washington, D.C. Many of the strohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifllers will be wrapped in red tape, representing the bureaucracy that prevents children from being with families, and making the central statement of the march.

The march coincides with the launch of a member drive for the Both Ends Burning Campaign, the global movement to transform the broken system of international adoption. Like other great social movements, the campaign has a world-changing goal – to create a new system of international adoption so more orphaned and abandoned children can have families.

Join us on August 26th in Washington, D.C. All you need is a stroller and your walking shoes, we will provide the red tape!


You can register to march to show your support or you can go to their website to make a donation. Their website is: http://bothendsburning.org/

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Jacob's 4th Birthday Party

Here are some photos from Jacob's 4th birthday party. He had a great day and got some wonderful gifts. He was so jacked up on sugar and happiness, he had a hard time going to sleep last night. Woke up at his usual early hour, though. :o)

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Jacob

Four years ago this week - could have been any day - a little boy was born. He was not perfect. Whether his parents cast him aside because of this, or because they could not afford the surgery to correct his imperfection, we will never know. All we know is that on July 23, 2007, this baby, now our son, was abandoned in the doorway of a building in Harbin City, China. He had surgery and was placed on the list to be adopted. He was given today, July 16th, as his birthday, and it is just as good a day as any other.

This is basically all we know of the story of Jacob from before we adopted him. I still wish I knew his exact birthday, but we will celebrate well today.

Happy birthday, my son. I love you more than life itself and I am so glad we found each other. My heart no longer yearns for you, since you are here.

Monday, July 11, 2011

What We Did On Our Summer Vacation

We had a WONDERFUL vacation this year. A mini China reunion at Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA, then on to Lancaster and Dutch Wonderland.

We met up with the McDonalds (who were in Harbin with us getting Olivia) and the Printys, who were in Beijing with us, then went off to their province to pick up Macy. It was great to see both families and I think Jacob really enjoyed seeing the girls again, not to mention Mason & Ethan and Nina. Sesame Place was so-so, but it didn't matter. The main purpose of that leg of our trip was to see everyone and it was great. A few of the families that were in our group couldn't make it and they were missed. Hopefully, next year we'll all be able to get together.

The second leg of our trip took us to one of our favorite Bed & Breakfasts of all time (and we've been to many) - the Apple Bin Inn in Willow Street, PA. The owners, Jamie & Steve Shane, make you feel so welcome and serve you an amazing breakfast every day. I wish we could have had our reunion there! It was fabulous. They made Jacob feel very welcome, as did another couple that was staying there (they were sweet enough to leave Jacob a gift and birthday card the day they left). Jacob loved "his" room and "his" bed in "Steve's house." There are a lot of B&Bs out there, who don't welcome children, but Jamie & Steve were fantastic with him.

During our trip, we rode the Strasburg Railroad, tooled around Lancaster, bought new Amish made quilts, went to a petting zoo, and visited Dutch Wonderland. Dutch Wonderland was PHENOMENAL. They have a lot of rides for the littles - and some that are good for the adults. We highly recommend it and plan on going back next year. And, it's about 20 minutes away from the Apple Bin Inn. That's a win-win in my book.

Photos of our trip:

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Official Adoption Day Anniversary

One year ago today, we made it official in the Civil Affairs Office in Heilongjiang Province, China. We signed and fingerprinted a lot of papers, handed over some gifts and walked out of the office a family.

I'm sure, as he gets older, Jacob will have a lot of questions about how he came to be in an orphanage, but for now, I'm going to savor every moment with this amazing little man.


Monday, May 30, 2011

Gotcha Day Anniversary

Tomorrow, May 31st, marks one year since we've been with Jacob. It has been a phenomenal year, filled with love and amazement at the smart & loving boy we were lucky enough to find. There has been a lot of frustration too, while we all worked hard at finding our groove. I believe we have finally found it, and I am so glad that we have our little boy.

I may be biased, but I don't think that there is a cuter, smarter, funnier kid in the world. He is everything we hoped for and more.

Thank you Jacob for being our son and thank you God for bringing us together. Jacob, I am proud to be your mommy and I love you more than anything in - or out of - the world. I wouldn't change a thing.




Love always,

Mommy & Baba

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Neglect

I am guilty of neglect. I haven't updated the blog since last year!!

There has been a lot going on and not much time to spend writing about it, but I promise I'll post and upload some photos soon.