Thursday, September 29, 2011
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.
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...
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/
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
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.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Video of Jacob at Harbin CWI - March 1, 2010
I was lucky to find this video of Jacob's orphanage, Harbin CWI, from March 1, 2010. I think it is a story about a little boy who was abandoned and Jacob is shown pretty often in the video.
It's wonderful to be able to see him before we met him. I just wish we had some photos of him from when he was a baby.
You can see the video here.
It's wonderful to be able to see him before we met him. I just wish we had some photos of him from when he was a baby.
You can see the video here.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Halloween 2010 - Jacob's First Trick-Or-Treat Experience
Our little ninja, Jacob, had his first trick-or-treating experience today. We went out twice - once with just me, him and Baba and then again with Tiffany and Luke.
He had a great time, but thought he was supposed to go in all the houses we went to, instead of just taking the candy. By the third house, he had the "Trick or treat. Thank you" down pat.
He's already asleep, but he's rolling around and talking a lot in there. He does this often when he's overtired and has had a very busy or emotional day. He seems to relive it in his sleep.
We only had 17 kids come to the house so far, and I don't think we'll get any more. It's dark and my driveway is scary. :o( I really like getting a lot of kids.
Halloween pics are here.
He had a great time, but thought he was supposed to go in all the houses we went to, instead of just taking the candy. By the third house, he had the "Trick or treat. Thank you" down pat.
He's already asleep, but he's rolling around and talking a lot in there. He does this often when he's overtired and has had a very busy or emotional day. He seems to relive it in his sleep.
We only had 17 kids come to the house so far, and I don't think we'll get any more. It's dark and my driveway is scary. :o( I really like getting a lot of kids.
Halloween pics are here.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
October 2010
Pumpkin Picking, Pumpkin Carving, Halloween Costumes and Random Silliness
The title says it all. There are photos of Jacob trying on his Halloween costume, picking pumpkins with Baba and Mommy, carving pumpkins with Baba and Nana, posing in his school Halloween costume and just hanging around.
Seriously, who's cuter than my Jacob?
The title says it all. There are photos of Jacob trying on his Halloween costume, picking pumpkins with Baba and Mommy, carving pumpkins with Baba and Nana, posing in his school Halloween costume and just hanging around.
Seriously, who's cuter than my Jacob?
Jacob's Halloween Party
We had Jacob's first Halloween party today. It was wonderful to see everyone and watch all the kids run around and have fun.
Jacob was a ninja (am I stereotyping a bit?), and looked adorable in his costume.
It was a little chilly, but we had everything set up for outside, since the kids all wanted to run around. Tom lit the chiminea so people could warm up if they wanted to.
Brandon stayed overnight to help us decorate. He was a great help.
Pictures are here.
Jacob was a ninja (am I stereotyping a bit?), and looked adorable in his costume.
It was a little chilly, but we had everything set up for outside, since the kids all wanted to run around. Tom lit the chiminea so people could warm up if they wanted to.
Brandon stayed overnight to help us decorate. He was a great help.
Pictures are here.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Apple Picking
I'm a big fan of Fall and all that comes with it - apples, pumpkins, cool weather and, of course, Halloween.
Every year, we go apple picking to our friend Elissa's family farm in Water Mill, Seven Ponds Orchard. It's a chance to see Elissa and also to pick some really yummy apples.
This year, having the little guy with us, made it really special. After we hung out with Elissa for a while, we went in the corn maze, picked apples and string beans, went on a hayride (which Jacob loved, since he could ride right behind a tractor), we headed over to Montauk to have a bite to eat, see the lighthouse and wander around on the beach.
What a fantastic day with my two guys. Pictures are here.
There are also pictures from Jacob's first train ride (LIRR to Manhattan, then on to Chinatown) and some other random photos.
Every year, we go apple picking to our friend Elissa's family farm in Water Mill, Seven Ponds Orchard. It's a chance to see Elissa and also to pick some really yummy apples.
This year, having the little guy with us, made it really special. After we hung out with Elissa for a while, we went in the corn maze, picked apples and string beans, went on a hayride (which Jacob loved, since he could ride right behind a tractor), we headed over to Montauk to have a bite to eat, see the lighthouse and wander around on the beach.
What a fantastic day with my two guys. Pictures are here.
There are also pictures from Jacob's first train ride (LIRR to Manhattan, then on to Chinatown) and some other random photos.
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