7 months home/16 months old

Jee has been home for SEVEN months. Hard to believe. When I look at him day in and day out I can't tell just physically how much he has changed. But, when I look back at photos from right when he got home it is amazing the change. Lots of other changes as well, of course. The biggest just being him coming out of his shell and sleeping at night (praise the Lord). He has a fun little personality and has now figured out how funny he can be. He loves to move when music starts and his favorite dance move is putting his fist up in the air and pumping his elbow up and down---hilarious. When the music starts it is like he can't even control it, the music just speaks to him. Of course, he still loves his lovey....that poor thing has about had all it can take. Whenever I absolutely have to wash it I worry and pray over it that it will make it through one more wash. I have no idea what we would do without lovey. Juju also is learning about fits and how to control his anger. The last several weeks have been much improved in the fit throwing department (again, praise the Lord). Now, the big obstacle is figuring out how to really transition him to going to his class at church (one hour a week:)...poor poor baby! I have been in there with him for lots of times now and have left him in there without me two times. The jury is still out on which one seems to be best for Jude. As always, he deals with things in the middle of the night most of the times. Poor guy. He is very predictable in that area. Whenever I have left him in the daytime or been to class at church-something out of the ordinary-he ALWAYS has a tough time in the middle of the night at home that night. A friend reminded me that "Sometimes, in the dark, the shadows of the past come creeping in, when you least expect it....thankfully, we have a God big enough to lead us through those deep dark valleys." Which is true in my life and I think that Jude (even as a bitty little guy) still deals with sadness in the middle of the night. We are trying to just be patient and supportive and love on him through those times. I do really miss going and being a part of church and so the biggest thing we are tackling now is the church class issue. Thanks for your prayers in that area. 

I would describe Jee as:

Determined

Funny

Busy

Sensitive (sometimes)

What a little toot I have with this little guy. I love him head to toe. 

Welcome and Update regarding private blog

Hello friends!!! I finally made the blog private!!! Hip hip hooray. Wow!!! I can not believe so many of you followed me over. I am so boring and yet you love us anyway! (Ok, Ok....I know you only come over for the cute kids:)

I know that many of you do not have gmail accounts and so may be signing is as a "guest" and that will limit you to 30 days and then you will need a new invitation. 

I think that just stinks! So, I am trying to come up with something else to use on blogger that will enable non gmail account holders to still access the blog without having to sign up for a gmail account or get a new invite. No such luck yet. 

I will be researching my possibilities as to how I can make your life easier and my life safer. I will let you know what I come up with. I am really hoping this does NOT mean I have to move over to another blog service. So, if you have any ideas let me know!!!

My Boochy Boochy

On your "birth" day, moments after I laid eyes on you for the first time. Love at first sight.


First time at the beach... (age 1)

Trip to Chicago (age 1)
Trip to Boston to visit Uncle J.D. at Harvard (that trip still really makes me laugh)

Almost two years old enjoying Mim's pool...

I had to post this one, it looks so much like Rinny does now when she is trying to be silly. (age 2)
Her actual second birthday...

Our application part one to our journey to our brother.  This photo was taken on July 12, 2007, a little over two years ago. Can you believe how little they were when we began the journey! We started the journey to Jude 9 months before he was born (not a coincidence I don't think!)
The year in review.....

One year ago-
The Good Friday service this year. Very touching moment of remembering Christ's sacrifice.



Rinn learned how to swim this year....
One of her favorite foods, a pazookie with one of her favorite people

Enjoying a baseball game this summer
Poor Rinny, you looked miserable when you got the stomach bug this year. So sweet how you would apologize to mommy for getting sick. 
Your first visit to the dentist was this year, you were so so brave. 
You even learned to write your name!


Happy Birthday, Ree Ree. I love you, madly. I love how....

You make a pitter patter sound with your feet as you walk down the hall in the mornings

You make me a better mommy

When I get to have alone time with you, you talk up a storm but in the midst of our crazy talkative house stay in the background

You smell so delicious no matter what (or no matter how long it's been since you have had a bath)

You love babies and talk in a baby voice

Can focus and stay focused for an incredibly long time

You color

How God gave you to me and to our family during a very needed time. A song of joy in our sorrow and fear. You brought a reminder of Hope from God.

You sing "boomerang express"

You notice little subtle differences about me (like when I get a new pair of earrings)

You tell me you love me

How you ask if your name will still be Rinn when you grow up and if I will still be your mommy. Of course, you will always be my baby sugar.

You react when you are scared; oftentimes laughing nervously and saying "ha, that's so funny."

You sleep with your blanky and Lucifer and with your buns in the air :)

Laugh when we talk about "buns" :)

Understand when mommy doesn't have time to do something for you at that particular second and never seem to be bothered by it. 

You are very perceptive about things most 20 year olds don't pick up on-like when you cried at the end of the movie "UP" and said "But that was just a really sad movie."

Like sparkles

Can play independently

You sing "Your blood has washed away my sin, Jesus thank you." and how you can say it with all different inflections and sound like a preacher spreadin' fire and brimstone.

Want to go in with me every morning to get Jude when he awakes

Know that God is with you and protecting you. Like when you reminded yourself and me at Lion King (at a scary point) and said "God is still with me now,right, mommy?"

Try to be brave even when you are scared

You are so incredibly sweet and sugary but can toot like NOBODY's bizness! (and you always claim it right away!)

You are so kind and concerned for those around you

Pray "Thank you for this day and thank you for ALL the things you know about and amen."

Call daddy "boochy poo"

Like to wear a dress every day

Learn things without me even teaching you, just by hearing me

Sneak into our room before we go to bed and fall asleep on daddy's side of the bed

Ask me if I will keep hugging you and kissing you and checking on you and "stay the hall light on" when I tuck you into bed

Are patient with Creed and Jude

Sing "Popular" Kristen Chenowith style- particularly when you say "determined to succeed."

Like to read long books

Walk out in the hall after we have tuck

Your "snow white" outfit

Like to talk about being "modest"

Love going to the service with mommy

You love your cousins and talk about them all the time-in particular, spending time with your girl cousins

Love helping mommy with things around the house like cooking

Like to do "girly" things like have a "salon" day or go to Target with me

Forgive me when I sin

My friend, Stanley.

Stanley on the airplane...Stanley in NYC
Stanley got this close to Geraldo.....as you know if you have been around Geraldo, he is not the most approachable man, so....this is as good as it gets.
Stanley at Toys R Us in NYC
You think Stanley would be scared, but as you can see, nothing fazes Stanley
Stanley does heart NYC
Purchasing a newspaper, as many people do in NYC
Wow, who knew that Stanley likes the same kind of people I do.
and, he likes the same food as I do!!! This is amazing.

Creed and Rinn really loved these next two photos.
Stanley in jail---uh oh, Stanley threw back a few too many (as many people do in NYC) and got thrown in jail
Stanley learned the next day that he should just get a cab....
enjoying lunch with Aunt Jill.


Woo-hooo, life on the outside is so great.

And the award goes to....

Aunt Jill!!! (it was an aunt of the year award)...Where in the world is Flat Stanley? He's in NYC, of course (just look at the photos and you can tell!). Okay, also Mim wins an award for transporting Stanley for us and taking pics of Stanley too. How fun are these?

So, do you know about my friend Stanley? If not, read about him HERE . The Flat Stanley series of books is SOO fun. Creed, Rinn, and I read them this past year in school. (Well, we read all the ones except the magic lamp one, it seemed a little new-age ish). Anyway, the main deal is this-in the first book Stanley has an accident in which he becomes flat. After being concerned, his parents get the information from the doctor that he has an acute case of "flat-itis." Then, Stanley realizes how fun it is to be flat. His family mails him to California in an envelope and that is where his adventures begin. So, we decided to make our own Flat Stanley to go on an adventure. So, we sent him on a plane with Mim and Sissy (my aunt) and then we have left him in NYC to go on some adventures with Aunt Jill. 

Look at all the fun he had....

Side note: I have one more fabulous photo I will add of Stanley with the MAYOR of our great city!!!!! But (remember how I love to obsessively worry) I was afraid that someone on the offenders registry would know who that was and track down what city we must live in if he saw a photo of our mayor on my blog. So, I will post that once the blog goes private...Oh, don't forget, your time is up. I am going private in a few days. If you haven't (shout out to all of you who have, you guys rock!!!) emailed me to put you on the list to have access, do it now :)

ATTENTION: BLOG STALKERS

Hello all my blog stalking friends (are you still out there?!?!?) I know I have not been posting a lot lately but I wanted to send a shout out to all of you who are sticking with me! 

Because of my worrisome personality and my propensity to worry about things that will likely never come to pass I am going to privatize our blog. I have had some concern about it for some time now (thus the request to not give information out on our whereabouts on your comments) and I am finally going to go ahead and make the blog open only to those people who I have input their email addresses. Blogger (unfortunately) does not have a great way to do this that I can find (maybe you guys know of a better way?!?!?). So, for now (until you tell me a better way) I will input the email addresses of those of you who I know watch the blog and you all should still be able to gain access. In addition, I am hoping this helps me freak out less so that I will post more:)

So....here's the scoop:

If you want to continue reading our blog please email me at

sunnykersh@hotmail.com and as the subject write "blog access". I will place you on the list as one of the "special ones!" Even if I don't know you personally, just tell me who you are, how you found the blog, and your criminal history (just kidding about the last one, I have ways of finding that one out!) and I will be happy to add you to the list. To those of you who I know (and you know all my psychosis) then just send me a blank email to the above email or to my email that I usually use and I will get ya' on there!

PLEASE SEND THE EMAIL BY AUG. 12. I HOPE TO HAVE THE BLOG PRIVATE BY AUG.19

Thanks my friends!!!