Happy Birthday, Dear Rinny

Pre- "Birth" day

First day home from the hospital
First Birthday

Age One

Age Two:

Age Three (almost)

My little baby is THREE years old today (as of 12:33 am this morning!). I am so madly in love with her. I have been telling her all day "you are my baby, Rinny...you will always be my baby, no matter how big you get." She keeps saying back to me "No, mama, me a not a baby, me a big girl." That's terrible! She did give me a gift yesterday by letting me rock her to sleep and sing songs to her. I cannot believe that she is three. 

Lord, 

Thank you so much for the gift you gave me three years ago. From the moment I knew I was pregnant I was so in love with her. What a sweet, tender, kind little sugar you gave me that I held in my arms for the first time three years ago. I love everything about her; her little personality, her hair, her sweetness, her smell, her "huggings", how she carries her blankie in the morning, how she says "I love you", how she looks like her mama, how she says funny things, how she loves our family, literally EVERYTHING about her. I am blessed, very blessed all because of you. Thank you, Lord..you are great and greatly to be praised. Amen

Hanbok

Rinny is loving her new Hanbok given to her by our friend Kira and her family. I'm not exactly sure how we are going to get her to take it off but none the less, she is loving it. 

The hanbok (south Korea) is the traditional Korean dress. It is often characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines withough pockets. Although the term literally means "Korean clothing," hanbok today often refers specifically to Joseon Dynasty-style semi-formal or formal wear that is worn during traditional festivals or celebrations. You can read more here. 

Can't wait until the whole family is wearing these for baby "k"'s Tol celebration on their first birthday.

Play Group

These are some of our buddies that we have had for a very long time. Jacq and I were pregnant together with our first through the whole thing. Heidi and I have been friends for nearly as long. Even though we don't see each other as often as we used to, I still just love em' (and their kiddos) a ton. Plus, aren't their kids cute? Good grief. I cannot believe how big they are getting. 

Adoption update: Tough couple weeks still. Reading a few things makes me believe that the process of getting our child home will take a little longer than we expected. Way frustrating. I really, really, really, really (did I say really?) want baby "k" home by Christmas. Looking like that is getting more and more like a stretch. If not, I am really thinking about postponing Christmas until baby "k" comes home. Afterall, we are really supposed to celebrate Jesus every day, right? So, what's the problem with waiting a little while? 

Really, if you think of it, please pray for us. These last few weeks it just seems like we are bombarded with sad news articles about adoption, other sad adoption news, etc., etc. Trying not to focus on the negatives, but this adoption thing is hard, hard, hard. So thankful that we know we are called and know that the benefits WAY outweigh the costs....still hard none the less. Thanks guys.

New puppy and guinea pigs....HEAVEN!

Nora was the ticket taker.
Creed and Rinn in the show.
Madalyn was in the show, as well.....she was great at high 5's.
The bows at the end of the show (always a favorite!.

Our buddies are babysitting some guinea pigs and they got a new puppy. What could be better in life? Too bad it was a rainy day so no outside time with the new puppy, Winston. So, instead we opted for a broadway style show (who would've guessed?!?!!?). 

These kiddos are sweet, sweet friends (plus, they go along with Creed's antics, and enjoy it!). 

Water Blogged

Man, this girl is cute.

Creed preparing for the big showdown.

Creed blowing the whistle, ensuring that he was in charge of the show and he makes the rules.


Their attempt at the Charlie's Angels pose...this is as good as it gets, people.

Ha, Not only am I blogging 2 times in one day, but I am thinking of cutesy titles. This is bad, real bad. 

On with the story.....So, when Micah got home from work today we were prepared with water balloons and guns. The kids convinced him to get his suit on and come out to the back where they were locked and loaded. 

What the pictures don't show: Mommy got it at the end....daddy and creed ganged up on me! (by this point Rinny was inside doing her nails or freshining up or something.

Blog Obsessing

Warning: This is a random blog post

This is Creed's eye this morning. He's got issues. He gets these sty things that get infected, it's awful. Yep, we've been to the doc and yep we are on an oral antiobiotic, still stinks none the less. Poor guy, he looks miserable, doesn't he?

I've always wanted to have this to happen to me as a kid. Creed and Rinn found a balloon in the backyard that had written on it "message inside." How cool is that? I was envisioning that maybe it was from another country, possible on the other side of the world and we would have to have the message translated. Nope, I think it was from our neighbors across the street. Oh well, it was cool anyway.
These are the last few pics from Kids Camp that I wanted to share. This one is a self-timer family photo (those never turn out that great). But, this was on our upstairs porch that looked out at the lake, sweet.
Rinny's response to the water and dirt. Nuf' said.
Our buddy, Chris. I just had to share so his wife (Melissa) could see how much Chris worked so hard this week.
Rinny made a buddy with our stuffed "duck." Of course, she was observing here and commenting what a good mommy she was to the birdie.
Creed's new obsession with card games (old maid is his favorite).

Occupying my mind

I think this is going to be Baby "k"'s bedding. Not that they will sleep in this bed or use this bedding, but it is cute, don't you think? 

Also, I thought I would go ahead and add the pics of the beco baby carrier that I like and think that I will be getting for baby "k" before too long (have I mentioned that I am tired of referring to my child as "baby k" and am ready to call him/her by his/her name and stop saying things like "his/her"!!!!!) Anyway, I digress. In Korea they carry their babies on their backs oftentimes and so this would allow me to carry baby like they are used to, but also have to opportunity to turn them around when they get a little more comfortable with mommy so that I can give them sugars. I think my favorite fabric is the top one, I also like the second one, the third pic is just to show you how the back carry works.

I'm trying to occupy my time with enjoying my kids, shopping (but not spending money), and eating (this is incredibly unhealthy and it is all stopping and back to weight watchers TOMORROW!). All I have to say is yes, I did have a hot Krispy Kreme donut today (sorry, mom...I know you are terribly dissapointed). I gotta have a break though....I have adoption hormones, you know.

Side note:Funny things that my kids have said lately

Rinn: She and Creed did something yesterday and I sat them down on a couch and told them both that they had "broken my trust". A few minutes into the conversation she was thinking about something and said something several times before I finally had her repeat it slowly and could understand it. She said "are you gonna fix u trust?" hehehehe

Creed: Was telling a story tonight and his vocabulary has started to amaze me. As he was telling the story he casually said "this kid he goes to school and he was at our church, well, obviously..he goes to our church." That's funny, obviously? 

Rinn: Is obsessing about being a mommy lately. She is asking me all the time "Me a good mommy?" Whenever she tells a story she always says "me a" instead of saying "I am." Funny. Her voice is the cutest thing in the world. I am seriously going to figure out how to upload video just so you guys can see it. 

Verse for today (it's been a toughy). Heb 4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need."

Shout out to my friend, Kathryn....she rocks and we've talked about 5 times today. She is going through the same thing as we are, one down on the list from us. Check her out here and say a prayer for her, this adoption thing is hard. Also, thanks to all my other forum buddies and blog friends who rock in their support. Can't stop without saying thanks to my friends, family, adoption agency, and FLOCK for how much they rule.