Tae's Christmas package

The whole family packed Tae a Christmas package to mail to Korea. Charlie and Moots picked a picture to color for him and we went shopping for him. We bought him a cute one piece sweater outfit with an adorable hood from Old Navy, some monkey PJ's, 1st Christmas pajamas, a stocking, CJ and I recorded our voices on "Guess How Much I Miss You" book (yes, i cried as we did it!) a storybook rhymes book, a little lamb that sings-Jesus Loves the Little Children and lots of goodies for the foster family. We are very sad that he couldn't be with us to celebrate Jesus' birthday, but are so thankful his foster family is caring for him so well! We miss you and love you, Tae- Merry Christmas sweet boy!

Tae 8 month pictures!!!

We just got Tae's update with pictures. He is so sweet-crawling, waving and smiling and best of all sleeping through the night!!!! The only thing about the sleep is that it is with his foster mom on the floor-AHHH. Here we go again. I am sure he will be in our bed until he turns 10! In the pictures the foster mom is reading him the book that we sent with all our pictures. In the update it said that she sings hymns to him and takes him to church- so, i am thinking she loves the Lord and is showing our baby the love of Christ! We were sooooooooo excited to get these pictures and just wish we could get our hands on him and love all over him! Charlie said, "Mommy-it's Tae- I just love him so much- can we keep 2 babies-Tae and Jerri Lynn". Jerri Lynn said, "Baby Tae". He weighed 18.7 lbs on November 2.

We received our pre-approval to adopt an orphan from South Korea. So all fingerprints are done and we are just waiting on Korea to do their part! Praying it will be sooner rather than later. The quota has already been met for this year, so they won't resume processing until mid-January.

We love you, Tae!

1st Disney World Trip!

CJ had a conference in Orlando, so we decided to tag along! We started out at Embassy Suites and had so much fun at the indoor pool. It was such a blessing to use his hotel points at the Hilton at Disney World- it was right beside Downtown Disney. The first night, we checked in and walked all around Downtown Disney- the kids were soooooooooooo excited! Both kids slept all night! The next morning, we were 1st in line for the bus to Hollywood Studios! We arrived and waited for it to open. We had a plan =Charlie and I would run to the Star Wars Jedi Training and CJ and Jerri Lynn would go to Fast Pass the Buzz Lightyear ride! We were all signed up and to come back at noon for Jedi Training- well, Charlie just couldn't wait he asked 4000 times if it was time and didn't want to do anything else! Well, the time finally arrived and he was so excited- very serious and excited to be doing that! Definetly made lots of memories- he was the youngest out there and kept up with everybody. He had to fight Darth Vader and did it! The kids also liked "Indian John" (Jones) that is what Charlie called it! Got on the bus and went back to the hotel and everybody slept all night again!!!

Breakfast with Minnie!

Our hotel offered breakfast with Jerri Lynn's favorite character: Minnie Mouse! Pluto also was there and a bear! She was so excited to see Minnie for real! We had Mickey Mouse waffles for breakfast and so much fun with the characters!

Magic Kingdom!

So, we learned after being the 1st people in the park at Hollywood Studios that it wouldn't be necessary to open Magic Kingdom, especially since it was going to be open until 1 am! We woke up- ate breakfast at the hotel and got on the bus to the Magic Kingdom. The kids were thrilled to ride the monorail, because Ree Ree has a monorail toy at her house (she bought at Disney when CJ and I were engaged!) Charlie was in disbelief to see that it is really real! We went through the gates and Snow White was standing there- Mootsie had to see her! Then, we hurried to the Buzz Lightyear ride and rode it 2 times or maybe 3- very fun! We waited in a long line to meet Mickey and we went in Minnie's house. We rode Small World (my favorite) and Peter Pan and then watched several shows. Did I mention that the kids wanted to eat everything in sight! We had the double stroller and it was getting really crowded, so we parked it and made Char walk and carried JL. We did Country Bear Jamboree, Tiki Room, Jungle cruise- Pirates of the Caribbean. A nice man gave us free hot dogs, because they were out of buns. Charlie and I waited in line for Dumbo forever, but it was worth it-he loved it! Then we all rode the carousel. We watched the electric parade and it was getting really late, but we wanted to see the fireworks, so we started walking out of the park- well, so did EVERYBODY else in the whole park- it was like a mosh pit!!!! Got back late around midnight and went to bed!

Tae's First Drawing

We just opened an envelope from Dillon and it was an envelope from Korea with Korean writing and Tae's first picture he drew! So special and truly meant the world to us!!!! His foster mom mailed it to our agency to give to us. The agency said it was the first time this has ever happened for a foster mom to send something like this for the family! I think it is God's love reflecting through her to share with us. Who knows- we may have a little artist!

Sleepy Char and Sad Moots.

Yesterday I took Charlie to get a haircut. He was really tired, because he had played with Gracie, Emily Anne and Reid ALL day!!! So, he just fell asleep getting his haircut. Poor baby just couldn't stay awake. The lady just held his head up and said, "this has never happened before!" I buckled him in the car seat and he stayed asleep for 2 hours!!!

Today, i wasn't sure if Jerri Lynn had an ear infection, so I took her to the doctor that was on call. My sweet baby girl got sooooooooooo upset about her looking in her ear. I tried to hold her down and she was crying and screaming so much that we had to call the nurse and it took both of us to hold her down. She didn't have an ear infection. So, tonight when we got home she was so cute, she was walking around with the flashlight, looking in everybody's ears! She even checked Porter ears!

Tae's package!

Dillon told us we could send Tae a package, because someone from there agency was going to Korea. So, we were so excited and had so much fun picking out what to send. It all had to fit in a gallon size ziploc bag.
So, Daddy stuffed and rearranged and stuffed some more! We could send the foster mom a gift too, but had to enclose a gift bag. We bought him some cute soft shoes with airplanes on them (kinda meaningful as that is how he will get to his forever home!) a book that sings, a monkey lovey and we ordered a card from snapfish that is recordable, because we thought it would be neat if Tae could here our voice. We waited and waited to get the card and it never came, so i called them and they had to resend it, but the problem was we had to have our package to Dillon in OKlahoma, before the 16th or they wouldn't take it. So, since my card didn't come, i went to Wal-greens to see if they had one. I found one and took it to the register- i was so excited! The lady checking me out told me that they had whole books you could record your voice on, so i found those and couldn't believe the title, "Guess how much I miss you." Okay, so now I read the book and start crying as I am telling our story about Tae to her and how I want him to hear our voice. It was truly a God thing that my snapfish card didn't come and I was able to get this book for Tae. It wouldn't fit in this package, but we did record our voice on the card and are planning to send the book for a Christmas package! I overnighted the package and the sweet lady at the post office took my picture. She is from China and knows my story about Tae!

Daddy's Marathon

Jerri Lynn's friends Thomas and Alice!

Daddy and Moots with a shaved ice!

CJ and his running buddy Thomas!

Run Daddy Run!!!

Here he is during and after the race!

Halloween 2010

Pirate Charlie!~

Ladybug Moots!

Charlie leading costume parade at party!

Jerri Lynn posing with pumpkins!

Our Minnie Mouse showing us a spider ring!

Daddy ran a 1/2 marathon in Florence, AL and finished in 1 hour and 34 minutes!!! He was running on jet lag- he just got back from Australia and hasn't had any sleep in days. We are so proud of him. We all got flu shots yesterday, except for Charlie. He got the flu mist and a few hours later was running a 102 fever and so, Jerri Lynn and I went to watch CJ finish the race! Charlie was feeling better this afternoon, so we went trick or treating tonight, because we have church on Sunday night. We went with the Rinna boys and Adelyn. It is was very fun! Charlie had a choice of 3 costumes- Mr. Incredible, Buzz Lightyear or Spiderman. He came downstairs in a homemade pirate suit! It was so funny- so, CJ painted his face like a pirate. Jerri Lynn was the best Minnie Mouse ever. She wore her shoes and ears ALL night long!!

Jerri Lynn's 1st Haircut!

Just got home from Aunt Kristin's and Uncle Josh's house in Columbus, GA. We had so much fun seeing their beautiful home and celebrating Reagan's gotcha day! Ryker, Reagan, Charlie and Jerri Lynn had fun playing together outside in their woods! We all got haircuts- even my baby girl. Jerri Lynn got her 1st haircut!!! She did great and just did whatever Aunt Kristin told her too!

Charlie and Jerri Lynn's 1st Auburn Game!

CJ surprised me and got tickets to Auburn vs. Lousiana-Monroe game! We had soooo much fun! Friday night we ate dinner at Momma Goldberg's and then walked around on campus- there was a band playing with fun activities for the kids- they got their face painted, got balloons and had so much fun! We were walking around and my sweet cousin Amanda saw us- it was so fun! The only rough part was the night in the hotel-Jerri Lynn woke up at 3 am and wouldn't go back to sleep- Charlie woke up at 4 and so everyone was awake and ready for some football!! We were so nervous about waking up the neighbors in the hotel. We had fun at the hotel they gave us Auburn shakers and toilet paper wrapped in tissue paper with Auburn sayings on it (to roll Toomer's Corner!) We went to Tiger Walk, got pictures with cheerleaders, watched the band, played on a bounce house and just had a great pre-game experience! The kids were very excited and we all loved the eagle flying before the game. Jerri Lynn says, "Auburn- eagle fly down!" She also says, "War Eagle-Aubie, Aubie , Aubie!" She fell asleep as soon as the game started and we decided to leave in the 3rd quarter. Auburn was winning big time! Charlie slept all the way home. Thank you , CJ for taking us there!