I'm A Lil Dandy

(click on photo to enlarge)

Notice the handful of Smarties

Well Mr. Max thought he was really cute in his Lil Dandy costume. The mascot at our high school is Dandy the tiger, Dandy wears a tiger suit with a football jersey over it, just like Max has on. Instead of going out trick or treating we got dressed up before lunch and visited some of the businesses in town and went to see daddy at his bank and then we visited two other banks in town. That evening he helped give out candy, and we had lots of friends over for our traditional chili feast. Out of all the candy he only wanted and ate Smarties. This was a treat for him because he doesn't get candy often. Like only when Kathy slides him "Smarties" when we stop by the bank to see the gang. Hmmm...and I wonder why he only wanted Smarties....I hope you are smiling BIG Kathy.

Wordless Wednesday

Picking Out Pum Pums

We went a couple of weekends ago on Oct 20th.

Today was so much fun watching Max run through the field picking out his pum pum. We went to two different places that had pumpkins, one was a stand off the side of the road and the other one was a field of pumpkins spread out on the ground for your choosing. Max preferred the wide open field where he could run around. He got to pick out his favorite pum pum, it was just his size. Next year we will drive to an actual pumpkin patch where we can go on a hayride, but this year Max had a great time and he didn't want to leave the pum pums.

With a little one running around now, organizing my meals is a really good thing, it helps me make sure I have plenty of good fruits and veggies around and most importantly it gives Max and I more play time. I ran across this blog that was challenging people to plan a weekly menu. I decided to dive right in. I have planned my menu and have already bought the groceries. Now it's time to play!

Monday: Chicken Enchilada soup, tortilla chips (crushed in bottom of bowl), w/sour cream, tomatoes, avocado chunks and cilantro to garnish soup, green salad and mixed fruit.

Tuesday: Baked Salmon, wild rice, steamed broccoli and mixed fruit.

Wednesday: Homemade chili, sharp cheddar cheese (cut into BIG,THICK wedges), saltine crackers and apple slices. (it is a tradition at our house that on Halloween I make a BIG pot of chili and friends come over and have a bowl while they are out on the town with their little ones, my friend Patti has come over for years and helped pass out candy while we enjoy a spicy bowl of TX chili).

Thursday: Beef tips served over rice, green leaf salad w/pears, and multi-grain rolls.

Friday: Chicken and Dumplins, saltine crackers, and mixed fruit. (Max LOVES this!!!)

I get silly over dumplins!!

Where did they go?? They were here just a minute ago??

Saturday: Eating out...We will be going to Dallas to meet up with Mark, will be driving in from Lubbock (Texas Tech) for the weekend in Big D. Max will be meeting his oldest big brother for the first time.

Sunday: Lip-smackin left-overs.

A Letter to Max's Birthmother

(today is Max's 2nd birthday)

I don’t know who you are, I will never know you, but I pray for you and especially today you are on my mind and heart. I know your thoughts are on your son today. I imagine your heart is still breaking, I know you love him so dearly because you kept him for a month after he was born. I can’t imagine the pain you felt when you so lovingly placed him in the safest place possible, where you knew he would be quickly found, right in front of the orphanage gates. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to walk away, knowing you had no choice. You are the most courageous woman, to love him so deeply and then have to let him go. I hope he has your courage and your strength.

My heart breaks as I write this letter, I wish you could know how amazing our son is, how wonderful he is. He is magnificent, he is full of joy, he is smart, funny and is a very happy child, he has the sweetest disposition and the most beautiful smile that lights up a room, I bet yours does too.

Please know he is so deeply loved and cherished, we are so blessed, it’s hard to understand why things happen the way they do, but this was God’s plan for our son’s life, for you to carry him in your tummy and for me to carry him in my heart. God has huge plans for our son and this is the path it takes for Him to carry out those plans. I will protect him, I will comfort him, and I will love him all the days of my life. My heart is so full of love for him it feels like it might burst. I’m sure you know that feeling. I will make sure that he always knows how much you loved him and that you still do.

I am thinking about you today. I am praying for you today. I pray that God will give you a peace that your son is loved and is where God has destined him to be.

Max Turns 2

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Birthday kisses to EVERYONE

Max Signs - Part 2

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I had just given Max his bath and now it's time to read his FAVORITE book, he gets so excited, he is like this every night before we read Goodnight Moon, his nite nite book (he loves to be read to). I thought it would be a good time to get him to sign the 2 signs I forgot the other night. He cracks me up, I think I have laughed more in the past month than I have in a full year. It sure feels good!

My Favorite China Purchase

This is my favorite purchase while we were in China. They are the fruits of the spirit written in Chinese calligraphy. I framed them when I got home. I ask the girl that worked in the shop if I could special order certain words. Because of ordering the calligraphy I got to meet the store owner, and while talking with her I found out she was a Christian. She was so excited when I told her that I was a Christian too. The owner and her niece (the shop worker) together made all 9 fruits of the spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control) and had them ready for me the next day, and they put them on a red background. I put them in the family room and I really really love them. Every time I look at them it #1 reminds me of the fruits I am to be living out in my life and #2 it makes me think of our amazing trip to an amazing country and how I want to keep Max's birth country so special and important to him. I am just so thankful that I thought to have these made.

Max's Special Lunch Guest

Max and I got a special treat today. My sweet friend Patti came to the house and had lunch with us. Patti and I have been friends for many many years. She was there with us from the beginning of our adoption process, she was always encouraging and supportive. She loves Mr. Max and you can tell he is crazy about her too. Patti is a cherished friend that I love dearly.

*

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. ~Donna Roberts

Max Signs

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We have been working on signing and Max is doing wonderful. I read that signing is very good in the transition to English. He also signs milk and he learned to sign "love you" today. He is a little sponge! Milk is his favorite sign, it looks like you are milking a cow. It's so cute. Maybe that is a future post.

Max's Buddy Bodie

Max's orphanage brother Bodie

This is Sherri and her son Bodie pictured with Max. This was taken in August when Sherri and her husband visited the orphanage. The nannies at the orphanage told Sherri that Bodie and Max were best friends. We live about 4 hours apart....how cool is it that 2 best friends on the other side of the world end up only 4 hours from each other. God is so AWESOME!!! Sherri and I plan to keep their friendship alive and strong. We are planning a trip to see Bodie in November. I can't wait to see their little faces when they see each other. Isn't Bodie a CUTIE!! I'll tell you one thing, Datong produces good looking kids!!!!

Our Dream Come True

This was the first time we saw his face. We were in the hall waiting for the Government officials to arrive and here comes Song Song walking toward us. A moment I will never forget.

-
First family photo.
September 19, 2007

October 19, 2007

One month ago today our dream came true. Max was placed in our arms and will FOREVER be our son. We are so blessed and praise God for His good gifts!! Max's very talented Jie-Jie (Britney) took pictures of him on this special day. Tonight we went out for dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant to celebrate. What an amazing one month this has been!!

A Mix of Emotions

Tonight Max is sleeping in his crib. I know I should be celebrating but I am kind of sick to my stomach. I knew he would someday start sleeping in his own bed but I thought it would be when he left for college...jk . It all started yesterday at nap time, we go through our routine of playing a little bit after lunch, get in the rocking chair to read our nappy time book and then we lay down together on my bed and I sing a song that my Nanny sang to me. I sing it through a few times and hum it a few times and then we lay quietly and he falls asleep. For the last couple of days he has been more antsy and wiggly and wanted to play, so yesterday I thought maybe he wanted to rock to sleep instead but no that's not what he wanted. I ask him if he wanted to take his nap in his crib. We went into the nursery and we stood over the crib and he leaned into it, I put him in and he jumped and laughed and would run, high stepping from one end to another. I'm sure that it was like a trampoline compared to the slat of wood for a mattress he had slept on for nearly 2 years. I stood and laid my head on the side rails and sang to him and then kneeled on the floor beside his crib still singing our song and then I sat on the floor and hummed, he was still playing. I decided to lay on the floor with my eyes closed while I was still humming and he was still playing. I soon quit humming and all was quiet. I laid there and would peek to see what he was doing. Soon he sat down and then grabbed Mr. Bear and his blankey and he laid down. He started talking to himself and then it got quiet and he fell asleep. I could not believe it. He slept there about 40 minutes about 1/2 of his nap time. He woke up enough to know he was not in a familiar place and started whimpering so I went and got him and I laid down with him on my bed until he went back to sleep. Last night he slept with us but we laid down with him about an hour before he dozed off. Today at nappy time I thought I would do the normal routine but he was flopping around like a fish out of water so I ask him if he wanted to nap in his crib, he remembered what crib was and pointed to his room. Racheal our social worker was here and she and Paul were visiting while I was trying to get him to sleep so I put him in his crib sang and hummed and gave him some lovins and today walked out of the room , I didn't know what he would do, I was prepared to go and get him but not a peep. I again was shocked....well, today he slept his entire nap in his crib. Tonight I planned for him to sleep with us as usual and we went through our nightly routine and then Paul and I both laid down with him I sang and hummed and he flipped and flopped and started getting fussy. I was thinking surely not but I ask him if he wanted to go nite nite in his crib. He popped up and pointed to his nursery, we took him in and he was excited and started saying nite nite....nite nite...we put him in his crib, I sang and then Paul and I both got big squeeze hugs and sugars and he laid down hugging his blankey and Mr. Bear, we told him we loved him and walked out and he laid there and talked to himself and fell asleep. MY BABY IS ASLEEP IN HIS CRIB IN HIS ROOM. My sister gave me a monitor and I haven't opened it until tonight and realized before you can use it, it has to charge for several hours, so I will be sleeping in the floor of his room tonight so I can hear him. I realize this is how he has gone to sleep for nearly 2 years and I am good with it, I know it is really a good thing because it tells me that he is feeling secure, but for me nite nite time was such a good time because he is such a snuggler. I told Paul that we are just going to have to get some extra snuggles in with him before he goes nite nite. Next thing you know he will be leaving for college...hummm....I wonder of they will let parents move into the dorms? ;-)

Max and His Love for Shoes

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Max loves shoes, whether it is his own shoes, his pawpaw's cowboy boots, daddy's flip flops or my shoes, he wants to try them on and wear them around. We had just gotten back from church and I had not put my shoes up yet and Max spotted them and had to give them a try. He took his socks off of his feet and put them on his hands. He is so funny. I love to see kids play creatively.

A Family United

CONGRATULATIONS!!

This is Jen and her beautiful son Ben. Jen and I have gotten to know each other over the last few months because our sons lived in the orphanage together at Datong. Ben is one of Max's little buddies, he was the one that Max was pushing around in a walker in one of my previous post. I pulled up a picture of Ben this morning and Max saw it, his eyes lit up and he pointed to him and said LiLa. Ben was called LiLi at the orphanage and Max knew who he was, Max puts an "a" sound on the end of words that end with the "E" sound. I know Max did not understand but I told him that Ben is now with his mama that loves him so very much! Jen I am thrilled for you that you have Ben in your arms!! ENJOY every minute in China, I miss it terribly!!

Patti is a Nonna

Introducing Miss Avery Kate

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Avery was born today at 7:24pm. She weighs 7 lbs. 2oz. and is 18 1/2 inches long. Patti, my dear friend for many years is the Nonna to this little beauty. Get ready Avery, your Nonna is going to spoil you rotten. Patti has a blog and she will be posting more adorable pictures of this little angel as soon as she returns home. ENJOY!!

Max Facts

(click photos to enlarge)

We got Max on September 19th and have been home with him for 2 weeks. Here is a list of some of the things he enjoys and has learned since he was placed in our arms.

• He is learning how to use a fork, spoon and chopsticks (and is doing quite well).
• He loves to share his food (whether you may want it or not).
• He is a good eater, watermelon and bananas are his all time favorites.
• He doesn't like cheese or yogurt.
• He drinks from a sippy cup.
• He drinks from a straw.
• He gives BIG squeeze hugs.
• He gives sugars (kisses).
• He waves and says bye bye.
• He blows kisses by kissing his hand and then throws them with force (you know you have been kissed).
• He can high 5.
• He is an extrovert.
• He is very funny and is very ticklish.
• He is an entertainer, he likes to make people laugh.
• He is understanding English very well....a few of examples are, when he is in the bath tub I will say kick your feet and his little feet go crazy kicking, when I put him in the high chair I will tell him to raise his hands (to slide his chair under the table) and his arms and hands fly up in the air and when I tell him to put something in the trash, he takes it to the trash can. He understands stand up and sit down.
• He loves the remote control (he now has his very own), calculators, cell phones, anything with buttons.
• He is a whiz with stacking cups. We will sit all the cups out individually in front of him and he can figure out which one fits inside the other, he knows if there is to much wiggle room left in the cups and will work until he has all 10 properly sitting inside each other (he amazes me with this).
• He loves to be held and cuddled.
• He sleeps with us, and we love it. (the 1st hotel we stayed at in China didn't have cribs so he started out sleeping with us and we have continued it. (I honestly think that has helped with his bonding).
• He is a big time snuggler...in the middle of the night if he wakes up a little bit he will turn to either Paul or I and will wrap his arms around our neck and our cheeks have to be touching and then he goes back to sleep. (this morning I was awake laying in bed with him watching him sleep and he half way woke up and saw my hand and he picked my hand up, laid it on his chest close to his neck and hugged it, then went back to sleep hugging my hand.) - Max is a lot like his bubba, Hayden was always a big snuggler!
• He loves his car seat and is a WONDERFUL traveler.
• He loves bath time.
• He loves for me to brush his teeth.
• He loves his nite nite book, Goodnight Moon.
• He loves kitty cats (but prefers to love them from a distance).
• When we pray, he puts his hands together and bows his head.
• He knows a few animal sounds: he meows like a cat, quacks like a duck and growls like a BIG fierce tiger.
• He enjoys being outside, especially when we swing or stroll around the neighborhood.
• He loves to dance.
• We are working on sign language and he is doing GREAT. He has "MORE" down to a T.
• He can say: Mama, Dada, Bubba (Hayden), Max, Meme, Pawpaw, baby, banana, flower, diaper, bye bye, hi, more, tiger, no-no (and grins while he says it), puppy.

Max is incredible, even more than our minds could have ever imagine. We are goofy in love with him. These are just some of the things he is doing and saying since that magical day he walked into our lives (he had already walked into our hearts). I can't remember everything, he will do something or say something and I think I need to go add it to my list, then I get busy and forget. It's amazes me that when we got Max the first things he learned was to hug and give sugars and in only 2 weeks he is doing all of this and more. Everyday is an explosion of new words and cute new things he is doing.