Lucaism

The Lucaism for the week has to be:

"Mom, if Jesus died and then rose, why do we get jelly beans?"

Can anyone help me with this one? LOL!

Meanwhile, here are some shots from this afternoon:
Note the smiley Lily vs the pouty Lily. Man we are in for it!

Today we received Lily's Certificate of Foreign Birth and now we can finally proceed to getting the SS number and US passport. Just when you think there are no more hoops to jump through, but really I can't complain. It's all worth it.

Found these little cuties today at Marshalls.

Addicted!

As I sit on my butt, listening to my boys call each other ugly and obsess over Playstaion, I look over at Lily with a full diaper. It's 10:00, I am not on the treadmill, I am not cleaning or cooking, I am not even dressed. What am I doing?? BLOGGING! I sort of dropped out over the last few months but I admit to now being completely addicted. I love reading everyone's stories, adoption memories and of course the photos of Korea and these beautiful children. It takes me right back there. My heart aches for those parents who are waiting and I feel that groggy happiness for those who have just returned. I am thankful to everyone for sharing and I hope to give inspration to others as well! I am in the process of giving this blog a fresh look and hope it turns out nicely.

Some pics: One is from Luca's big debut reciting his poem "Chicken Soup with Rice" to the pre- K class yesterday and my new fav of Lily.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Watching makes you want to take them all home doesn't it?
CHSFS waiting child video


Last night's ball exchange with the Washington Wizards. The boys got to go on the court, recieve a signed ball and shirt but it seemed the best part for them was getting on the "Jumbotron!"

NY Times- Korean Adoption

I decided to check out some blogs created by Korean adoptees and found this today. It is an article from over a year ago but I thought it was worth passing on.

NY Times

All Things Korean

OK, so I am a week late on this post but my laptop is suffering from injuries sustained by a 1 year old. For Lily's Gotcha Day we began with Korean bbq with Grandma and Grandpa. This was their first experience with Korean food. After that we headed to Le Matin de Paris. Yes the name is French but the desserts are primarily Korean?? Wonderful breads, cakes and doughnuts too. We came across a place just like this in Seoul last year. We are pretty fortunate to have a whole bunch of Korean restaurants, bakeries and businesses all around 20 minutes away. They actually call it Koreatown!
We tried the bingsoo. First of all...it's huge. There is crushed ice topped with fruit, followed by frozen yogurt and covered with frosted flakes! That's right, frosted flakes. Interesting right?? We also went to town on the red bean doughnuts which are delicious. It was late and the kids were melting down and probably disturbing the others trying to enjoy their tea, but it just had to be done. It was our family's first gotcha day. Oh yea, of course the gotcha day balloons I ordered arrived the next day.

8SFUS9WTAZVG

Wordless Wednesday

Family Day!!

So I know lots of people call it the "Gotcha Day" but I still haven't decided if I really love that. It seems like a term used when you catch or grab something away, kind of sounds like you are purchasing an item to me also. Maybe I am overanalyzing but whatever you call it, it is a day that has changed our lives forever so it must be celebrated!


I am posting 2 videos. The first is the actual good-bye at Eastern. We have lots of footage leading up to this when we were spending time with Lily's foster parents, getting last minute feeding instructions and being given supplies for the trip home. They gave us the toy we had sent her in a care package, food, diapers, bottles, clothes, even a towel so she would recognize the scent from what would soon be her old home. They had her armed for travel with her own backpack too...so cute. I was so proud to see the foster mom wearing the bracelet we gave to her at the first meeting. It was difficult to absorb anything being said since my heart was just racing the entire time. Not nervous to get our baby, but because I kept imagining the feelings of her foster parents and hoping the pain of the good-bye wouldn't be too bad. From watching other family videos from Eastern, I knew what was coming and how it was going to happen. I can feel the anxiety even now.


As soon as our driver was ready, one of the directors enterred the room. She instructed us to pack up, placed a hand on Hye Won and delivered the famous prayer that has been used for years as babies go off to begin their new lives. I can see the foster mom's face change from cheerful to distraught as she held my new daughter tightly and calmed her fidgeting. When the prayer was done, we presented them with more gifts, this time wine and flowers with a letter to them we had translated into Korean. They had been so wonderful with our baby for 10 months of her life. We headed down the stairs to the back entrance and we were told to say our goodbyes. It was pretty awkward as we lingered there, not wanting to leave. I caught a glimpse of a young pregnant woman watching us from the top of the stairs, most likely envisioning her own babies journey. Even though the process is orchestrated in order to avoid a long drawn out ordeal, it was still so hard. I managed to snap the last photo of Hye Won with her foster mom (probably uncomfortable for her, but I actually love the shot). They even had to tell us where to sit in the car!! It was very quick after that. As soon as I sat down, the foster dad handed me the baby, they started waving, saying "good- bye" and just as we were about to pull away, the foster mom stuck her head in the car for one last kiss. Through my tears all I could say was "Thank-you." After watching this video, I wish I had given the foster mom a great big hug, (even though I had read that it wasn't customary to do that) but it all happened so fast. There was so much to take in and really I think she was just so focussed on Hye Won and not on us at that moment. We hope to see her again one day, and when the time does come, I will be sure to embrace her!





The second video is much more calm. We were preparred for Hye Won to freak out in the car but she ended up falling asleep in my arms and then napping at the hotel. I forgot to mention that usually the babies are given as families are on their way to the airport but they decided to give Hye Won to us the day before our flight. We didn't expect for it to go down that way and no we did not ask for her to be given to us earler. Our agency had advised us not to do that since it was considerred disrespectful. It just worked out that way with our early flight time and the fact that she was doing so well with us at the first meeting. Anyway, you'll see how it went from anxiety and emotion to happiness and calm. At least for a little while. What you won't see, however, is the way she kept us up half the night crying, clearly confused and sad not knowing who the heck we were. We thought for sure the flight home would be a nightmare. Thank heaven when she woke the next morning, she was actually fine, a joy the entire way home taking 3 naps and has been smiling ever since. What an unbelievable, unforgettable, don't know what I did to deserve it life experience! Happy Gotcha Day!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP8aWmpwTa0

1 Year Ago

It was one year ago today we were in Seoul meeting our little girl for the first time. I can still feel my nervous stomache. All of the waiting, preparing, the extra 2 month delay. The laying in bed at night wondering what she was doing, what she would look like. Was she happy? Was she loved? Would she hate us? What size was she wearing? Sobbing at YouTube videos. What would the boys be like with a Korean sister? Then of course, the trip around the globe...all for this moment.

That day was more than we ever dreamed it would be. Smiles were glued to our faces. I thought for sure I would just break down in tears but that didn't come until a few days later. The meeting with Lily, seeing the other babies getting ready to go to to their foster homes, the lunch with the agency president and then finding out we were going to get Lily for keeps a day earlier then we expected!! For all of these memories, we are so grateful.