Is it really 6 months?

It's been an adventure filled six months since bringing Micah home. I finally pulled together his memory book and it helped me not mind this cold winter so much. We sure did sweat in China!

Micah continues to pick up words and is seeming to be growing up a bit, too. He told Ben to "sit up" at the table yesterday when he was slouched over. He can count to 10 and is learning the ABCs. Micah still eats and eats even though no major growth spurt has happened. Just when we think he is growing out of the clumsy toddler stage, he'll hit his head some place new! He is now two and a half years old and plays right along with Ben's helicopters and dragons. We look forward to fun outdoors soon. Maybe tomorrow!

He's 5!

It's been a busy week! Ben has been waiting since he's been a 3 year old to turn 5 and now it has finally happened! This past week he showed me he can touch my shoulder. He doesn't want his cute dragon towel any more. He wants a big boy towel now! He also learned to thread letter sounds together to read words. At his 5 year check-up, he is holding steady at 25% percentile on the American size chart. (At 2 he was at 10%) But I know he would say the best thing that happened this past year is Micah!

Happy New Year 2011!

Well, as you know, holidays come and go fast!! We had just a bit of snow so far this winter. This is Micah's first run in a little dusting we had.

Micah was in his first stage performance with the Montessori School winter program. Too cute!

Ben has really grown since last year which made Christmas more fun. He got into singing carols and thoroughly enjoyed decorating his candy house. While he is not a crafty kind of guy, the candy was a real attraction!

We are almost home with Micah four months now! He is adding some words to his vocabulary such as "get down" and "Boma" for Bennett. He happily follows Ben in the school door two mornings a week. He also continues to go along with me to any store with a smile on his face! Sometimes I'll go in the evening and take Micah along so Brad and Ben can play "big boy" dragons and bears without interruption.

Micah continues to eat well. I discovered he loves cooked carrots. Yeah! And I found out too many snacks make him think if he holds out at dinnertime, I'll bring out the good food! He is napping longer now.

Ben turns 5 years old at the end of January. Somehow, for Ben it has been almost like a teenager turning 16 - a prize achievement. I think it has to do with his anticiaption of going to kindergarten. Wrestling is a big activity at our house this winter and maybe every winter until they go to college!

Travel Group Friends

We were so blessed to have Diane and her kids travel from New Jersey to visit us! Another travel family lives close by and we run into each other quite often! What a way to celebrate being home  two months!!

Celebrating Micah

My sister and my friend Robin pulled together a party for Micah. I was surprised by the love at this event and by the gifts many of you gave at Micah's homecoming. Thank you for your words of encouragement, fun clothes and things for the boys to do. We are blessed!

Everywhere that Bennett goes...

Everywhere that Ben goes Micah is sure to go or at least try to! Ben sometimes likes it and sometimes would rather not have a shadow. I asked him what his favorite thing about the trip to China was and he said,"The plane ride, movies and getting Micah." Not the first two things I would pick but definitely the last one!

Wow! Home two months!

We all are amazed how time flies! All the dreaming and praying through paperwork is now a wonderful reality! We are a family who has settled in to life together. The boys and I did lots of harvest events to help expose Micah to outdoor fun before we have to go inside for the winter. His class also had a fun party I got to help with.