Past Few Months

Life is good as Jacob continues to grow.  Recently he learned his colors (and he was so proud that he would bring different colored blocks to me and tell me what color they are).  He has finally moved into his correct age class at church on Sunday and loves his teachers and friends.  He also loves his class at CBS on Fridays and my husband and I have been able to take a few date nights in recent months (he loves the sitter we have - she is amazing).  It is hard to think that it has been 8 months since we brought him home.  He is an amazing little boy!

Easter has came and went again.  We did have our annual Easter Egg hunt for the 4th year on Good Friday and it was sweet to see Jacob hunting with the other kids (he loved it).  Jacob not only hunted, but he helped me put together the 800+ eggs we had to hide.  The kids also got to decorate eggs (which Jacob loved).  We also for the first time stayed home for Easter and went to a friend's house for Easter dinner and egg hunt.  It was a sweet time to let our kids play while us adults enjoyed visiting.  I hope this has started a new tradition for our family.

Jacob's US flag came.  Was so cool to have something he can look back on when he is grown (it actually flew over the US capitol on his finalization day and came with a certificate)!

Since finalization we have been waiting on his certificate of birth so we can finish up his adoption with a certificate of citizenship.  As you can tell from the pictures, that is what I'm doing while the kids are enjoying chalk art, soccer, and just having fun outside.  While we wait we have been planning our summer vacation and can't wait to head out in a few weeks for fun in the sun in FL.

Below are some pictures to enjoy (more to come soon)...

 

Jacob's US flag certificate

 My eggcellent egg helper...

 Another awesome egg hunt with great friends (800+ eggs, love love love doing this every year)

Enjoying a snack from Korea (nothing better than shrimp snacks)

 Egg decorating time

 Look what the Easter Bunny brought!

 Our family

 

Playing with friends before egg hunt

 

Ready to go egg hunting

 

On the hunt...

 

 

Watching brother play soccer is so tiring

 

Playing in the dirt with brother

 

 

Chalk art

Finally Final

Today we went before a judge and Jacob's adoption was finalized!  It was such a great day - Jacob had on a suit (he looked so cute).  We had a few really good friends join us in court who helped with pictures and entertaining Jacob.  The entire process took maybe 10 minutes and then everything was finished.

So what is next you say...  Well, now we wait on his new birth certificate and adoption decree to come back then we can apply for his certificate of citizenship and social security number.  Can't believe we began this process 22 months ago and now he is officially a Hogue.

I don't think he knew what was going on, but we will have pictures to show him when he is older and we did have a flag flown over the US capitol today in honor of this day (he will also have that as a reminder).  Such a special day and so glad that is behind us...

 Jacob hanging out with Mr. Derek

Jacob trying to share his Korean snacks with the Judge (don't think he is interested) 

Jacob with the Judge and Mommy and Daddy

Everyone who was there

6 Months Home

Well, yesterday marked 6 months that Jacob came home with my husband and I and we officially became a family of 5!  I cannot express how this little guy has changed our lives and those who get to meet him.  He has melted so many hearts.  Such a sweet, kind, loving kid.  He loves to be cuddled.  Yes, he still does not like being told no, but it is less dramatic.  He is learning to get what he wants by using his manners instead of tantrums.  He still loves to follow his brother and repeat what he says (so his English is amazing and his understanding of the language).  The really awesome thing is that he still knows Korean too!  He is just an overall joy and I can't imagine life without him.  So glad God put Jacob in our family (he fits so well - it is amazing)...

Later this month we go to court to finalize everything and make Jacob not only officially a member of our family, but also a US Citizen.  We are so excited for our little guy.  We are having a US flag flown over the US capitol in honor of his citizenship day and can't wait to hold onto the flag and certificate and explain the significance of that day to him.  You can count on us to celebrate this day with friends and family - it will be a great day!

More pictures to come and info once that day is here.  Such an exciting time in our house.

 Someone wants to be like Daddy...

Enjoying his brother and sister with some fun Batman figures

Final docs mailed

Well, we mailed our final documents and checks yesterday for court and birth certificates.  Now we wait on a court date to finalize everything in March we hope.  We are so excited and cannot believe this whole adoption is almost complete.  To celebrate I made Jacob some of his favorite foods and he really enjoyed it.  I plan on having tons of Korean dishes once we are 100% final-can we say big party that day (believe it is the most we can give him since he celebrated 2 birthdays in Korea)!!!

Here is the latest on our little guy...  His English has took off (and I mean took off - he talks all the time), he is loving his CBS class and Sunday school, loves his family, has an amazing relationship with the family dog, and is just an all around clown (loves to make people laugh).  He is a happy happy little guy.  It is very hard to not smile when around him.  We love him so much!  He was definitely worth the long wait!

Now as we wait on a set court date, I'll leave you with some pictures...

 What a playroom looks like during the Super Bowl with 4 busy boys!

 Very happy with his lunch (especially that Kimchi)!

Out on a nice warm day in his cozy coupe

Going for a sledding with dad pulling

Going for a slide in the snow

Post Placements Complete!!!

Well, as of Jan. 23 2013 - our post placements for Jacob are complete.  Now we wait on the lawyer we hired to give us a court date in March to finalize Jacob's adoption.  Yippy!  Almost finished and Jacob will be a US Citizen and officially ours forever!!!

Life with Jacob has been a fun trip.  It is like he has always been here.  He just started speaking English in the last few weeks (almost like he was waiting to get the English language perfect before speaking-now he says everything).  He loves to follow his brother around and repeat what he says (it is so cute)!   He is so unbelievably fun and expressive.  He does have a very strong will, but loves to laugh (that strong will will take him far in the future).

Life with 3 has been difficult at times, but we are making it work.  I am starting to feel human again (like having a new baby - there is a period where you don't know your name or what day of the week it is or when you ate or showered last, hehehe).  Jacob has started allowing us to leave him in his class at church on Sunday and at CBS on Fridays for 2 hours (a much needed Mommy break with other fellow women and God's word).  Those little breaks plus finally a date night with my husband and life looks good.  I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  My kids are growing up and all is going well.  Plus my amazing husband has decided to help me with the grocery shopping on the weekends (which has helped alot).  I am now finding time to deep clean areas of the house during the day due to not having grocery shopping to worry about.  We now make grocery shopping a weekend family outing.  Everyone helps out (kids help get the groceries and unload the cart plus they assist with putting everything up).  I know that seems strange, but they really like to grocery shop.  Been neat to see our family work as a team.  We actually got a free whole chicken this last week at Publix (which is Jacob's favorite food).  :-)  The things that make you smile as a family are so different than when we were with no kids.  I can't imagine a life without my little joys.  Each and everyone of them are special in their own ways and I thank God everyday for Him allowing me to be their Mom.

Below are a few pictures of the last few months (enjoy)...

He loves his Mommy!

 Helping Daddy

Nothing like pillows

Running in Jan. (an unusually warm day)

Rocking the hat his foster mom gave him before we left Korea

 My very expressive little man with his "J" monkey he loves so much

Happy New Year!!!

Well, we had a wonderful Christmas!  Jacob even got to have his picture made with Santa (he just would not leave his stroller to sit in Santa's lap).  Also, the kids made cookies for Santa, a gingerbread train, and some reindeer food so Santa would find our house.  Jacob got the hang of unwrapping presents very quickly - he soon wanted to open everyone's gifts (it was so cute).  Some of his favorite gifts were the Cozy Coupe from Nana, his Little People car wash set from Mema, Lego table from Mom and Dad, Firetruck from Santa, and Cookie Monster bean bag toss from Aunt Amy and Uncle Jay.  Now, we just all wish it would snow!!!  So cold right now, but no snow (come on snow)...

To finish the year we celebrated with good friends.  Jacob actually went with the sitter at the party for a couple of hours (which was great)!!!  I so long for him to really believe I am coming back for him and to not worry about where I am.  I am glad he has attached (that is a huge blessing).

So as I finish this - 2012 was a great year.  Yes, we had ups and downs while waiting on Jacob to come home, but once home he has been awesome!  We really have nothing to complain about.  He is healthy and seems to be doing very well for his age.  He is starting to speak English but would rather speak Korean and likes some American foods but still loves his Korean dishes (especially Kimchi for all meals of the day).  He is such a joy and I'm amazed at what he has taught me.   He is such a sweet boy who charms all who meet him.  A comedian who has a sweet heart (loves loves loves to share - well except for his toys).  :-)

Anyway, Happy New Year and below are some pictures from the past month (enjoy)...

 Brothers playing cars over a Spiderman book

Tea party with chocolate donuts 

Check out his tower he built - so proud!

Love love love their new bean bag toss games - thanks Uncle Jay and Aunt Amy

Time for a nap - nothing like a boy and his dog.

Loves his Cozy Coupe

Lego time

Christmas is coming...

So, Jacob experienced his first Thanksgiving.  He seemed to love the turkey but not much more than that.  For our family, we did our normal 1 day trip to see family then home.  The only new experience for us was that I cooked a huge breakfast like I do for Christmas.  I know, Thanksgiving-why are you cooking breakfast?  I figured if we fill up on the first meal of the day then we won't be so stuffed at the other meals like usual.  I believe it worked-we ate normal portions at our other meals and didn't feel so stuffed.  And, no we did not go black Friday shopping.  I perfer to shop via Amazon from my home-no line, no pushing, and no fuss.  :-)

Next day we got our Christmas lights and tree up and packages wrapped.  I like to have it all done so I can enjoy the holidays with no stress.  I will say this has been the earliest I have put the tree up and wrapped packages, but it felt good to know nothing but cards are left.

Jacob is also recovering from his first sickness (he got an ear infection).  No fun but we are getting through it.  So glad he has been well for 3 months and hope he's health continues to be so well.

We also got to recently help with our church's adoption Sunday this year and share some details of our journey with the body.  Looking back it was just a year ago when I found out our wait would be longer.  Now Jacob is here and doing great!  It is like he had always been here.  Can't wait till Christmas (this Mom has great plans for my kids' gift this year - believe they will love it).  More to come soon...

Enjoying his favorite outing - Sweet CeCe's

Playing with Thomas the train

Trip to Opry Mills - nothing like visiting the Rain Forest Cafe hippo

The kids with our new Christmas tree (they loved decorating it)