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)

Fall and Halloween (8 weeks home)!

Well, Jacob has had a blast enjoying TN fall weather!  Our family has visited 2 pumpkin patches and had a wonderful time the other night enjoying Halloween.  He really loved the idea of going to someone's house and saying "Trick-or-treat" to get a treat (didn't take long to figure that one out).  :-)
I believe his favorite thing at the pumpkin patch was the farm animals (he really has a love of animals).  All is going well here - he is starting to really trust me and my husband by sitting in out laps to watch TV and even sometimes crawling up on my chest to rest (this is huge).  He is overall continuing to adjust well.
I had an interesting encounter the other day.  An older gentleman was at my daughter's art class waiting on his grand-daughter and Jacob decided to interact with him.  The man really enjoyed playing with Jacob and when we were ready to leave I went over to have Jacob tell him Thank you and Bye.  The man proceeded to tell me that he had been silly enough to think so many years ago he was saving his grand-daughter and what she did for him was save him.  I thought that was odd and began to wonder if his grand-daughter was adopted too.  Sure enough, the little girl that came out of art class was Asian.  You just never know who God will put in your path and for what reason, but his statement really encouraged me that maybe others who have praised us for helping Jacob will see that Jacob is as much a blessing to us too.  He is my miracle number 3!
On that note, below are some new pictures from the past few weeks (enjoy)!!!

With his Aunt Amy and Uncle Jay's goats

 Walking with Papa Earl

 Papa Earl under all my kids

 Grain bins are fun!

Photo moment at Walden Farm

Checking out the baby pigs

Loved the animals

 Running through the pumpkin patch

 Me with my kids

 Exhausted!

Annual trip with friends to Gentry Farm (it was so cold - can you tell)!

 Maze time

More grain bins

He loves chickens

Riding a riding tractor

 Time for a brotherly lightsaber battle

First smore - he loved, loved, loved it!

With their jack-o-laterns

 Ready to Trick-or-treat

Jacob as Captain America

Ready to go and get some treats

Enjoying all their treats!

6 weeks

Today marks 6 weeks home for Jacob.  He continues to amaze us with how well he is doing.  A few days ago he began allowing me to nap with him (was so sweet and a huge step).  He also began last night wanting to give hugs to me and Brian.  I know these things seem so simple but they are huge (it's like watching your baby take their first steps - so exciting)!  He knows his new name and can tell you where his brother and sister are and what their names are plus he is learning English by leaps and bonds.  He has really bonded with both siblings but especially his big brother now.  There is a special bond between the two of them.  Life is going great for us!  Jacob even went to vote with me yesterday-he slept through our entire little 15 minute wait to vote (wasn't bad at all).  Life is good-he is such a blessing to our family.  He is a special little guy!  Below are some recent pictures (enjoy)...

Playing at the lego table at Barnes and Noble

Nothing like voting

Swinging

Going for a run

Helping decorate for Halloween/Fall (he is almost as big as our pumpkin guy)

Being silly with his brother

Getting ready to dig

Playing with friends at the park

Sliding with big sister