Last night, Jay-R and I were driving to church alone in the car. Out of nowhere, he says...
Jay-R: "Mommy, before you came to get me, I cried."
Me: "I'm sorry, honey. We cried a lot, too. We had to wait for all the paperwork to be ready before we could come get you."
Jay-R: "But now we're a family!"
Me: "Yes, honey, we're a forever family."
Awww...the moments that melt a mommy's heart. To all my bloggy friends waiting out there....the wait is worth it...hang in there!!! God's timing is best. I can't imagine having any other little child sweeter than our Jay-R.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Celebrating one year
Last night, we celebrated one year with a kid friendly musical. Our family loves music, and Jay-R fits in perfectly as he loves music, too. We went to see Blue's Clue Live on stage. It was really cute. It was so much fun watching all the little kids get all excited. And Ashleigh wasn't alone in being the only big sibling who came along...I saw many others, too. We had a fun time and Jay-R can't wait to go to another musical.
And speaking of music, Jay-R played the drums at my band practice the other night. He may be getting a drum soon. Daddy says it's going in the basement!
It's hard to believe it's been one year. We can't imagine life without him. He brings a lot of laughter to our lives and yes, frustration, at times, too. He can be very stubborn and strong-willed. He has adjusted so well to his life here. He still misses Jaymark, his best buddy in the Philippines. We pray for him daily that he might have a family soon, too. Jay-R is very social-loves kindergarten, his church, all the family-he's a very loving little boy who loves to cuddle and loves attention. He has found a love of pizza loaded with meat, something he wouldn't touch when we first came home. He'll even eat broccoli with cheese now. So many changes in one year for all of us. Right now, I'm smiling as I watch him clean his room. He's doing a great job. He's knows tonight is allowance payday!
And speaking of music, Jay-R played the drums at my band practice the other night. He may be getting a drum soon. Daddy says it's going in the basement!
It's hard to believe it's been one year. We can't imagine life without him. He brings a lot of laughter to our lives and yes, frustration, at times, too. He can be very stubborn and strong-willed. He has adjusted so well to his life here. He still misses Jaymark, his best buddy in the Philippines. We pray for him daily that he might have a family soon, too. Jay-R is very social-loves kindergarten, his church, all the family-he's a very loving little boy who loves to cuddle and loves attention. He has found a love of pizza loaded with meat, something he wouldn't touch when we first came home. He'll even eat broccoli with cheese now. So many changes in one year for all of us. Right now, I'm smiling as I watch him clean his room. He's doing a great job. He's knows tonight is allowance payday!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Favorite First Moments
On the eve of our first anniversary with Jay-R, I thought I would post a few of our favorite first moments with him. I remember how we all felt a year ago this day waiting in our hotel for the day to pass in anticipation of meeting our little one. And, wow, a year has flown by!
The yellow book of our family photos that they said he carried everywhere, told stories about, and slept with at night.
The yellow book of our family photos that they said he carried everywhere, told stories about, and slept with at night.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Shoes
The other night I asked Jay-R to go upstairs and get his shoes so we could all leave for the grocery store. He came downstairs in his Spiderman tennis shoes, the ones I bought him shortly after returning last year from the Philippines. I said, "Jay-R, I thought those hurt your feet?"
He shrugged his shoulders and said, "A little."
Me, "Are you sure you want to wear those? You don't have to. You can put another pair on."
Jay-R, "Okay. They hurt my feet."
So, I hand him a pair of blue tennis shoes by the front door. He puts them on.
Me, "Do those hurt your feet?"
He shrugs again. I do the toe check and sure enough, his toe is at the end of the shoe.
Me, "Jay-R, you don't have to wear shoes that are too small and hurt your feet. We will always make sure you have shoes that fit your feet. You need to let us know when your shoes are too small."
Jay-R "Thank you, Mommy." And he gives me a great big hug.
I got his school tennis shoes where he has plenty of toe wiggle room, and we were on our way.
He's been home with us almost a year. He has more toys than he can ever play with, more clothes than he will probably wear, and plenty of shoes that fit. Yet, the simple reassurance by me that he will always have shoes that fit, brought a big thank you and hug. When he was in the orphanage, I'm sure he wore whatever they gave him, that he never questioned it. I know they do the best they have with the donations they receive. The shoes they sent Jay-R home in are still 2 sizes too big...we will always keep them as a special keepsake. I guess it just never occurred to him that he should tell us that his shoes are too small.
These moments remind me of Jay-R's past and cause me to thank God for the blessing he is in our lives. Every child deserves a home...and shoes with wiggle room!
He shrugged his shoulders and said, "A little."
Me, "Are you sure you want to wear those? You don't have to. You can put another pair on."
Jay-R, "Okay. They hurt my feet."
So, I hand him a pair of blue tennis shoes by the front door. He puts them on.
Me, "Do those hurt your feet?"
He shrugs again. I do the toe check and sure enough, his toe is at the end of the shoe.
Me, "Jay-R, you don't have to wear shoes that are too small and hurt your feet. We will always make sure you have shoes that fit your feet. You need to let us know when your shoes are too small."
Jay-R "Thank you, Mommy." And he gives me a great big hug.
I got his school tennis shoes where he has plenty of toe wiggle room, and we were on our way.
He's been home with us almost a year. He has more toys than he can ever play with, more clothes than he will probably wear, and plenty of shoes that fit. Yet, the simple reassurance by me that he will always have shoes that fit, brought a big thank you and hug. When he was in the orphanage, I'm sure he wore whatever they gave him, that he never questioned it. I know they do the best they have with the donations they receive. The shoes they sent Jay-R home in are still 2 sizes too big...we will always keep them as a special keepsake. I guess it just never occurred to him that he should tell us that his shoes are too small.
These moments remind me of Jay-R's past and cause me to thank God for the blessing he is in our lives. Every child deserves a home...and shoes with wiggle room!
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Wedding of Mr. Q and Miss U
Jay-R's kindergarten class had a wedding today of Mr. Q and Miss U. All the boys were Mr. Q and all the girls were Miss U. Jay-R wore his barong which all the kids thought was really cool. One little boy told him, "You look like a rock star!" Jay-R walked down the aisle so slowly and so seriously...he was too cute as was his bride. (I have pictures of the two of them, but I don't like to post pictures of other people's children without their parents' permission so you'll just have to enjoy Mr. Q). I was a hostess and assisted with serving punch. The picture below cracks me up because the hole from Jay-R's missing teeth is filled with a white piece of his candy ring! 
During the ceremony...as the vows were being read. Mr. Q vowed to take Miss U up, up, up in a hot air balloon...too cute! These kids will never forget that Q goes with U!
During the ceremony...as the vows were being read. Mr. Q vowed to take Miss U up, up, up in a hot air balloon...too cute! These kids will never forget that Q goes with U!Monday, February 22, 2010
The Cute things kids say...
Today, I am home with the kids. Ashleigh is sick with the stomach flu, and school was cancelled due to snowy and slushy roads.
Here are some cute things Jay-R has said recently...
Last week, Jay-R had to have a kidney ultrasound due to some bladder/kidney concerns (don't worry, he's okay). During the ultrasound, as he was looking at the screen, he asked the techinician....
"Where's my Poptart?"
And today, Ate Ashleigh asked Jay-R, "Do you know why you don't have school today?"
He looked at her and said, "Yeh, because I have to stay home and babysit you and take care of you."
Kids say the cutest things!!!
Now, that Jay-R seems to be all over last week's kidney/bladder issues, we just need to get Ashleigh healthy! And some sunshine sans snow would be nice!
Here are some cute things Jay-R has said recently...
Last week, Jay-R had to have a kidney ultrasound due to some bladder/kidney concerns (don't worry, he's okay). During the ultrasound, as he was looking at the screen, he asked the techinician....
"Where's my Poptart?"
And today, Ate Ashleigh asked Jay-R, "Do you know why you don't have school today?"
He looked at her and said, "Yeh, because I have to stay home and babysit you and take care of you."
Kids say the cutest things!!!
Now, that Jay-R seems to be all over last week's kidney/bladder issues, we just need to get Ashleigh healthy! And some sunshine sans snow would be nice!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A Fun First
We took the kids bowling on Sunday for our first bowling outing as a family of 4. Jay-R has been really into the bowling on the Wii so we thought he should experience the real thing.
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