Pumpkin Pictures

We took a trip to a local farm to pick a pumpkin a couple of weekends ago. Joshua continues to experience anxiety in any new situation and that day it was especially apparent so we didn't stay long at all. We are trying to do little things here and there, but it is often too much for him so most days he and I stay home. Plus it was 100 degrees! I still don't like you Arizona!!!!

Our attempt at a quick family photo before we left - we have yet to get a good family photo.

Joshua liked the pumpkin much better at home where he is comfortable. I took these this past weekend. I love his shirt!

And later that day carving the pumpkin with daddy:

18 Months Old!

My little guy is 18 months old today! We have a fun day planned at the Chuseok celebration in Phoenix, so it will just be a short post to celebrate this milestone.

One of the verses that encouraged me so much during our long battle with infertility/childlessness was Ephesians 3:20-21:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." 

Joshua, you are "immeasurably more" than I could have ever asked or imagined. I am so blessed to be your mommy! Happy 18 months!

October Picture Catch Up

Thank you Grandma (my mom)! This is helping me practice my walking. And of course I love pushing all the buttons. :-)

Thank you Grandpa C (John's dad)! Apparently, John had a coonskin hat as a child, so Joshua needed to have one too. Here he's saying, "I just woke up from a nap, why in the world are you guys putting this hat on me!?"

 One of his favorite activities - playing/torturing Annie!

Bedtime story with daddy. John hasn't been getting home until after 6 in the evening due to a base "exercise" - thanks U.S. Air Force - so he has only been able to see Joshua for a few moments before bedtime. Thank you Uncle Robert and Aunt Tina for the Little Spider book - we read it everyday!

 One of his favorite things lately - pointing to himself every time we say JoonSeo Joshua

 The next morning - another favorite, looking at pictures of himself!

 Trying out mommy's sunglasses

Loving my little boy so much!

First Family Outing

We have been staying very close to home since Joshua's homecoming due to the anxiety he was having in new situations. We went a few places our first couple of weeks, but they were basically places we had to go like to the doctor. Then I literally didn't go anywhere for at least a week, which really seemed to help him begin to feel more secure. After that I began to take him to the store and even took him to a lunch celebration in our honor at John's work. I kept him in the carrier the whole time and he seems to be handling these outings just fine. We did go on a drive up to the mountains just to get out of the house one weekend and we go to church on Sundays, but other than that we have been staying home. Even for an extremely introverted homebody like me, it was too much. I was going stir crazy. So we finally had a family outing the second weekend in October. We went up to the mountains to the north of Tucson to see some of the leaves changing color. We took a walk and then had lunch at restaurant in Mt. Lemon. It was so good for my spirit to get out and enjoy time as a family. It was really the first time doing something as a family like I had always dreamed about. Plus I love the mountains. It is actually cold up there, which I also love. So far to me they are Tucson's one saving grace, otherwise I really don't like it here yet (hoping that will change).

I love that his joyful personality is showing in these pictures at the restaurant! We had so much fun.

Thank you Wendi!

"Mommy, put my boots on!"

These boots (along with the school bus) are a gift from Wendi. The boots are such a special gift to me because they remind me of a my time in Turkey when I got to jump in a puddle with her son Elijah. It was such a wonderful moment for me where I just knew the kind of mom I wanted to be and knew that somehow I was going to be okay as a mom. 

What a blessing!

Just Like His Papa

Papa is my dad. He has worn striped shirts like these for as long as I can remember. I found these shirts at a Mothers of Multiples sale with my stepmom back when we were still in Maryland. So of course we had to buy them because they reminded us of my dad. I can't wait for Joshua to meet his Papa and the rest of my family!

Last of the September Pictures

 Daddy bought me this shirt :-)

 This duck was a gift from my friend Cindy. He loves us to roll it up to him and poke him in the belly and say "quack, quack."

 He loves his watermelon (as you will see below!). I was giving him his snacks at the coffee table as a way to encourage him to stand and use his leg muscles more. He loves his food!

 This outfit was what he was wearing in Korea when he was place in our arms forever. To celebrate 2 weeks as a family of three, I decided to dress him in it again.

 Playing catch with mommy!

 Even though this picture is dark, I included it because it was such a turning point. It was the first time Joshua had placed the ball in his mouth the way we saw him do on our very first night together in Korea. It was at this moment that I knew that the little guy we met in Korea was still inside him.