Sweet Success and Happy New Year

Sweet Potatoes= Sweet Success

This picture was taken early last week when Aiden first tried sweet potatoes. He loved them and ate at least 3 spoonfuls. He is getting better and better with eating, getting more and more in his mouth every time. He is still not eating a lot (not even 1/2 a jar at a time), but we'll get there. He also likes peas, pears and bananas. The jury is still out on squash- we'll try it again today. The only thing he has tried that he hasn't liked is carrots. I noticed the 2nd time he tried them his tongue "broke out" (I don't know what else to call it). They say geographic tongue doesn't bother the babies, but I can't help but think there is some relationship to Aiden not liking carrots and the fact that they make his tongue all....geographic!




I am sure we will have many more sweet successes to celebrate in 2009. Aiden is hoping the tooth (his first- a bottom eye tooth) he has been working on for the past 3 weeks makes an appearance VERY early in 2009...so is mommy. I hope all of my blog buddies have a lot to celebrate in 2009 as well, especially those still waiting for their precious children.

Happy New Year from this little teether and his mommy!

Christmas in Pictures (LOTS of Pictures)

Okay, peer pressure is horrible, and I'll see if I can get a good picture of the license. I only have access to a scanner at school and I am NOT going there yet! It was the Tiger beer comment that did me in. Speaking of.....

The best part of Christmas Eve dinner

Grandma reading Twas the Night Before Christmas...something she always read to me and my sister

Family pictures on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning with Grandma and Grandpa- the boxes and paper were a hit!

Opening presents can wear a guy out

Christmas dinner

And last but not least, finding out what Santa left at Aiden's house (we waited until the next morning)!

Even Tess got a gift she loved!

I didn't think it could get any worse

Driver's license pictures- didn't think they could make them look any worse, but it seems they have found a way. In accordance with the REAL ID Act, there are certain regulations that Indiana is now following. Of course I might not be upset about these new regulations if I was well rested and 20 pounds lighter!

Regulation 1- no glasses or anything concealing the face. It doesn't matter if your license says you are required to wear them while driving, you can't wear them in the picture. No glasses= no concealing the huge bags under my eyes that come with being a new mom to a baby who is getting up 3 times a night.

Regulation 2- you can smile, but no teeth can be showing. Not that my teeth show a lot when I smile anyway but at least if I smile big enough I can kind of tighten my neck, making the double chin less noticeable. Laugh if you will, but I know someone out there knows what I am talking about.

Regulation 3- no hats or other head covering. What does it matter? The frickin' picture is so zoomed in you can't see most of my head/hair. The hair I spent the precious 40 minute morning nap washing and actually styling. I would have just pulled it back had I known the picture would be so zoomed in you can see each and every pore on my face and the huge bags under my eyes.

I guess I shouldn't complain too much. I was in and out (including unloading and loading from the carseat to the stroller and stroller to carseat) in 15 minutes. And I didn't have to pay the late fee like I did last time because I let the expiration date sneak up on me- it's tricky having a birthday close to the holidays. Hopefully I won't have to pull out the new license too often, unless of course someone wants to card me when I buy alcohol. I will be happy to show the new picture it that is the case!

Looking Back: Aiden Cuteness Caught on Tape

I haven't imported my Christmas pictures from the camera yet, but I did upload some video this morning while Aiden took/a 2 1/2 hour nap (I only checked 3 times to make sure he was still breathing)! I guess all of the Christmas excitement wore him out. Here are a few cute videos of Aiden in Vietnam.

The first is of Aiden saying his favorite word- ma ma ma. It is still one of his favorites, but he seems to be saying ba ba ba even more now (with a few variations thrown in).

Some cute noises while we were in Saigon.

And finally, playing with Grandma in Hanoi

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

The (small) tree is up (I didn't have it in me to bring out the big tree this year)...

with the most important ornament at the top of the tree.

The stockings have been hung...

Santa knows Aiden has been a good boy


Now we anxiously wait to see what tomorrow brings. I think Aiden is hoping for lots of paper and boxes.
Wishing everyone a magical and merry Christmas!

What a Difference a Year Makes

Our Kids' Christmas Party last year....waiting for Miss Lucy and hoping and praying my son from Vietnam would be celebrating with us next year.Kids' Christmas Party 2008- Lucy and Aiden Bao join the crew...it's a lot harder to get a picture of 7 kids!

Today was the first day Grace met Aiden. Aiden found another "older" girl to charm!

Christmas Kisses (I didn't warn Grace that Aiden gives open mouth kisses)!

Of course Lucy and Aiden were more interested in the boxes and paper than the actual gifts

These past few days have been quite emotional for me. I have been moved to tears many times thinking about how my life has been changed for the better. This time last year was filled with fear and doubt about the adoption. I was waiting for my I171H, knowing that if I didn't get it in a week or two there was little chance this adoption would happen. When it came the following week, I still had no idea what God had in store for me. Today I just can't get over how blessed and how lucky I am to have Aiden Bao in my life. I am so grateful to his first mom and can't help but think about what difficult decisions she was facing this time last year. I am grateful to the country of Vietnam for allowing me to adopt one of their precious children. I am excited to celebrate our first Christmas as a family...there is no better gift than that!

Looking Back: Christmas in Vietnam

I have so many posts/pictures I want to get on the blog from Vietnam. I thought I'd start with Christmas pictures since I couldn't make myself drag out all of my decorations when we got home this year. I did put up one of my smaller trees and Aiden's stocking is hung on the fireplace waiting for Santa!

Outside a hotel in HCMC

The tree at the Duxton, our hotel in HCMC

Outside our hotel

The Rex

We saw LOTS of weddings one night when we were out (at least 4). Tis the season.

Hanoi was really lacking in the decoration department (at least where we were), but our hotel had a tree.

Hope everyone is staying warm!