Time Keeps on Slippin'

November absolutely flew by!  I know it's technically still November but it sure doesn't feel like it with the Christmas trees twinkling in the windows of all the houses in our neighborhood.  Including ours.  Decorating the tree was fun, but I'll save that for another post.  Thanksgiving was nice and the day before Thanksgiving was a very special day.  I wasn't able to blog because we were on the road that day but November 23 marked the one year anniversary that we received our referral of Griffin.  You can take a look back at that day by clicking here.  I truly can't believe it's already been one year since we received that call.  It feels like Griffin has been with us forever, but is time really slipping away that quickly?

I wanted to share the four pictures that came with Griffin's referral file.  I think I shared my favorite picture one year ago, but here are all of them.

Wow.  I have to admit I haven't looked at these pictures in months.  Definitely not the newborn pictures.  Looking at them now makes me feel differently than I did when looking at them while Griffin was still in Korea.  That baby is my son.  I don't know how to explain it but I could somehow feel a connection to the picture of the smiling, chubby six month old.  But I never really connected to the infant.  But today, right now....wow.  That's my baby boy.

In other news, we received word today that we have a court date for finalization!  On December 13th at 9:00 am Bak Hyeon-wu will become Griffin Lee Hyeon-wu Chambers, a U.S. citizen, and legally ours forever!  Can't wait to celebrate such a special day!

And last but not not least, a taste of Christmas pictures I took today.



18 months

Griffin is 18 months old today!  How did that happen?  It's amazing to me how much my little man has changed in the six months he's been home.  He's sweeter (if that's even possible!).  He's happier.  He speaks English! :) He's really settled into our family perfectly.  He's the yin to Kinley's yang.  Oh my, those two are SO different!  Griffin eats like a champ.  Kinley is super picky.  Kinley is my awesome sleeper, and I had to work hard to get Griffin on a good nap schedule.  Pretty sure he could do without a nap but his mama NEEDS him to give her a break during the day.  Kinley is super laid back and minds really well, while Griffin has a hot, little temper and is constantly testing boundaries.  Kinley loves to watch TV, but Griffin has no interest.  I could go on and on about their differences, but one this is for sure.  They love each other and they love to irritate each other.  Such a typical brother/sister relationship.

At 18 months, Griffin is saying lots of words.  No sentences yet but he'll repeat just about anything I tell him to say.  He is running!  He's been running for a month or two but is finally getting to where he can do it without bouncing off of and running into stuff.  Actually he still kind of does that and we love it and think it's hilarious.  He had his 18 month well check today and he's 31 3/4 inches and 24 lbs 8 oz.  The doc said he's growing just "perfectly" and is in the 25-50th percentile.  That's my boy!

I know I say it every time I talk about Griff, but I love that kid more and more every day.  He is so sweet and funny and cuddly and precious.  Eeek!  Just talking about him makes me want to walk upstairs, pick him up out of bed, and kiss his sweet cheeks.  Ok, maybe I don't really want to wake him up but I'll definitely save those kisses for the morning. 

Happy 18 months baby boy!  I love you so much!!!

Home 6 Months!

Yesterday marked six months that Griffin has been home. I'm really mad at myself for forgetting to blog, but such is life.  We didn't forget to celebrate, though!  Kinley had school so Griffin had me all to himself, so we just hung out and played all day.  We have a new ginormous sectional for our new living room and Griffin and I have started cuddling up and napping together on days Kinley is at school.  Yesterday, Griff slept and I caught up on the DVR.

My sweet boy cuddled up in my lap for his nap.

And we made a trip to Target for some groceries and paint supplies.  I love taking Griffin shopping with me.  He loves to wave and say hi to everyone.  So sweet.  And he sings and talks the ENTIRE time.  It makes me so proud when I see him put a smile on a fellow shopper's face.

He looks so tough with his black eye.

I took the kids to Sonic for milk shakes after we picked Kinley up from school, and that was a near disaster in the car.  But we made it home and enjoyed the rest of the shakes (a Coke for me) at the table where it's safe.  We also received a wonderful surprise on our doorstep yesterday.  Our consent to adopt papers from our agency arrived a day early.  What a perfect day to hold those in my hands!  Six months home and ready to finalize.  I forwarded them on to our adoption attorney and he will be getting back to me with a court date soon.  I'm so excited to make it "official!"

We ended the day with some chicken and brown rice which Griffin devoured and some quality play time in the play room.  Such a wonderful, fun, surreal day.  I can't believe my little man has been home six months.  I can't say enough how lucky we are.  Blessed is a better word!  We're in awe of our son.  We truly feel we don't deserve him.  He is so sweet and smart and funny and loving.  Seriously, we hit the jackpot! 

National Adoption Month 2011