First Birthday and Last Post

Natalie turned one year old today! We celebrated with a korean-inspired meal of beef bulgogi, rice, and broccoli. Natalie loved it. When she saw me giving Andrew rice, she started making excited noises and waving her arms so I wouldn't forget to give her rice too. It was very cute. Natalie had her first taste of cake last Friday when we celebrated with family. She liked moving the frosting and cake around on her tray, but wasn't too interested in eating it. I'm not too worried - she's my daughter so I'm convinced that she is destined to love chocolate.



We are quite amazed that she has been home for three months already and by how much she has changed in that time. We are also very aware that we have only had her with us for one-third of her life. And while we are so very grateful for each day that we have had with her, we are also sad that we missed so much. We also find ourselves thinking about Natalie's birth parents on this special day. They gave us an amazing gift and we are so thankful for that. But our gain was their loss, so we hope they know that Natalie is loved so very much and is a very special, amazing little girl.

When we started this blog, we titled it "our journey to Natalie" to document the steps from learning about our daughter, to waiting for our daughter, to meeting her and getting to know her. When we started, I didn't know when we would end the blog, but it seems that we are no longer on a journey to Natalie, but instead with Natalie. I have loved having this outlet to share with all of you and to bring you along on this journey. Thank you for joining us and supporting us through every step, and most of all, for welcoming Natalie home. We are still amazed that she is ours and so very grateful too.

11 months old

We adore our daughter. We have a friend who started a blog entry with "I desperately love my son" and I have been waiting for the day when I knew my daughter well enough to say the same thing. Don't read this the wrong way - we have loved Natalie before we even saw her picture, heard her voice, or held her. That love has grown over the last two months and we have completely fallen in love with our daughter. She just makes us happy. When she smiles, her whole face smiles. Her laugh is so Natalie - it is infectious, cute, and totally unique. Natalie sleeps on her belly with her butt in the air, her favorite stuff dog under her arm. She likes to be rocked to sleep - all cuddled in against you. When she is very excited or happy, she squeals and kicks her arms and legs. It cracks me up because that is so Natalie - on the move. She is a do-er and mover. When she sees something that looks interesting, she dives right in to try it out, or touch it or eat it, or whatever she can do with it. As a result, the cats have learned to move quickly when they see her coming. She thinks they are great but they are still getting used to her enthusiasm. She is walking more and more, even without our coaching. She loves it when we clap and cheer her on too - her face just fills with a smile. Natalie loves to eat (we think she must be going through a growth spurt because she has been eating non-stop all weekend). She is known to hang out in her high chair eating dinner for 30 minutes. She has recently decided that using a spoon is a fun thing, so she wants to hold the spoon now instead of us. She also thinks that if anyone else is eating, she should be eating too. In the last two months, Natalie has gained almost 2 lbs, has started walking, has decided baby food and baby toys are not interesting, has popped out two more teeth (and one or two more look close), she has started day care, and has brought a lot of joy to our family. She can be stubborn and opinionated, but she is also cuddly and so sweet. We are amazed that she has been home for two months already and can't believe that today she is 11 months old. Wow.

Memere and Pepere, Yvonne's parents, came to visit this weekend. We had a fun Halloween together, Memere gave Natalie her first hair cut, and lots of pictures were taken. Here are some of our favorites.

Quick update

Life at our house is chugging along. I have returned to work (this is week 2), Natalie is adjusting to day care, we have already been taken down by our first day care bug - the stomach flu - this past weekend, and I'm learning how to get two kids, two diaper bags, two blankets, hats, gloves, and myself to the car and in/out of day care. Overall it is going well - you never know how much you can do until you have to do it! Natalie has decided that she is done with anything resembling baby food and is chowing down on all types of table food. And she keeps trying to walk and today took five steps! She is getting braver and a lot steadier on her feet. Will she be walking by Christmas? We'll see!

First steps!

She's been working on it since she came home and tonight she did it. Natalie took 3-4 steps all by herself, walking from me to Paul. It was awesome. Now, I know, everything changes once they are mobile and especially once they are walking. But, Paul and I were afraid that Natalie would take her first steps in Korea (in fact, it was the first question we asked our social worker on our way to Natalie's foster home) and so are very glad that we were both able to experience this first with her instead. Natalie loved all the attention - the big smiles and yahoos that she was getting - so she decided to try it again and repeated her achievement two more times tonight. We were able to get the picture above just before she sat down the last time. Andrew wanted to be part of it all too and was a great big brother, helping to hold Natalie's hand. It was very touching. A great way to end the day and the week.

A weekend away

We visited Andrew and Natalie's cousins and parents this weekend. We explored the Milwaukee Zoo on Friday and enjoyed a family hike on Saturday. The weather was unseasonably warm but the fall colors were glorious. It was quite the experience with 4 kids (which included 3 10-month old girls), two double strollers on Friday, four baby carriers on Saturday, 4 kids in highchairs (that was only because Andrew decided that since everyone else was being fed in the highchair, he should as well), lots of diapers, toys, and fun. Natalie had a good time playing with her cousins and trying out some different toys. She didn't seem to mind sleeping in a pack and play or being in a different house. She did wake up a number of times Friday night, but then again, so did Andrew. All in all, Natalie's first overnight trip after coming home went very well. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Ready for the zoo!


Three girls, one pancake. Sometimes it is just easier to bring the tray to them.


Four adults, four kids, four carriers, one hike.

5 weeks later and now 10 months old

Natalie is now 10 months old and has been home 5 weeks. It is hard for us to believe that it has been 5 weeks already but at the same time, it seems like she has always been here. I have really enjoyed time with just her while Andrew has been at day care and Paul has been at work, but I also love and look forward to the time when all four of us are together. There are ups and downs, but Andrew is becoming a great, loving big brother (though like all big brothers, he has his moments of wanting all the attention and all the toys, but as the oldest child myself, I can relate to that) and Paul and I love to hear our children laughing together. I also love watching Natalie move. She is quick! Her favorite destinations are the cats' food, the kitchen cupboards, and my leg. I love looking down and seeing her holding on to my leg and looking up at me. Tickling her and hearing her laugh is another favorite.

Natalie playing


Natalie showing us that she can do two things at once


Since my last post, our computer decided to quit on us and we are now MAC users. We are still figuring out some of the kinks (like sending e-mail) and bookmarking all of our favorite websites again. In addition to the computer adventure, we went apple picking last weekend with my sister and family. The last time we went apple picking was a few weeks after Andrew came home and my sister was pregnant with my nephew. This time, Andrew and his cousin Davin were enjoying the apples with us and carrying their little bags of apples and Natalie enjoyed watching it all from the ergo.



After apple picking with my sister and her family

Family Fun

We have had a couple of great family fun days. I went to the Children's Museum with Andrew and Natalie on Friday morning where we met up with a friend and her son. We have not been the museum before but it was great. We all had a wonderful time. We then joined the Korean adoption playgroup for lunch, which isn't something we are usually able to do because I'm at work. We had a good time and Andrew helped out by feeding Natalie.



Friday night, Natalie helped celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Andrew's Gotcha Day, which was actually on Monday. We enjoyed a pizza dinner together but the highlight for both kids was the breadsticks!



On Saturday we enjoyed the beautiful weather by taking a hike. Andrew is old enough (and strong enough, I guess) to do some of the hiking himself, while Natalie just enjoyed the ride. We have two ergo carriers and have already gotten a lot of use out of both of them. After our hike we enjoyed a picnic lunch and while Natalie enjoyed eating, she enjoyed standing more!







Overall, things have been going very well the last couple of days. We are still working on expanding the list of foods that Natalie will eat, but she is sleeping well at night and explores and plays well during the day. She also lets you know when it is time for a hug, which is very nice. She doesn't cry too much, but does fuss if she isn't able to crawl or move around when she wants to! She also adores her older brother. Andrew and Natalie have shared a number of special moments where they hug or with their foreheads together, just look into each other's eyes. It is very sweet. Her favorite toy is whatever Andrew has, but she is not hesitant to open a cupboard door, dig into a bag, or pull over a basket with toys. She appears confident and happy, which in turn thrills us.

Baptism

Yesterday Natalie was baptized. It was a very special day for her, but also for Paul and I. Our deepest hope and desire for our children is to know, believe, and trust God and one of our most anticipated events after welcoming Natalie home was her baptism. Natalie did very well - she slept most of the service in her godmother's arms and was happy throughout the day with many family and friends.

Natalie was baptized in the gown made by Paul's mother two years ago for Andrew's baptism. She is sitting on two baptism blankets from Paul's family, including the one that Paul was baptized with. It is nice to have some traditional family items on an important day. We also appreciated family and friends joining us yesterday. It was a wonderful day.

Day with Mommy

Paul returned to work today and Andrew went to day care, so it was just Natalie and mommy. Despite Natalie's cold, we had a good day with a nice nap in the morning (Natalie) and long walk this afternoon (mommy) which resulted in another nap for Natalie. In between was play time, eating, and more playing. I did manage to get a few things done around the house but really, isn't playing more fun?

We also managed to get Andrew to day care and pick him up. Natalie isn't so sure that she likes being the car, but it is much better when Andrew is in the back seat too. However, we had a little adventure after day care with a trip to urgent care for Andrew, who we discovered has an ear infection. Thankfully we didn't wait long to see the doctor since I was in the exam room with both kids and not enough to keep them busy (and away from the computer!).

Natalie has been testing herself the last couple of days, standing on her own for a few more seconds and looking like she was going to take a step unassisted. We aren't in a rush for her to walk, but are just so glad that she is home now so we don't miss this milestone. We have also discovered that Natalie loves electric cords (and anything else plugged into electrical outlets), holding on to the cats' tails, cheerios, and looking at pictures. She just coos and talks when she sees pictures of herself, her cousins Anna and Emma, or Andrew. It is so cute.

Tomorrow I am home with both kids for the day while Paul is at work. I am figuring out how to get them both in the car, how to carry them both for a few minutes when necessary, and other survival techniques with two kids. I am in the trial and error stage, seeing what works. I'm sure I will learn more tomorrow!

Meeting, Moving, and Eating

This week, Natalie met her cousins, Anna and Emma, who are three weeks younger than Natalie. It was so great to see the three girls crawling around, sitting together, playing, and just all together. Family gatherings are going to be even more fun now with the three girls together!



We had our first family outings this weekend. Last night we went to a korean adoption group dinner where it was wonderful to see other families blessed by adoption. We had some amazing Korean food (we missed it already - it has only been a little more than a week!) and celebrated Harvest Moon - a Korean national holiday. This morning we all headed to church. We are assuming that Natalie went to church often with her foster parents as the foster dad is a Presbyterian minister. This was evidenced today because Natalie was quite comfortable and happy at church and bible study. It was great to introduce Natalie to friends and we look forward to introducing her to everyone else as soon as we can! One highlight of the weekend were the car rides. Paul and I realized that we had a full car. What a wonderful gift! Andrew enjoyed entertaining Natalie too - I think he liked the company in the back seat.

On the home front, things are improving. Natalie is sleeping much better at night and seems to be getting into something that vaguely resembles a routine. She is a very active, sociable, outgoing little girl. She likes to be held but also wants to see everything or more precisely, touch everything. We had forgotten about how well little fingers find the smallest items on the floor and how tempting it is to get that in the mouth. But we are quickly remembering! She loves to practice walking and enjoys the freedom of walking behind the push toy. She is so little behind this toy, but off she goes!



We are finding foods that Natalie likes to eat and are discovering that she has a very good appetite. After a few days of refusing the high chair, Natalie has decided that it is a good place to hang out for the 45 minutes or so while she eats. She loves to feed herself but also accepts spoon feedings, which is a great relief since we both enjoy feeding her. However, since Natalie spits out Gerber or other baby foods, I have discovered that making baby food isn't so hard afterall.



We are still figuring things out and still adjusting, but things are getting a little easier or at least, we are having more good periods throughout the day and night. We will be getting on a more regular schedule when Paul returns to work on Thursday but we are glad to have a few more days to enjoy this special time as a family.

Playing Together

It was a beautiful night out tonight, with a touch of fall in the air. The kids enjoyed playing before dinner and then we all went outside and enjoyed the backyard after dinner. Natalie is quite outgoing and enjoys exploring and trying new things pretty quickly. She loved the slide (with daddy holding her, of course) but wasn't so sure about sitting on the grass! Her favorite toys seem to be anything of Andrew's or anything that isn't a toy (the phone, the remote, the water bottle). We are enjoying her reactions to the world around here and take delight in seeing things through her eyes. Here are a couple of pictures of playtime.

Day 5

The last five days have been filled with hugs, tears, temper tantrums, food, diapers, toys, and not quite enough sleep for Mom and Dad. But, there have also been moments of peace, contentment, happiness, laughter, smiles, and joy. Natalie has been doing pretty well during the day as she explores her new home, delights in the cats, and is totally enthralled with her big brother. Night time is harder. It appears she has her day and nights figured out now, but she needs a lot of holding and cuddling at night. While we are glad to be able to provide that for her, it means we don't get as much sleep. Andrew is doing pretty well at night but has had a rough adjustment. In addition to adjusting to having Natalie home, he is adjusting to having Paul and I home and he misses his grandparents. He is back at day care today and we are hoping that helps with his routine.

Getting pictures of both kids together has been a challenge - Andrew wants to come help take the picture (he loves seeing the screen on the back of the camera) and apparently we have taken Natalie's picture too much already because she is totally uninterested in any more pictures! But, here are a few shots from the last few days.









Despite the ups and downs, we are very happy to finally be in this place. We have been anticipating this time of adjustment and are glad to be in the middle of it now. We are also still amazed that we have two children home with us. At least once a day Paul and I look at each other in awe at what God has given us. We are very grateful.

We're home

We have arrived home safely after a good flight and drive home. Natalie did very well, considering the length of time we were traveling. Korean Airlines is just great, by the way. They made the trip much easier since they are so accomdating and helpful. It was awesome to see Andrew again, after 8 days away. We swear he has grown 3 inches and his vocabulary has exploded again! He did pretty well with Natalie, but we all have some adjusting ahead of us.

Two days ago I said that the moment we were waiting for arrived - Natalie was placed in our arms and she is now ours forever. I realized tonight that I was also waiting for another moment - when all four of us would be together. Paul and I are so incredibly blessed to have the lives we have, including these two amazing children. Tonight they were both playing on the floor and laughing. It was the most beautiful, perfect moment.

Here are a couple of pictures from the day...

Arriving in Chicago


Arriving home to celebratory balloons from Yvonne's sister and family, which made for a very special homecoming


Me with my children (what an amazing statement that is)


The whole family together



We are very grateful for Paul's parents who stayed here with Andrew while we were gone and made our return home as easy as possible. Now, since both kids are asleep, we are off to bed. We'll post more pictures tomorrow.

Happy 9 month birthday, Natalie

Three months ago today, I was thinking of Natalie and hoping that we would be celebrating her milestones with her soon. Today, Natalie is 9 months old and we spent the day with her. It is a dream come true, in so many ways.

Last night went pretty well, except that Mommy and Daddy were ready for bed at 8 and Natalie didn't fall asleep until 9:45. Paul and I were up at 5:30 again this morning, but managed to doze until 6:30. Natalie didn't wake up until 8 am. Apparently we are on US time and Natalie is on Seoul time. However, we are grateful that Natalie slept through the night and in her crib too. We were even more grateful that she slept in the crib once we saw how much she moves around in her sleep - she was all over the place! No wonder her foster mother said a blanket does not stay on her.

We have learned that Natalie hates to be on her back, which includes diaper changes and putting her down before she is sound asleep. Once she falls asleep in your arms and is sound asleep, we have been able to put her down, but have tried a few times too early and the protests ensued. This could make bedtime interesting at home.

Today we went to Starbucks, took a couple of walks around the "neighborhood" which was quite enjoyable (the ergo did its magic - Natalie fell asleep in it both times), Natalie and mommy took a nap this afternoon. She seems to really enjoy the toys we brought for her, especially the stacking cups and rattles. She has an amazing grip and held on to one of the rattles for at least half-an-hour on our walk this afternoon. We are used to Andrew's shorter attention span, apparently.

For dinner, we had a tasty, spicy Korean soup which was an adventure because we ended up at a restaurant around the corner with no pictures or English words. So, Paul just pointed at one of the Korean words and thankfully we got something that we both liked. After dinner, we gave Natalie a bath (we were told she liked bath time - not so much tonight but at least she is clean!) and just got her to sleep at 8 pm. We were glad to have the time today to get to know each other more. Here are a few pictures from the day.











Something I have found interesting is that we brought Andrew home at 5 months old and he was wearing 9 months clothes. We are bringing Natalie home at 9 months old and she is wearing the same size clothes. Tonight, Natalie is wearing pj's that Andrew wore after he came home but I don't think they were ever this loose on him...



We have had a wonderful time here in Korea but it is time to go home. We are anxious to see Andrew and have all four of us together. We have a long flight ahead of us, but hope that the last two days of bonding will help Natalie, but as I said yesterday, we'll take things as they come. We will post again once we are home!

No More Waiting!

I had written awhile ago that we were waiting for that moment when Natalie would be placed in our arms and she was ours. We had that moment today.

First we went to SWS and met with Andrew's foster mom who enjoyed seeing the picture book that we brought of Andrew. I think she would have preferred to see Andrew in person, but she did say she was glad to see that Andrew was happy and growing so well. It was very nice to see her and have the opportunity to let her know about the boy that she took care of two years ago.

Afterwards, we headed upstairs to meet with Natalie and her foster parents and our social worker. We were nervous, excited, and sad too, knowing that while we were getting our daughter, everything was going to change for Natalie. The Kangs gave us a photo album of Natalie which is just wonderful. Before leaving, Mr. Kang said a prayer for Natalie and us, was very special and touching. We feel so fortunate that Natalie was placed with Christian foster parents. And while we know it was a hard day for the Kangs since they were saying goodbye to Natalie, they thanked us for coming to Korea to pick her up and to meet them. Mrs. Kang also packed many, many clothes and bottles for Natalie which was very nice. I am no longer worried about having enough warm weather clothes!



We then headed to the guesthouse, thankful that it was only three buildings up from the adoption agency given that it was raining out. Natalie made it to our room before realizing that the Kangs were not with her. Knowing that your child is mourning, scared, sad, upset is very hard but we knew it was part of the process. Amazingly, though, she cried for awhile, fell asleep for a short nap, and has been doing wonderfully since then. She has had a bottle, eaten pears, tried sweet potato puffs (a baby finger food), and is enjoying playing with the toys that we brought along. We are enjoying watching her explore and play. And we have a crawler! Andrew didn't crawl - he scooted - so it is fun to see Natalie crawl. She is very strong but also petite - she looks too little to be pulling herself up and standing, but she's doing it anyway. Today she weighed in at 15.4 pounds and is 25.9 inches tall. A healthy girl.



She has already learned "so big!" and puts her arms up in the air. It is one of my family's favorite baby games.



We'll see how the rest of the day/night go, but so far, we are quite amazed by how well Natalie is doing. We know that there are a lot of changes for Natalie to come, but we will take it one day at a time and just enjoy each precious moment that we have waited so long for. Thank you for all of your comments while we have been in Korea - we have loved hearing from all of you! This journey is so much sweeter with all of you along with us.