In December, we moved into a new house, had Daniel’s birthday party three days later (in the new house), then celebrated Chanukah, Christmas and New Year’s with family celebrations.

Thankfully, things calmed down a bit after that. Grammy and Grampy were wonderful to let D stay with them one weekend while we finished unpacking and settling into the house.

D and I enrolled in Music Together classes, I became a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church and we met some wonderful new friends who are also adopting from Korea.

We celebrated some birthdays (including my 37^th), finalized the sale of our old house and spent Passover and Easter with family and friends.

Celebrating "2" with a Thomas the Train party

Decorating for Christmas

Fun with cousins

Bubbles!

Vroom vroom

I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you as my partner on this crazy life adventure. I don’t tell you often enough, but I think you are an incredible person. Thank you for being such a loving, thoughtful husband and for putting up with me.

I knew you would be a great parent, but in the past year I’ve been in awe of how effortlessly you’ve stepped into the role of Daddy. Watching you with Daniel warms my heart. There is no one I’d rather share my life with than you.

Happy 41st, honey!

We have officially started the holiday season – a busy time for many people, but especially for our family. Between Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and five birthdays, it gets pretty crazy. Add to that the fact that we just put our house on the market and we’re moving into a new house. What were we thinking? Sheesh.

I’m proud to say that I have most of the house packed, and we still have two weeks before moving day. Being a big procrastinator, it’s refreshing to be ahead of schedule for once!

I recently got an email from a couple whom we “met” over the phone a few months ago when they called us as a reference for our adoption agency. They were still deciding how they wanted to expand their family and were considering our agency and Korean adoption. They just completed their homestudy, and they have also started a blog, We hope Seoul. I’m so excited for them, and I’m looking forward to following along on their adventure.

Daniel is just as cute as ever, and I have turned into one of those parents who gushes over her kid. I catch myself constantly asking him, “Are you the cutest EVER?” and “Do you KNOW how cute you are?” Pre-D, I would roll my eyes when I heard parents say things like that, but now I totally get it.  I guess parenthood does that to you.

He has been talking and babbling like crazy, but still not talking talking yet. Here are just some of the oh-so-cute things he says:

Babba – Yo Gabba Gabba (used to be a favorite, but has taken a back seat to Thomas)
Bah – Grandma
Bah – Grandpa
Bah (not to be confused with bah, for Grandma or Grandpa) – Thomas the Tank Engine (possibly his favorite thing in the whole world)
Bebe – Baby
Boo! – Peek a boo
Boon – Balloon
Bubbo – Bubbles
Bah bah (while flapping hand wildly) – Bye!
Dada – Daddy
Dah – Duck
Deh – There
Ha (also said while flapping his hand wildly) – Hi!
Ko – Cold
Ko – Go
Ko deh – Go there
Mama – Mama
Mo – More
Mo mo – Elmo
Mooh – What cows say
Nana – Nana, his great grandma (and favorite person)
Raaah – What lions say
Uh oh – Uh oh
Unh unh (said while vigorously shaking his head) – No
Whoa – Whoa!
Wow wow (pointing to the offending body part) – Owie
Wow wow – What dogs say
Yeah – Yes

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the past few months. Isn’t he sooooo cute?! [gush gush]

What does the lion say?

Modeling his Guatemalan pants

Things have gotten SO much better. Brian and I drove up north to Flagstaff that weekend while Daniel stayed with my parents, and I think that little vacation was exactly what everyone needed. We had a great time, just the two of us, and D had a blast getting spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa. Since then, things have been great. I am really liking D’s current phase. Still very stubborn, but he seems to be responding better to instructions and correction. Also, he’s gotten more cuddly, which is the best. He will take frequent breaks from whatever he is doing to run full speed (grinning from ear to ear) into our legs for a hug and a snuggle.

I just realized that we received our travel call a year ago yesterday. It was fun re-reading the posts from then and remembering all the crazy emotions I was feeling. I can’t believe it’s been a year!

Tonight after dinner, the three of us sat in the family room – B on the couch watching the football game, me sitting on the floor leaning against the couch, and D busily transporting toys back and forth between us and the coffee table – and I had a “moment.” Not yet realizing that it had been a year since our travel call, with tears in my eyes, I looked at B and said, “This is exactly what we wanted.” I’m still smiling just thinking about it.

Here are some pics from our trip up North.

And one of the pictures of D we received with our last update (at 9 months).

Life is good.

D is going through what I hope is “just a phase.” He is SO stubborn, and when he doesn’t get his way, he hits me, or throws heavy objects at me. Some days are worse than others, and today just happened to be a really bad one. When he wasn’t hitting me, he was dragging either the cat or dog around the house by an ear or tail… this behavior is completely unacceptable to both Brian and me, and NOTHING seems to work. Scolding, yelling, reasoning, spanking (never thought I would resort to this, but it didn’t work anyway!)… we have to actually pry his little gila monster grip from our poor, innocent animals. There is nothing creepier than seeing him do this with a really weird smile on his face. No remorse. When do they learn remorse and empathy??? Oh, it can’t come soon enough.

Anyway, I was SO happy when Daddy came home today. After dinner, I just cuddled up on the couch with my glass of wine and watched “What Not To Wear” while the boys played. Here’s a little peek at tonight’s antics…

LOVE. MY. CRAZY. BOYS.

The rain was coming down at a steady pace and collecting in the dump truck on the patio. We watched excitedly through the back door as it bounced off the cement and formed puddles. I pointed and said, “rain” while D patted the glass exclaiming, “da (everything’s “da” or “brrrr” these days)!” Rain is a very exciting event in the desert. This time of year is considered our “monsoon” season.

I decided to let D go out in his bare feet and pajamas to play in the rain. After all, we don’t get outside to play very often on these 110+ degree days. The rain had cooled off the patio to a perfect 78.

He splashed in the water that had collected atop his play table, and he stomped in the puddles. After he was sufficiently soaked and starting to shiver, I told him it was time to go inside. He vigorously shook his head no in opposition, so I picked him up, literally kicking and screaming, and took him inside to dry off and change.

Here he is looking wistfully out the back door.

And after throwing a full sippy cup at me and being scolded. Apparently, it’s hilarious when Mommy’s mad. [Sigh]

We’ve had a busy summer, and I have some catching up to do. Posts to come of 4th of July, Nana’s 90th birthday party and our trip to Wisconsin.

Also, it seems I threw some of you for a loop with my picture of B’s chicken and waffles in my last post. A couple years ago, a friend introduced us to Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles. I have to admit that I thought it was an odd combo at first, but when you think about it – how could it be bad? Their chicken is fried just perfectly, and the waffles are definitely the best I’ve ever tasted. Yum. Not an everyday kind of meal if you’re watching your figure. There’s a fun video clip of Charles Barkley talking about it on their web site.

Bet you’re wondering what I’ve been up to! In honor of my 19 months, here’s a summary – in 19 photos:

Playing in the hotel pool in Tucson

with Daddy, Cousin L and Uncle T

Enjoying a walk in the desert before the temps got too hot.

I like to hold my spoon in one hand and eat with the other.

Coloring is fun

but tearing the pages is even better!

Pooltime with Grampy

Mmmm. Spaghetti!

On a top-secret mission in my onesie, a gift from Mommy's friend who works for the FBI. Shh!

I'm not allowed to stand on the couch, but I do it anyway. I'm such a rebel.

Mommy got me this onesie to wear on Father's Day. I'm not sure why everyone was laughing.

Grandma and Grandpa got a new kiddie pool at their house, just for me!

Here's us with the judge on the day my adoption was finalized. That was a cool day.

In case you couldn't tell, I love playing in the water. When it's 110 degrees outside, the cool water sure feels good!

Here's me at my 18-month checkup, waiting for the doctor.

Me and Daddy at breakfast this morning.

Daddy had chicken and waffles. Yummm!