The Land of Hand

What fun it was staying up until 2:00 am to set up Joshua’s train set and prepare egg casserole for our Christmas breakfast!  Julie’s Mom spent the night with us and helped prepare all the goodies for Christmas morning.  Jason worked all 3 Christmas eve services in the A/V room at church and did not get home until about 1:00 am. 

Joshua woke up at about 8:00 am and we were able to keep him upstairs for another 30 minutes while Jason got the video camera ready to go.  Joshua knows who Santa is from watching all the classic Christmas movies, but we never told him Santa was coming to our house to bring presents.  We did tell him that there would be some surprises downstairs on Christmas morning, but since this was his first experience with Christmas morning he was not too excited to get a good nights sleep.  I am certain that next year will be quite different. 

The first thing he saw was his electric Thomas the train set, complete with Bertie the bus and Harold the Helicoptor.  He just looked at it for a minute and said "This is nice!  Joshua liken this one!!"  After playing with it for a few minutes, we had to pry him away to open his stocking and other gifts.  After about the fourth one he started to get the hang of tearing open wrapping paper, and when he was finally done he kind of looked at me like is that it?  I hope that next year I will be able to keep all that in mind and stick with the "less is more"  philosophy.  He would have been thrilled to just have the train.  We have already talked with him about giving up some of his current toys to make room for the new ones and he seems o.k. with that. 

Jason’s brother and our nephew joined us for breakfast at our house Christmas morning and Uncle Kelly gained Joshua’s affections when he opened the Mack Truck Playset from the Disney Cars movie.  Three adults took about 45 minutes to figure out how to put it together but once it was finally complete Joshua’s comment was "sweet!"  That really cracked us up. 

We left the toy store explosion all over our family room floor and went to Grandma’s house for more food and Christmas fun.  Joshua got new clothes, puzzles & games, Jay Jay DVD’s and some play food and cooking utensils.  I had really wanted to get him a play kitchen, but we just really do not have the space for one.  (He does not seem bothered by this one bit, and at this very moment he is making me pizza and maccaroni and cheese on the floor.)  At Grandma’s house he learned that not all presents are his.  His cousin Colin got some cool Hot Wheels stuff that caused a tense moment when Joshua learned that it was not for him, but Colin was good enough to share and to invite us over on Friday to play with him and his cars again. 

Christmas evening we ate dinner with our good friends the Hodges.  The food was great, the fellowship was even better, and Joshua enjoyed seeing all of Savannah and Grant’s new toys.  Jason and I agree that this was our best Christmas yet.  We pray that next year will be even better when Joshua will be anticipating it’s arrival and he will have more of an understanding about the true meaning of Christmas.  He loved to play with his Playmobil manger set and if he saw another Nativity scene he would say "Look, baby Jesus loves you."   Very sweet!!

52 weeks ago today I had been in the hospital for one week and I was getting ready to be wheeled down to get preped for surgery.  Today I am at home feeling pretty good (especially after spending yesterday being lazy in my pajamas) and playing with new toys with my son!!  Even through the most difficult moments of this past year, God has been there helping, and guiding, and leading us.

How very blessed we are indeed!!  Happy New Year!!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post.  I have no good excuses.  I hope you enjoy the update and the pictures!

20 weeks ago yesterday, Joshua legally became our son!  How much he has changed in that short time!

The first part of November was filled with routine family life and playdates with friends.  We have all been fairly healthy, only minor cold symptoms.  This is a huge blessing compared to last year.  Joshua contines to astound us daily with his increase in English, basic knowledge, and antics!  He has developed quite a sense of humor and enjoys trying to trick us.  One of my favorite examples is how he will pucker up to give you a kiss and then when you get close he will blow his lips and spit all over you.

Right before Thanksgiving Joshua and his Ma Ma went to the Atlanta Zoo with some friends.  It was a beautiful day and he had a fun time.  He rode the train and the carousel, he got to pet some sheep and goats, and he ate a hot dog for the first time.  We have also become part of a playgroup with boys from China.  We have had a couple of playdates with that group and are looking forward to many more.  Joshua attended his first birthday party on Dec. 1.  His cousin celebrated her 7th birthday at Chucke E Cheese.  Joshua enjoyed the singing and he really liked climbing through the tunnels that went overhead. 

We have been busy with Christmas preparations.  It took a while to learn that the Christmas tree ornaments were not new toys to play with.  It also took a while to learn that it is a Christmas "Tree" not a Christmas "Treat".  Joshua loves to see lights on houses when we drive around after dark.  His Grandma has a lake behind her house and the owners of the house across the lake do an amazing "Winter Wonderland" display.  We were over there last Friday after dark and he walked down to the lake with Grandma to get a closer look.  His response was "cool". 

We are greatly anticipating our first Christmas with Joshua and are so blessed that we were called to be his parents.