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| Jax's new Hawkeye sweatsuit! |
Monday, August 8, 2011
Mayer Camp-Out and Shower for Jax and Sophie
This past weekend, Steve and I made the trek up north for the Annual Mayer Family Camp-Out. This tradition is quickly becoming my favorite tradition. I still love Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and the Fantasy Football fish fry, but I love the campout because for three days we are all together. That's some pretty awesome family time!
This year our family decided to have a baby shower for my sister and me. It's amazing to me how much my family already loves Jax so much. They are so excited to meet him!
Steph and I got some amazing gifts! Jax got toys and books that I know he is going to love. We got a space saver high chair, gift cards, and clothes. He's going to be one of the best dressed little guys around!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
July Well Baby Check and New Pictures!
On July 18th, Jax had his July well baby check (wbc). There weren't any huge changes.
*He now weighs 23 lbs. and is 30 in. long. This is the first time that he hasn't gained more than one pound in a month, I think that he's getting more active!
*Jax is eating about 7 oz. of formula every 12 hours, which doesn't seem like very much, so I'm wondering if he is starting to eat some food.
*He has two teeth on top and two teeth on the bottom.
*He's still working on walking. He is walking around furniture, he hasn't started standing on his own quite yet.
Here is his new picture. I can't believe how big he is getting! Such a big boy! Part of me wants to freeze him like this, so that he doesn't grow anymore between now and when we go and get him!
*He now weighs 23 lbs. and is 30 in. long. This is the first time that he hasn't gained more than one pound in a month, I think that he's getting more active!
*Jax is eating about 7 oz. of formula every 12 hours, which doesn't seem like very much, so I'm wondering if he is starting to eat some food.
*He has two teeth on top and two teeth on the bottom.
*He's still working on walking. He is walking around furniture, he hasn't started standing on his own quite yet.
Here is his new picture. I can't believe how big he is getting! Such a big boy! Part of me wants to freeze him like this, so that he doesn't grow anymore between now and when we go and get him!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Oatmeal Cake
I don't know why, but lately I have been missing my Grandma Mayer like crazy! I know not everyone out there knew Grandma Mayer and I feel really bad for you, because she was the most amazing person EVER! I can't believe that she's been gone for over 5 years. It just doesn't seem possible.
Anyway, I've been thinking so much about her. I don't know if it is because we added a new baby to the family that she will never meet or the fact that Jax will never get to know her. Or maybe it's because the whole family is going to be getting together this weekend for the annual Mayer family campout and it is during those times that I miss her the most.
So I decided that I needed a little reminder of Grandma and I decided to TRY and make her oatmeal cake. Oatmeal cake was a staple at Grandma's. I remember many, many times going to her house for coffee and she would have a pan of it on the counter.
I did a little research and found her recipe (thank you, Aunt Cheryl) and I got started. There was one point in time when I was working on the frosting which is definitely the best part and it said to boil for 10 minutes stirring constantly. So it boiled and I stirred and stirred and stirred. I was thinking there is no way that this is right, 10 minutes?!?!? I wished that I could call Grandma, I wish that I could hear her voice one more time, and one more time get a little bit of Grandma's advice, but I can't and although I have years and years of wonderful memories, I could have really used her help on this one.
Anyway, I've been thinking so much about her. I don't know if it is because we added a new baby to the family that she will never meet or the fact that Jax will never get to know her. Or maybe it's because the whole family is going to be getting together this weekend for the annual Mayer family campout and it is during those times that I miss her the most.
So I decided that I needed a little reminder of Grandma and I decided to TRY and make her oatmeal cake. Oatmeal cake was a staple at Grandma's. I remember many, many times going to her house for coffee and she would have a pan of it on the counter.
I did a little research and found her recipe (thank you, Aunt Cheryl) and I got started. There was one point in time when I was working on the frosting which is definitely the best part and it said to boil for 10 minutes stirring constantly. So it boiled and I stirred and stirred and stirred. I was thinking there is no way that this is right, 10 minutes?!?!? I wished that I could call Grandma, I wish that I could hear her voice one more time, and one more time get a little bit of Grandma's advice, but I can't and although I have years and years of wonderful memories, I could have really used her help on this one.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Long time no blog...
Well, it's been awhile since I've written. There's been a couple of reasons. One of the reasons was that my family was blessed the beginning of July when my sister gave birth to a little girl, Sophie Ann. She is just a doll! So, I have been making a lot of extra trips to Iowa City to see her.
Another reason I haven't written is because it has kind of been a roller coaster month in the adoption world. In June, we had heard that the Korean ministry had decided that there would be no new emigration permits (EP) applied for or approved, but they did say that there would be permits in July.
The emigration permit gives a child permission to leave Korea to live in the United States. It is the last piece of paperwork that needs to be filed. So, no new permits in June added one more month to our wait.
Well, we found out in July that there would be no new permits AGAIN! So, again another month is added to our wait to bring our son home.
Needless to say each time I got one of those emails there is a wave of emotions. I go from angry to sad to hopeful and back to angry and sad. I thank God for Steve because he really is my sanity through this whole thing! I'm so very blessed to have him in my life!
So here we are, it's the end of July. I'm asking for lots of prayers that the EP situation gets figured out. That things start moving very quickly and Jax gets home as soon as possible!
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| Sweet, Sweet Sophie |
Another reason I haven't written is because it has kind of been a roller coaster month in the adoption world. In June, we had heard that the Korean ministry had decided that there would be no new emigration permits (EP) applied for or approved, but they did say that there would be permits in July.
The emigration permit gives a child permission to leave Korea to live in the United States. It is the last piece of paperwork that needs to be filed. So, no new permits in June added one more month to our wait.
Well, we found out in July that there would be no new permits AGAIN! So, again another month is added to our wait to bring our son home.
Needless to say each time I got one of those emails there is a wave of emotions. I go from angry to sad to hopeful and back to angry and sad. I thank God for Steve because he really is my sanity through this whole thing! I'm so very blessed to have him in my life!
So here we are, it's the end of July. I'm asking for lots of prayers that the EP situation gets figured out. That things start moving very quickly and Jax gets home as soon as possible!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
More gifts for Jax!
Today, Steve and I met his mom, Rosanne, for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings and shopping! It was great to catch up. Rosanne picked up a couple of things that we have been needing for Jax. We got a stroller and high chair. I'm pretty excited about the stroller, but Steve won't put it together for me yet. I have a feeling I can talk him into it soon!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
No end of June blues this year!
Normally, the end of June comes with the depression that my first month of summer break is over. The realization that summer is going too fast and it will soon be August 22nd, oh no! But there's no depression today, because we got a new picture of Jaxson! I was so excited to open that email. It had already been a great day. I got a pedicure, shopped, and had lunch with my sister, then I got home and there it is was the email from LL with photo in the subject line. I couldn't open that email fast enough!!!
His picture was taken with some of the things that we had sent him in his first care package. I love that he is playing with the ball that Steve and I picked out for him. He also got a couple outfits, a photo book with pictures of us, an audio book that Steve and I recorded, a couple toys, a blanket. He also got his first Hawkeye shirt....it says, "Born to be a Hawkeye." We got his foster family some chocolates, bath wash, and lotions.
We also got his June well baby check a few days ago. He is weighing in at a whopping 23 pounds and is a little over 20 inches tall. He has two teeth on top and two teeth on the bottom. He is pulling himself up to furniture and walking around it. My favorite part of the WBC is that he is playing peek-a-boo! Love it! As part of his physical one part is general appearance and Jax's says cute and fine! Yes, he is!!!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
The Waiting is the Hardest Part
I think that Tom Petty definitely said it best, all though then it went something like "The wai-ai-ting is the hardest part." Either way you say it or sing it, it doesn't change the fact that waiting for something that you've wanted for years is never easy or quick! This is definitely the lesson that Steve and I are learning this summer!
Last week, I constructed a list, a list of all the things that I want us to get done before we bring Jax home. Some are easy things like hanging new curtains in his room or cleaning out the hall closet (both of which Steve and I got done this weekend) to more difficult things like painting the toy room or cleaning our non-self cleaning oven (the task I'm probably dreading the most). Then there are the things that I can't do at all like put in our new front door and storm door, but each thing that gets done is one thing that I can do to take my mind of the waiting.
We have done our last two requirements on our side of the adoption. We applied for our I-600, which is permission to bring Jax into the United States, and we finished our Parents in Process class. We finished the class a couple of weekends ago in Des Moines. Steve and I love to get away for a night or two and we definitely had a great weekend.
We went to class on Saturday and it was a small class, only 3 couples, but we met another couple that is adopting from Korea and whose timeline is similar to ours. It has been great to become friends with them and help each other through this crazy process. Courtney pretty much talked me off a ledge when filling out our USCIS paperwork, well, maybe not a ledge, but she did help me find the answers to all my questions!
After the class we went to the movie, Hangover 2, and then for supper at Famous Dave's. Steve loves BBQ and we don't go out for it often, so he was pretty excited about that. So excited that he took pictures of our meals :-)!
Another highlight of the weekend was when we went and registered at Target for all the things that Jax is going to need. Steve loved using the gun and I loved picking out everything for him!
So this summer is going to be spent waiting...waiting for emails, waiting for time to pass, waiting for Jax to come home. Each night before I go to sleep I thank God for the day, the day that is over and makes me one day closer to having our little man home!
Last week, I constructed a list, a list of all the things that I want us to get done before we bring Jax home. Some are easy things like hanging new curtains in his room or cleaning out the hall closet (both of which Steve and I got done this weekend) to more difficult things like painting the toy room or cleaning our non-self cleaning oven (the task I'm probably dreading the most). Then there are the things that I can't do at all like put in our new front door and storm door, but each thing that gets done is one thing that I can do to take my mind of the waiting.
We have done our last two requirements on our side of the adoption. We applied for our I-600, which is permission to bring Jax into the United States, and we finished our Parents in Process class. We finished the class a couple of weekends ago in Des Moines. Steve and I love to get away for a night or two and we definitely had a great weekend.
We went to class on Saturday and it was a small class, only 3 couples, but we met another couple that is adopting from Korea and whose timeline is similar to ours. It has been great to become friends with them and help each other through this crazy process. Courtney pretty much talked me off a ledge when filling out our USCIS paperwork, well, maybe not a ledge, but she did help me find the answers to all my questions!
After the class we went to the movie, Hangover 2, and then for supper at Famous Dave's. Steve loves BBQ and we don't go out for it often, so he was pretty excited about that. So excited that he took pictures of our meals :-)!
Another highlight of the weekend was when we went and registered at Target for all the things that Jax is going to need. Steve loved using the gun and I loved picking out everything for him!
So this summer is going to be spent waiting...waiting for emails, waiting for time to pass, waiting for Jax to come home. Each night before I go to sleep I thank God for the day, the day that is over and makes me one day closer to having our little man home!
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