Sharing the news!

On the Friday night after we received the referral of our boy, we had our families over to share the news! I debated posting about this yet, because I'll have to blur the pictures, but I wanted to record it while its fresh on my mind, and hopefully I can come back and replace the pictures with unedited ones later.

We were so excited to share the exciting news with our family! We invited them all over telling them that we had an early Christmas present to give them. I'm sure they all figured out what was going on, but since it was so much sooner than we'd expected, it was still fun!

I printed out and framed 5x7s of his referral picture and wrapped them. I wrapped an 8x10 for our boys to open. When everyone had arrived that evening, we had them all gather into the living room for the big news. I announced that we had been matched with a precious baby and for them to open their gifts to find out more! It was so fun watching them tear into their gifts and light up with excitement when they saw his beautiful little face! After everyone had time marvel over how cute he is, we announced his name and told them a little more about him. It was such a special time! Then, we brought out the blue balloons and Its A Boy plates and celebrated with some yummy food!

(I will add as a funny side note that I think Brody was a bit confused when he opened his picture. We had just told him the same as everyone else, that we had an early Christmas present for him. So, I'm sure as any 5 year old would, he was expecting a toy or game. Lol. So to see a framed picture of a baby he didn't know in that gift package...well lets just say the look on his face was pretty funny. But I can assure you, once we explained who that baby was and what it meant, he has been so very proud of that early Christmas present.)

I've included a few pictures from that night. Not sure what order they'll post in since I'm posting from my phone, but the blurry group pic was right before everyone opened their gifts. The others are just of our family holding their picture of Lennox. One of my grandmothers was out of town, so she wasn't able to come that night, but my mom let her open her picture the next day when she met up with her at my cousin's football game. That picture is included too. Enjoy!

Small Town Christmas

Yes, it's true. There are many times I wish that our little town had more. I wish we had an Old Navy, Target, and Hobby Lobby. I wish there was more for the kids to do. I wish there was a nice ballpark nearby to take the kids to. But then there are nights like last night, where I really do come to appreciate our little town.

Beckett went to Fayetteville for the weekend with Mimi and Pawpaw to visit family, and Brody wasn't able to go because they aren't coming back until Monday, and he would have to miss school. So, I wanted to make this weekend fun for Brody...I didn't want him feeling left out. We met Brent downtown last night when he got off work, to walk around and look at the lights.  We really do have the neatest little downtown.

It was so fun to just stroll around, looking at all of the little quaintly decorated storefronts.

And the stores have done such a wonderful job with their window displays! Brody would stop at each window and take in every detail. His favorite was the big nativity that was set up, but he loved this one with polar bears and elves, too.

Then, we walked over to Pj's Coffee to ride the downtown Christmas train!! It was just the neatest experience. If you haven't done it yet, you should! The kids loved it! The conductors are all dressed for the part, holding old-fashioned lanterns and everything. He even happily posed for a picture with Brody :) They lead you to the door of the train car, and welcome you with a hearty, "ALL ABOARD!" Then, they take you on a fun little ride through downtown.

The whistle blows each time you pass through an intersection, and Brody and Levi were waving at each car we passed.

When you pull back up to the "station", they help you unload, leading the way with lanterns again. It really was fun!

We finished off the night by walking over to MainStreet Pizza for dinner! A fun time was had by all, and I am so glad we got to enjoy a bit of our small town Christmas!

My Boys of Fall

{ With the excitement of everything that went on last week, I missed posting some pictures that I had planned on getting on here. Playing catch-up now!}

Winter is quickly approaching, but we have had such a fun fall! I have such a good time with these guys. I really do. As much as I sometimes wish I had a clean house and less laundry (or that I could just go pee alone), I really can't imagine how bored I would be without them.

We have played in the leaves...

And finished up another soccer season! Basketball practice starts in a few weeks for my little all-around athlete. He's going to have to narrow it down one of these days! ;)

He is the cutie with the ball.

His last game was frigid! This is how he was wrapped up on the sidelines!

I am proud of my boy and how well he finished up the season. He really got into it there towards the end and finished strong. He was more aggressive, and he scored a couple goals each game during the last three or four matches! Way to go, Brody!

Tales from the North Pole

El Dorado's Christmas paradewas tonight, and I was so thrilled that it was a warmish night, so we met Noni and Brooke downtown and took it all in! Brody and Beckett were so excited about it this year! I just love seeing Christmas through their eyes. Oh, to be a child again!

We ran into some family friends who had parked their truck in a great spot early in the day, and they invited us to join them, so we all gathered around and watched the parade together!

Levi was a little unsure of all the lights, noise, and people at first. I could not get him to smile for a picture for the life of me.

But he quickly warmed up to it all and was waving and blowing kisses at each float!

I know he is wearing a leash. Don't judge. When Daddy's not there to help, you gotta do what you gotta do.

I had so much fun watching it with Brody...just sitting and talking with him. He is at such a great age...he is just my little buddy. He is like having a friend with me everywhere I go.

And Beckett is just growing up so much! He has gone from toddler to little boy overnight, and it just blows me away. He is just an angel. Never really gives us any trouble...and this boy LOVES his Brookie!

Love this picture of Noni and Brody!

It was a fun night! Lots of beautiful floats, good music, precious kiddos, good friends, and a little Christmas magic for my boys. I'll take it.

Lennox's First Care Package

We sent our boy his first care package today! I'm hoping it gets there before his monthly visit on the 14th, but I've been told that, for Christmas and birthdays, the foster moms will come by the agency and get them even if they arrive later than their appt. I had so much fun shopping for him, and I really hope we get a few pictures of him with his gifts! But reality hit this morning as I packed his things in a box, knowing I'll never see him wear the little clothes or play with the toys. Month after month, I'll send over clothes I've picked out for him and toys I think he'll like and books I want him to read. But I won't get to see him enjoy them. However, I know it will be worth it! The joy we will have once Lennox is home will far outweigh the hurt of missing him.

Here are some pictures of the things we sent to him this month!!
{Plaid longall and Christmas pjs, courtesy of Aunt Amie. Deer hat, sock monkey pjs, one pair of Robeez, and stuffed razorback, courtesy of Mimi. Red and black motorcycle play suit, courtesy of Noni.}

Kamsahamnida!

...which means "Thank you" in Korean!!

Seriously, we just want to say thank you for all of your excitement for us about our little man. We truly can't begin to tell you how much it means to read all of your sweet messages and comments. It makes me smile to know that so many people are praying for him and love him and are excited to meet him when we finally get him home! We know that we don't NEED everyone's approval to adopt this baby, but it is such a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by such love and support. We just want him to be loved. He deserves to be loved. And celebrated and all of those other wonderful things that our other boys already are. I just pray that he never feels any less special than his brothers. Because even very small children can pick up on those things. And I'm so thankful and feel so confident that our little Lennox will feel nothing but love when he comes home!! My heart just leaps for joy when I hear him being prayed for by name during our small group prayer time, or when my best friend and other family members are excitedly gathering little things to send to him in care packages, or when I hear people oooing and ahhing over how cute he is...because I know it means he is already loved. Even now. Even when he is half a world away.

So, from the bottom of our hearts - Kamsahamnida!!!!


"For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer."
1 Timothy 4:4-5

Our sweetie at {5 months}

I just can't thank you enough for all of your sweet words of excitement and encouragement. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so much support!

As much as I wish we could post his picture here on the blog, I can't right now. But I can share his name, and I'm so excited to do so!

We've named our son LENNOX CHAN LITTLE. Lennox is just a name that we love. We had it narrowed down to three or four names, and when we saw him, we both instantly agreed that he was our Lennox. (Other names we considered were Oliver, Jude, and Bowen.) Chan is part of his Korean name that the intake worker at the agency gave him when he was brought in at just 1 day old. It means Brilliant. We definitely knew we wanted to include part of his Korean name if possible, and we think Chan is a name that others will be able to easily spell and pronounce throughout his life. So, there you have it! Our little sweetie will be Lennox Chan :)

In his file, we received a report from his 5 month well child visit. The foster mothers bring them to the agency once a month to see the doctor. It will be soon after this time each month that we hopefully receive an update and new pictures!

At 5 months, baby Lennox:

~Takes 6 oz of formula every four hours and burps easily. He is already trying to hold the bottle for brief periods!

~Goes to sleep at 10pm, wakes for a bottle at 3am, then falls back asleep until 8am. Though slightly fussy before going to bed, he falls asleep soon if laid on the futon and patted. He takes 2-3 naps a day, lasting 0.5-1 hour each. He sleeps with his foster mother on the futon laid out on the floor.

~He likes leg-stretching massages during diaper changes, and he enjoys bathing!

~He babbles a lot and squeals with delight when in a good mood. He turns over both ways, and rolls to desired places. He scoots backwards by creeping on his tummy, and is trying to creep on his knees! If a toy is placed in his hands, he plays with it for a while. He bears weight on his legs/feet when placed in a standing position. And he recognizes his foster mother and other family members!

It sounds like our big boy, who now weighs almost 16 pounds, is doing just great!! We know that he is being cared for and loved by his foster mother, and for that we will be forever grateful.