Life Lately

I've got a lot of catching up to do here! Just going to do a picture post of the last month!

Mailing a care pkg to Lennox

Bubble fun!

Book Charachter Dress-Up Day

Shopping with Mommy ;)

Dorado Grill!

An afternoon of football

And a date to the movies - just me and this stud muffin. 

Hayride! 

Hugh Goodwin Veterans Day parade 

We LOVE Fall

Provision

One huge way I've witnessed the Lord's provision through this process is through the friends He has placed in my life to share this journey with. The ladies pictured in this post are all adopting little ones from South Korea through Dillon International, and we all have ATK's just a few months apart. We all talk throughout the week, offering up listening ears, words of encouragement, and understand that you can get nowhere else. I love that God crossed our paths at this time, because their friendship has been invaluable to me. I love each of their babes so much and can't wait to rejoice with these families as we bring them home!

Last weekend, we all went to Dallas for a few days to attend the Tapestry adoption conference. I left loaded down with information but so so blessed. It was amazing to spend three days with these ladies, and I can assure you that very few minutes passed without us talking about our sweet sweet boys! 

(This was our table at one of the evening conferences...hehe. I think we were the only table there with a snack station. )

We heard some excellent speakers share their stories (including two Korean adoptees), some amazing professionals speak about attachment and bonding, and I can honestly say I do feel more prepared to bring our boy home. Our boy who will be hurting and grieving and will have just lost everything he's ever known. We want to do everything we can to heal his little heart. 

We also had some fun! We spent one evening shopping at IKEA!

Our last night there, we ate dinner at a Korean restaurant called OMI. It was the first time I'd had true Korean food. Some of it I loved, some was just ok, and some I had to pass on. But I am more excited about the eating we will do our few weeks we will spend in Korea! :)

Thank you, friends, for a much-needed weekend!! The fellowship was wonderful, and I'm praying we are all traveling soon! 

Lennox - Progress Report at 16 months

We received a written update on Lennox yesterday! Here's what he is up to at 16 months :) 

He likes to eat sticky rice, seaweed soup, stirfry anchovies, and seaweed snack. He also likes grapes, bananas, and apples. He does not like meat or cheese. 

After playing, he cleans up after himself. He likes to copy the foster mother when she cleans, makes a phone call, or brushes her hair. 

He is 21 pounds and 29 inches tall. 

He takes 7.5 ounces of formula three times a day. 

He likes to take a bath, and the foster mother gives him one every day. 

He takes 1 or 2 naps a day, and he sleeps at night from 11pm to 6am. 

He walks well. He likes to walk up stairs holding onto the rail. 

He can throw a ball well, and he can put tiny objects into the proper container. 

He brings objects from another room upon request. 

He identifies some body parts. 

He can vocalize his wishes or needs at the dinner table. 

He loves to imitate. 

He shows toy preference, and he exhibits independent behavior. 

He is very active and curious, and he receives lots of love and care in his foster home. 

So fun learning these little things about him! Anyone up for keeping me stocked on stir fry anchovies and seaweed when he comes home? Yuck! :)

Weekend in Natchez!

We arrived in Natchez later than I had hoped on Friday night so we checked in and then went for a late night DQ run! 

We stayed at this neat little cabin-style room on Lake St John. It was such a neat atmosphere! 

Up and ready to go spend the day in Natchez on Saturday!

Our first stop was Rosalie Plantation - Brooke's favorite :) Brent and I joined her and her friend, Kinsley, on a tour of the plantation. It was so interesting to hear all of those interesting stories about the house. It was originally built by a Mr. Little - distant relative, maybe?! :)

Later, we headed to Fat Mama's Tamales - my fave :) 

Once we were full of tamales and Natchez nachos, we headed over to where some vendors were set up to get the kids faces painted! 

Then it was time for a guided carriage tour! 

Patrick Swayze filmed the movie North and South here :)

I'm always in awe of the Great Mississippi River when I stand up here and look down on it. So beautiful!!

After letting the kids play down by the river for a bit, we headed to Dunleith Plantation - my very favorite place in Natchez. I could seriously spend days at this place. 

We ended the day at the Pig Out Inn - eating the most delicious BBQ sandwiches I've had in a long time. :)

It was too windy on Saturday for the hot air balloons, but they did fly on Sunday!

We let the kids play around the lake where we were staying on Sunday morning before heading home...it was sooo cold!