HALLOWEEN

IZY - the Monkey!!!!

Off to the Pumpkin Patch......we went!!!

A few pictures of our big day at the Pumpkin Patch this weekend.

Sweet Boy

Another recent picture that I wanted to share.

Isaac still loves books and balls; trains and tractors. He can say TOUCHDOWN and do the arms raised up sign for it. He likes to wiggle his arms to show what an Octupus (Octi) does. I figure an octupus has to do that as many arms as they have. The last few nights when we've walked at night....he has found the moon and kinda keeps tabs on it during our walk. He's a snuggle bug and likes to give hugs and kisses. LOVES to say and wave bye bye. Izy also really likes shoes! :-)

I was looking at a few blogs today and noticed on my good friend Ruth's (Izzy's Mom) blog.....that today marks 300 days since our GNR. I didn't realize that at all. That number sounds like such a long time ago. Nowadays when i think of this time last year......i know i was really really getting ready. And thinking and knowing it could be anytime. The hard part of waiting was really getting cranked up. I always thought we would travel the week right after Thanksgiving. Not sure why. It just seemed like a good time i guess. Turns out we found out about our GNR a week and a half after Thanksgiving and then traveled 6 days later. I know.....6 days later...wow! And my life hasn't been the same since. (well...i guess actually it hasn't been the same since I started the process).

It's so hard for me to imagine my life without Isaac. I always knew being a Mom would be great.....but never knew how great. Don't get me wrong.....it's hard.....harder than i ever imagined....for so many reasons. Some days I think I'm doing ok....and other days i think i'm not very good at this. I've been told this is all normal....i sure hope so. But when i see that little face and see his sweet smile and hear that laugh......i just feel this incredible lump in my throat and smile in my heart. I have to believe this was always God's plan for me......to be Isaac's Momma.

Isaac Berke Van "Izy Berke" has indeed......stole his Mommy's heart!

Explanation

I should have explained the lawnmower picture in the previous post.

That's the mower (tractor as Izy would say) that was flipped over during the tornado and landed upside down. My dad has worked on it here and there and was able to get it to run again. But it's still without a top. :-)

btw....Izy LOVES tractors. About everything with wheels is a tractor. BUT he's still a little unsure about riding on one just yet.

Time for another post

I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post.

Isaac is doing good. Getting bigger every day.

This past weekend marked our 9-month Forever Family anniversary! And Isaac will be 18 months old next week! Time is really going by quick.

Here are a few recent pictures.

Izy Izy Izy

Have I mentioned that Isaac likes to eat?! Haven't really found anything he doesn't like.

This summer he is especially enjoying veggies from Papa's garden. Fried okra, squash, and corn (see picture below) are big hits.

His vocabulary is growing each day. And the volume of his little voice is too! :-)

He now knows what a choo choo train is and loves it when he hears one. (at Nana & Papa's house)

Izy still loves balls and books! He loves to clap when he puts a ball in a basket or anything for that matter in something. But he also expects his audience to clap as well. (which they always do)

He enjoyed a visit from his big cousin Katelyn last night. She had him laughing histerically!

Today the little fella is 16 months old! Where has the time gone? We've been home 7 months. Our little family has adjusted so well and as Papa said last night.......what did we ever do before Isaac.


One note on Nana & Papa. Some of you may remember from an earlier post...in February...their house was hit by the tornado that came through Atkins. Well...today they officially bought (closed) a house in Atkins and will be moving in next weekend! They can finally move forward with a new home and Isaac and I are very very happy and excited for them!

A few new pictures

Nothing much new going on with us......as today marks Isaac's 15-month birthday and puts us being home exactly 6 months!

Just have a few recent cute pictures I wanted to post.

Wow......6 months!

On Saturday we celebrated our 6 month anniversary of being a forever family!

Wow! In some ways the time has gone by so fast, but at the same time it's hard for me to remember my life before Isaac. He is this little bundle of energy that remains a contant blessing to me!

I took a few new pictures (we had a cake to celebrate), but my camera may be on it's last legs.....so not going to be able to post the pictures. (maybe i'll go ahead and post one that was from last weekend :-))

Izy and I are very excited that our good friends (and fellow VietMoms) the Russell's and O'Connors are now in Vietnam to bring home their little ones. We can't wait to get to see and play with Sam and Liam! We're very very happy and thrilled for the families including big sis Zoe and big brother Ben!

Izy doing one of his many funny face smiles. this is a newer one.


couldn't resist this one where Molly pops her head in at the last minute. :-)

Look out world....here comes Isaac!

The little guy is walking! I'd say it was official Mother's Day weekend. And he continues to get faster and less wobbly. I kinda like the wobbles though.

He is really growing and talking. Only some things are understandable. Some words/phrases......i wonder if he is speaking in Vietnamese. But i think no....couldn't be. He seems so determined when he talks....and i just can't tell what it is.

Ohhh...but then there are the infamous words that begin with 'B'. Got to be his favorite letter.

bottle, ball, balloon, book (his favorites)....but there are others too.....big, blankie, bib, etc.... It's amazing how many words begin with a 'B' that are BABY-related.....or at least Isaac-related.

We went to our first pool party this weekend. (actually Isaac's first trip to the pool). He was in a little innertube with a seat and wasn't so sure about the whole thing at first....but then decided....he liked the water! We had a good time.....it was big cousin Katelyn's 7th birthday swim party.

I will post a picture a little later.

Pictures (in general) of Isaac may deceive you. He looks so serious. But he's really not. At least not very often. Most of the time he's this funny little fella...that likes to laugh and smile and squeal and chase Molly and Blazer! And i don't think he understands why Molly anyway, runs the other direction when she 'hears' him coming! :-)


Izy is all decked out for his first Picklefest!


He's not so sure about his little pool.


But ended up really liking the big swimming pool.

Isaac gets a haircut!

Since Isaac's first birthday has come and gone, i knew it was time to finally get his hair cut. His back and sides were getting really long. Saturday was the day. He was a perfect boy and sat still all during it. He especially enjoyed seeing himself in the big mirror. Here are a few pictures of the big event. :-)

Happy Birthday Isaac!

Isaac turned 1 year old on Easter Sunday (23rd)!

We had a bunny-themed party on Saturday complete with an Easter egg hunt. There was a full house on hand to help Isaac celebrate!

A few pictures. 1st one is Saturday morning. He's letting everyone know (a little sideways) how old he is. Next......really enjoying his birthday cake....and looks like also specifying how old he is. And lastly....a little too bright and early Easter morning.

The last several weeks have been very busy for Isaac and his mommy. We started back to work/daycare the third week of February. And since then, either one or both of us has been pretty much sick just about every day. Hoping it's just a seasonal and 'new to daycare' thing. And we'll get past it. Other than that......everything has been great! Isaac has a funny smile he does on command and also just when he feels like it. It's great for laughs and we all love it. But even more than that I love his real smile and laugh.....which i seem to be seeing and hearing on a regular basis now......and that is so nice. He's growing so much (not walking yet) and i'm just amazed everyday how well he has adjusted. He's such a sweet, smart, friendly, and happy baby boy! And as I've said before and will continue to say.....I am truly blessed!

Baptism and Tornado

Feb. 3rd was a very special day. We had Isaac's Baptism in the morning during Mass at my hometown church in Atkins. Several family members and friends were present, as well as our church family. Afterwards my Aunt and Uncle hosted a special celebration brunch at their house. Then in the afternoon, church and family hosted a wonderful shower for Isaac and me. This was the first time many friends and relatives had gotten to see him. He was a little late for his own shower. His Papa had to bring him as he had fallen asleep after his big morning. :-) The picture is taken after Mass. Isaac and I are surrounded by our priest, grandparents, and godparents. It was definitely a very special day to remember.

Feb. 5th was another day to remember, but for a very different reason. My parent's house along with many of their neighbors' was badly damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes in Arkansas (Atkins). My parents are ok. They were in a neighbor's storm cellar. Tragically, the family that lost their life, was my parent's next door neighbors. It's sad beyond words and really just very hard to make any kind of sense of. My parents are moving into a rent house this weekend. They plan/hope to rebuild. I am of course most greatful that they are ok. And it's really amazing the tremendous amount of support and help they have gotten from family, friends, co-workers, community, and complete strangers. I know it's a bit overwhelming for them at times......in witnessing all the kindness. Even little Isaac was a help during the week after. Since i am still on adoption leave, (i go back to work full time on the 20th) we were able to be there quite a bit. And you could just tell when they got to see and hold him.......it helped!! So....that was a good thing.

The Big 1-0 !!!

Today is Isaac's 10-month birthday. It's hard to believe we've already been home a month. As someone else said....in some ways being in Vietnam really seems just like a dream. It went by so fast. It's hard for me to remember life before Isaac. He is adjusting so well. It's really amazing. He loves cheerios and puffs (as you can see from the picture....sometimes they don't always make it in his mouth). He can paddy-cake, wave bye-bye, give 5, and best of all.....he gives big sloppy kisses and occasionally says....Momma. He likes playing with his toys and has started watching some dvds, which is great.....because it gives me a chance to do a little here and there.....while he is being entertained. :-)

I still plan to do a semi-Vietnam-recap. But i know the longer i wait.....the less and less i will remember. Need to get on that for sure.

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive throughout this journey!

Isaac and the water bowl

Isaac found Molly's water bowl last night and had a fun time playing in it. I think maybe he will like going swimming next summer.