새해 복 많이 받으세요

Today is Lunar New Year in Korea, otherwise known as Seol-ral. This marks the beginning of a three day celebration, in which many Koreans head to their hometowns to celebrate with their family.
I wish you all many blessings in this new year.

My Christmas tree typically comes down on New Years Day. Even if I have to drag it out myself, I just can't bear to look at it anymore. This year, I gave in and the tree stayed up an extra week. The reindeer blog background, however, overstayed it's welcome. I needed something a little lighter and a little brighter. I hope you like it.

NINE MONTHS

It's been nine months since our application for adoption was submitted to our agency. A typical pregnancy would be over by now, and our little baby would be home, ringing in the new year. This is not a typical pregnancy.
At this point our baby (if the current timeframe remains accurate) is in his or her 3rd trimester. I wonder if he's kicking and rolling around as I type this. I wonder how his first mother is feeling, what food she is craving, if she is at peace in her adoption plan. I wonder if she is sad that her time with this precious little one is coming to a close. I also wonder if she thinks about us.
My thoughts will be with her over the next 3 months, as it will over all the months and years to follow.

CHEERS!

We rang in the New Year as we do every year saying goodbye to one year, and hello to another. Hoping this one will be even better than the last. I always expect to wake up in the New Year feeling somehow different, but in the end it's usually just another day, with a different number to remember when writing out the checks. Even way back in 2000, nothing spectacular really happened. We woke up expecting the computers to shut down, chaos to ensue and our clocks to stop, not knowing how to respond to this crazy new millenium. What a let down (and a relief).
2006 was different. In 2006 we counted down to a year that would bring our little girl home from the NICU. Things would definitely change in our life. I woke up that morning feeling excited and ready to start as a family of 3. Much as I woke up today. Today begins a new year. This is the year that we will meet our new son or daughter. I can't tell you all how much I look forward to ending 2009 as a family of 4!
I hope all your dreams come true in 2009.