THANK YOU.

It's been a long journey. While I wrote this for our son, I kept it public because I hoped it helped those thinking about adoption, in process for adoption or those families navigating through the first year as a family. I have read many adoption blogs. I remember logging on to read about the referral days and imagining that one day that would be us, and yet that day sometimes seemed so very far away. Then I logged on to read about the families traveling to their children and being united on their Gotcha Days. I imagined that one day that would be us, and yet again that day sometimes seemed so very far away. I logged on to read about the first days home, the grieving, the sleeping, the eventual bonding and shed some tears watching all these families grow through the miracle of adoption. I may not have commented much, but I read and I have learned, and I will continue to follow many of you.
The past few years has taught me so much. One of the most important lessons in our quest to make another child ours, is that neither of our children actually belong to us. They are their own person. It's our job to help these little people grow to be strong, safe, secure, confident, loved and independent enough to pursue their dreams. If the day comes that our son decides it is a dream to find his birth family, I pray that we as parents feel confident enough, and strong enough, to support that dream.
The adoption journey does not end with finalization. It is a way of life. Our son may have questions, and insecurities that our daughter will not face. We have made a promise that we will always do our best and always love our son. And like most parents (adoptive and biological) I pray we don't screw it up.

I knew this blog would end one day. Two blogs and two kids are a lot to maintain. I have decided to merge both my children's blogs into one family blog. I hate to say goodbye, as I know the disappointment I have felt, when the families I followed have abruptly come to an end. If you would like an invite (my future blog will be private) please e-mail me at mdev57 @ hotmail dot com (subject blog invite) or leave your e-mail in the comments.
If you are reading because you are struggling with building your family, I hope you come to peace with your struggles. I also hope you find the family and the happiness you dream of having one day.


For now I say goodbye and thank you for reading, sharing, and celebrating with us. I am ending with a little Robert Frost. Yes, I am well aware that this is a little over the top dramatic. I am simply ending a blog, not winning an Oscar... but it's a beautiful poem with a beautiful sentiment, and well... it's my blog so I'll end it anyway I choose.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
~Robert Frost

WHAT HAPPENED TO NOVEMBER?

November is National Adoption Month, Prematurity Awareness Month and Thanksgiving. All the things that built our family, ending in a day designated for giving thanks. Perfect. In the past I celebrated and mourned this month. Celebrated our son, our daughter and mourned the two that came too early. This year I celebrate(d). There comes a time that you make peace with the things that cause you to struggle. Some might believe that all things happen for a reason. I believe that our life events, both the good and the bad, lead us towards the decisions we make. It's up to us to make that decision. Our daughter's prematurity and our sons' short lives, led us to choosing that path less travelled. They led us to our son. Because of them, a boy was given a home, and a family was given the opportunity to share their love with a son/grandson/nephew. What once felt like a curse, now feels like a blessing. It amazes me the impact that those two lives have had on so many. They changed my world. I celebrate(d) each one of my children this (that) month.

No. It's not November. You caught me. I missed it. I did write this post IN November (does that count?) but hadn't actually published it, as I was waiting to include our big Adoption Day photos. That's right we have FINALLY FINALIZED. I have been too busy to update. Shame on me.
So our big finalization...I kept telling myself it was just a technicality. Kalvis is no more my son today as he was one year ago. This is just the paperwork. Sitting in the courtroom surrounded by our families (both physically and in spirit for those unable to attend), listening to the judge... yeah I cried. Just a LITTLE bit. As it turns out it was a big deal. I feel proud, blessed, and honored that we were given this opportunity to grow our family in a most unexpectedly perfect way.






And when it was all said and done, our boy not only became a legal member of our family, but a legal citizen of the USA. Nothing left to do but kick back and assume the role of the "lazy American".

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

FAMILY DAY

Some people celebrate Gotcha Day. Gotcha Day is known in the Adoption community as the day the parents got their child. Our Gotcha Day was October 23, 2009. This entire week I was thinking about our Gotcha Day and our week in Korea. The anxiety, excitement, fear, thrill and the absolute love that washed over us when we saw those little dimples and heard his raspy little baby babble. It was a special time that I will never ever forget.

Gotcha Day October 23, 2009. In the cab leaving the agency with our little boy. I love this picture because I can see every emotion I felt in both these faces. It was intense, to say the least.

The day we choose to celebrate is October 28,. October 28 2009 we arrived back in the USA with our beautiful son and ran to embrace our little girl who proudly held a sign at the gate reading, "Welcome Home Baby Brother". This is the day our family was complete. This is the day we will celebrate.
It was like crossing a finish line of a VERY VERY long sometimes painful race.
From the moment you sign and seal the application for adoption you think of this day. The big homecoming!!! You think it will be a very happy ending. The truth is that one year ago today, was our very happy beginning.
Happy Family Day, Kalvis. I love you with all my heart. xoxo








This is also the day we celebrate Imants. HAPPY BIRTHDAY IMANTS!!!!!!

A DAY AT THE FARM

REINTRODUCING WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY...

Does anyone still read this blog? I took a long hiatus and think I lost my readers. I write it for Kalvis, so it's ok if it's just me and my mom. LOL. I just wondered.

PUMPKIN AND APPLE PICKING

BREAKFAST AT OUR HOUSE

I left the room for two seconds. Kalvis made himself (and the dog) breakfast.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A WONDERFUL BIG SISTER!

Happy Birthday Livija. I can hardly believe our girl is 5. It's also hard to believe that one year ago we tucked her into bed on her birthday at vecmamina's house and boarded a plane for South Korea.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

MAMA'S LITTLE HELPER

Kalvis is starting to help around the house. He'll help unload the dishwasher, and then typically open a drawer and throw in handfulls of silverware. He'll even help set the table. We each end up with more utensils than we need (and maybe a candle or two), but it's sweet and he's so proud of himself.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAPPY!

October 5th, marked the first of a month of birthdays and celebrations. Pappy, Grandma and Pop-Pop came over for dinner and a cake (made by chef Livija). Happy Birthday, Pappy! We hope all your birthday wishes came true!

UPDATE!!

Kalvis is doing really great. He is in the 100% for height. This explains why he eats like a horse but doesn't seem to gain weight. it's all in his height. He isn't saying too much, but he is babbling a lot. I think there will be a big word explosion any day now. We're not worried about this, considering he had Korean for 9 months and now has both English and Latvian in the home. He's sorting it out. He definitely understands everything we say and follows all directions we give him (in both English and Latvian).
Right now he says
Mama
Papa
Ball
He also knows a lot of animal sounds
dogs say "Woof"
Cows say "Moo"
Monkeys say "Oo Ooo Ooo" while pounding his chest Tarzan style
Sheep say "Baaa"
Lions say the cutest "RAAR" you ever did hear.

But the absolute best is when I said "What does Kalvis say?" Without missing a beat he smiles and says, "Mama". Yes, he is indeed a Mama's boy.

THE CHRISTENING

It was a beautiful day. Kalvis was surrounded by friends and family which filled my entire yard with love and support for our little man as he was welcomed into the Lutheran Church.





Kalvis and his Godmother, Sarma


Kalvis with his Godfather, Scott


Kalvis with his other Godfather (a Liepins family tradition), Brock


Kalvis and his Godparents

Summer is coming to an end...

... so I guess it's time to share what has kept me so busy I haven't been a good blogger.
I'm trying to catch up though. This past July we went on our first vacation as a family of four. It was awesome. We introduced Kalvis to Latvian camp. Nothing like a week in the mountains with good friends. Livija joined her third year with the "ikskisi" group. This is a camp for the little ones that is chock full of activities ran by the parents of our littlest campers. Kalvis loved every minute of it. He swam, ran, danced, played, caught frogs, and danced some more. Kalvis and LIvija's 4 cousins joined us for the week, along with many other friends, both new and old. If you have a minute, sit back and enjoy our week. It kind of makes me sad that summer is coming to a close. I'll be working hard in updating the blog to the rest of our summer. We've been swimming, playing, celebrating Kalvis' Christening and even threw in a trip to Disney World to end the summer. All these wonderful things is why I'm a little backlogged. I hope you all enjoyed your summer as much as we did.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

SWIMMING IN BLACK AND WHITE

WELCOME TO THE JERSEY SHORE

At some point I will rewind and post our vacation pictures. I'm realizing that I am getting so far behind, I'll just have to start from where we're at and backtrack with a slideshow a little later...In the meantime here is our latest day trip to the Jersey Shore.

During the application process we were asked our favorite childhood memory. Mine, hands down, is the Jersey Shore. Every year we went. My parents, My aunt and uncle, and my Grandmother all lived together for one week. Days on the beach. Nights on the boardwalk. I would be so excited to go, I couldn't sleep the night before. Livija loves it. And now it's time to introduce Kalvis to the beach.
I think the pictures speak for themselves....







I even got some rare pictures of me with the kids!