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.