Long Overdue!!

Wow, has it really been that long since I updated my blog. I guess when you have four kids, something has to get forgotten.

Life has been busy and this winter in Iowa has been crazy. The kids seem to be having a snow day every week or so- unfortunately that means taking them on to the end of the school year and less summer vacation. We have also been sick a lot. When one kid gets sick, it is a domino effect. It last for a few days with one before the next comes down with the symptoms. You name it, we have had it. I will be very glad win this winter and the sickness is finally gone for awhile.

Our lives have also been filled with joyful events. In December, we celebrated Claire's 1st birthday (Toljabee in Korean) and it was wonderful. She wore her Hanbok (traditional Korean outfit) for part of her party and a cute little pink/brown tutu I made for the other part. We included some traditional Korean elements. We decorated her table with fruit, rice (rice krispie treats) and towers of candies. We also gave her a tray with lots of different items on it and the first one she chose was thread (long life- or in my mind she is going to like to sew like me) and then she picked the rice (wealth). We had lots of family and friends there to celebrate with us. She is truly a blessing in our life. She is standing alone and smiles and claps with us as we get so excited for her.

Christmas was so much fun for the kids even though the weather didn't always cooperate. It is so nice to have family close so we can spend the holidays with them. Claire did pretty good but still likes to stay close to mommy when lots of people are around. She did pretty good with Santa as long as her big brother was holding her. Grant wasn't afraid of Santa at all this year and went right up to him and gave him a hug.

January is here and almost gone and we recently got to enjoy celebrating Connor's 6th birthday. We are having a party with part of the family this weekend and last weekend we went with Nana and Papa to Incredible Pizza and the kids had a blast. It was our first time there and we will definitely go back. The boys all went on the go-karts and Papa and Grant won. Hunter can't wait to win when we go back for his birthday.

I have also undertaken the task of potty training Grant (this may be my least favorite job of motherhood so far). He is doing really good and I will be glad when he has it mastered. It is nice to not have two in diapers anymore.

It is amazing to think that we have had Claire home now for almost 6 months. Time has flown by and it is so clear she was always meant to be a part of our family. God knew this and has allowed her to fit into our family so well, that it feels like she has always been with us. She is loving, giving us and her dolls kisses (she even blew mommy a kiss tonight) and such a happy little girl. She sleeps great and loves her brothers. What a joy!

What can I say- I love my boys and my sweet little Claire!

It has been too long!

Ok, so it has been way to long since I posted last, but life has been hectic. When you have 4 kids someone is bound to have something wrong at any given time. Right now we are fighting fevers and bronchitis. The great thing is, at this point, Claire hasn't gotten what both the boys and I have. I am praying that God keeps her healthy.

She is such a doll and has grown very attached to mommy! I am thankful for this as I really need that for my own bonding with her. At times though, it is exhausting when she just wants mommy. She loves her daddy too and laid in bed with him for a long time this morning, just playing with his face. Her brothers are great at making her laugh (we got some great video of her letting out big laughs when she was playing with Hunter earlier this week).

Claire is walking around furniture and is my first baby to say mama before she has said dada. She is eating lots and will eat almost anything we put in her mouth. God has truly blessed us with a wonderful daughter.

She has also started falling to sleep on her own in her crib. I used to have to rock her, but now when it is nap time or bed time she will let me just lay her down with her binky and and her blankie. I still love rocking her especially when I am giving her a bottle (it is a great time to bond) but now I don't feel like my whole day is just spent in the rocking chair.

I can't wait for next Sunday and her baby shower. It is going to be fun to show her off. I am having a hard time picking out what she is going to wear since she looks cute in everything. I had to buy her some new shoes (size 2) because all of the ones I had were way to big. I guess she won't be joining the size 10 tradition for women in my family (my mom, grandma and I all wear that size:)!

It is hard to think that she has only been with us for 2 months. It feels like she has always been a part of our family. We love her to pieces!

Here are a few recent pictures of the kids:

What an angel!

It is crazy to think that just a few days ago we were picking up our precious little girl from the airport. It all still seems so surreal to me. I wonder if that feeling will every go away?

Claire is doing better than we could have hoped! She is a happy girl giving us lots of smiles and even laughing at us when she thinks we are funny. I love when I carry her over in front of the mirror and she laughs then looks up at me and smiles. She was so entertaining last night as she played on the

floor, looking at Chad and I with her cute smile.

Her brothers love giving her attention. Little Grant is even having fun imitating things that his little sis does. The cutest is when she shakes her arms and tries to clap and he follows.

She is still sleeping great. She goes to bed around 9:30 and sleeps until 7 or later. She usually has a few naps during the day and I have found that she falls to sleep pretty easily in my arms. I can then go lay her crib and she will sleep in there for a while.

She is crawling now too. It is so fun to watch her. She tries to crawl into the kitchen to get me when she hears my voice or sees my face. Once she gets to me, she has a big smile on her face.

Claire also loves when I put her in the carrier. She is immediately content as soon as I put it on wrap it around her. She has already fallen asleep in it many times.

I am so in love with this little girl. It already feels like she has been a part of our family forever. We are enjoying every minute of this gift that God has given us. We are so thankful and blessed!

She's Home!

Kisses from big brother Connor

Claire's welcome home sign (thanks Lorna)!

Even when she is crying she is cute!

Meeting her great-grandpa!

Our sweet daughter

Brother is so excited to show Claire her sign that he doesn't even care that it is upside down.

Claire and her escort

The boys waiting for their sister to arrive

What an amazing experience. I can't believe that just hours ago we held our baby girl for the first time. It still feels surreal. I was so worried that the wait at the airport would be hard, but time seemed to fly by as we were waiting. I was looking at the arrival board and her plane was scheduled to land in 10 minutes, then quickly switched to arrived! She had landed ten minutes early. Our baby girl was here!

I had spent the time waiting talking to everyone, including the mother of the girl who had escorted little Claire on the plane. The daughter an adult adoptee from Korea herself had been volunteering in Korea when she had heard that she could apply to escort a baby here when she returned home. She applied and was lucky enough to get to bring our little girl to us just as some had for her years before. Hearing the story from her mother made me cry. It was so emotional.

The anticipation was overwhelming. Everyone so excited, our extended family, the boys and our friends! Minutes later I laid eyes on my sweet baby. Her eyes were closed and she had a cute little hat on. Her wonderful escort began to unload Claire's bag and then I reached for my little cutie. She was crying, but I didn't care. Even her cry is sweet (at least at this point, give me a few months:). When I was holding her, I lost all track of anything around me. It was like I was in my own little world, just me and my daughter. I do remember showing her off to everyone and letting her big brothers all give her kisses (they love her already, especailly Connor who can't get enough of her).

The plane ride was rough for her and she had only slept two hours the whole time so she cried at the airport and at home until she finally fell asleep. Amazingly, she was awake and quite the whole 15 minute car ride home from the airport, but as soon as I took her out she was crying again.

The first night home went better than we could have hoped for. She fell asleep around 7 and slept in her crib until 2. I gave her a bottle then and she cried for a little while after she had finished it. Chad helped me get the baby carrier on and within seconds she had fallen back to sleep. I laid her back down in her crib and she was good until 4:15. Both her and Grant were crying (not really sure who woke up who) but daddy went in, rubbed her tummy and back and she has been asleep ever since (it is now 8am). I hope she sleeps this good every night!

I will go for now, but will leave you some photos from our wonderful day!