To My Wife....

Ya know, I read a lot of other people's blog and all they want to talk about is their new baby from China or the difficulties they are having with bonding or medical issues. What I haven't seen too much of is a tribute to their spouse. Either the spouse was involved only in the adoption process, or they are the ones who take the pictures of the new parent with the baby so the other parent can blog about how great life is. So, I am going to do what not too many other people do, talk about my wife.

Over the last six weeks, I have seen Shelby transform into the greatest mother anyone can ask for. She is very attentive to Sawyer's needs and desires to learn. She plays games, sing songs (not in tune I might add, but she does sound better than me), colors, paints and goes to activities with our little hero.

While we are very lucky to have Sawyer in our life, I am very lucky to have Shelby in Our lives. Thank You Shelby for being Sawyer's Mommy and my wife. We wouldn't know what to do without you.

Our Little Man.....

Sawyer is a little trooper. Yesterday he had tube put into his ears to help drain the fluid. It was a little bit of a rough morning for Shelby. But, by last evening, he was back to his old self.

It even looked like he could already notice a difference in his hearing. He started making faces that we have never seen before. It was like he was hearing things he has never heard before.

After getting clearence from the doctor, Sawyer started his swimming lessons tonight. I swear, this boy was a fish in his former life, or something, he loves to be in the water.

Eventhough the Doctor said it was okay for the boy to go swimming, I did my best to keep his head from going under water. But, Sawyer had other ideas. He loved to make the water splash and jump off the side of the pool into my arms.

We then went back home and enjoyed a quiet evening at home. Sawyer played with the dogs, explored the house looking for left over food on his high chair. Then he sat in front of the TV to pose for daddy. We are so lucky to be his parents.

All about the Pictures.....

We have had some more requests for more pictures of Sawyer. So, I asked Sawyer if he wanted more pictures taken of him and this was his first reaction...

He said, "let me think about it dad......................Well, I guess so. But, let me play a tune for you on my piano, first."

Bee Bee is a big fan of Sawyer the Great. So, here is some pictures to satify the Sawyer fans for now.

About Last Week...

Our little man has been very busy over the past week getting to know us and our extended family, our friends.

Last Friday, our friend Holly came over from Spokane to meet Sawyer, her Godson, for the first time since we've been home.

We had our friends, Melanie, Mike, Nancy, Nancy's sister Betty and her daughter Brianna over for an official meeting of Sawyer. We all had a great time. Melanie liked playing with Sawyer.

On Sunday, we went to Chinook Pass by Mt. Rainier to do a little hiking on the Tipso Lake trail.
I carried Sawyer up the trail....

...while Shelby carried him down.

Sawyer gave the whole experience a thumbs up.

Tonight, we got the cool dude ready to go to Seattle to meet our mandarin teacher and his wife....

...then we went to get Ethiopian food for take out.

Who knew our boy would love the food?

I swear, this boy will eat anything, which is very good for us.

A Little Story...

For almost 20 months, our Superhero, Sawyer, searched high and low to find his parents. He would often go to the Green Lake in Kunming to dream of two loving people who would care for him for a lifetime.

Then one day, he got the call. It was like when a minor leager gets notified that he is going to the BIG SHOW. Sawyer had been called up to the majors. His Parents were coming to bring him home to Maple Valley, Washington.

Saywer was a little apprehensive at first....

...he wasn't too sure about these people, so he turned on his Super Protection Foam that spews from his mouth until it creates an inpenitrable fortress around him.

Once the foam has fully formed it's protective barrier, our little hero is totally relaxed.

Once the Super Foam faids away, he drinks his super potion...

...then dawns Daddy's Super Boston Red Sox cap...

...and runs around with happiness, knowing that he has found his Parents and that they LOVE him very much.

What It's Like to be a Mom...

So this is the female version of Scott's last post...

A lot of people have asked me what it feels like to be a mother. And I was thinking about this today. I was actually trying to fish a poop sample out of the toilet for Sawyer's doctors visit (yes I know probably TMI). That's when I realized that on the surface - THIS is what it feels like to be a mom....it all comes down to poop. On a different level though...my honest answer to the whole "what it feels like to be a mom question" - I really do not feel any different from how I did pre-Sawyer. I mean, sure, my life revolves around poop, and there is another person in my life that I am getting to know and that I love with all my heart and soul, but frankly, I do not feel any different (other than the poop fascination). I did not have some big "epiphany" or meet Sawyer and feel like my world view had shifted. I did not have all these "rainbows & unicorns" visions of what would happen when Scott and I added to our family. Call me a realist or what you will, but I had no expectations, one way or the other. I just knew it was what we wanted to do and how we wanted to move forward. It was the right path for us.

So, what I did feel was that a new chapter in my life was beginning. It is my personal belief that children do not change your life, but add to it's sweetness. They are a gift to be loved and learned from.

Ok - enough of the philosophical crap....and on to more important stuff... PICS of the BOY!!!

This is Sawyer's facial expression when he sees that Dad has pulled out the camera yet again....

This is what we call the "DAD?! Not ANOTHER picture?????" facial expression.

OK...well if you force me to take these pictures, I will lower myself and model for you...but only this once... please notice my cuteness and fine physic....

Ok, well maybe I don't actually mind the pictures since they are for my adoring fans, so here is a smiley one for them....

But please remember that to be this cute, I must get my beauty sleep...

What it is to be a Father.....

My buddy Mike from down the street asked me the other day, "so, how does it feel to be a father?" Well, Mike, I can tell you now that it is the most unbelievable feeling in the world. I have a child that I can corrupt...erh...Influence that way my father influenced me. My only hope can be is that he comes out of life with the same morals and determination to get things done that my parents and Shelby's parents taught us.

Sawyer is just starting to come out of his shell toward his daddy. Since our Gotcha Day, we has been a mamma's boy, but just over the past few days, he has become more trusting in me. Oh what a feeling that is to know that your child will come to you (and not mommy all the time) if he has a problem. Sawyer is an awesome little boy, he has a wonderful personality and is always showing us something new every day. I love our little man.