The Reason You Don't Have A Christmas Card From Us

I just had my sixth cup of coffee for the day...and it's 9:40...in the evening! The adrenaline from our homecoming has officially worn off (not bad - it lasted for several weeks), and I have resorted to caffeinated substances (and a short nap) to get me through the day. :) Our days are tiring, but the disjointed nights are taking a toll; the little man likes to wake around 12 and 4 every night. That and I feel like I sleep with one eye open and one ear tuned to the baby monitor that glows on our night stand.

So...just what have we been up to in the weeks since our return on November 27? We:
- Unpacked from our 6 week jaunt around the world
- Reacclimated to our time and culture (the time change was easy...but the excess and ease of life that we have continue to boggle our minds)
- Introduced Asher to family and friends
- Started back to work (tutoring some and Florida Virtual) 3 days after our return
- Had family visit for four days
- Bought dining room chairs in Jacksonville (so exciting! We have had a beautiful dining room table since May that we have not sat at!)
- Hosted a family dinner for Derick's birthday...five days after our return
- Hosted a Welcome Home party for Asher...eleven days after our return
- Created two different slide shows of pictures from our journey to Asher (one is long and the other is really long :) )
- Battled a mean cold (Derick and Asher)
- Decorated for Christmas...sort of (I put the Christmas tree up and put the lights on...the ornaments still sit snugly in their box next to the tree...that is okay - the lights were always my favorite part anyways). Derick also put outside lights up for the first time in our married life; I love them! :)
- Braved the mall to go Christmas shopping (my first time at the mall without looking at the other mothers and wondering "what would it be like if...")
- Completed our first post-placement report detailing Asher's first month as a Wyss
- Raked the yard and planted some trees
- Became official holders of the Sam's Club silver and blue card (diapers and formula add up!)
- Had our first "professional" family picture
- Best of all, grew in our love and bond with our precious boy

In that same time, Asher:
- Got another tooth!
- Went to the pediatrician's for the first time
- Was diagnosed with a sinus infection
- Had a cold
- Met more than 40 people who already love him
- Met his puppies
- Went shopping
- Went to Starbuck's (more than once)
- Gained 3 pounds
- Decided that being held is preferable to sitting on the floor
- Grew more hair
- Learned how to pull up
- Celebrated his 11 month birthday
- Became a pro at standing (while holding on)
- Learned how to get small pieces of food from his tray to his mouth
- Had a million pictures taken
- Added "ooba, mamamamama, kkkkch, and agaa" (and other sounds) to his vocabulary
- Learned just how to melt in our arms and fit his head perfectly in the crook of our necks

I know it is not good to make excuses, but do you see why I haven't sent out Christmas cards? Just imagine these pics on the front of your card :)




I hope to write again before Christmas, but just in case (seven cups of coffee might be pushing it)...Merry Christmas to our dear friends and family!! May your day be joyous as you celebrate the amazing gift of Christ.

Asher Makes New Friends

The second most common series of questions that we get since our return home is: How does Asher like the dogs? How do the dogs like him?

Check out the slideshow below to see what Asher thinks of his furry friends (and to see what they think of him). :) It helps that Asher doesn't mind a spit bath.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Family Anniversary

One month ago today, we woke up in Semey to a perfectly pristine layer of snow that made all that was gray the day before sparkle. We also woke up to an inbox full of notes of encouragement and joy. One month ago today, a rotund Russian woman handed down a decision that forever changed our lives. We went to sleep that night knowing that although we were parents on paper, the next day when we would pick Asher up from the Baby House would mark the true beginning of our experience as mama and daddy.

It is hard to remember before - that is before we held Asher, heard his laugh, and gazed into his sparkling eyes. We're not sure if it is the pure joy and delight or the whirlwind that we have been living in since...September, but our memory seems hazy when it comes to recollecting our lives before Asher. There is after court, after the apartment in Semey, after that unforgettable flight from Semey, after our 10 day stay in Almaty, after our first week home, after Asher's welcome home party...and now. I hear Asher in the bathtub, splashing and vocalizing his great joy, and I hear my wonderful husband blowing raspberries with our son. The tinkling of his bedtime music plays over the intercom, and all seems right in our little corner of the world.

It is hard to believe that a month has already gone by, and yet, it feels like our little man has been a part of our family forever.

p.s. We have some great pictures and video to share as well as riveting reflections to record, but we decided that today would just be about celebrating our family's anniversary. Thank you for rejoicing with us.