It's a Boy - 2 Years Later

It is hard to believe two years have passed since we got the call that would change the course our lives forever - our prayers and dreams were answered and we were matched with a boy. The boy that would become our son.  You can read all about that day here.

He has made such progress during this time, in fact, we all have.  In the (almost) year and a half since he has been home, he has learned to feed himself (yay!), walk (and then run), crawl up the stairs and talk. A lot.  His vocabulary is growing exponentially, although his go-to words are still: hi, hello, 'tinky, oh dear, Mama! Papa! Nuna! Joe-Joe! (no longer "Doh-Doh") and choo-choo.

He has been a trooper through three surgeries - all with great success. We learned this past week that one year out from his eye surgery everything is perfect - and we hope it stays that way.

He went from being afraid of our pets (not having any experience with them in Korea) to giving them "pat-pats" every day and saying "awwww" whenever he sees one. As much as he loves the inside pets, he ADORES our outside animals, especially the turkeys.  He will chase after them with outstretched hands calling "here gobble, gobble" and trying to pet them.  The chickens are a close second - and once it gets warmer outside and he sees the pigs more, I know he will be fascinated with them as well.

He overcame his grass aversion - good thing, since we now live on 5 acres - and loves to trek around outside.  We are looking forward to a very fun (and messy) spring and summer.

I could go on and on about how much he has grown, how we are better people for having him in our lives, how thankful we are that Omma and Appa took such great care of him in Korea - but I know you're looking for the pictures of our handsome little man.  I'm posting this tonight from my in-laws house so I don't have access to all my pictures.  Please check back as more photos and video will be coming.

Thank you for joining us on our journey with Joe Sung Min!

He loves his nuna (big sister)

...and his Papa too 

Cranes that go u-u-u-u-p!

And trains that go "choo choo"

Firetrucks, trains and Grandma too!

And most of all his family. :)

Busy, busy, busy....

Little man is keeping us busy and on our toes.  From the time he wakes up until the time he naps or goes to bed at night he is on. the. go.  You'll often hear him yelling "Go, go, go, faster faster!" or "Hurry, hurry, come on!" as he races from room to room.  People are amazed he is such a constant ball of energy.  More often than not, as he moves from place to place and toy to toy (trains, fire trucks, books and blocks are his current favorites) you'll hear him saying "busy, busy, busy."  He also says it as hey comes up to me as I'm working, but it doesn't stop him from asking me to read a book or watch some Choo Choo Soul on the computer. :)

Taking a good picture of him is getting more challenging as he shows up as a blur, but I keep trying.  I had some luck recently when we went to the Open House at Liv's old school - he had a blast in the preschool playing in the house and with the kitchen (anything with doors that open and close will keep him occupied) and then in the 1st grade classroom which was train-themed and filled with Thomas the Tank Engine items. Mrs. Quinn even let him push the button that made the whistle blow. So exciting! 

He definitely keeps us busy, busy, busy and we can't wait until the weather warms up so he can use up his energy outside chasing the animals and just being a kid.

He isn't always a happy camper...be thankful there is no sound :)