I couldn't have said it better myself

A love of reading shows curiosity about the world & how it works, whether you're reading a science journal or a novel or a history book. A love of reading shows empathy, the desire to understand how others live or act or might act - and why. A love of reading lets you connect with other minds across space and time, exploring similar passions & finding new ones. Curiosity, empathy, passion -these are all qualities I want my son to have. They'll help him succeed later in life, & they'll also make him a better, more interesting person. - Amy Ng

Photo updates #2 - summer pics

Photo Updates Part 1 - Vietnam Heritage Weekend

In June, Adam and I traveled to Tulsa, OK to attend our adoption agency's Vietname Heritage weekend for the second time. We were so excited to see some of our travel group and especially to see Thomas, Dillon's man in Vietnam who helped us while we were there. Its so good to put names and faces to people who's journeys you follow via their blogs or facebook.







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Welcome changes

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For sure he is not sleeping so well. But the heart is full and jumping with happiness, so...” - Jose Mourinho

We have big and welcome changes going on in our house. Its been a couple of weeks now, so I think I am safe in saying Adam has settled into a new sleeping pattern. Some nights, he sleeps through the night(!) and the others he wakes up once. A mere 2 years and 9 months after he came home at the age of 18 months!

Even bigger new, despite the ongoing problems with constipation, he's starting to toilet train. Woo hoo! Big big changes that will make both our lives so much easier. Go Adam!

thought to ponder

Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If
you're alive, it isn't. -Richard Bach

Quote of the day

“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed." Herman Melville

Adam is 4

Adam wore his fireman's costume all weekend this past weekend. Everywhere we went, of course, people smiled or commented. Adam was thrilled -- "All the people are looking at me!" That's Adam.

When we were walking to pick up prescriptions a few blocks away, Adam ran the whole way, all the time watching himself run in the windows of every store we passed. That's Adam.

When we watch the Mets play on TV, Adam wears his Mets hat, has his bat and glove ready, and acts out everything he sees on the screen. That's Adam.

While Adam was talking to my mother on the phone last night, he was telling her about a baseball game and said he was Jose Reyes and when he said Jose the second time, that lead him to burst into the Star Spangled Banner (Jose can you see?) and he sang the whole song to her. That's Adam.

If he sees someone on the street with a Yankees hat or t-shirt, he goes right up to them and yells "Boo 'Ankees!" If they decide to engage with him on the subject of Mets vs. Yankees, he stands his ground. That's Adam.

When we run into people in the street who seemingly know us, a cashier from a store, or someone who works in his school,and I have no idea who they are. Afterward, I can ask him and he always knows. That's Adam.

When we leave school at night, we have to visit his classrooms from the two previous years and say goodnight to and hug his former teachers. That's Adam.

When he talks to people on the phone, he always asks "How are you today? OK?" That's Adam.

The words "Jamblaya" and "bamboo" send him into gales of laughter. I don't know why. That's Adam.

He is brilliant, bossy, stubborn, strong, hilarious. He has always understood the concept of a joke and he always gets it. He is very good company. He is challenging, enjoyable, lovable, loving, wise. That's Adam.

Adam is 4. Who could want for more?