Getting to the New Normal

Hi all,

It's been too long again, but we've been through a lot of adjustments with a new member of the family. Plus, there just hasn't been the kind of exciting things happening compared with the adventure of bringing him home!

So lets see...I last wrote in April (how sad!). Ian celebrated his first birthday on May 26th. Actually, we celebrated and he was the center of attention. The next day we hit the road from Alabama to Missouri to visit his paternal grandparents. Once again, he was the center of attention! After a few minutes, he relaxed and had a great time with everyone. We wrapped up the trip with a visit to his great-grandmother in Kentucky.

We had some family portraits made in Missouri. You may have noticed that the intro picture on the top of the blog has changed. Here are some other shots from our photo session:

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Our Little Prince


Our Princess


It was a long flight...


Brother and Sister


The Happy Family

Ian had been standing since I picked him up in Taiwan, but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that he started taking steps. He can now walk across the room, but often falls and doesn't bother getting back up (crawling is still faster!).

He has also brightened up a lot. The serious little guy we saw in pictures from Taiwan is still there, but there are more smiles and giggles than there were. He also has quite a temper and will hold his breath when he's made. The little tantrums are getting bigger and he's throwing himself on the ground wailing. We're working on making sure he sees that doesn't work on us. It is good to see he passionate, though!

This and other things have led me to believe that the newness of Ian has worn off for Anna some. She's a great big sister (and little mommy), but his addition has cost her some attention. There are times when she really doesn't want him to be around, but once he's gone she misses him. They fight over toys and she's a bit too rough sometimes. So they're brother and sister alright. And she had better be careful, because even though she's only five (July 11th), he'll probably catch her in weight by next year. He hasn't gained much, but we think that's partly because of worms. No big deal, but he can't go on the worm meds until he's fully healed from his circumcision (he did well).

The focus on this site is Ian, but the greater focus in life (second only to God), is my wife and family. Heather is such a wonderful, caring, loving mother, and I am thankful that she is my wife and such an important part of my life. Anna and Ian couldn't have a better mother--God put them with Heather because she is the perfect mom for them. And He gave them to me because they make me a better person.

I'll probably do a few more little posts before closing the blog. We're still working the legal process to get Ian readopted in Alabama (for paperwork purposes only). This will change his name, give him a local birth certificate, finalize citizenship and allow him to get a Social Security number (Why bother? It'll be bankrupt long before he'd old enough!). Our lawyer has been slow, but hopefully it'll all be wrapped up in early August.

Once it's all done, there won't be much adoption stuff to write about. But I'll keep an archive online, just no updates. If I ever get my personal blog going, I'll include any family updates there.

We have been so blessed to have Ian join our family. I don't know that it'll grow any more, but if it does, you can be there'll be a new blog involved!

I'll wrap up with a word of caution: Financially, we did this all wrong. The costs involved to get Ian home totaled more than $25,000, and most of that was financed on credit cards. Never again!

"The borrower is slave to the lender." -- Proverbs 22:7

If you decide to adopt (or make any purchase for that matter), find a way to save the money up front and pay cash. I've started listening to financial guru Dave Ramsey and recommend you do, too (he is not a "get rich quick" kind of guy).

Even if you're not interested in adopting, if you follow Dave's advise you can get out of debt and stay out. Too hard? Anything is possible when you are out of the bondage of debt. We're getting radical about ours. Check it out and you can too!

Many blessings to you all!

James, Heather, Anna and Ian