Another post!?!

So apparently we go weeks without posting...and then we post 3 times in a couple of days :0) Well, I have been busy with my photography business and keeping up with the website and the blog for that...so here is a very past due montage of photos and videos from the second half of October!!! ENJOY!!!

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In the journey of adoption, you meet scores of incredible people...the Gibson family were one of those families that we immediately bonded with and we enjoy every minute we spend with them. We met them in August of 2007 and pretty much became family on the spot (stress free parenting will do that to ya - lol, inside joke). But there are a core group of families that become strength and hope for each other through the adoption process and truly the Gibson's are one of those so dear to our hearts. Today was a milestone...as Sakari and their sweet Zoie had never met nor had Roger and Kari met Sakari since we've been home. Today was special. They were in Tulsa for the day picking up their son, Michael, at the airport but before that we got to spend some quality time over lunch catching up, totally in awe of how far we have come and how God handpicked these treasures to be in our lives.

Becca held Zoie and typically Sakari is not fond of Momma holding another baby...but she was ok with it and just loved Zoie and kept wanting to get up from the table and go over and just be by her to hug her, kiss her and hold her hand. Zoie is seriously the impersonation of a dark chocolate hershey kiss. Those two girls were just soooo sweet! We didn't have near enough time but thankfully, we are headed up to Branson in a few weeks to spend a weekend with them for our birthdays (Becca and I have birthdays 2 days apart). We can't wait to spend more time with them...and just are so excited for them and I tell you, adoption is a common ground that a lot of us share...and I think I speak for all of us in saying that there is nothing like it! I'm sure Rog and Kari will post pics soon - they got better pics than we did, but here are a few that we got today...but the ones they have of Sakari and Zoie kissing goodbye are enough to make anyone tear up :-)

Dad and Daughter Dorkiness

Yes, we have been slacking on the blog...BUT we've been busy talking on the phone, drinking coffee and just being plain old dorks - I'll let the photos explain and serve as evidence!

Pumpkin Patch..

We went to a pumpkin patch and Christmas tree farm Friday....it was a BEAUTIFUL DAY and we had so much fun!!

The BEST Weekend ever...with our Adoption Travel Group

October 3rd, 2007...December 13, 2007...January 21, 2008...these are all dates of huge impact and importance not only in our adoption journey but in our entire lives. Now, we have October 11, 2008 to add to that prestigious list.

October 11 was the first day that our Ethiopia adoption travel group had seen each other since we were in Africa almost 9 months ago picking up our gorgeous children. God has something special in mind when He put all of us in each other's paths and now after this incredible weekend together we know we are in each other's lives forever! The Mihnovich's hosted the reunion at their home in Franklin, TN. The Carpenter's were unable to attend as it is harvest season - we can't wait until we can all be together again!

We met up with the Mihnovich's and Stum's and then drove to Gentry's Farm for some fun picking pumpkins, watching the kids fall in the mud, trip on vines, play with scoops of grain, mosey through the hay bale maze (yes, I just said mosey...deal with it) and just had some fall fun! Then we all went our separate ways for nap time...then re-convened for food and fun at the Mihnovich home. Words cannot express the bond we all felt watching our families reconnect and just watching the miracle of adoption in the form of our kids playing together right before our eyes...it was surreal and nothing short of amazing. We LAUGHED and LAUGHED and LAUGHED... We strongly encourage any other AWAA travel groups who read this to try and schedule a reunion sometime soon - our travel group has decided to do this EVERY year!

It was one of the best days of our lives and we hope you enjoy a peek into our weekend by checking out the slideshow...you can also read more details and perspectives about our weekend on the Stum's blog at www.thestums.blogspot.com and Mihnovich's blog at www.ourunveiledfaces.blogspot.com - there are great pics on their blogs too!!! You can also look on our blog under "blogs we read"...when in fact, they are blogs we borderline stalk...you can click on their family links there as well! Now...for real...enjoy the pics!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

One of the best days...ever!!!

We are working on sorting pictures, etc. from our amazing weekend with some of our newly ordained best friends in the world...our adoption travel group...we will be posting pics and a blog about our incredible weekend with them...soon...

One year ago today...

Our lives changed...we got our referral for our sweet baby girl!!! YAY!!! We can hardly believe that was a year ago!! In the last post I posted our referral picture of Sakari...she was 6 months old! We are continuously AMAZED at how God brought her to us and SO THANKFUL!!!

Happy 18 months Sakari!!!

I can't believe it...when our sweet baby wakes up in the morning she will be 18 months old...Time FLIES when your having fun!! What a COMPLETE JOY she continues to be in our lives...we can't imagine life without her :0)

Here is the first picture we ever saw of her...Referral picture 6 months old...




And here is one of her now...one year later...18 months old...





Our GORGEOUS "Heart of Sweetness"...thank you Jesus for bringing her to us!!!

8 months since GOTCHA!!

We realized that today has been 8 months since we first met our sweet girl face to face in Ethiopia...what an amazing, life changing experience...we are so grateful that Jesus had her for us and that she is a part of our family...sigh...SO AMAZED just thinking about it :0)

here is a new video of this little sweetness...enjoying life and laughter...thanks for checking in on us :0)

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a few new pics...

I have been taking TONS of pictures with my new camera...and I am taking digital photography class and I LOVE IT...so here is some of my recent work :0)

I did Christmas pics for my sister's kids and we had to put Sakari in a couple...







Here are some of Sakari...outside...we are LOVIN' the fallish weather!!

I LOVE FALL...REPRISE...

I (Caleb) was looking back over some of our old posts in our adoption journey...and found the below blog and just felt that it was time to re-post it due to my unusual love of fall! I noticed it was posted exactly a year ago...hmm, coincidence...I think not. Now I get to instill my addiction to fall to my daughter...I basically reposted the exact blog with a few edits :-)

What is it about fall that is so incredible? I woke up this morning feeling the crisp fall air...which we don't usually get enough of in Tulsa...and something in me just explodes when fall comes. It is different than any other time of year...is it my New England blood? Does it remind me of basketball season in high school? Thanksgiving? Family? or maybe just one huge reminder of God's faithfulness in every season of life. But still something about fall is so giant and personal all at the same time. And maybe this year it means more with the pending season change as we wait for Sakari (and now she's home!!!!!!!!!!)...seriously though, I think maybe on the 7th day God created fall...

Knowing from last night's weather that today would be amazing, I got ready quickly to enjoy as much of the weather as possible...also in order was a drive (with windows down, of course) to Starbucks for my new favorite drink - Triple Grande Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Dolce Latte. I love the smells, flavors and feelings of fall.

My metaphors for fall:

Fall is like Mayan Hot Chocolate
Fall is the climate of Heaven
Fall is like a blanket of comfort
Fall is like Mom's corn chowder
Fall is like Becca's pumpkin roll
Fall is so perfect, fresh and crisp that if you put it in a bottle I would choose that smell over any expensive cologne on the market
Fall is like Indian food
Fall is the essence of New England
Fall is eating at Murray's for breakfast in Walpole, NH
Fall is like every great emotion exploding inside me
Fall is like spiced cider, maple syrup and pumpkin spice lattes
Fall is gratefulness
Fall is my daughter smiling at me...giving me a squeeze (hug) and kisses

How could you not LOVE fall???!!!

New video and stuff..

Well...life is good and crazy around here....Caleb and I celebrated our 9th anniversary and Sakari turned 17 months old, she is such a blessing and SO BUSY!!! OH...and we are done with the bottle...I took away all her daytime bottles about a month ago, and it took her a couple of weeks to start drinking milk from a sippy cup, but she finally got the hang of it and so Sunday night we took the plunge...nighttime milk in a sippy cup...she CRIED the first night for about a minute but seems to have adjusted to it just fine...YAY!!! It is GREAT but kinda sad...her babyhood is fading...onto to TODDLER land!! Here is a video of some of the fun we have been having around here...ENJOY!!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sakari's Christmas photo shoot...

I know...it is only September, but I just started my photography business (www.treasuredcaptures.com) and I am putting together a special for Christmas and so I did a photo shoot with Sakari yesterday for my promo shots. It was really fun...she looked SO CUTE and she REALLY LOVED her dress, she actually cried when I took it off. So let me know what you think...

Adoptive Families - Interesting Links about John McCain and his Adoption Views...

http://themediansib.com/2008/06/23/bridget-mccain-john-mccains-daughter/

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/95b18512-d5b6-456e-90a2-12028d71df58.htm

Last week of August fun :0)

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This week in the words and actions of Sakari...

Well, the speech pathologist told us that Sakari's words would come sooner than later...sooner is now. He said that she would be speaking in sentences by the time she is 18 months, at just less than 17 months, she is definitely on track. This past week, the limited vocabulary of "Mama" and "Dada" have all of a sudden expanded. Some days she says multiple words, other days it's just one or a simple, but hilarious action in response to us. We've known for some time that she comprehends extremely well because she responds appropriately when we talk to her or say "stop" or "bring Daddy the remote" or "bring Mama your cup" or "walk around the dog"...the list goes on and on. She's always been a talker and a laugher (is that a word?)...and she would talk and talk, we just couldn't understand it completely because well, it was mostly jibberish and pointing.

This past Wednesday, she started by saying "Hippo". Thursday the words flooded - Zebra, Ball and Bird. Dacia (Becca's sis) said that she also said "Turtle". Sunday she said "Flower". 

Yesterday, Sakari and I (Caleb) were playing upstairs just having fun and she starts playing with her plush Bob the Tomato (Veggietales). She has Bob, Larry and Junior...Bob was her choice for show and tell. She always picks them up and makes the hop around all the while singing her version of the songs - today was different - she finished singing the theme song in gibberish (yes, the melody was actually mostly recognizable) and she looks at me and says "Beggietales, Beggietales!" I was in shock and started laughing then got teary because it was just SO dang cute!

This morning, we were getting ready for our day in the master bathroom...and Sakari comes toddling in like a typical morning, but today armed with her new favorite Tigger and Pooh book. She is just sitting in there talking and reading and all of a sudden yells - "Tigga!" It was just so much fun to watch her learn and discover that Becca wanted to keep it going so she asks, "Sakari, where is Pooh?" Immediately, Sakari sticks up her finger and moves her arm around and points at her hindquarters!!!!! We seriously laughed for 5 minutes straight while she looked on with a bewildered, yet pleased with herself look on her face. 

This is our week in the words and actions of Sakari. The end. Or is it??!

Pics with my new camera :0)

Gorgeous Girl...

Playing in a box :0)

 Look at those muscles!!!

Playing outside...with cousins Ema and Ember

I got a new fancy camera...I am planning to start a photography business...I AM SO EXCITED!!! These pics are my first photo shoot...trying out the new camera!!

the cuteness of Sakari...

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Video from this week...

So we discovered some of our daughters talents this week...ENJOY!!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

one more video :0)

a few highlights from our time in NY and NH...

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