Post Adoption Report #2 is due!

This week we meet with our adoption counselor for our Second Post Adoption Report. These reports are required to be completed every 3 months for the first year, then once a year until he is 18 years old. The report is sent to our placing agency, then forward to the Ethiopian agencies. We understand the importance of the follow ups and are glad to comply. Any chance we can have to brag about our happy little guy!

Here are a few pics we will be sending with our report, just wish I could include the stories that go along with them:

Ty enjoying a little rest on our tour of the Chattanooga Aquarium. Obviously, he never really 'rested'!

Wish I could send a video of him swimming, he loves the water so! I'd also like to send a thank you note to the nannies...their speedy baths didn't include shielding the eyes or carefully pouring water over their heads...and Ty has NO problem with the water on his face or in his eyes. Such a gift...wonder if they know that?

We've moved from cars to trains. He saw this shirt at Target and began crying as we pulled away from it. Between tears and little gasps of "ChooChoo" I was quick to back track and buy that boy his shirt!

Now we have to hide the shirt or he'll wear it every day!

The Roy clan enjoying an afternoon together. When Brian comes home all of the kids faces light up, and Ty now says "Dada or Dad" and runs with open arms to him. I don't know who I'm happier for!

My dad helped me to realize my heart's dreams, my husband is protector of my heart and my son (and daughters) fill my heart daily. He is momma's boy right now, and that's ok with me.

This is his 'no...I didn't just put my truck in your pitcher of water' look. Yes..that is a slight grin...and yes he's about to run!

Kindergarten Round 2!

Her first day of Kindergarten couldn't come soon enough for my sweet Mallory.
She was smiling before she even opened her eyes that morning!

She was bubbling with excitement!

The classroom has a beautiful Puppet Theater...

that alone was enough to walk through the door for!

Her first full day isn't for another week, but this 'phase in' day was a success! She loved her teacher and made a new friend. She saw 2 of her neighborhood friends on the playground (yay!) and one of the older kids in our neighborhood saw her in the cafeteria and gave her a hug. That, she said, was her favorite part. Thanks Sydney! You made her first day very, very special!

On Friday we invited a few of our neighborhood friends, and Kindergarten students, over for a Painting Party! The kids painted a rocket..they are now the newest Rockets at their school. They had a blast! Thanks to Jo and Les from A Painting Party for the fun! (http://apaintingpartywithlesjo.shutterfly.com/)

So now she's off on her next adventure. It's no surprise of course, we knew we'd get here..but as usual, it's the mama's and daddy's left wishing for one more day. Love this sweet girl!

Ty-Land

I have wanted to post pics of Ty's room for a while now, 'cause I love it so! My sweet friend Angela took my giraffe ideas and put them on the wall with her talented hand! I had imagined one large giraffe, she thought maybe a pair, Kendall wanted the baby handing the mama a flower, the flower needed to come from someplace so the tree was born! It was a collabrative effort and the result is just as sweet as can be! Around his room are items other friends have gifted him and we treasure them so!

He loves his room, and when he wakes in the morning he looks around for his Choo Choo book (thanks Beth Lockamy!) and points at his giraffe buddies on the walls.

To the right of the mirror is an Orthodox Coptic Cross, used in Ethiopian traditional and religious festivals given to us by the Bingham family as a celebration of our adoption process. Love it! Also on the dresser is a hand sewn giraffe that our friends the Fischers bought in Ethiopia as a gift for his room. And the lamp was purchased in Ethiopia, Brian loved the shade Ethiopian Alphabet. The ceramic shoes were given to Brian's mom when Brian was born. And above the mirror, on the picture frame is the phrase..The moment we saw you, we fell in love. A gift from Cathey Sweeney...one of the first items I hung in his room. I love all of these items!


So many talented friends! Jo Miller created these canvases for our little guy's new room. Perfect for our giraffe theme!

The tree that came to be! See the little branch and leaves in the baby's mouth?? Kendall's contribution, and such a sweet idea. We have had this crib for all three of our babies. There are 3 different sets of teeth marks! The lanterns belonged to the sweet little Schiro boys next door, and they thought they'd look good in Ty's room..and they were right!