First trip to the Emergency Room

Thanksgiving morning was extra crazy because we had to rush Ry to the ER after he fell.

This is the scene of the crime.  Dustin had just left to run over to his parent's house to drop-off the turkey cooker.  I was making a pie in the kitchen (the other side of this bar) and Ryland was climbing on the stools whining about how he didn't like the Macy's Parade and wanted to watch cartoons.  When BAM - he fell backwards and the stool fell right on him.  The heavy seat landed right between his eyes, between his forehead and nose.  He instantly started screaming bloody murder, I freaked out...etc.

Here he is right after we got home from the hospital.  Swollen, but not bruised yet.  The cut wasn't too bad and they just had to glue it.

By Friday morning, the bruising was apparent.

It's hard to tell in the pictures, but his face looks pretty messed up.  He went to a hockey game with Dustin last night and he came home so excited to show me his new Stars jersey.  He told me about all the fights in the game and put on his jersey and said "Look Mama, I be real hockey player because my head like this!"  So now he's proud of his wound because he looks like a hockey player that got in a fight. 

Not sure whether to be happy that he's found a way to accept it or not...

What A Thanksgiving...

I've thought about this post a lot - I really didn't want to bore everyone to death with my huge list of what I'm thankful for...but Thanksgiving gives us all a time to reflect on that.  Whether or not you want to read through this is your choice, but it's healthier for me to get it out.  (Plus, if I type it out instead of saying it, I may avoid getting too emotional...)

I am so thankful for my son, Ryland.  So, so thankful.  Yesterday was very emotional for me...the last 3 Thanksgivings were very emotional for me, too.  It was hard for me to be thankful for what I had when I was so focused on what I didn't have.  The adoption process was SOOOO hard and was especially difficult during Holidays.  On Holidays I always had a sad feeling...I just knew my child was out there...not with us...and it was very tough.  I am so thankful for a beautiful woman on the other side of the world and for the sacrifice that she made.  Ryland is amazing and for sure my son!  I love him to pieces.  I'm thankful for all the hugs and kisses and I hope that he never gets "too old" for that.  I'm thankful for all the little ways he makes my day (randomly telling me I'm beautiful, his sweet smile and the hilarious way he says things like "don't be jealous" or "Mama - appreciate!").

I am also so thankful for Dustin.   This year more than ever...  We have been through so much and the journey of a lifetime this year.  I don't know that I could've done it without anyone else. (I'm sure I would have driven them crazy and they would've left me stranded somewhere in Kazakhstan!)  I tell Dust all the time that he is my rock and it's so true.  He's dependable, calm, patient, thinks things through, isn't reactive...basically all the things that I'm not...well besides dependable, I'm pretty dependable.  I need Dustin to balance me out.  Thanks for putting up with me all these years, Dust!  Thanks for not complaining about my crazy need to have a million Christmas trees, my ridiculousness about needing to have everything planned out, etc. and just accepting the fact that it's just a "Cort" thing.  Rule # 1 - APPRECIATE...and I do...I appreciate you!

Sadie - what can I say?  BEST.GOLDEN RETRIEVER.EVER  We <3 you so much and our little family wouldn't be the same without her!  Thank you so much for being so sweet with Ry - you're the best!  Don't worry, I'll be sure to let Santa know to leave you an extra big bone stuffed with peanut butter this year!

My family.  Wow...where to begin?  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR US!  Thanks for taking my phone calls and calming me down when I'm freaking out.  Thanks for instantly taking to Ry and falling in love with him as much as we did.  Thanks for playing along with my constant need to "poll" everyone before I make a decision.  Thanks for being brutally honest even when I don't appreciate the fact that you dislike my sweet Michael Jackson look-alike new leather jacket.  Thanks for all the advice and for just putting up with me in general!  I love you all. 

So, I pretty much have an amazing pack of friends and I am really thankful for them!  I love you all so much!  Thanks for always standing by me and for having my back.  I'm sure this sounds cheesy, but I'm pretty thankful for Facebook.  It's awesome to have a place where I can go to check-in on everyone.  I'm thankful that I've been able to re-connect with so many great people from my past.  I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to move all around my whole life and meet all the amazing people that I have.  I love you guys!

I am so thankful for both of our jobs and our work families that really supported us through our travels this year!  We were and still are simply amazed by the outpouring of support from our work families.

I'm beyond thankful for the support system we've found with other families who have adopted from Kazakhstan.  I really can't put into words how incredible it is to honestly know people who have been through and are going through exactly what you've been through before. 

I have a lot to be thankful for...I truly do...

Love,
Cort

The Decorating Begins...

We have our very own photographer now!

Decorating the little tree in Ry's room

Backyard Camp-Out

We really wanted to take Ryland camping, but thought it would be best if we did a trial run at home.  Saturday night was our camp-out!  Ry was so excited to put up the tents, blow up the air mattresses and get all the flashlights ready.  After we had camp setup, we played some football and bocce ball.  We had some friends come over and dined on hot dogs and brats!  Ryland and Wes ran all over the place with the flashlights looking for bugs and lizards.  We started a fire and roasted some marshmallows.  Ry wasn't a fan of the s'mores, but was just fine eating the chocolate!  After our friends left, we read some bedtime stories by the fireside and got ready for bed.  Ry fell right asleep (after moving his air mattress into our tent).  It was ridiculously windy that night - crazy windy.  The tarps and tents were so loud with all the wind that we eventually gave up and headed inside.  It's just way too tempting when your comfortable bed is only steps away...  The next morning when Ry woke up he came into our room looking all confused. "What happened?  Why no camping?  Where is my tent?

We had a great time and enjoyed our little adventure!

Camp Stone

Ry loved his own tent!  I have a feeling that this will be in the living room soon!

A little football

Love how that in mid-November we can camp and still be in shorts!

Right before bed...we're trying to grow his hair out a little to see how it looks - don't mind that he looks like a hot mess!

Love this pic!  I love how Dust is dressed as "Typical Dustin" from the waist up and as an old man with the pajama pants and slippers from the waist down!  In the words of Ry "Don't Be Jealous"!

Our pretty girl.  She just couldn't sleep outside (was a growling, scared fool) and was the first one to give up and go find her bed inside!  I guess she's slightly spoiled...aren't animals supposed to sleep outside??

Thanksgiving Feast w/ Ryland's Kindergarten Class

Today Ryland told his teacher that he was thankful for his dog and for cookies!

I know, I know...I like pictures...what can I say?

I'll never forget a time (many, many years ago) right after we got married when my father-in-law came to visit.  We were so young, poor and living in a tiny apartment in DC.  We didn't have a large decorating budget, but what we did have was tons of framed pictures of us all over the apartment.  When my father-in-law was touring our pad he said "Wow...you really like yourselves, huh?!!!  There's pictures of you guys everywhere!"  It was like a small museum of Cort & Dust...what can I say...I like pictures.  We have TONS of framed pics of family and friends all over our house.

And now, without further adieu...here are a few more of our family!  (Ry is constantly asking why he isn't in EVERY picture that we have in the house and gets a sad look...it breaks me...so I'm adding tons of pictures of him and us all together everywhere!)  So thankful that I have a great friend Amy (amyrobersonphotography.blogspot.com) that humors me!

Ryland with his Uncle Tyler & Auntie Leah

My brother, Tyler with his wife, Leah and my soon to be nephew!!

Right before this shot Ry got in trouble and I was trying to tickle him to make him smile for the pic.  Love Dustin's face on this one...

Organic?

Dear Healthy & Organic Breakfast,

Although it seems like I have, I haven't forgotten about you...I promise! I know we had an exclusive agreement at the beginning and I've fallen off the wagon from time to time. It's just that he loves chocolate doughnuts too much for me to say no all the time. Could you please send some literature on your 12 step recovery program? No rush, I probably won't be ready for that kind of commitment until after the Holidays.

Sincerely,

A guilty, but not too guilty Mom in Texas

New Friends

Ry finally asked me this week if he could go play with the other kids in our cul-de-sac.  After I said "sure", he asked if he could bring Sadie with him to say hello to everyone.  I was speechless and had a huge grin on my face!  Is it in a man's DNA to use a dog as an ice-breaker when trying to talk to the ladies?  The next 30 minutes of my life were just awesome.  As I stood in the study, watching Ry through the window (kind of stalker-like) my heart was just so happy for him.  He took Sadie out to say hi, showed off her tricks, came running back to grab some treats for her and let the other kids take her on short walks around the sidewalk.  It was adorable and hilarious all at the same time.  Finally Sadie had her fill and wanted to come back in.  I then watched Ry interact with the kids...kids I've really only waved to in the past.  They all introduced themselves and quizzed Ry on their names.  They created a quick game to help him remember all of the names and I'm standing inside just smiling the biggest smile wishing Dustin was home to witness this!  They taught Ry how to play Duck, Duck, Goose.  HILARIOUS!  He didn't know you were supposed to run around the circle and when it was his turn, he just took off running down the sidewalk!  They played all kinds of little games that I haven't even thought about since I was 10.  I thought about playing with all my neighbors growing up and it just made me happy.  A simple joy that Ryland hasn't experienced yet since being home.

It's just so cute, I love listening to kids talk to each other...it's just plain funny.

The next day when Ry came home from school, he went outside to "check the mail" about 10 times until the kids started trickling out to play.  As soon as he saw them he ran around the house yelling "My friends, my friends!  Mama, can I go outside with my friends?"

He knows the rules and has been great so far.  Constantly running back in to ask me questions or to say thank you!  You could see the joy in his face...he was so happy.

Happy Halloween!

Even though it's a week late...here is a few pics from Ryland's first Halloween!  On Halloweeen we setup camp at on our neighbor's driveway and had so much fun passing out candy and watching the Rangers in the World Series!  Another house on our cul-de-sac was outside with the TV watching the game, too!  Only in Texas!!!  One of the million reasons why we love it here!

Pumpkin carving @ Oma & Opa's place

Finished products

The fam w/ Ry's pumpkin - he did a great job and "carved" alot of the face on his own!

On Halloween night, hula-hooping as a trick-or-treating warm-up!  

The whole fam got dressed up!  Ryland was a pro at trick-or-treating!  Said "trick-or-treat" and "thank you" everytime.  To every single person we passed, he also said "Happy Halloween" or "Let's Go Rangers!"

Our fave little guy!