Mountain "Climbing"

Since early Spring I've been focusing on building Isaac's strength & endurance. Little bodies with noodle for muscles tire quickly--and momma's upper body strength tends to tire about 20 min after picking up my precious pack of human ramen. So hiking and exploring outdoors has been our training grounds.  We started out with a short 1/2 mile and we've worked our way up to 2 flat miles before he starts to peter out. But we are always exploring and having fun in the woods so it is easy to distract!  

Today was a HUGE milestone--hiking a bit around Mt. Rainier. He hiked both up and down two pretty steep inclines to get to a few waterfalls in the area. I was so very proud of him! Holding his hand down the rocky steps was a bit like holding a marionette--his hips and legs flailing underneath me holding his hand above him--but he it!  And you could see the self pride beam when we made it back to the top--his little heart racing in his chest.  I'm proud of his adventurous spirit, of his building confidence, and of his enduring strength.  He CAN do what he puts his mind and body to!

Top of Narada Falls

Making his way down:

 Bottom of Narada Falls:

Taking a hand picture :)

Making his way back up!

Hiking the alpine ridge at Paradise:

 Myrtle Falls:

  We did it!!

Isaac's Perspective/ My Perspective

Isaac had his Playskool camera with him today during our road trip to the mountain today. I love looking through his pictures--seeing the world through his eyes, what he finds important or fun. Today was a good example--I thought he was taking a picture of me while driving but he clearly was not pointing his camera at my face. "What are you taking a picture of Isaac?"  "da pone (the phone), mama" which was in it's place on the dashboard.  Ahhhh!  That would make sense!  *wink*

He was equally excited to get his hands on 'da pone' while we were on the gondola:

At one point I think we were at at 60 degree angle going up!
I couldn't look coming down. 

"momma. day teeese"
(momma, say cheese)

Isaac takes pictures because he sees me take pictures. I enjoy it yes, but I also make it a priority...especially pictures of he and I or he and his loved ones. I heard a photographer friend of mine say once long before I knew I would be a mother, that "no one ever complained about having too many pictures with their mom." That is totally true!  I can't think of dozen pictures of me with my mom growing up, yet she was clearly there. My friend went on to say "women tend to say they are waiting until they loose those last 10 pounds or when the dye their roots and certainly never when they are in their swimsuit, but 10 pounds, grey hairs and self-conscience swimmers aren't what kids remember--they remember their mom."  I took those words to heart.  My child was going to have pictures of me and with me, no matter what the situation in life. So...we take pictures!

What makes me particularly proud is our annual video montage of our photos together through our family year. Not every picture is in there (I'll take the self conscience pictures, but good heavens, I know better than to post them!), but just look---nearly 75 pictures of he and I together since last August!  That's more than one a week!  Also, the breadth of experiences we've had over the year!  I love gathering these pictures every August and seeing how much we are able to do--him, yes, but also me as a parent. I think it's ok for mommas to pat themselves on the back from time to time!  Parenting is hard work! What I see in these photos of he and I together is that we aren't held captive by single parenting or down syndrome or adoption trauma or checkbooks or weather or whatever else can be in the way.  We have to make adjustments, yes, but we are living life, even when it's hard: we keep going; we try new things; we go on adventures; we get dirty...and we clean up pretty darn well, if I may say so!

So take pictures!  Even if its out of focus, or the pants are a bit snug or the hair is WAY past it's due date.  Your kiddo will have a physical memory of you being there and as an intimate part of their life <3  

Happy Family Day! FIVE Years Together As A Family!!

Five years. This feels like a REALLY BIG adoption milestone. In fact it is...with the passing of today's date, no more updates go back to China. We "passed" our final assessment two weeks ago; Isaac's adoption is finally DONE. 2, 273 days since this process started...way back in May 2011...IT. IS. FINISHED. 

I've wondered what I would tell my-2,273-days-ago-self about the six plus years that would be in front of her. That self got a heck of a lot more sleep, I can tell you that!  Some relationships have fallen away, but we have gained some amazing, deep & beautiful relationships with adoption families across the United States.  The valleys have been deep and long and lonely...but the mountain tops have been glorious and unbelievably joyous!  I've learned a lot about God's heart for us and the joy He has in us through our obedience.  There is zero way that 2011-me would have guessed that doors of down syndrome adoption would open into China and now Albania because of that simple obedience. She wouldn't have even fathomed about the Bamboo Project, Village 21 or authoring a book. All because of a YES to this little boy...

The Lord asks so very little of us, and does SO very much with it <3 

Today we celebrated our fifth family day with a day trip to Crystal Mountain. I had never been and had heard there was an amazing gondola ride to the top that we may both enjoy.  God held back the storms for us to enjoy a lovely afternoon at 6,872 feet in the air!

The gondola had just started moving!

Isaac you are a promise of God's faithfulness joyfully fulfilled--I can't even describe what it means to have been chosen to parent you to the Lord. You force me to my knees and melt my heart at the same time. Happy 5th Family Day, little boy. You are SO. VERY. LOVED.

(click below to see our 5th Family Day video)

5th Family Day video!