The fastest year...

This coming week we will be celebrating Micah's one year gotcha day.  It is hard to believe that year has already gone by, we have loved every second and are so thankful for each moment we share as a family of five.  The three kids are bonded so tight. 
Micah is so sweet.  He is very affectionate, giving kisses to me ALL DAY, which I must say I do love.  He has the cutest smile that melts hearts of all old ladies!  He does not say many understandable words, but can sure yell!  Ana and Andy taught him a game of who can yell the loudest.  They all end up laughing hysterically, all but me.  Music and books are a must before bed or really any time of day.  He can dance with a cute little bounce.
Micah is 18 months old!  Looking back over the pictures from one year ago, I see his sweetness is so much a part of how God made him.  I am so thankful that God matched us with my baby.  I see his tan little face and Micah Tai Walls.

 Our actual Gotcha Day is June 20, but I am not sure when I will posting again, so I wanted to share the great news of a great year.

Moving Up

Micah has officially been moved up to the walkers.  He is fourteen months and moving like a pro.  Because he is walking, he was moved out of the baby room at church.  I went to his new room and put him down to sign in.  Without a thought, Micah walked into the room and started to play!  He usually cries when I leave him.  I called to him to say good-bye, he looked back, waved and continued to play.  He was so proud of himself to be back with old friends who had already moved on a few weeks ago.

Belated Birthday

My Valentine Baby turned three this year!  Remembering back...Elliana was 17 months old and having the worst night of sleep in her life.  I finally got her down and walked to my bed at midnight.  I sat on the bed and immediately my contractions started.  I figured I had all night so I thought I would try to get some sleep before waking Chris.  Andy had different ideas.  He only has a go and stop button and his go button was pushed.  Contractions started at 3 minutes apart so I went down stairs to call my mom who was going to drive 4 hours to come watch Elliana.  I think it was about 12:30 now.  I decided I better wake up Chris.  He rolled over and said, "Now? You'ver got to be kidding?"  And fell back a sleep before he finished talking.  I woke him again and then called my doctor.  I also called my neighbor to come over and stay with Ana until my mom arrived.  It was 1:00 now.  I was moving pretty slow with all contractions still 1 to 3 minutes apart.  Chris was finally up and my neighbor had arrived. We left for the hospital about 1:30, the dr said he thought it was fine if I wanted to come now!  What!  I was coming whether he thought it was fine or not!  Since it was the middle of the night, we had to use the ER enterence.  No big deal except for the mile and half walk through the entire hospital to get the right wing!  I stopped every few feet for the contractions to pass.  When we finally made it up there the nurse sent me to triage.  She said I was ready to go and got me a room.  It was about 2:30 am.  The doctor came in a few times, but the nursed did a great job of keeping him away since I wanted to go natural and he likes to not.  He came in just in time to pull on a glove and catch Andy at 3:00 am on Feburary 14, 2008!
Andy is so sweet and loving, not just because he is a Valentine boy, but because he is my amazing Andy! He can go and go. He has serious skills with a ball, any ball. Speech is still difficult for him, but he is trying and learning new words every day. When he is scared he asks us to pray with him and hold his hands. He loves his siblings and loves to be a big brother. Wrestling with his Daddy is a must every day! I am so proud that boy!

Andy asked to go to Entrainment Juction for his birthday, with Grandma Melissa and Papa.

Chinese New Year and Readoption Court

Our friends are so wonderful. I realize I have said this before, but it is so true. We celebrated the Chinese New Year, the Year of the rabbit with the Duhs (Yup, I am using names, just to give credit where credit it due.  Funny, that is how you say Duh- due!). They did all the work and just let us join in! We had hot pot and ate all night. MMMMM... Here are a few pictures of the night.

Today was a big day for us too.  We went to court to have Micah readopted.  It does not change a lot since his adoption was finalized in Taiwan and he is already a US citizen.  It will allow us to get a US birth certificate and correct his majorly messed up social security card.  I forgot to get a picture with our attorney, but plenty with the judge.  We were early for our appointment so this is us waiting until 10:00 rolled around.  Elliana run into Micah's room this morning and told him, "This is a special day, Micah.  It's readoption day!"  I was so sweet of her.  She also made me a special bracelet, or something like it, at school on Monday, just for the occasion.  Keeping with her excitement, she did her own her, just like Fancy Nancy since today was fancy!

Andy is not actually mad, he was just being weird!  The judge was very nice.  He asked the kids if they wanted to come up and sit in his chair.  Pictures below.  He asked us questions about why adoption and why Taiwan.  He had one previous case for Taiwan, but only one.  He asked Elliana about her brother and she gladly shared how much she loves both of them!  Andy mostly made faces, but stayed quiet, which made the judge laugh even more.  He said that he wrote a book on adoptions in his court and thinks that he needs to write another and include us in it.  

Sip and See

A wonderful friend has a Sip and See once a year.  A sip and see is like a baby shower after the baby has arrived.  She honors all the babies born, adopted, or fostered during the past year.  This year was Micah's year to be celebrated.  Micah loved all the attention and gave sweet smiles.


Great friends!




All the babies being celebrated!  (Micah is the biggest, but not the oldest.)




Mommies and babies



ONE year old

Yesterday, well all weekend, we celebrated Micah's first birthday.  We went out to eat and had cake all weekend.  Saturday night was by far his favorite!  Spaghetti is one of Micah's favorites so being in Cincinnati, Skyline was top on the list!  It is actually chili, but eaten like spaghetti.  Micah ate the whole thing and then ate the popsicle that kids get as treat.  Then we came home and had cupcakes and sang happy birthday with Chris' parents.  Micah is the youngest, by far, that I have allowed to have such sweets!  I am shocked at myself, but he sure did enjoy it!  I did not take my camera to dinner, but I wished I had so you could see how much he LOVED his dinner.

On his actually birthday we had a small group over for dinner and cake again.  It was great fun to spend some time together and celebrate the year the Micah has had.

Micah is very easy going and so sweet.  He is still bear crawling, but standing more and bouncing.  Today it looked like he jumped and landed on his feet, but no actual steps.  He loves music and claps and dances right along.  ABCs is a favorite to bring a smile and show off his four teeth.  He still teething and have more ready to pop out anytime. He can say ball, mama, dada, dog, Nanan (Elliana).  Micah gives the best little hugs with his arms squeezing all around you, so sweet.

Happy First Birthday, Micah.  We are so glad you were born!!!



Micah was so excited to see Papa Joe, he about jumped out of my arms!!