last day of school

Yesterday was Bates' last day of his first year of Preschool!

His school doesn't get out till tomorrow, but since we'll be on a plan to Korea (!) Bates will have to miss the real last day!

I wanted a picture of Bates on his last day standing where I took his first day of school picture and well, this is what I got....




Bates has really blossomed during his year at preschool. While school started out rough for our little guy with lots and lots of tears, he really came to love going to school. We love his teachers, Ms. Tracy and Ms. Ina, and they loved our boy for sure. They would always comment on how sweet he is, how corporative he is, and what a joy he is to have in class. They would say he would always be the only one to help clean up the toys! He loved Bible class and his favorite activity was painting!

When I picked him up yesterday he had a little photo book of pictures of him from this past year- playing outside, coloring, painting, singing, playing with his friends. It was so sweet to have that glimpse of his school days and he really looked like he was having a great time!

I loved Bates going to school this year, but am looking forward to my summer home with both my boys!

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Dr. Buzz

Bates sees the best dentist in the whole state! On top of Dr. "Buzz" being so cool, he has the best dental hygienist ever- who just so happens to be Bates' Uncle Anna!

Today Dr. Buzz threw a Patient Appreciation Party, so of course we went.

Despite how he might look, he did indeed have a good time! He had fallen asleep in the car on the way.


He iced cookies and decorated it wit Anna.





He played ring toss, and actually got it on the stick, I was impressed!!


He dug for buried treasure.


He picked a duck for a prize.


And the prize he picked, CANDY! That's my boy!!


He ate popcorn and watched the real ducks in the pond with Daddy.


We watched Anna and Jill do a three legged/sack race.





He jumped in the bounce house with mommie.


And after he ate an entire piece of pizza, he had his first taste of a classic American treat.... Cotton Candy!
He loved it!!!





Thanks Dr Buzz for a super fun day!!!

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welcome home, river!

I met Leslie on our agency's message board, her screen name was VandyFan, so I knew she was a local! We met in real life a few months ago at the Adoptive Family Korean Celebration. Her son, River, and Brodie were in the same EP batch so we were hoping to travel around the same time. Welp, her paperwork and stuff moved a little faster and they left last week for Korea.

When we got our travel call last week, Leslie was already in Korea and was afraid we pass them in the air, but since we waited to go to Korea, we were able to make it to the airport yesterday to welcome them home!

Down the terminal walked River holding both his mom and dad's hands. He was skipping and jumping.... so joyful! It was really something to see!









River was a tad overwhelmed with all the folks and quickly found his way onto his momma's hip. I tried to get a picture so I could show DJ when we go home, but every time you would talk to River, he would turn his head.



River met his brothers and sister. A happy family of 6!!



Poor Bates was so confused. We have been talking about airplanes and how we would fly on one to get Brodie. When we got to the airport, I pointed out some planes and he got so excited he said "Ride. Brodie." Nope, sorry bud, not this time, but I mean it this time- next time we go to the airport we will get on a big plane and go get Brodie!

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big brother date

Nick and I wanted to be intentional with Bates in our final days as a family of three. We wanted to do a few special things while life was normal for Bates. I've been doing some fun things just the two of us during the day, but tonight Nick and I wanted to take him on a "Big Brother date"

We used a coupon (shocking, I know) and took Bates to Chuck E Cheese. We had been to Chuck E Cheese for a birthday party a few weeks ago and Bates surprised me and LOVED to play the games and ride the rides. So we knew he'd love this!

We ordered our pizza and then played a few games while we waited.



We, of course, hit up SkeeBall for a bit of a face off, which unfortunately Nick won. I demand a rematch.








Bates caught on to getting his tickets!


Loved riding with the Mouse. He was a bit confused as this isn't his "Mouse" (aka, Mickey Mouse)


I taught him to stick out his tongue, well guess what he wanted to do when I wanted a picture.





He liked the choo choo but was a bit concerned by the big purple guy sitting beside him.











Then, after eating our pizza, we turned in our tickets.


Bates ended up with a little frog


and a big spider!


He had a great time! And so did we! Sure do love my time with just my one boy. He's so much fun to be with and was just a chatting away to us. He's a joy to be with, so well behaved, he has the most amazing manners. I have loved watching him explore his world over this past year. He will be an amazing big brother, once he get used to sharing momma.

It does make me a little sad to know how this change will rock his world. I know it's for the best and he'll come to love his little brother. I pray they will be more than brothers, and will be best friends. Adopting Brodie is a decision Nick and I made partly for the relationship it will provide for Bates. I pray for my boys and for both their hearts as these next few weeks will bring such change into both their little worlds.

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because he's 2 #5

ON the coffee table provides a better view of the TV apparently.


And if sitting isn't good enough, try to stand.


Yep, much better up here


Even better for a little table dancing.


Until momma catches your stunt on camera!


When I told NIck what he did, he asked me if I made him get down. Well, yeah I did, but only after I caught it on camera!

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Sooooo.... about that nap thing

Someone is supposed to be napping!





























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the final countdown: 9 days!

NINE DAYS, we're into the single digits! Whoop whoop!

Today my friend, Brooke got her Travel Call. I'm so excited. We've been waiting together and become good buds! And guess what, our trips will over lap by two days!! She leaves the Sunday after we get there on Thursday, so we'll get to spend some time together IN SEOUL and I'll get to meet her, her hubby, and her new daughter, Olive!

We got our itinerary from Holt today, which I'll share in a separate post, so that sent me into a spin of getting ready which meant I decided it was time to put pen to paper and nail down some of these thoughts running through my head and make my to do list. Wheweee it's a long on (kinda like that last sentence, bonus points if you can diagram that one!)!

But in true Mary Leigh form I wrote some things on it I had already done just so I could cross some things off!

I did some research thanks to my message board friends on the place we will be staying since we didn't get into the Somerset.

I emailed our home study social worker with our travel information so she knows when we will be back to start our post placements.

I made Brodie's first doctor's appointment for the week after we get home.

I zipped tied all the totes up and put our names on them, so they are ready ready ready to go!

By the way, I didn't write my birth mother letters last night... that's still on the list.

9 sleeps!

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my boy's first love, other than momma

Something happened yesterday that I just wasn't yet ready for.... Bates got his first girlfriend!

Our friends, the Bohannons were in town for one of their daughter's basketball tournament. We met them for lunch before Bates was home from Gamma's house and then hit up Old Navy with them. Bates showed up there but was less than thrilled to meet anyone new since he just woke up. Although he did warm up as we were all checking out and decided that Lizzie was fairly fun to play ball with.

After an attempt at a nap, we went to watch the last basketball game. Bates had a good time playing with Lizzie's little toys and next thing I knew he was hugging her and trying to kiss her!

Now, let me just tell you Bates does not freely give hugs and kisses. It's been quite a job to get him to give us kisses. He will happily let you kiss him, but he doesn't give kisses. And there he was in the bleachers just hugging and kissing all over Lizzie!



My boy does have good taste in women! Isn't she the cutest thing?!!?

He has a thing for about 5-8 year old girls. He sure does love them, especially blondes! At my bible study he loves to play with the older girls and they just love to "mother" him!

When we were all headed out, I was hugging Lizzie and Lora was holding Bates. Bates started whining and reaching out. Lora said, uh, oh he doesn't like someone else hugging his momma! I reached over to get him and he pushed my hands away and reached for Lizzie! Yep, he wasn't jealous I was hugging someone else, he was jealous Lizzie was hugging me! He went right to her and hugged her some more!

Sheesh..... I knew he'd eventually fall in love but I thought I at least had a few years!

public today

I stopped at Publix today on my way home armed with my coupons and my tot.
When I'm coupling with Bates, I only have as long as his cookie lasts and then the meltdowns start. I gotta be on my game!

When I finished checking out, the lady behind me said, "wow, you did really good! and with a toddler in your cart, I'm really impressed!"

And might I say, I did rock it today at Publix!

Here is the loot.


5 bags of Kraft Homestyle Mac and Cheese
2 things of Huggies diapers
1 package of Pampers diapers
4 big bags of granola
1 box of Huggies Wipes
Gallon of milk
Loaf of bread
4 things of 4 packs of yogurt for Bates
2 packs of 4 packs of yogurt for me
5 boxes of Zatarain's rice
2 french breads
a microwavable noodle bowl
roll of paper towels

All of that for $36!!! I saved over $68!!!!

whoooooooohooooooooooooooooooooo

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Happy Mother's Day

I LOVE Mother's Day!

Last year on Mother's Day, I had only been a mom for a few short (well, maybe long sleepless) weeks. I wrote on my blog last year:

"I know some moms wants a break on Mother's Day. They enjoy a "day off" from being a mom, but that's just not my style. I wanted all day with my son! Why would I want a day off from the greatest blessing of my life? I waited years to be a mom and that is not a "job" I want a day off from".

After that post, I had several people comment and told me to just wait, I would. Well, here I am one whole year later, and those few sentences couldn't be more true!

I am so blessed to be Bates' (and soon Brodie's mom). Today at church, our pastor said being a mom is a God ordained job. Yes it is, for sure. God ordained me to be the mom to these two sweet boys (and hopefully some more kiddos one day). While this job is hard and some days are really long, I've never ever loved my life than I do now.

Today as I was changing the second poopy diaper of the day and dealing with a kid who would.not.nap, I could not have been happier. I'm doing the job God created me for, poopy diapers, fussy toddler, temper tantrums, and all.

And something else I've noted in my year of motherhood, so many say motherhood is a thankless job. Sure I don't get thanked for every diaper I change, nose I wipe, dinner I cook, shirt I fold, boo boo I kiss, but I shouldn't get thanked for doing my job. If I was in corporate America I wouldn't get thanked for doing my job, for turning in correct document, for showing up to work on time, for doing what is expected of me. So in doing my job as I mom, I'm not doing it to get "thanked" I'm doing it to raise Godly boys, I'm doing it to prompt my boys towards good choices, I'm doing it to hopefully be a living example of what I pray my boys look for in a wife and mother to their children.

And anyways, when I see that smile, it's all the "thanks" I'll ever need.





After church, we headed to Miller's Grocery for lunch and an early birthday celebration for Anna. My parents and grandparents were in town, so it was fun to get to celebrate with them.

Taking pictures with Bates is not an easy task.


Sometimes this is the best you can get!


4 generations!
I'm so thankful God picked these 3 friends to be my family!


What else could a mom want on mother's day?


This weekend I scored a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for Bates at a yard sale. He played with it ALL weekend. Maw Maw noted that he doesn't like to play alone, he wants you to play WITH him- ha, you aren't telling me anything I don't know.


I think of Mother's Day as a chance to look back on the year past and look forward to the year ahead. This coming year will be challenging for me as a mother for sure.... going from one toddler to two! I can't wait to be sitting here this time next year and reflect on the blessings of my two boys.

I got some new super fun tennis shoes for mother's day, but all I really want is that phone call telling me that Brodie is ready to come home! Hopefully this week will bring some good news!

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