Happy New Year

What a year it has been.  What a roller coaster of a year it has been.  Paul and I had some real lows this year waiting for Jae to come home: Waiting for pictures.  Waiting for updates.  Waiting for Visa approvals.  Waiting for the travel call.  And then our year, and our lives, changed forever as we got to travel to Korea and bring Jae home.  Funny to think that only 4 months ago, we were 1/2 way around the world sitting in a lobby waiting for Foster mom and Jae to walk through the door.  Jae would barely let us hold him that day and now, he will barely let us put him down!  He quite often comes running over to one of us with his arms outstretched yelling, "Up!  Up!  Up!"

But what an ending to 2011.  Who wouldn't love this kid?  :)

And yes, that is a bruise right smack dab in the middle of his forehead.  The little stinker ran right into the door frame this week.  :)

Love,
Jae's Mom

Four Months Ago

A few pictures from the airport when we brought Jae home that I never posted.  Thank you to friends and family for sharing them:

Aunt Holly

Cam, Brennan and Lisa

Cam showing his support for his new BFF

Everyone waiting for Jae

Aunt Holly, Great-Aunt Jane and Grandma Hunze

Here we come...new family of three

Jae was too tired to get excited

Papa and Grandma Hunze

Hard to believe that was four months ago already.  Time flies when you are having fun.

Love,
Jae's Mom

Jae's second post

Jae is dying to bang on the keyboard again so here we go.  Jae's post.  He put a lot of thought into this one:

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Jae's just declared it was my turn.  Back to Jae...

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Mama's turn again.  Nope, Jae....

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Mama one more time. 

 v. .                             ;lolopo0po-0-=-=[]=[][]=[e=e[=w320.32320.00

I like that I get to have turns every now and again.

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\\.                                    j,kikrpot[p[][]\]\]\V       

Love,
Jae and his Mommyk

Jae's 1st Christmas at Home

It was a very Merry Christmas.  It was so fun to wake up, open presents, have a breakfast of fresh baked cinnamon rolls and then get ready for church. 

Jae's gift from Santa

Notice Daddy's Cookie Monster shirt.  Jae gave it to him

The play microwave was Jae's favorite

Ready for church

Christmas at Cousin Andrew's

Opening my Big Scoop from Papa and Grandma

Legos from Aunt Holly and Uncle Joel

And the ride home...too much Christmas = tired Jae

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Love,
Jae's Mom

Christmas Eve

I know Thanksgiving is long over, but I am thankful on this Christmas Eve.  Paul and I got to thinking about where we were last Christmas Eve, and it wasn't exactly a good place.  There were a lot of tears last year at Christmas and none of them happy ones.  We really struggled through the holidays without Jae home last year.  Knowing our son was a 1/2 a world away and no real indication of when he was coming home was really, really, really hard.

Fast forward a year and there are still lots of tears, but happy ones.  I find myself constantly tearing up and kissing Jae's cheeks so thankful to have him home and part of our family.  What a difference a year makes.  Paul and I have always had a wonderful, strong, happy marriage, but these past few months have been better than all the rest. 

Merry Christmas Jae Miles Herzog.  We love you.  Welcome home.

Baby bear says, "cheese!"

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Herzogs.

Nothing like mowing in the middle of winter

Our Christmas pooch.

Love,
Jae's Mom

Welcome Foster Family!

This post is for Jae's Korean foster family...

Jae is doing really good.  He is such a fun boy and is talking all the time.  We can't believe how fast he is learning English.  Everyday he learns a new word.  And he LOVES to play hide-and-seek!  Jae thinks it is so funny to go looking around the house for Mommy and Daddy.  He is also such a good eater.  And still eats a ton of the Kim (seaweed) we brought home from Korea.  It is like candy to him. :)

Thank you for taking such good care of Jae.  We know he misses you and we are so thankful to have a wonderful family such as yours now part of our family.  Paul and I often wonder how all of you are doing and if you have a new foster baby?

I will try and post pictures often.   And you should be getting a new set of pictures and letter from us soon as Paul wrote one 2 weeks ago.  We included our family's Christmas Card with it.  Please continue to leave notes here on my blog!!  I was so happy to see your note this morning that I cried!  My family and friends were also very excited to hear that you found the blog.   They heard all about you and the beautiful book you put together for Jae.  We are saving it until he is old enough not to rip the pages out.  The book is so special and we want to take care of it.

Playing cars with Daddy

My Christmas present from my neighbors

Merry Christmas Foster Family! 

Love,
Jae's Mom

Random Pictures

We are having so much fun with Jae these days.  In fact, I made the comment to Paul last night that I can't remember laughing this much.  Jae is just such a little ham.  :)

It was only a matter of time

Larry is such a good sport

Love,
Jae's Mom

Merry Christmas!

Our second home study went good!  So good in fact, that it was pretty darn short.  Only one more report that we fill out in 2 months and then we get to finalize Jae's adoption! 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Rocking my new Baby Bear to sleep

Kissing Baby Bear night-night.

And then Jae decided it was Larry's night-night time.

Good job Jae!  Larry looks thrilled to using your blanket

Love,
Jae's Mom

Jae's Christmas Program

Jae had a little stage fright on his first big performance; but, his girlfriend, Layla, was into it.  :)

I will have to post video later as I am having some technical difficulties!

Love,
Jae's Mom

Snow Day!

Jae's first big snowfall!  He wasn't really sure what to think of all this cold, white stuff.  While I shoveled the driveway, Jae stayed in the garage looking out at me saying, "Mama?  Mama?  Mama?"  He just didn't know what to think.  It was probably 20 or 30 minutes before he would shuffle his way out of the garage.

We didn't get to a point where he was making snow angels, but he did warm up to the snow.  Which is good.  Because we live in Minnesota and the stuff is going to be here for another 6 months....

First few steps

Throwing my first snowball

Pretending I like the snow for the camera

Puppy Larry sure likes the snow, so maybe I do too?!?!

Yeah, I feel safe with my puppy, Larry, here.

Love,
Jae's Mom