2008 in Review.......

As we look froward to ringing in 2009, I always like to reflect back on the previous year. We had a blast last NYE at the Netzel's house for a party with all of our closest friends and family. When I tried to imagine what 2008 had in store for us, i really wouldnt have imagined we'd be where we are today-but am i ever glad that this is exactly where we "landed"! It was a year of lots of up and downs, a lot of adjustments. New friends were made, some were lost and some from the past were brought back-we are extremely blessed for all of the people in our lives! We started the adoption process in November 2007 after the final straw of another loss after a round of IVF....we had had it! We were going to start a family through my biggest dream ever.....Ethiopia here we come! After many discussions with family, some extremely unnecessary it seems that we had all of the support we needed, we were gonna get our first child from Ethiopia! To pass the time til travel, we were able to go on many camping trips with Jeff and Jamie and the boys, hit up an amusemnent park with the Hitchens and Ballards, bday parties for all of the kiddos in our lives, BBQ's and lots of nights with our friends. We met our very good friends now from starting our adoption as they were in the process of adopting their sweet little girl from Guatemala! Tammi gave us all the info we needed-Thank God for her, I really had no idea where to start! So, after 8 months, we finally had the green light to book our trip to Ethiopia to get our son in August 2008! That was bittersweet, as that also meant my brother and Emilie moving away without getting to meet Rylee first...I think August was maybe the most emotional month of my life! :) But after many tears, goodbyes, hugs and prayers we were off to Ethiopia! We were there from August 18-Aug 22nd... That was the best week of my life! Never in my wildest dreams, and I think that goes for everyone else, did they think that I would be able to fly 17 hours across the world to Africa! I was always terrified of flying even 4 hours....it's amazing what a child will bring you to do! We have enjoyed everyday that we've had with him, it's always something new, what a blessing he has been to everyone!
So, as 2008 comes to an end, it's time to put my resolutions in order....spiritually, physically, emotionally....I can't imagine 2009 can beat our 2008, but somehow-someway (wink wink) we pray it just might be close!!! Happy New Year to you all! All of our love and blessings to you and your family in 2009!

Christmas 2008-The Greatest Gift of All......

Rylee and Family! We are finally a family of 3 this Christmas! That was the greatest gift that I could have recieved this year! Rylee did really well with all of the parties-and lack of naps, so we were pretty impressed with that! He recieved soooo many wonderful gifts from everyone and Santa was very good to him too! What a lucky boy he is but I can't really believe how lucky Ryan and I are as well! As much as we like to call it "luck", I believe the man from above was preparing us for the greatest gift of all this season! We will never forget our first Christmas and the reason we celebrate the "MAGIC" of CHRISTmas....it was truely magical for us!

TOMS SHOES

Since I can't actually figure out right now how to upload the video from youtube....follow the linke below!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqrFG7xrE1I

On this day, 4 months ago......

Was the day we first held Rylee Bona in our arms! I remember that morning soooo clearly! I tossed and turned all night anticipating the meeting of our sweet baby boy! We finally woke around 5 am, after all Ethiopia is 7 hours ahead of what we were used to. Dereje told us he'd pick us up at 10:00am sharp, I asked him jokingly dont be a second late! :) He was 30 min. early! LOVE HIM! We rode through the city, it was the first look we had at Ethiopia in the daylight hours-and it's just what we pcitured in our minds. Thousands of people everywhere, lots of traffic, lots of exhaust, lots and lots of children-some girls couldnt have been older than 10 years old, but had babies on their backs. My heart ached for them, and longed to hold Rylee in my arms!
We arrived at the guest house to the MOST WONDERFUL children! We were greeted with smiles and waves and giggles! My legs were shaking, I was thinking "where is my Rylee".....we met the nannies who had given him the most amazing care while he was at the transition home-and next thing I knew, we were on our way up the stairs....and there he laid in his pack and play, legs propped up just hangin out just waiting for mommy and daddy to arrive! My eyes filled with tears and my legs were shaking, o my goodness-thats exactly what I said and I picked our little man up and there was instantly a sense of pure love and comfort that came across! The rest is history.....
Here are some pics on our first day with Rylee Bona Roozie! :)


Our first family picture!

Sorry No Pictures, [Just] Words

Words to tell you all how blessed we are this Christmas to have our son home with us! I cannot tell you how fortunate we feel!!! I absolutly cannot let a day go by where I dont look at him and just try to analyze every little piece of him-what he's thinking, how he's feeling. I can't believe that we've been home almost 4 months with him and it seems like he's been here forever! O how I can't wait for Christmas with Rylee! When I think about where we were last year, we didnt even know about him, I mean we knew about "him" but we didnt know it was Rylee, he was only a couple weeks old, and Im sure at that moment Rylees birth mom didnt realize the sacrafice she was going to have to make in the upcoming months. I really dont like how her pain became such pure joy for us, however it's all part of life. She did what she knew was best for Rylee, and we thank God everyday that she cared enough to make such a choice.
Rylee has been pulling himself up on furniture for awhile now, and lately he has started to think he was such a biggies by standing on his own....I have been singing the ABC's to him while he does this, and so far he's gotten to the letter J before he gets too excited and falls down! He had his 1 year appt last week and our lil man is weighing in at almost 21 lbs and almost 31"! Ryan is really thinkin' we're gonna have a 7 footer on our hands! He just might be dunkin' on daddy by the time he's 10! The Dr. also informed us that he has 5 new teeth coming in, that would explain the "parties" he's been wanting to have every few hours in the middle of the night....I would be wantin some love too if I had 5 chompers comin through all at once!
I promise, tomorrow I will post pictures! More to come.....

Sisters......

You have all heard so much about RB's 4 year old twin sisters that are also here in the states....but I have yet to post a picture of them! This summer we're going to be heading out east for a vacation, and on the way we're going to stop to meet the Crist family and RB's sisters! We can't wait!!! So here they are (i cant remember which is which-sorry Jen) :) but if they aren't just too cute!!!!

Take a Picture......

Or 150! This child has been photographed and photographed and photographed...How can I stop though? I think Im addicted :) We went last week to an AMAZING photographer through the "celebrate adoption" program, check it out if you've recently returned home to see which photographers particpiate in your area! I wish I could post pictures from that session because she does some very cool stuff. If you want to look at a few things she did check out her blog www.deyoungphotography.com and there is a link to click on for her blog! I also went to a local place here as well, to get some christmas ones done-o goodness, Im going to post some of those-he was such a ham!! He had the whole place rolling, he was squealing and clapping and movin' all around-he is TOO much fun right now!!! So anyway-here is a little of the life of Rylee since he's turned one!

Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Boy!

Today our sweet little man turns 1! It's a bittersweet day. I am overjoyed that we get to share in such a special milestone with our son, however I am also saddened at the loss that his birthmom may be feeling today. I thank God everyday for Rylee, and I also wish her healing as well.
So here's to Rylee Bona Roozie and the big boy he is! We love you sweetie and are so blessed to have you in our family! Happy Happy Birthday!!! His party is this weekend, i will post all the fun pics from that this weekend! We're going to meet the Ballards for lunch and we'll be having dinner with the Essells tonight! He has so many wonderful people that love him!