We got our referral call on the day before Thanksgiving last year. It is hard to believe that a year has passed. We spent this Thanksgiving with my parents. Last year we passed around his referral picture and this year our little blessing was being passed around.
We did go to a Fall Festival at a local elementary school the week before Halloween but this year I decided not to take the little lion trick or treating. He stayed at home and helped pass out candy , when he wasn't trying to eat it. Everyone who came to the door remarked at what a cute lion he was...I guess even when he tried to roar he couldn't look ferocious. 
Well since I started working again in September I have not had time to post as much as I would like. I have so much more respect for all the working moms in the world (especially the working elementary school teachers). I am not organized (I thought I was) nor can I multi-task (I thought I could). Perhaps going back to work wouldn't have hit me as hard if I hadn't started graduate school at the same time. I already have a Masters Degree and National Board Certification, so it's not like I had to put myself through this- but it's that first born child, overachiever syndrome. I can't even imagine working on a PhD (Girls, I can't join you- I have much respect for my sister, my aunt and my friend Morgan) but once I finish this Educational Adminstration Certificate I think that's it for me (at least I say this for now:-)
Our little guy is in great hands at the Pamper Me Child Care, a home daycare with one other child (actually it's more like staying at a surrogate grandparents house.)
The little guy had a fun summer. He spent the 4th of July in NC with the Ellis family where he had his first try at 4-wheeling. At the end of the month, he took his first trip to Disney World with the Turner family. He had fun splashing in the pool. He also loved It's A Small World, but Disney World with a 1 year old isn't that fun. We will have to take him back when he can enjoy more rides. The main purpose of our trip to Florida was to go to the Delta Convention and of course he had his first introduction to Greek life at the stepshow.
Today our little guy turned 1!
I decided not to do a big birthday party for him since we had just done a big party in April for his baby dedication. I figured it wouldn't matter to him anyway but many people said that I had to do something to celebrate his first birthday. While in Babies R Us last weekend, he spotted a shirt with Elmo on it. (Elmo is one of his new favorite characters.) When I saw the matching crown I figured that was his way of telling me he wanted an Elmo birthday party :-)
So I ran around on the day before his big day and put together his first birthday party. He loved his Elmo fruit arrangment but he wasn't too sure about the cake. Of course his favorite gift was his Elmo puppet book.
Well anyone who reads my blog knows that I hardly post these days. The little guy likes full attention and it is kinda hard to sit down at the computer and type entries during the day and by the time night rolls round there are tons of other things I need to be doing. But since I posted about Mother's Day I thought I would mention the holiday devoted to Dads.
On Father's Day the hubby was certainly being the proud Daddy since it was his first Father's Day. We went to dinner with friends after church. Of course everyone at the table was having fun teasing the proud Daddy about being so overprotective!
Today was my first Mother's Day and we spent the weekend at my parent's house. I thought it was fitting to spend my first Mother's Day as a mother with my mother. Hubby finally bought me a video camera but now I don't have time to play with it. Now that I am a mother I have new found appreciation for the mothers of the world. We went to church in St. Michaels and then went for a scrumptious Mother's Day dinner at Chesapeake Landing.
As an adoptive mother this day also brings to mind my son's birthmother and the sacrifice she made by allowing us to raise her beautiful son. The love and strength it took for her to make that choice is truly amazing.
Once there were two women
Who never knew each other.
One you do not remember
The other you call Mother.
Two different lives
Shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star
The other became your sun.
The first one gave you life
And the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love
The second was there to give it.
One gave you a nationality
The other gave you a name.
One gave you a talent
The other gave you aim.
One gave you emotions
The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile
The other dried your tears.
One sought for you a home
That she could not provide.
The other prayed for a child
And her hope was not denied.
Heredity or environment
Which are you a product of?
Neither my Darling, neither.
Just two different kinds of Love.
Happy Mother's Day to both of us!
