Entering our house and the living area:

Garage (mom - note the step-down, we don't need any broken ankles when you come visit)

Kitchen:

please note the walk-in-pantry and yes, that is a dishwasher next to our sink!

powder room, stairs, closet, laundry room

Playroom/Gameroom

Bedrooms:

Master Bath

Gabe in our big garden tub!

2nd bath



Cute baby Gaby trying to put on his hat.....

Back yard

Back of our house:

I already have visions of color splashed walls, curtains hanging and pictures on the walls. More ideas of a backyard overhang with a picnic table and Gabe's sandbox and a swing by the front door.... shortly, this will be home. Well, shortly in as soon as the bank finalizes the papers! Hopefully soon!

Swee!

Gabe's favorite thing to do in Texas, he calls it "sweeing":

Actually, Gabe prefers to be in the pool rather than having his Mama take his picture before letting him get in! But since he can't swim on his own, pictures must be taken before we get in the pool.

Gabe and Daddy in the pool this past weekend!

One Year

Gabriel,


One year ago today, you legally became ours. I'm not sure if it's because we knew you were ours from the first time we met you or with the craziness of moving to Texas but we actually forgot about the significance of May 25, 2010. Honestly out of all your "special" days; birthday, gotcha day and even the day Miss B and Mr C chose us to be your parents, your adoption day seems the least significant. I think it's because it's more about the red tape of adoption then the love adoption brings to people.

We didn't exactly forget, it just slipped by us so quickly that we didn't have time to celebrate. To celebrate you and the miracles God has given us since we became your parents. Most days I feel completely inadequate to be your Mama. For some reason that I will never understand, God chose us, two imperfect people to be your parents. Being the parents to a boy who is perfectly made in God's image is a little humbling to say the least.


Adoption has given us the gift of life. And through your life we have learned to cherish the little moments along with the big ones because each one is precious. We've watched you challenge doctors diagnosis's and win, teaching us to never let our path be determined by what other people think. And we've learned a lot about love; a love that is stronger, deeper and fiercer than anything we've ever felt.

So today, just like every day, we celebrate you and the love, life and laughter you've brought us.

Thank you so much for being our son and teaching us what being a parent really means. We love you moosh-moosh!

Rewind!

We spent the last few weeks in Ohio making as many memories as we could. And while our time went by too fast and we were unable to see everyone we would have liked, we took advantage of every opportunity we could.

Before the movers came Gabe spent some time with his books. Matt and I called the corner in our dining room Gabe's study because he'd sit over there for the longest time paging through books and reading aloud to himself.

We spent time at Dave and Busters with our favorite 8 year old nephew.

We took a couple of trips to the zoo

And Gabe was able to see Cleveland's elephants for the first time. African Elephant Crossing was fantastic! Gabe's eyes just about popped out of his head when he saw how big the doggies were! Everything with four legs is a doggy, so these were some pretty huge dogs [smile].

Willy the bull, 13,000 lbs of elephant love!

We went for a train ride through the Australian Outback.

Gabe played with his best buddy, Sam.

While Gabriel played in the grass Friday night, my family and Matt's brother's came over to eat some pizza and say goodbye. I hate saying goodbye; I hate even more that my 8 year old nephew with the sweetest heart cried and doesn't understand why we have to move so far away.

Sitting on Uncle Matt's Harley before heading out.