Scrambled Eggs with a Side of Bacon

I have a little bit to share about a few topics and I hope it really doesn't resemble scrambled eggs when I'm done! :) And the bacon? (ick!) I have a beef to share too & that's not something I usually do on bloggy world. :0) But I'm getting ahead of myself.....

Today marked the final day of Kindergarten for my chickadee. Honestly guys, I just don't know where the year went....I truly don't! It just seems like a moment ago we were filing into classroom for the meet & greet and carefully filling her backpack with new crayons, scissors, glue stick and more! Its been a tremendous year for us in so MANY ways and Lauren has had a glorious school year. I'm so happy for her and yet mightily baffled that I sent a Kindergartner to school today and welcomed home a First Grader, as she gleefully shared. Gulp......

I have also been wanting to share some silly numbers with you all.........these are approximations and all are true!

5 ~ the number of times I have been asked if Tyler Pei-En is from Korea. This is almost always asked by families who have baby boys adopted from Korea. :)

4 ~ the number of above families that have also shown me photos of their little ones after inquiring about Tyler's birth country. :) Pretty cute stuff too!!

0 ~ number of folks who have asked if he is from China or Taiwan.

2 ~ number of folks who have asked if he is from Kazakhstan. :)

1 ~ number of folks who have inquired if he is from Guatemala. ?? LOL

10 ~ number of insightful people who have told us how lucky WE ARE to have these two amazing babies! :) Loving that.....

3 ~ number of well meaning but incorrect folks who have told us that our kids are the lucky ones. :( Maybe we are all lucky to have found each other!

11 ~ My baby boy turned 11 mos. old yesterday! He was placed in our arms exactly four months to the day yesterday! My heart still does flip flops of joy just thinking about it!

5, almost 6 ~ number of words our little guy can say clearly and with meaning. His newest(#6) is, "mo, mo".....translation: MORE and always while pointing to Gerber Star munchies or bananas. :) He also goes "mmmmm" real loud when he sees us eating and wants a nibble. LOL He likes his grub!

12 ~ number of summertime weekends between now and Labor Day to pack in tons of fun in the sun, visits & outings!! :)

Are you wondering about the bacon? Where's the beef?? LOL....sorry, that was too goofy and predictable to pass up....... O.K. I don't normally share my petty gripes, annoyances or pet peeves; I guess I figure we all have to deal with enough of that in our daily lives, so who needs to read about it here, right? But just this once ( well, I will reserve the right to do so again in the future as needed) :) I'm gonna holler a bit about the people who find it necessary to enlighten us with such comments as: " boy, you really gambled; thank heavens it all paid off" or " well, now I know of at least 2 International adoptions that turned out well." Then there's the perennial, "boy, you guys sure dodged a bullet" and the always pithy, " you two are far braver than me". I'm not going to say a whole lot about this........I figure maybe you all can draw your own conclusions; but how sad that some folks labor under such misconceptions about internationally adopted children. Presuming perhaps that the adoptive journey is one fraught with great peril, risk and few happy endings? I think perhaps this is sometimes said as some kind of attempted compliment or for lack of anything else to say..........but its frustrating and offensive just the same. Don't our babies/children deserve the same chance to define themselves, to be viewed as whole/healthy, to be accepted for the tremendous miracles they are? I think so & preconceived notions irk me. There, I said it! That felt good & I thank y'all for lending your ears to my rant! :) Oh lordy, I'm on a roll now........I also found it annoying last week when an acquaintance at the pool hollered out, "stamp that baby's butt with a Made in Taiwan label"! Groan........... ~ the optimist in me just has to say that by & far most comments made regarding our kiddos and adoption are overwhelmingly positive and wonderful.....but just once in a while..... :)~

NOW, onward and upward.....here are a few pictures. One is from Lauren's first day of school last Fall and then several from today. Look how my girl has grown!!

AND, almost forgot.......I'm gonna be away from bloggy land for the next week. I know I'm going to miss seeing those beautiful baby updates and I HOPE to see lots of good news when I am able to check back in next week! I'll miss ya all and will be anxious to catch up soon!

My sweet 5 year old just starting Kindergarten.

Now she's 6........ & on her way to First Grade in the Fall!

Polka-dot princess!!

This is my view as we walk to school. She zooms along on her scooter!

And the baby keeps busy while big Sis is away at school!

Strumming a little tune..............

Making a joyful noise when its time to pick-up Lauren!