A Look Back

Yesterday we had our final post placement visit with our Social Worker and certainly it brought to the forefront of our minds the full circle our family has made. Our SW has always been rather taken with Tyler and he in turn never misses an opportunity to showcase his many charms on a lady! :) In so many ways, its difficult to imagine our lives now without this bundle of amazement, yet yesterday's visit is tangible proof that our journey to Tyler began well over 2 years ago ~ and along the way it was marked with many twists, curves, unexpected hurdles and ultimately one of the two greatest joys of our lives. Amazing......

AND as we are approaching our one year anniversary of bringing this little wonder home, I thought it might be fun to share a sampling of the photos that we were taken of him on the disposable cameras we sent ahead in care packages and prior to our travels. The quality is just okay ~ I mean they were disposables :) and the quality suffers a bit more with scanning and uploading, BUT we treasure them so much as they offer a glimpse into the months we waited to bring him home(and missed sharing with him)........they are vital threads of his life and time in Taiwan ~ sneak peeks into his "everyday" while in his birth country. Priceless!

We believe these were taken in clusters and when he was around 5 and 6 months old. I love that many of them show him smiling up at someone who I know in my heart must have been his loving Foster Mom ~ two of the photos we received (but not shown) have glimpses of her kneeling near him, to the side of the frame, ever vigilant & close by. The stroller photos remind us of the daily walks he took with her and we know how he loved and continues to adore those outings!

AND if you make it through this nostalgic peek back, I added the final update video we received of Tyler in January of last year. At that time we knew we were close to travel (February) and still to this day it remains one of my favorites and the one I simply cannot sit through without a tear or two!

In the weeks to come as we approach our family milestone, I'm sure I will be spending as much time looking back as I am looking forward and I thank you all for coming along on the ride with me! I think I'm in VERY good company! :)

In his Baby's First Christmas Outfit..........I love this photo.

*grin* Daddy cringes at his boy sporting Mary Janes......LOL

Oh, he loved that "paci", but once home he rarely used it ever again!

Well, I might cry too with beads on my head! Ohhhhh......

I know and LOVE that mischevious grin!

All ready to go!

Such a happy boy....then & now! Oh, there's his Christmas teddy bear too!

Just hanging out with my buds!

This can only be his........I've had my bottle and I'm full and content......face.

Our precious boy........

I know a bit about this face too..........sometimes it means....."no more pictures please". :)

Oh my goodness...I just remember thinking last year while watching this (and its SO clear it feels like yesterday)......we are coming baby boy.....we are coming!!