Yiah's First Rose Bowl!

Yiah sees a motion W and identifies it as "badgers". He knows who Bucky is. When #1 makes a catch and daddy cheers "Tooooooooooooon!, he joins in. And if you ask him what Badgers do, he will put both arms in the air and attempt to say "touchdown!".

While the outcome wasn't what we had hoped, it was an important step in the growth of the next big Badger fan. So look out Iowa, you are going to have another Badger fan to deal with!

Go Bucky!

More Christmas!

One Year Ago...

A year ago today at this time, I was undoubtedly sitting on the bed in our small room in the heart of Addis Ababa recalling one of the most eventful days of my life and the countless emotions that I experienced that day. You see, one year ago this very night was the last night we ever had to spend without our family being together.

It was one year ago today that we cried at the sight of the America World sign outside of the transition home gate, and one year ago that we waited on the steps for Yedidiya's nanny to bring him out and place him into our arms for the first time. We finally got to hold him, kiss him, tell him that we loved him and that we had longed for this day. What a memory. It seems like forever ago, yet is still so vivid.

To sum up our first 4 hours together as a family, I would say, he cried. A lot. He played a little, peed on dad for the first time, ate and slept, but mostly cried. We wondered if we had gotten ourselves in over our heads. But even with how difficult it was for him to spend 4 hours with complete strangers and for us to spend 4 hours with a screaming child, it was perfect. We were a family dealing with these things as a family. And as hard as it was to hand him back to the nannies, I felt great to say, "We'll see you tomorrow."

And that tomorrow couldn't come soon enough. January 19th, 2010 Yedidiya came home with us and we were finally united as a forever family. One wonderful, blessed, joyous, and exhausting year ago!

Our Family Christmas (Part 1)!

A lot went into our first family Christmas. Picking out just the right presents, sticking to a budget (sort-of), decorating, anticipation... all for the world's most precious 1-year old, who won't remember one bit of it. So, as a good father, I had to remind Laura that this Christmas isn't about him, its about us!!! (He he he!)

I remember so well last year, when he wasn't home yet. Yes, it was Christmas, but there was a giant piece missing. Our son. This year, our entire family was in place. And what a joy it was. To see him open each present (which he now had figured out), play with each toy, and giggle and smile. It reminded me of Christmas when I was a kid. That joy was back, the excitement of opening presents. And not for me, for him. It now made sense what my parents had said for years before. I didn't need any gifts, I had everything I needed right there in front of me. My family. My beautiful wife. My precious son. Who could ask for anything more?

Spoiled!

Our first Christmas of the year started off at Grandpa and Grandma Schwartz's. And while I use the word spoiled, I think blessed is a better word. Both of our families have embraced Yiah with such love, and it comes out in the form of presents at Christmas! And while he did get a little Christmas in January last year, it was wonderful to have him home for his family Christmas this year!

Yedidiya really enjoyed the entire day, reading books with Grandma, playing with Grandpa, and looking at tractor, train, and badger videos on the computer with Aunt Kristen. When it came time for his gifts, you could tell it was a new idea to him. While he loved what was inside once they were open, I don't think he got the concept quite yet of opening the gift and that inside each one was another item for him. At times he was more focused on the last present, the box or some bows and ribbon. But it was a blast. By the end, he started figuring out to tear off the paper, but I think he was a little overwhelmed by the whole experience. I know that I was. Christmas lesson number one as a dad: The child's desire to have a toy right now is directly corresponding to the difficulty of getting that toy out of its packaging.

Christmas with a little one is so much more fun!

Winter Activities

Wow! For a kid who comes from a place that doesn't get snow, he sure doesn't mind the cold one bit! In fact, I think he LOVES it!!! His favorite, by far, is sledding. And with Christmas break we finally get a lot of time to get outside as a family and do those activities together. It is so much fun!! He must enjoy it as he usually gets mad at us when we make him come inside.