Yiah Goes Hunting!

So, how well does a 16-month old tolerate a 9 hour car ride to South Dakota? Well, when it is to go pheasant hunting, really well! Besides throwing up and opening a rotten packaged meal in the first hour, everything else went suprisingly good. When it comes to traveling, this kid is the champ! And his reward was his first true hunting experience. All though he didn't actually make it into the field, he did get to touch some birds and make his first trip to Cabela's. The first picture was actually taken upon arrival, after the 9 hour car ride. Look and that little trooper!

On one of his favorites... tractor!!!

Last Days of Summer

Due to some unseasonably warm weather here, we got little Y outside yesterday for a day of summer fun. Since we (I) have been so bad at posting lately, we thought some pics of our big guy might be appreciated by some.

Now "US Official"

The last piece of the adoption journey seems to be in place, and our Father has made it so beautiful. Edidia Aaron Schwartz has been in our care for over 180 days now, which means that under U.S. law, we could finally complete the re-adoption process. While he has been ours by Ethiopian standards since December, and ours in our hearts for much longer, he is now "officially" ours according the great U.S. of A. And he is now "officially" Yedidiya Lee Schwartz.


We spent Friday morning at the Scott County Courthouse and appeared before a judge to get the approval and paperwork necassary. We were asked many questions, including: "Do you understand, if the court grants you this request, the relationship formed is one of Father/Mother and Son, and is no different than that of a biological child?" I wanted to answer, 'it already is' but I did my assigned duty and simply said yes. But it makes us feel good to know that the United States now sees it as we always have.

One Year Ago...

One year ago today, for the first time we heard the name Yedidiya and saw the face of the most precious, adoreable, and beautiful baby boy in the world. I still remember the call like it was yesterday, not 365 days ago. Laura was in the shower after working out and getting ready to go to her dentist's appointment. I was poking around waiting to take her when my phone rang. I saw the number and new it was AWAA. The feeling that overcame me was indescribable; I can still feel it a little now just thinking about it! Nicole was on the other end and gave us the wonderful news that we had a beautiful healthy one-month old boy. I remember the way she said his name and then having her spell it for us. I remember the sheer excitement that we shared. And I remember being speechless. Then I remember waiting for the email with his information and pictures. Of course we were at the dentist's office when the email came, but luckily she is a very good friend of ours, so the first time we laid eyes on him was at her desk back in her office! And he was perfect!!!

And since then, how he has grown! We were just commenting the other day how the baby is starting to disappear and he is beginning to look like a little man.

Thank you Father for one year ago bringing your perfect plan together by bringing Yedidiya to us. What a wonderful day!

A Night at the Park

So Laura suggested for something different, I should take Yedidiya to a park. So last night I did. He loved it, and it certainly tired him (and Daddy) out. Even though we have a swing and a slide here at home, it was obvious that this was a whole new entertaining place to him. While he was curious of everything, the slides are by far his favorite. He still enjoys trying to climb up them and doesn't quite understand the concept of the steps yet, but he does enjoy going down them more. That is when he keeps his feet off the slide and he stays on his bum. We had a little difficulty with the grip of his sandals catching the slide and either sending him face first down the slide or when they got caught on the side turning him backwards. He didn't mind though. The few times Daddy went with him all he thought is they don't make slides as slippery as they used to.

Is that safe?

I think he was tired out by the end of it!

Half a Year as a Family!!!

Today is a big day for us. It has been exactly 6 months since Yedidiya left the transition home with us to be our son forever. I can't even describe those six months as it feels like he has always been here, always been with us, part of our family, perfectly planned by our Creator. All I can say is it is awesome being a father, it is awesome having Yedidiya as a son, and I can't believe how much I love him. These six months seem so long and so short all at the same time, but we look forward to and enjoy each coming day with him as a family.

Mama and Dada decided to celebrate a little bit and made Yiah a little present for this exciting day! (Well, Dada made it and Mama went along with it!) He'll get his first deer in no time!

The Fourth of July

Yedidiya got to experience his first Fourth of July. While he wasn't up late enough for any fireworks, he did get to go to his first parade. Other than the one fire truck that blew its horn and ran its siren directly in front of us scaring little Y half to death, he loved the entire parade. Usually, you can't keep this kid still, but at the parade he sat the whole time taking everything in. He probably also enjoyed watching Daddy go after the candy. It has been a while since Dada has had candy thrown his way and he was taking full advantage!

His favorite things in the parade were the tractors, by far! Maybe its because we live in Iowa???

Family Photo!

We are so blessed to live in this great country and to be able to bring home our son from Ethiopia to share it with us!