Three in Tennessee

Don't make us cry again tonight!

2008-10-04T18:37:00.001-05:00

Hurry home, Matt!

2008-09-25T20:47:00.002-05:00

Ahhhh....I'm about to freak out here. The Office has been on for like 44 minutes and I'm waiting for Matt to get home from practice until I watch it. Stinkin worship practice. ;)

My Annual Jim & Pam/The Office Post

2008-09-24T00:30:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I began the countdown a few days ago, but haven't had a chance to post yet. I cannot believe it's here so quickly this season. It seems like just yesterday that Matt, Fowler and I were watching the finale. Now for the season premiere we will be Fowler-less as his home is a little too far for him to drive here for Office Night at Matt and Teri's...like 4 hours too far. This might sound pathetic, but I seriously think that the season 2 finale aka Casino Night got me through the long summer of 2006. I am truly being serious. That was pre-Tatum. It was a rough summer as we were in the middle of our homestudy and lots of waiting. Watching and rewatching Casino Night for any sort of clue as to what would happen with Jim and Pam passed those summer nights.

Last summer was spent waiting for our girl and then not sleeping because our girl was finally here! Thank you, Jesus!

This summer was spent having more fun that we've ever had. We watched Little T learn to crawl. We listened to the best jibberish (Tatumese) we have ever heard. We celebrated her 1st birthday. We've watched the Cubs rock the house and clinch the NL Central Division - yay Cubs! That was for you, Matt. :) We've watched Tatum learn how to hug the dogs, which in Matt's words, is one of the cutest things we've ever seen. It's been a great summer.

We are thrilled that fall has begun. We're kicking off our fall with Matt's birthday and The Office on Thursday. What a great day that will be!

15 years...

2008-09-14T00:34:00.001-05:00

Today, Sept 13, is our 15 year "Relationship Anniversary". We recounted the events of that day. It's so special, fun, silly. And it's our story. Love you, Babe!

Happy 15th Anniversary to Conan O'Brien, too!

This little piggy...

2008-09-13T10:39:00.001-05:00

This little piggy cried "yabbi-yabbi-yabbi" all the way home.

The B-I-B-L-E

2008-09-12T11:04:00.003-05:00

How is this possible?

2008-09-12T10:02:00.001-05:00

I think i can post from my phone!

2008-09-12T09:49:00.003-05:00

Blogger mobile doesn't support Sprint, so I'm trying "mail to blogger"... Tatum loves our new phones, and so do I!

One year ago

2008-08-01T22:43:00.004-05:00

Well, one year ago today we got the call that Rebecca would be induced the next day. So this time last year, Matt and I were having our last family of 2 + 3 canine cuddling time...we were packing our bags...looking at our empty nursery knowing that it would finally be filled...I'm sure I was cleaning up some, I like to do that when I nervous or excited...we were warning the dogs that a new little, tiny person would be joining the family, but we promised them that they weren't being replaced - they would just have an extra person to love on them. That night, everything was our "last time" doing something or other.

The next day was incredible and at 6:43pm on August 2nd, little Tatum Elana Nicole made her appearance. Oh my word, she literally cried for 45 minutes straight right after she was born. I think we all were like "holy cow"! But oh my word, my sweet girl! I cannot believe how much I love my daughter. Matt and I can hardly remember those long years that we waited for her. She brings joy and laughter wherever she goes. She's sweet, smart and funny. I didn't know that a baby could be so funny, but she is. She's intuitive...she figures things out so quickly. She knew how to take off her pink sandals the first time she saw me adjust the velcro. That was proven one day when we had to retrace our steps in the store to find her missing sandal. :) She shares her cheerios with me and gives me kisses (yes, sometimes open mouthed - lol). She listens so intently when her daddy plays the guitar for her. She holds his face (and his heart) in her hands. We've done so much together and spent countless hours driving, working, hanging out at home. I love absolutely every minute I get to spend with my Little T.

I absolutely cannot believe that a whole year has gone by. I love, love, love my girl so much. How exciting this next year will be!

Feeding the Ducks

2008-07-05T20:32:00.003-05:00

As part of our relaxing 4th, we went to the park to feed the ducks. Tatum loved it, and Libby helped keep the mob at a safe distance.

Happy 4th! Now lets blow crap up.

2008-07-04T15:29:00.002-05:00

Playing with the dogs

2008-07-04T14:23:00.002-05:00

Tatum has recently started playing with the dogs. This video shows her shaking Ropey for Francie, who isn't in the shot. Felicity is playing and enjoying the squeals coming from the Little T...who apparently got a little wild with Ropey...just watch.

Tatum's Tree

2008-06-23T22:31:00.005-05:00

As a celebration of Tatum's Adoption Day, some good friends Erik and Jana gave us an American Sweetgum tree (indigenous to the Smokeys). At the adoption party, they called it the "lawyer fee tree" and everyone tied contributions to our adoption fund to the branches. After the party, Erik helped me plant it *read: planted it for me*. What a wonderful gift and great story for Tatum!

On Father's Day, we got all decked out in our Cubs gear, fidgeted with our Cubs autographed baseball, and watched our favorite team beat the Jays. And then, I finally got some good pictures of Tatum by her tree. I think we'll take pictures by it every Father's Day, take notice of the growth in Tatum and her tree, and tell the story again.

To see all the pics, visit the gallery here.

The best writer I know

2008-06-14T20:14:00.000-05:00

I have an amazing friend who blogs. From time to time I visit her blog and every time I do, I think to myself, "she is the best writer I know." I mean to tell her and thank her. I mean to visit her blog more often. I mean to share it with people I know. And then crazy life kicks back in and I do none of those things.

So here's to L-Mize, wife of D-Mize... the best writer I know. Lindsay: thanks for blogging. You make me think, laugh, and sometimes cry. I've subscribed to your RSS so I'll automatically stay up-to-date. If you're not Lindsay and you're reading this, should do the same. Check out this exceptional post:
Finding Macedonia: Nothing

NPR Interview: "When Mom Doesn't Look Like the Kids"

2008-06-02T22:16:00.003-05:00

Dorothy Bode is a mom and contributor to the Carolina Hope blog whom we've come to greatly admire. She was interviewed on NPR's Day to Day re: trans-racial adoption. Listen here.

New Tatum Photos...

2008-05-18T21:57:00.002-05:00

Adoption Day!

2008-03-31T22:24:00.010-05:00

It's official! The court now views Tatum like we have all along. Exciting, surreal, joyful, final.

It was a special day with Irma, Judge Young, Aaron, Sharon, Bryce, Cory, Melissa, Taylor, Katlin, Jenna, Cassie, Sharon, and Fowler! After court, we went to Cracker Barrel for brunch.

We went to Build-a-Bear to continue a very special tradition that was started by Tatum's birth-mother. The results: Wrigley Rabbit. She plays "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in honor of the Cubs' 2008 home opener... also today. I'd say it's destiny, but that hasn't worked out too well in the past.

What a great day!

Rufus Barbae: "Other Side"

2008-03-26T14:41:00.011-05:00

After much ado and many of your suggestions, Fowler and I have named our little music-making duo Rufus Barbae. RB is latin for red beard, so it seems to fit. Thanks to Teri's merchandising genius, I can't wait to see Tatum crawling around in a "Barbae Doll" shirt!

We wrote a song called "Other Side" a few weekends ago and decided to record it last night. It's a laid back road trip song about driving The Dragon. Here's the rough cut before post-production and final mix-down.

So whadyathink?
(this is where you encourage me to excel at my 8-5 job.)

Poor baby Tatum!

2008-03-26T14:31:00.004-05:00

Poor Little T...we went to the doctor yesterday and she has an ear infection and an upper respiratory infection. So, she was pretty glad that adoption day was postponed because she was NOT in the mood to have her picture taken a bazillion times. Nor was she in the mood to meet the judge. :)

I have never seen her scowl and be so upset out in public before. She usually hams it up when she gets compliments, but not yesterday. We went to get her prescription at Target and she wanted me to hold her the entire time. She was giving the stink eye to everyone that talked to her. LOL! It was more scowling and carrying on than I have ever seen her do. Poor baby! She really, really didn't feel good.

So we're hoping that she will feel tons better by next Monday for the big day.

Adoption Day Postponed - judge is sick

2008-03-25T06:15:00.003-05:00

Well, we are rescheduled for next Monday, March 31. This might have all been for the best because Tatum isn't feeling well either. We thought is was just teething, but now we aren't so sure. So, we are calling the doctor as soon as they open today. Hopefully, the judge and Tatum will feel better soon. :)

Tatum hanging out in the hall

2008-03-22T10:05:00.000-05:00

Swimming Lessons!

2008-03-01T20:54:00.000-05:00

Tatum started swimming lessons at the YMCA today. She had a great time kicking and splashing!

itty-bitty's jibber-jabber (Tatum's trumpet solo)

2008-02-23T23:07:00.001-05:00

"I poop"

2008-02-07T12:01:00.000-05:00

Ok, so we're really working on Tatum saying "dada" and "mama" - we even throw in "puppies" every now and again. Well, so far everything sounds kind of like "dada". Last Saturday, Matt was holding her while I was talking to her and we were talking about pooping. I asked her if she had pooped and other such things. Anyway, in the middle of Matt and I talking Tatum was babbling and it TOTALLY sounded like she said "I poop" - Matt and I looked at each other in amazement. That is seriously what it sounded like. So now we say "I poop" a lot, just to see if she'll babble it again. :)

Happy Half Birthday to You!

2008-02-02T19:43:00.000-05:00