We're home from Disney/Miami and wanted to put up part two of our post. We had a great time, despite the crowds and cold weather. If anyone wants tips on how to navigate Disney, we have plenty of suggestions! Here are some pics of TJ at Epcot and in Miami.


The first picture is of a ball we bought TJ - his eyes went straight to it (not a surprise). TJ and I are pointing to Kazakhstan on the ball - we tell him that is where he was born.




TJ, Mommy and a Troll in Norway after riding the Maelstrom...



TJ liked the drums in Outpost Africa (I think Daddy did too)...




Then we ate dinner in Mexico...



The next day we drove back to Miami for some rays. TJ loved the beach and the hot tub, and people loved his shirt (thanks Kevin and Kel!)

We're in Disney World!

TJ is having a blast! He loves the rides, but I think he loves the "cho cho" trains the best (his favorite thing to do at home is to walk up to the train station and watch them with Daddy - he also loves the Thomas the Train movie). So we've ridden the train both at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Today we are off to Epcot. Below our some pictures with highlights from our trip.

TJ with Daddy and Timon - a character from the Lion King (he was much better with this one - he was quite scared when the first character, Rafiki came around)

Daddy bought TJ this souvenir bouncy ball. He was obviously quite excited.

The family at the entrance to Animal Kingdom.

TJ pets a snake. (He actually loved the snake and went up twice!)

TJ and Mommy in front of the gorillas.

Today we're off to Epcot! Stay tuned...

Happy New Year!

TJ had a joyous Christmas season. Here are some highlights...


First, TJ picked out the perfect tree with Pops.

Then TJ went to the mall to meet Santa. Even though Mommy made him wear an ugly Snowman sweater, he was still pretty happy!




On Christmas Eve, TJ met some more lady friends. His list of female admirers is growing!




Then he got to open gifts with Daddy at Gramma and Pop Pop's house on Christmas morning.




TJ spent a lot of time with his cousins, especially with his bud "Bea."

And then TJ got his own horse courtesy of Aunt Jan and Uncle Tom.

TJ had a great first Christmas. He thanks everyone for all the thoughtful gifts!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much for which to be thankful. TJ has brought such joy to so many lives. In that spirit, we wanted to share with everyone a video we put together for TJ which chronicles our story.

Enjoy.

We also thought you guys would enjoy the pictures from TJ's first barber shop visit, which was this summer...

6 months!

Well almost. This past weekend we had a social worker visit us for the first of many post placement reports.

It's amazing in this short time the number of milestones TJ has accomplished.

Including his first sentence that he said last week - "I want Daddy!"

(He also later on said "I want Mommy" and "I want Pop Pop" but those were not corroborated.)

Happy Halloween.

Okay, here they are. The much anticipated Elmo pictures!

Last weekend TJ got to meet his great grandparents. On Saturday night he helped his great-grandpa celebrate his 80th birthday. And on Sunday he got to meet the Nittany Lion. He looks pretty natural up there....

Also TJ decided he wanted to see what a lemon tasted like. He hasn't asked for one since, I wonder why...

This weekend we went to New Paltz, New York to visit with some of my friends from college. TJ once again enjoyed the fall festivities...

...he went on a hay ride

...and got to meet more friends

...and ate apple cider donuts, which he obviously did not like

...and got to play in the hay stacks

...and Kelly and Kevin gave him a new shirt as he was once again surrounded by adoring women

...with his name and the Kazakh flag on it


Tune in next week: TJ meets his great-grandparents and hangs out with the Nittany Lion!

This weekend we went to Gram's house in the Poconos. On Saturday during the day we went to the Roba Family Tree Farm. TJ watched a pig race, got lost in a corn maze, fed the goats, got bucked around on the cattle train, and once again rode a pony.








And at night TJ had a tickle-fest with cousins Catherine and Elizabeth. Uncle Jim pitched in too...

TJ had a lot of fun this summer in Ocean City. We went this weekend to close up shop, so in tribute, we thought we would post some highlights from the summer where TJ learned what rides were, why you don't rub your eyes when your hands are sandy, and the joy of eating corn on the cob.

J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!

During baseball season TJ mastered the term"baseball" and he would fiercely swing any club-like object as if it were a bat. Now, with football season, he has learned how to say "football" and already has good form (see below). He also has superstar taste - he only wants to play with the John Elway signed ball (Jon won't let me give it to him anymore).