What A Difference A Year Makes!

One year ago today (it was a Tuesday on an Alaskan cruise entering Glacier Bay) we saw our son's face for the first time!  The handsome little face looking back at us in the picture was our Dawson!  We knew it.  We didn't have to think too much about it.  God had planned for us to be his parents.

One year later we are working on being a family of four.  Four is much harder than three.  You wouldn't think so, but it is.  We are still looking for our "normal" which keeps changing!

In the now more than 5 months since we met Dawson, he has learned to walk, he is sometimes almost running trying to keep up with his sister, he is learning to use a fork and he can figure out how to get onto something higher than he can get to by himself.  He pulls something (a toy drum, a little ride-on toy, a ball(!)) over to a couch or a chair and uses it to climb onto the couch or chair!  It's just a matter of time that he will be climbing onto a kitchen chair and then onto the table and messing with the remote like Meighan did!  (Geesh!)  He also is trying to say some words like "Uh oh", "food", and "no".  (Geesh, again!)

He's our complicated little monkey that is probably so smart that he (like his sister) will pass us up in smarts someday.  We can't wait to see what life brings for this little guy!

We love you, Dawson!

Like Sister ...

 (2009)

Like Brother!

(2012)



4th of July

I took the kids down to my hometown to see the parade.  I wasn't sure how Dawson would react, whether he'd be moving the whole time or what.  It was HOT.  We found a place in the shade to watch the parade.  Meighan was ready with her bucket to run out and get candy (they won't let people IN the parade throw out candy -- the candy has to be thrown or given out by people walking along the route).  Anyway, Dawson walked some before the parade but then he wanted to sit in his stoller and eat Cheerios.  He STAYED in his stroller the WHOLE TIME and just took in everything!  I was actually quite amazed!

We didn't stay in town to eat lunch.  We went back to my parents' house for lunch, A/C and the little wading pool she put up.  Dawson took a nap while Meighan played in the pool a bit.  Then when he woke up, they both were in the pool a bit.

In the evening we walked up the neighbors' and ate a little bit.  It was getting towards Dawson's bedtime so we walked home, I gave him a bath and got him ready for bed.  Tony and Meighan did a few fireworks and then came home.

Recent Pictures

Here's some random pictures we've taken recently.  Enjoy!

Somehow I got both of them looking at the camera at the same time!

Dawson had a fresh chocolate chip cookie the other day.

The longer he took to eat it, the messier he got!

This was taken by the daycare provider for a picture frame that Meighan made for Tony for Father's Day.  We wondered how she could get a really good picture and we couldn't.

No explanation needed!

Ready for football season!

Go Huskers!

Ever since we brought Meighan home, Sunshine hasn't wanted ANYTHING to do with her.  She runs at the first sight or sound of her and goes and hides.  Well, today I walked into our room and found Meighan playing with Sunshine!  Sunshine had no intention of moving for quite a while.  I suppose after 3 1/2 years and Meighan maturing some, Sunshine is finally starting to accept her!

Save The Adoption Tax Credit!

Starting in 1997, the adoption tax credit has helped families defray the costs of adoption.  As of 2003, special needs adoptions were eligible for the full credit no matter what their adoption expenses totalled.

We were able to claim the full amount of the credit with Meighan's adoption.  The first year it was just a credit and we used part of it.  The second year it became refundable and we were able to receive the remainder as a REFUND.  We used that to help pay for Dawson's adoption fees.

This year, if we finalize his adoption in 2012, the credit is back to being just a credit (not refundable).  We can divide it into 5 years (I think) like before but we would not SEE any refund of it.

However, the adoption tax credit is due to expire at the end of this year on December 31, 2012.  It will go down (from $12,650) to $6,000 in 2013.  It will also limit who is eligible to recieve the credit.  This will severely limit the number of families able to adopt as well as limit the number of orphans around the world who would otherwise be place in loving, forever families.

On April 17, 2012, legislation was introduced by Iowa Representative Bruce Braley (an adoptive parent himself) to protect the adoption tax credit.  It is called the Making Adoption Affordable Act (HR 4373).  Go to http://adoptiontaxcredit.org for information on the credit, the legislation and how to contact your representatives and senators about your support for the adoption tax credit.  There is currently no legislation in the Senate at this time but you can request your senator's support for a credit that is inclusive, refundable, flat for special needs adoptions and permanent.

Do this soon!  The fate of 1.4 million orphans depends on it!

MORE!

Tonight Dawson and I were playing with the Tupperware shape sorter ball and we got all the pieces put into the ball and then he actually did the sign for "more" that we've been trying to get him to do for the last four months! Yippee! He did it several times consistently! He must be doing it at daycare. He's starting to 'get' it! I'm so excited!

Father's Day and VBS Program

Well, we had a fairly low-key Father's Day yesterday.

We started out by going to church.  Last week was VBS and it was the first year Meighan was eligible to attend.  I decided since I had to take her anyway, I would volunteer.  I helped with snacks.  The logistics of the week were:  get up, take the kids to daycare, go to work, pick up the kids from daycare, go straight to church, eat the food I had brought along for supper, attend Bible School (Dawson in childcare), drive home, go to bed.  Do it all over the next day.  That was some week!  We were very tired and I was sure glad when Thursday evening came, which meant that the evening session of VBS was over.

Tony had his own adventures during the week, most of which involved trying to lure raccoons out of his parents' basement and crawl space!  (They got 'em all four, by the way!)

Meighan LOVED Bible School!  She wanted to wear her Bible School shirt ALL the time!  She loved learning the songs and the motions with them.  I think she can't wait till it's Bible School time again!

In church, the VBS kids were ALL on stage and they sang several songs they learned during the week.  The preschoolers sang the first 3 songs and then went to sit with their parents.  I got video of all 3 songs she was in.  You can see them on our YouTube channel www.YouTube.com/tjsmsmith.  They are "Fly", "He Arose", and "Our God".

After church we went to Valentino's and took advantage of the 1/2 price Father's Day special.  I was the only one that was "full-price".  Dawson was free and Meighan was priced according to her age.  We ate the wonderful buffet and finished it off with brownie sundaes and an ice cream cone.

Then we came home and slept!  It was Dawson's naptime anyway and Tony & I slept for 2+ hours and Meighan also slept some, even though she never wants to take a nap.  Tony went out and worked on his cars and even took some "alone time" and went for a drive in his Chevelle -- by himself.  That's what HE wanted to do.

Finally, in the evening, I was able to get a picture of Daddy and his TWO kids.