I have been opposed to blogging, although we've had this account for a year and a half now. But, I am realizing that it can be one of the most helpful tools for keeping up with family and friends... so we thought we'd start with the next big milestone in our little family unit:
Next Wednesday, September 16th, is Nate's NINTH Gotcha Day! This is the celebration of the day we "got" Nate... when a five-month-old baby we had prayed and prayed for, finally was placed in our arms. Wow! Where does time go? I ask this question every day, if not a few times in a day. It is true - that you "blink" and suddenly the baby you once held is standing in front of you, 9-years-old and wearing braces. I am sure that I will blink again and wonder where my 9-year-old went and be amazed at the young man I am sending off to college. We are halfway there, and that scares me on so many fronts.
So, for Nate's Gotcha Day, we are celebrating with family this Saturday (as well as Godparents and close friends). Nate has asked for his favorite foods which include the following: sushi and sashimi from Kubo's, vietnamese egg rolls, spring rolls and sandwiches and a plethora of Crave Cupcakes. Today the two of us went online and he helped me order the cupcake flavors he wanted - which included his favorite Red Velvet and my favorite Dark Chocolate Coconut. This is how our family celebrates - with FOOD. I oft joke that my husband remembers the trips we have taken and the significant moments in our life by the things we have eaten. We have raised a son who has pretty much decided that this too is how he will remember the important milestones in life.
Nate has also agreed to let me show his homecoming video (again). Every year we watch him coming off the plane at Hobby Airport, his curious eyes, fuzzy head and chapped cheeks coming straight at me in the arms of my friend, Sue. This was before 9-11, so everyone was at the gate, anxiously awaiting his arrival. The crew let he and Sue come off the plane first, and I will never, ever, ever forget that incredible moment. She put him in my arms and I had an out-of-body experience. I don't remember a word anyone said to me, but I remember how he smelled and felt in my arms. He was perfect, perfect, perfect. He didn't cry at all - just took in all the people, the lights in the airport, the balloons that Dave's sister brought... it was the most amazing gift in the world and I couldn't believe that he was ours.
Of course, if you have known Nate through the years, or you know him now, you know the gift that he is. I am blown away by the little baby that was so easy-going, never cried unless he was sick, smiled constantly and just enjoyed life. My friend, Roxie, commented that what she has always loved about Nate is his love of life. Some kids look at things and ask a million questions - and although Nate has asked many questions through the years - his first response to any given situation or experience, is to EMBRACE IT. He observes, watches and then, when he gets comfortable, just goes right for it. Swimming, learning to ride his Ripstick, ziplining, fishing, boogey-boarding in the Pacific Ocean... that's my boy... he just wants to get in there and try it and thoroughly enjoy every moment of it.
How is this possible, since I am the most paranoid mother of all? Of course, if you know me, the glass is always half empty... but with Nate Quan it is always half-full. Both he and Dave are my balance... and I am grateful. Grateful that Nate is who he is, in spite of my worrying, fussing and general cynicism. With Nate - LIFE IS GOOD! I hope he stays that way his whole life.
I do have to say, that I appreciate it when he heeds my cautionary words. Dave had asked him earlier this month if he wanted to go out and play club football this fall. "No way," Nate replied. "I don't want to live a short life. Remember how Mom told us that the average age an NFL player lives 'til is like 50-something?" Love it!
Most of all, as I say so often - Nate's kind heart is what touches me daily - his worry for others, his sadness when he hears of someone else's plight, the way he thinks often about the tragedy in North Korea - his keen awareness of that situation and how close he was to it because of his birthplace impresses me. My heart overflows with gratitude when I see this in the beautiful son that I have been so blessed to raise and know.
On his actual Gotcha Day (next Wednesday), I'll be flying home from a business trip. Dave and Nate will come pick me up from the airport and Nate will choose where we'll have dinner. We'll tell him his story yet again - of how he came to us and the anxious days in the hospital not too long after his arrival. We'll look at his baby book (that I was so good about getting done, and stopped at 18 mos... but hey, at least he's got the most important part of the story) and we'll laugh about his little antics through the years. And we'll tell him we love him again and again (like we do everyday) and remind him of the plan God had for our family all along. We'll put him to bed and pray over him and kiss him goodnight... another year together... and then we'll look forward to the next time we celebrate the creation of this little family unit.
My hope is that as each Gotcha Day passes, the memories will be sweeter and I'll have more to be amazed about - the baby who has grown into a boy who then grows into a young man who finally becomes the man we hope he will be... compassionate, strong, gracious, wise, hard-working and generous... we see all of those things already... wow, what an amazing gift we steward in this child.
Next Wednesday, September 16th, is Nate's NINTH Gotcha Day! This is the celebration of the day we "got" Nate... when a five-month-old baby we had prayed and prayed for, finally was placed in our arms. Wow! Where does time go? I ask this question every day, if not a few times in a day. It is true - that you "blink" and suddenly the baby you once held is standing in front of you, 9-years-old and wearing braces. I am sure that I will blink again and wonder where my 9-year-old went and be amazed at the young man I am sending off to college. We are halfway there, and that scares me on so many fronts.
So, for Nate's Gotcha Day, we are celebrating with family this Saturday (as well as Godparents and close friends). Nate has asked for his favorite foods which include the following: sushi and sashimi from Kubo's, vietnamese egg rolls, spring rolls and sandwiches and a plethora of Crave Cupcakes. Today the two of us went online and he helped me order the cupcake flavors he wanted - which included his favorite Red Velvet and my favorite Dark Chocolate Coconut. This is how our family celebrates - with FOOD. I oft joke that my husband remembers the trips we have taken and the significant moments in our life by the things we have eaten. We have raised a son who has pretty much decided that this too is how he will remember the important milestones in life.
Nate has also agreed to let me show his homecoming video (again). Every year we watch him coming off the plane at Hobby Airport, his curious eyes, fuzzy head and chapped cheeks coming straight at me in the arms of my friend, Sue. This was before 9-11, so everyone was at the gate, anxiously awaiting his arrival. The crew let he and Sue come off the plane first, and I will never, ever, ever forget that incredible moment. She put him in my arms and I had an out-of-body experience. I don't remember a word anyone said to me, but I remember how he smelled and felt in my arms. He was perfect, perfect, perfect. He didn't cry at all - just took in all the people, the lights in the airport, the balloons that Dave's sister brought... it was the most amazing gift in the world and I couldn't believe that he was ours.
Of course, if you have known Nate through the years, or you know him now, you know the gift that he is. I am blown away by the little baby that was so easy-going, never cried unless he was sick, smiled constantly and just enjoyed life. My friend, Roxie, commented that what she has always loved about Nate is his love of life. Some kids look at things and ask a million questions - and although Nate has asked many questions through the years - his first response to any given situation or experience, is to EMBRACE IT. He observes, watches and then, when he gets comfortable, just goes right for it. Swimming, learning to ride his Ripstick, ziplining, fishing, boogey-boarding in the Pacific Ocean... that's my boy... he just wants to get in there and try it and thoroughly enjoy every moment of it.
How is this possible, since I am the most paranoid mother of all? Of course, if you know me, the glass is always half empty... but with Nate Quan it is always half-full. Both he and Dave are my balance... and I am grateful. Grateful that Nate is who he is, in spite of my worrying, fussing and general cynicism. With Nate - LIFE IS GOOD! I hope he stays that way his whole life.
I do have to say, that I appreciate it when he heeds my cautionary words. Dave had asked him earlier this month if he wanted to go out and play club football this fall. "No way," Nate replied. "I don't want to live a short life. Remember how Mom told us that the average age an NFL player lives 'til is like 50-something?" Love it!
Most of all, as I say so often - Nate's kind heart is what touches me daily - his worry for others, his sadness when he hears of someone else's plight, the way he thinks often about the tragedy in North Korea - his keen awareness of that situation and how close he was to it because of his birthplace impresses me. My heart overflows with gratitude when I see this in the beautiful son that I have been so blessed to raise and know.
On his actual Gotcha Day (next Wednesday), I'll be flying home from a business trip. Dave and Nate will come pick me up from the airport and Nate will choose where we'll have dinner. We'll tell him his story yet again - of how he came to us and the anxious days in the hospital not too long after his arrival. We'll look at his baby book (that I was so good about getting done, and stopped at 18 mos... but hey, at least he's got the most important part of the story) and we'll laugh about his little antics through the years. And we'll tell him we love him again and again (like we do everyday) and remind him of the plan God had for our family all along. We'll put him to bed and pray over him and kiss him goodnight... another year together... and then we'll look forward to the next time we celebrate the creation of this little family unit.
My hope is that as each Gotcha Day passes, the memories will be sweeter and I'll have more to be amazed about - the baby who has grown into a boy who then grows into a young man who finally becomes the man we hope he will be... compassionate, strong, gracious, wise, hard-working and generous... we see all of those things already... wow, what an amazing gift we steward in this child.
