Like Father, Like Son

Caleb noticed tonight that when he opened his laptop to do homework, he was suddenly on ESPN.com without knowing how he got there. Seems that he instinctively types that address in. It's like a reflex, no thought required.

I remember another high school boy who's mind operated in a similar fashion. No, there wasn't a website to access then, but the sports section of the Cleveland Plain Dealer was read on the school bus every morning without fail.

Daddy & Caleb, March 1995

Found this picture the other night... and realized it was taken fourteen years ago this month. I can't believe this time in our lives is already so far in the past. The fact that it's gone makes this photo all the sweeter~

June 22, 1991- June 22, 2008

It might not be profound, but after seventeen years of walking through life together, this song says how I feel. Happy Anniversary, Scott... you're still the only one for me.

You're Still The One

When I first saw you, I saw love.
And the first time you touched me, I felt love.
And after all this time, you're still the one I love.

Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night
(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life

(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night
I'm so glad we've made it
Look how far we've come, my baby.

By Shania Twain

Overheard

Scott: Mommy has blonde hair.

Gwen: I do too, I think.

With Dad By the Water

These two pictures were taken almost exactly two years apart. One of them was taken just days after Gwen joined our family, by the Pearl River in Guangzhou. The other was taken last month by West Lake in Hangzhou. I'm sure you can guess which is which! I thought of the Pearl River picture right away when I saw the West Lake photo. I've only just now caught up to the adoption trip photos and gotten them loaded onto my laptop so that I could actually compare them.

Jetlag

We all struggled with jetlag for many days on this trip. This picture was taken mid-afternoon on one of the first days we were back in the States... Maggi is laughing at Uncle Scott as he snoozes.

Glad Return

Scott arrived home late afternoon yesterday, after eight days away. He had been in the US, so he seemed very far away from us. We are so very glad to have him home again.

We are also pretty happy about the six bags of chocolate chips he brought with him!

Sunday Baseball

Scott pitches to his youngest team member in our "backyard".

Playing the Gwen Guitar

She's just the right size!

Daddy's Coming Home

Scott is on the plane right now, heading home from Shanghai. It's been 18 days that he's been away, and he's missed some things that have happened at home.

He missed Caleb's return from his trip to Yellowstone with his grandparents. He missed three showings and two offers on the rental of our house. He's missed lots of sorting and purging sessions of the stuff in our house. He missed Seth's Early Morning Wake Up Call (see previous post). He's missed his girls smiles and snuggles. He missed two ER visits and one overnight hospital stay when Caleb broke a rib and bruised a kidney. He missed Madelyn leaving to go be with our families in Ohio. He missed Seth leaving for Kids' Camp. He missed walks and bike rides around the neighborhood. He missed Gwen pushing out the screen and falling out the window (first floor, thankfully!). He missed the boys' baseball games. He missed a fire on the patio, complete with s'mores. He missed Father's Day.

But his trip has been so necessary, and so worth it. I am so very glad he has been able to have this time in Shanghai without us, so that he could really concentrate on getting things up and running in his office, working late when he's needed to. Hopefully once we all arrive there, his work will have begun to settle into a routine (whatever that means!) and we can all reset.

We've missed you like crazy, Baby. Hurry home!

Together

One more beach photo... I love this one. Ponytails flying, heading into the surf with Dad. Such a good thing!

Sleep Deprived

One good reason to move to China~

Not having to get out of bed for 3 a.m. conference calls with the Shanghai office anymore.