June

Some pics from the past month.....

His favorite fruit - watermelon - we told him to not eat the seeds or he'll have watermelons growing out of his ears (it's what my grandpa used to tell me) and now he repeats it everytime he eats it!

Hanging with his friend Sarah - they act a lot like brother and sister!

Nicholas (almost 4) and Tommy - it was nearly impossible to get them to stand still.

Something happened here with Blogger -- Tommy likes to "read" the newspaper just like Doug does every morning - these are the nice photos -- what happens after this is he rips up the newspaper and has black newsprint on his hands. He recognizes Barack Obama on the news and in the paper and will scream, "Barack Obama" over and over when he sees his picture.

Catching Up

I've been remiss in updating this blog, mainly due to the much smaller number of pictures I take of Tommy lately. He either does a "cheese" smile when he sees the camera OR he runs the other way.

We've been visiting many parks now that the weather is nicer (though we have had a ton of rainy, dreary days) and having playdates, going to the library, etc. We also enjoy trips to the zoo about twice a month - last month one of the zoo's two elephants passed away so the entire house was closed. When we went to see them and I told him they were sleeping he said, "It's ok, I'll wake them up!"

Tommy amazes us with his large vocabulary and outgoing personality.

Have a great summer and enjoy some pictures from the last two months!

Ryan Family "reunion" - Memorial Day 2009

Eating Avanti's with cousin Ryan

Tommy was not interested in a Ryan grandchildren photo opportunity!

He grabbed the globe and said, "look Mommy, Tommy born in Vietnam" - so cute - he is very interested in looking at the globe and having us point out Vietnam, Chicago, and Boston.

Touch a Truck Day - cool dude in his new sneakers and toting his snack cup

Touch a Truck Day

Enjoying some delicious limoncello gelato

Easter 2009 - with Uncle Doug

our first bowling adventure with Tommy's friend Sarah

CHEESE at Mykha's on Tommy's adoption day

Two Years

Two years ago this morning we scrambled to the Hanoi airport with three other families to catch a flight to Danang. The other three families left immediately to meet their children, while Doug and I had to wait at the hotel all morning and into the early afternoon to make our drive to Tam Ky. Who knew we would be so lucky that day?

We love you Tommy!

Lots of Catching Up

I will admit that I have not been the best blogger as of late. It's nearly impossible to get a good photo of Tommy, so I rarely have my camera out - and then I have been taking a long time to download pics, etc....but here are some from the past month or so....enjoy!

Cousin Caroline, Uncle Nathan, and Tommy enjoying Tante Angie's famous Whoopee Pies - it was Tommy's first and of course he loved the chocolate deliciousness Caroline and Tommy chowing on Whoopee Pies

Pops, Tommy, and Doug shoveling the last of Ipswich's 12" snowfall in March - just two days later we were at the beach!

Before his last haircut - being a stinker

Happy Valentine's Day! We made cupcakes and Tommy really liked the frosting

At dinner

His new trick - chugging a drink from a straw and holding it in his mouth

Checking out the Giant Sea Turtles at Shedd Aquarium

Checking out the rowboat at the Aquarium

Sweet boy

On March 29, it will be two years since we departed for Vietnam. We can't believe it. The time has flown by. We are amazed at what a little miracle Tommy is and how lucky we are to be his parents. We read to him his "lifebook" we created after his adoption and I always say, "When Mommy and Daddy met you, we were so happy," and now when he looks at the book he repeats the line. I know it's just mimicking, but it melts my heart.

Happy 2009

A recap of the past few weeks......

Enjoying the delicious french fries that came with the McDonald's play food set from Santa

Playing some Christmas tunes with cousin Casey

Our huge snowman built on Christmas Day - hat is an old Illini winter cap, wool scarf, carrot nose, chocolate cookie eyes, and olives for a mouth. It was quite a masterpiece....and then it melted three days later :( Tommy kept saying, "oh no, Frosty melting!"


Enjoying some Thai food on New Year's Eve with May and Pops

Happy Birthday to Mommy

May and Pops are leaving for the airport

Merry Christmas

Adios, Baby Mullet

As you can see in previous posts, Tommy's hair was turning into a baby mullet....I didn't mind until lately, when it was really unruly and would stick out or curl over his ears. It was time for a haircut.

Getting him to sit required the movie Cars to be playing and a lollipop in hand - he did quite well - oh, and french fries for lunch. Now he looks very grown up!