Well, I have officially been on my own for 29 days.  Kevin and Edan left for Taiwan on August 30th.  Kevin was awarded his interview in Taipei which was scheduled for September 18th, so they left together to make sure that Edan got to spend plenty of time with Kevin's family as well.  Though he didn't get his green card the day of his interview, after some other documents were collected, Kevin has officially be granted permanent resident status in the US.  Now he just has to get back home.  Unfortunately, he has ben called to serve one day in the military on October 21st and it can't be rescheduled or cancelled.  So...here I wait for another 3 weeks.  But, I am working full time now and that keeps me quite busy as well as spending time with family on the weekends.  Anyway, I have put up some pictures of Kevin and Edan that he sent me of them hanging out and then some camping pictures.  Let's just say camping in Taiwan is MUCH different than camping in the US.  At least any camping I am used to.  I hope you enjoy and I will add more as he sends them.

Well, we have managed to keep quite busy this month and only have more time left.  We enjoyed the Fourth of July festivities which included the pet parade, a tight walk through the park, then fireworks in the evening.  An interesting hike to Tumalo falls where we learned the hard lesson that no matter how much patience you think you have, never attempt a long hike without a baby backpack and mosquito spray.  We were caught in swarms of relentless mosquitos and flies while I carried Edan and Kevin carried/pushed an empty stroller.  It was a nightmare actually, but now we just semi laugh about it, haha...someday we will laugh all the way I am sure.  But we did manage to find a used pack that is in excellent condition and have bought some bug spray, so look forward to more hikes for the rest of this summer.  We also spent a couple days in Portland with our friends Ryan and Marlissa and went with them to the zoo for a very long, fun day.  We were smart to get there early in the day before all the animals went into hiding away from the hot sun, so we were pretty lucky and happy about that decision.  Since then, we have just been spending time at home watching David and Elisha (neice and nephew) and enjoying being settled.  I know it is a lot of pictures, but we hope you enjoy them!

 

Kevin, Tracy and Edan

Well, as of June 28th, Kevin and I are officially renters!  We are so excited and have really been living it up this week.  Well, we have actually been spending money on things you hate spending money on like dish drying racks, door hangers, and other ridiculous buys that seem to make life a bit more pleasant regardless of how painful it is to buy.  It is all part of the fun I suppose and everyone knows the first month out is always the worst with so many hidden costs that you just can not anticipate.  We have pretty much gotten settled in our little place and just have a few more decorations to hang up/set up.  We also are on the hunt for a good deal on a coffee table and desk for Kevin to work on.  Having him at the kitchen table kind of takes up more space there than we would like.  We'll see.  It is summer and prime time for garage sale hunting of course, so I am sure we will find some good deals.  Edan is doing well and loving where we live.  Lots of park time, pool time and people watching.  Having so many ammenities around us really makes it easy for us to get out and about and you should see how excited he gets when he sees the stroller coming out of the trunk!  Like a puppy when the leash comes out, I am serious.  He starts stamping his feet as fast as he can, and if he could leap in on his own, you can bet he would.  It is fun to see his excitement to get out and see things.  So, many of these summer pictures are probably going to be in the pool.  We can't get enough of watching him play in the pool and little sprinkler we bought.  Oh, one of our new pastimes is catching little bugs to feed to our 2 Venus Fly Trap plants we found at the local discount grocery store.  Haha, we are pathetic really, but it is entertaining for Kevin and I, and Edan gets a kick out of finding small ants for us to feed it.   Well, it is later than it should be for me so I am going to go.  I hope you all enjoy our new pictures for July, and I'll catch up with you all soon.

 

Love Tracy

Well, we just got back from a wonderful weekend camping.  It was such a restful weekend, and we all had a blast.  Edan got to play in the lake which he LOVED, and Kevin and I just sat back and enjoyed watching him.  It was a surprisingly hot weekend which kind of came out of nowhere for us.  It was in the 90s and the water was really warm.  A bit too nasty for me to want to swim in, but not too bad for dipping toes.  So, here are some pictures to recap our few days...enjoy!

Well, I know the month isn't over yet, but this has been a really fun month. Edan learned to walk, discovered the joy of olives, and rocked it with some new fashions.  I added a few more pictures of our fun.  Easter is tomorrow, so hopefully we will get some fun pictures then too.  I hope you are all well.

 

Tracy

Well it happened.  Edan turned one.  It is so insane actually and I still can't really believe that he is on the road to being a toddler versus a helpless baby.  He is becoming quite independent and rearing to get going without the help of mom and dad.  We are relishing these last few weeks (we hope) of dependency before he lets go and runs rampant through the house, tearing up the houseplants and getting into the nut dish.  It is all exciting though too, and as he babbles away, we wait in anticipation for those first words to be said.  We had a really nice party though with just family (which is the most I could handle, haha) and just enjoyed spending the day together.  Edan actually was pretty cranky for a lot of the day because he was getting over a 2 week cold, but once we started singing to him, he got all giddy and excited at the attention, really funny actually.  All in all, it was a wonderful day, but I was certainly pooped that night.  Man, I can't imagine having tried to coordinate a bigger party with more kids, haha.  Anyway, please enjoy our few pictures, and I'll try to post more of Edan later.

Well, it seems 2 months have passed since I last put some pictures on here, and people are getting after me  so I guess it is time.  November and December have been really busy for us, and for myself in particular.  Finishing up my first term of school, along with working weekends and keeping up with Kevin and Edan during that time has been rough.  So this break (a little vacation to Taiwan for 3 weeks), has been much anticipated.  We arrived here on Wednesday I believe it was, haha, time changes mess me up...after a very LONG and semi-grueling flight.  Let's just say that an immobile 4 month old is MUCH easier to travel on a long flight with than a very mobile and short-attention-spanned 10 month old.  Not only that, but trying to get him to sleep with so much stimulation around was next to impossible, so around hour 6 (with 8 to go), we started going downhill fast.  He was overtired, but couldn't get comfortable with his surroundings, so we found ourselves in the back of the plane with the attending crew trying to keep his spirits up.  I have to say that by the end of the flight I was quite frazzled as I was very tired AND tired of getting the opinions of every single mom on the flight as to what I should be doing differently to get Edan to calm down and go to sleep.  I had one woman tell me I should pat his back, another say he was probably too cold, and yet another telling me he was probably overtired...oh really?  haha, anyway, we did survive it, and our marriage survived it as well, haha, and here we are...semi relaxing.  Kevin still has to work, so most of our days are spent at the factory where he works and I hold Edan and pass him off to Kevin's mom or sister every now and then.  He has been taken to friends' houses, the bank, and relatives' houses to be shown off and is finding it quite easy to go to bed at an early hour and stay asleep for much of the night.  For that I am very thankful, haha.  This weekend Kevin, Edan and I are going to go to the northeast corner of the Island to an area called ILan to spend some time with some friends and hit some hotsprings.  It is actually quite cold here right now so I am looking forward to that very much.  I found that other than my coat, I really didn't pack nearly enough winter clothes.  What can you do?  Well, I am going to get going.  I put up a load of pictures, I hope you guys enjoy them.  Haha, the ones of Edan doing paddy cake crack me up because he has the absolute cheesiest smile, but what can I say?  I love it!  Enjoy! 

Today was a really wonderful day.  Kevin and I finally had a day that we could just relax and go have some fun.  About 1/2 an hour away, there is a giant corn maze and pumpkin farm, so we took Edan and had a great time.  Edan got to pet his first goats, mini-horse and pigs, none of which excite him nearly as much as a simple house cat, but what can you do?  There would have been more pictures, but unfortunately our camera battery died about 10 minutes into our day, so I had to run to town and buy a disposable camera, so if we ever have the time, some of those might get scanned, but if not, well, here are just some.  I also had my first caramel apple in MANY years, which was so stinking good, and to top everything off, it was a gorgeous day at about 65 degrees.  We also managed to find a 42lb pumpkin to haul home and I am very excited to carve it.  Let me tell you, after 2 years of not having a 'Fall', I am just eating it up!  I hope you all are well, and I'll try to catch up with more of you soon.  Until then, get out and enjoy those leaves!

Well honey, here they are, the pictures of Tisha's house are finally up.  I didn't take a picture of the office (where I sleep) because it is a weird angle to get in there so you really can't see much.  Hope you are having fun in Taiwan!  I love you. 

Well, I suppose I have been rather quiet for some time now haven't I?  I think that is because I haven't stopped going since getting back to the US and I am finally starting to feel like things are slowing down.  Man it is hard to be a single parent.  Kudos to anyone who has to do it on a permanent basis...you are incredible!  I find I am pretty much completely exhausted at the end, and sometimes beginning of each day, but as I said, I think a lull is approaching, so I am going to grasp it with all my might.  Right now I am spending my weeks living with Tisha and Joe (sister and brother-in-law) watching their kids for half days which is pretty fun.  They are seven and almost five, so they are quite entertaining and have loved getting to know Edan.  On my weekends though, I rush back home so I can use the internet to talk to Kevin.  Wow, we did long distance while dating but this just doesn't compare.  We are getting through it though, but let me tell you, I didn't know we would ever have a challenge like this one.  God is faithful though, and I am confident we will make it through and be better off in the end because of it.  (Trust me though, not everyday is such an optimistic one as today, haha...)

 

I am now registered for all my classes and will start the Dental Assisting program in September.  I think it is going to be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to learning a trade skill that will actually get me a job.  Don't get me wrong, I value very much all I learned to get my bachelor's, but the truth of the matter is that I just can't do a whole lot with it, so here we go again.  Luckily only for one year versus four, and I get to skip out on all those aweful English courses I did so bad in the first time around.

 

Edan is doing well also.  I suppose that is what people care about right?  haha...kidding.  But seriously, he is doing very well and is just such a bundle of laughs and giggles.  He is now rolling over pretty consistently and would move all over the place if he could just get a bit of lift.  I was planning to weigh him tonight for his 5 month numbers but he crashed while playing 'horsey' with grandma, so maybe tomorrow (the picture is in the July album).  Otherwise, he is just becoming more and more intrigued with the world around him and is becoming much more tactile with it all whenever he can.  Whether he is gently touching my face, or slapping down at a toy (and often vice versa), he is in exploration mode, which is exciting to see.

 

For those of you I have seen since coming home, it has been wonderful to catch up and I am so excited to become more a part of your lives again, and for those I have yet to see...well, we will, when the timing is right.  For those that I can no longer see (everyone in Asia), I love you all and miss you tons!

 

Tracy

Well, I am stinking proud of myself!  I figured out how to get videos on here, so now you can look forward to all our fun videos of Edan or whatnot, haha.  Hope you all enjoy!

 

Love Tracy

 

 

 

 

Well, I think we are almost ready for the summer and rainy season to start.  We revved up the AC last night to make sure it was in good, working order, bought a new fan to help circulate that air into our bedroom, had a screen door installed to keep the cats out of our room (a much needed door...the bed was just too crowded), and I think the last thing we need is a tarp to help protect our balcony from the rain.  The heat is definitely here though and all blankets have been put into storage.  I think our next investment will be a cheap kiddie pool to put on the roof for the evenings. 

 

Otherwise, all is well, just trying to keep ourselves cool without using the AC full time yet.  Hope all of you are well...I put up a few more pictures from the last few days...Edan is really getting into smile mode, so hopefully there will be more of those to come.

Well, we just had a great week and a half with my parents here in China, so I put up pictures of the highlights.  We managed to squeeze in a visit to the Sun Yat Sen Memorial and a trip to Luo Fu Mountain where we visited Tao and Buddhist temples.  Of course we also got in some good shopping and plently of good ol' stay at home family time.  All in all, Kevin and I were very grateful my parents could make it all the way over here because we really had such a wonderful time.  Hope you all enjoy the new pictures!

I just added more pictures into Edan's file, so check them out.

Well, on Feb. 10 at 11:08am, Edan Lucas entered our world.  It was a quiet start, but he pulled through and hasn't stopped crying since, haha.  It is an incredibly long story (at least when I tell it), so I will try to summarize it up shortly because I still haven't figured out the balance of sleep and catching people up, and am basically failing miserably, haha.  We went into the hospital on the 9th around 9pm and for almost 13 hours I labored in a laboring room.  At 9:45am, my water broke and I was taken to the delivery room at 3cm dilated.  (God is so good because in the end, Kevin was able to come in with me and we also were in a private room...I couldn't have asked for more!)  After some hard work on mine, and the doctor's part, and definitely a lot of pain (I didn't have any meds because by the time I was begging for them it was too late), Edan was born.  Let me tell you, what an experience!  Anyway, so we stayed in the hospital 4 more days (they really take care of you here, no 24 hour stays like in the US) and just got home yesterday (the 14th) and are trying to settle in.  I will put up a bunch of pictures for you all to see of our little guy up till now.  Yes he is a bit jaundiced, so if he looks a bit 'oompa loompa-ish', that is why. ;)

 

Thank you all for your support and encouragement throughout the pregnancy, it made all the difference to the entire experience.

Hmm...I'm definitely ready.  Maybe not ready for all that is involved in a baby, but ready for all that is involved in NOT being pregnant.  I have 6 days till my due date and am REALLY hoping for an early delivery.  Who knows, I've been having contractions, but certainly nothing strong enough to make us think we need to go to the hospital.  In fact, last night they were quite frequent, but just not strong enough to be concerned about...kind of annoying actually, haha.  Anyway, today is a really nice day, I'm wearing a sun dress, worked with my plants a bit (though not much since they are still very small, but at least more hopeful than the last couple years) and am finishing up laundry.  I think I'll test my endurance and climb the stairs to the roof several times...maybe that will get things moving.  Anyway, I added one more picture from today, since it is getting so close, who knows when I won't be able to get another stomach shot right?

 

I hope all is well with everyone.  We are doing very well.

 

 

My weekly doctor appointments are a constant reminder that the day is coming...none too soon if you ask me though.  According to the doctor, all is well, the baby has dropped, head down and we are ready to go...just have to wait on nature now.  Boy am I impatient.  We had our 38 week appointment yesterday and it went really well.  Last week I did 20 minutes of fetal heart monitoring, this week was yet another ultrasound.  I feel like they are just making up things to check for now until the baby actually comes, haha.  It was nice to see the baby one last time, but in all honesty, the real thing would be much more welcomed than that fuzzy black and white image with darkened eye sockets and distorted features.  We could see quite clearly though, which was pretty cool, the baby's fingers making an 'I Love You' sign.  I guess it is ready too.  Our ultrasound tech was also really kind and kept us in there for awhile talking about the baby's weight (about 3kg now), it's legs (looks like it is taking after dad - she said they were a bit short), and the overall health of the baby.  I think after yesterday, reality is setting in more and more (particularly for Kevin now) that in a very short while our lives are going to be very different.  I woke up this morning to him reminding me to make sure my phone was always charged and that I had it near me 'just in case'.  He then proceeded to make sure I had all the right numbers saved in my phone book so that I could get a hold of him anytime, any place.  This morning was the first time I have seen him seem anxious about everything, and it was very cute, but also refreshing seeing that though he doesn't say a lot, he is mentally and emotionally preparing himself as well and I have no doubts that he is going to be a great support through the laboring process and after.  All in all, we are quite ready...my body has basically stopped growing, and is now just changing shape.  I am not nearly so out front now and am rounding out at the sides, which is an all new phenomenon as well as having to retire my last pair of fitting jeans.  I do have to say that 38 weeks was a good run for non-maternity pants, so I am not complaining, haha, just another blessing considering pants here are rather short for my legs.

 

Well, if it isn't this week, I'll try to update again next week after my appointment, and be sure that I will let everyone know what is happening as soon as I can once labor begins (or at least you can call and bug my parents - they will be 'in the know' too).

 

 

for strawberries!!!  Yes, it is that time here when we love driving to town and passing all those bright red umbrellas, telling us they are ready...one of my favorite fruits I would say, especially here in China.  Normally, we just stop at the road stand and buy whatever is picked, but today we got motivated and decided to wade through the muck and slippery clay to pick out our own...ensuring a good harvest (sometimes you just don't know what is at the bottom of the pre-picked batches!).  We did go a bit late in the day, so the pickings were slim, but we came home with about 1kg of strawberries, so that should hold us over for a day or two.  Anyway, it was a gorgeous day, and we had a great time, so I put some of the pictures up in our "Throughout 2006" album if you want to check them out.

 

We hope you are all well, and not too busy as Christmas approaches!

 

Love Kevin and Tracy

Alright, I put up another picture for December of the growing tummy.  Haha, Kevin and I had a few good laughs last night as he watched my stomach move back and forth as the baby was rolling all over.  Usually he only feels the kicks once in a while, so we had fun...I think it surprised him just how far out the baby can push, haha.  They say this month usually has the most movements and after this it will slow down simply because of lack of space in there...though I'll miss the moving (and jabs and punches, haha), I know it just means one step closer to actually having the baby here and no more dreaming about what is to come.  Yes, we are excited and each day just means one day closer.  I of course am still rather nervous about labor and delivery, but who isn't?  I just have to trust that believe it or not, God did design my body to do this, so onward we go! (I sound stronger than I really am I think )  I am hoping that next month Kevin and I will get a chance to get outside and enjoy the cool weather and maybe get some outdoors photos...I don't know about you, but I am tired of seeing our house as the backdrop to all of these, haha.  I told him that those ones he will have to be in too!

 

Thank you all for your support, love and prayers.  It has really made this pregnancy that much easier on both Kevin and I.  We love you all.