Katie and Bob Nelson

2012 is Amazing and Yes, Reid it's a Peterbilt!

January was a busy month for Reid because he finally go potty trained...oh  how happy his mommy is!!  It took mommy taking the pull-ups away and pretty much saying that is it.

End of January Reid started play indoor soccer at the Y and he has loved...except for it being so loud in the gym but he finally got used to that.  It took a couple of games for him to learn to go out on the field by himself but he got the hang of it and the last game he kicked the ball and got a goal!!  Mommy promised him ice cream...boy is he like his mommy, will do anything for a scoop :) 

 

In February Mommy and Reid had a discussion on a truck on the way home he kept saying it was a Mac and it was a 386 Peterbilt....Mommy normally will agree with Reid to stop the arguing but I just could not let this one go.  I mean HELLO I designed these trucks for 3 years, so I know my trucks and cars for that matter!!  At least he will agree on Corvettes thank goodness.. :)  So that is what the video below is the argument made it all the way to the house when he FINALLY said it was a Peterbilt.

 

I can't believe it is MARCH!!  Do you know what happen 2 years ago in March??? We finally got Reid after all the paper work that Bob did, we were finally boarding a plane to meet our little man for the first time!!

The funny thing is the date we boarded the plane is the same date Reid made his first goal..how ironic is that??  Way to go REID!!  I must say he has come a long way he is so funny and is such a big helper!

Skip November and Going straight to the fun month of December

There are some things you only see in Tennessee...for some crazy reason my sister and I like to say that .. a Christmas bus parade! This has been happening for several years and normally goes right by my parents house, but this year they moved it to a more safer route.  The bus drivers in Nashville and many singers decorate the buses for everyone to tour and the money goes to kids buy presents with the local cops.  The night after the tour the kids get to ride on the buses to the store to go shopping.  

 

Reid love the bus parade with all of the lights and police cars.  Now lets get to Christmas....

Merry Christmas Reid!!

September and October

Well Reid is spitting out words left and right and loves cars, trucks, and trains!  He loves Lightning McQueen and can say several lines in the movie now.  He is also addicted to Mickey Mouse and loves signing the Clubhouse song.  He is pretty close to having the numbers 1-15 (that is how many steps we have in the house down) and the alphabet is going good. 

He is just missing one thing pee pee in the potty....it is driving me crazy and he knows it :)  Smart kid!  He is good at doing #2 and even changes his pull-up but does he go to the potty when he has to pee not a word..I wonder if Mickey or Lightning Mcqueen have a video on potty training to make it cool??  He is doing a lot more "I did it"  so I hope that helps push us over the edge on the potty training.

So after Reid's big birthday week we did a trip to the zoo before it got cold and played a little golf!  Also I added a few birthday pics because they are cute...someone remind me to get the camera out more :)

He loves his mobiego!

More car toys!!

Daddy I am ready for the golf coarse!

Hold it!!  I got a picture of Reid's face and he is smiling!!  Right after that he went back to running :)

Grandma you did not count the elephant behind the tree..

Reid in is Halloween costume!

Happy Birthday to....well ME!!

 

 

 

Its been awhile since I've posted on the blog...between well just about everything it seems I never have the time or am just looking forward to going to bed with any free time either Katie or I have. 

But today is my little "bubby's" third birthday and just like his Dad, Reid's actual birthday was a best guess by the doctors who treated him when he was first found.  His umbilical cord was still attached when abandoned so the docs guessed his birthday to be around the 16th. 

Just a brief update to how he is doing...IMO I think he is doing really well.  He has completely come out of any shell left over from China.  He pretty much loves everyone.  He came to the office one day and he let co-workers carry him around...he let Dan from the office carry him from the restaurant.  Everyone seems to love him, from the deli guy at Publix to his favorite waitress at the Chinese buffet...funny how she always gets our table.  Most of our time with him is spent outside playing with our next door neighbors Asher and McKenna, or inside playing with his favorite police or fire truck and watching "Mick" Mouse, Dora or "Puppy" (Blues Clues). 

Reid's birthday week got off to a bang Saturday morning, we made our annual trip to Build-a-Bear, luckily we were able to get there as the store opened and he was their first customer.  Shockingly he picked out a Mommy/Puppy combination (he has fallen in love with our Bree, the smaller of our two dogs, I think the feelings are pretty mutual) and now "Amy" and her puppy "Two" now have taken up residence in his bed.  We hit Target and Famous Dave's on the way home in which he was able to sneak in a head rolling nap.  Sunday a small party with Grandad and Grandma followed by a quick trip to Uncle Kelly and Aunt Tami's (along with "his Brendan and Brett") with a couple pieces of birthday cake topped off the day.  He took orders for Hamburgers and hot dogs the rest of the day which he expertly prepared on his new Fischer Price (?) grill.  Today being his official birthday I believe Katie and I are going to take him to one of his favorite restaurants (Dairy Queen) for cheeseburgers and ice cream.  This weekend our neighborhood is having a cookout to celebrate the 10 or so birthdays that are happening this month.  So Reid's week is going to be filled with a lot of fun and frivolity.

So Happy Birthday Reidy...I cannot believe this is our second birthday celebration together, it seems like forever when we walked into that building and first saw you...or for that matter the day I saw your picture on the agencie's website.  Your mommy and daddy love you so much and can't wait for all the birthday celebrations we'll have together!!

Working with a new Computer!

Ok I have all the pictures moved over, budget updated, and finally we are working on the blog!  See baby steps!  Well I am working on my Project Management Certification and Reid is working on potty training...not sure which of us will get done first?  But I using some of my tools and techniques on Reid one is expert judgement now we just got to get the output and close out the project.  Sorry a little hummer just work with me for a few months so I can get this test over with :)  

If anyone has ever worked with me I am clean freak at the office and some of the people I work with are a little concern because I have posters and books all over my cube...I explained that is the way I studied.  I like to line up my books...I know it is strange any way little Reid is being potty trained and is doing good.  Got to pick out his new undies and he went with Mickey Mouse!  I thought he would have gone with Cars 2 but nope proved me wrong.  I told him not to get Mickey wet he said "okey".  So far so good until we hopped in the car and went to Wal-Mart (it is only 4 miles away).  I will say that is pretty good for him and at least he is telling me has to go pee so that is a good thing.  This is really his only issues so that is a good thing...just keep trying.  

So since my computer got fried right after the 4th here are some cutie pics of Reid as well as his Nashville vacation.

 

Reid last year at this time...

 

 

Reid at the 4th of July Party. 

  

So the first day of vacation we went to the Children's Museum and Reid and I will give this 2 thumbs up.

 

Teaching him young  :)

Went to the Bell Meade Plantation for toddler time and Reid got to see horses for the first time.

Downtown Nashville..after going to the Tennessee Museum and eating lunch with daddy.  Can anyone say HOT!

And the last day we stayed home because it was just to hot..

May and June Rolled Up Into One

May is a really busy month in the our house so to site at a computer and blog is a challenge in itself.
We have birthday week and Mother's Day rolled up into one. Bob got me a cool necklace from Wheat and Wildflowers Hand stamped Jewelry with Reid's name on it. Then Reid needed to visit the Emergency room in May due to his Asthma..We thought it was better than waiting for the doctor's office to open up. All I have to say is boy give the kid some pure oxygen and he was back off and running.

Reid is slowly getting the potty training, but hopefully soon we can toss the diapers...Any suggestions I will take on that topic, but I know every kid is different. Honestly the only issue he has is he gets to playing and forgets to tell someone he has to go peepee. We got the number 2 down pat and have had for some time!

I would have pictures of Reid but my computer is acting up and is taking way to long to up load...I will try again another time in the next couple of days.

When was Easter?

I will say this Easter weekend was a lot of fun because Aunt Kristie came to visit but after Easter as Reid would call it was a little boo boo happened and mommy had to work her old job for a little while this week to help out with Alabama and Chattanooga.  Does anyone remember what happen last year this time...if you live in Nashville you will always remember the flood, but I will always remember it as the weekend my son cut his 2 front teeth.  All I have to say is I felt sorry for my husband during that time because I was sick, Reid cutting teeth, and a dog that does not like going to the bathroom in the rain is no one's cup of tea. 

So Easter weekend Reid went to the zoo with grandma and Aunt Kristie, and the next day went Easter egg hunting at Cheekwood and saw the train exhibit (what boy does not like a train exhibit!) and then chilled out the next day at grandma and granddaddy's house for Easter lunch.

Aunt Kristie and Reid talking up the last year...I think he did most of the talking except when he asked her to read a book which of course Aunt Kristie is good at reading...these two have so much in common it is not even funny! 

 

Reid picked up 2 eggs in the first hunt but Aunt Kristie helpped Reid in the 2nd hunt and got several more..for his first Easter egg hunt he did pretty good!  I think Aunt Kristie taught him some blocking moves :)

 
 
Reid love showing us the trains and Aunt Kristie was first on the list....

 
 
Then Grandma had to take a turn

 

This is a funny picture...where did my train go??

 

And then we had Easter at our house..and Reid ran by a few eggs until daddy finally gave him a helping hand which he figured out rather quickly.

 

 

 

I think he figured it out..

 

and for everyone to see here is my Birthday present!

 

 

1 Year Reunion!

 Last weekend Reid and Mom hopped on a plan to go to the beach!  Oh how nice it was to sit in the sun on the beach play in the sand with Reid.  I was wondering if Reid would love the beach as much as his mom and dad...and he does!

So why did we head to Destin just the 2 of us?  It was our groups 1 year reunion!!  Out of the 6 kids 4 came.  We missed the other 2 and it also made Reid the only boy out of the group.  I think next year we may try for Gatlinburg since it will be close driving for 4 of the family's, we just could not do the mountains this year since we froze in Beijing last year.

Reid did great riding on the plane and when we got to Charlotte we meet up with Anna and Melissa.  At first Reid did not want anything to do with Anna (just a few months younger than him) but at the end of the trip he cried for her.  Hutton just turned 2 and was so cute in all of her pink outfits.  Baby Oliva is getting so tall who would have thought she would have made it out of China alive but she is a cutie!!

So without further adieu..Reid, Anna, Hutton, and Olivia at the beach!

 

Hutton and Anna having fun on the beach..

 

Hutton giving the wink.

 

Anna...Reid's twin or at least everyone we meet thought they where twins on the trip.

 

Oliva enjoying the sand...

 

  All 4 kids together for once...The last time they where together was in China for medical exams after that Oliva went back to the hospital to stay until her flight back to the states.

 

Does anyone wonder why it is hard to get Reid's picture?

 

because he loves to run....

Elmo, Basketball, and Help Some Kids Out!

So last weekend we headed to Memphis to see Elmo!  Reid had a blast and talked about it for several days.  Next weekend he takes another big trip to Florida to see his adoption travel group and we cannot wait to enjoy warm weather and sit on the beach with all of the little ones running around.

Reid heading to Memphis...anyone wants to guess what it is doing outside. (if you work with my husband you guessed correctly)

 

(raining)

Reid got daddy to pick out a cool Ernie to take home..

 

 

Getting ready for the show to start...Reid was in the sixth row so he could see everything.
 

Bob and I like to people watch and let's just say we had a separate show to watch, which made this show rather enjoying for us.

 

 
Thanks Cookie Monster!

Now if anyone knows Bob or I we are from Kentucky, and Reid is still learning basketball but we finally got him to say "GO CATS".  He sometimes gets his sports mixed up like playing football, basketball, and baseball all in one run but hey at least he is learning.

 

 

Sad to say the cats lost last night...maybe they should have had Reid on the team :)  But as my husband says it is time for golf!  (I agree) 

 

Since it is also spring time..Reid helped with mowing too...

 

but decided to play instead..

 

So in the title I said help some kids out.  Reid's orphanage is looking for some donations on washing machines, and other supplies so if you can lend a helping hand please do so.  I am actually donating my Bristol overtime pay to the cause because many of Reid's special needs where taken care of by donations so we would like to help the next child that is being adopted by someone.

http://www.henankids.org/involved/donate.htm

Reid is from KaiFeng and anything is appreciated.

Also if you would like some cool stuff and help the orphanage out just click on the link below and 25% of the amount you spend also goes to help the kids out.  Please order by the 28th of April.

http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E597993&from=MYEVENTS

Thanks everyone!

Happy 1st Gotcha Day Reid!

A year ago today the bus pulled up to a government building and Yisha said Kaifeng is already here.  I wanted to jump off the bus and Bob was pushing right behind me.  We walked in and there he was in the play area with a bowling pin in one hand and gave us a look that I have since learn "Got any food"?

This past week the little guy has learn to say "I love you" and "go blue".  He lives to be outside and is always wanting to learn new words.  He wants everyone around him to be happy.  Chinese Buffet is like going to McDonald's for him.  He also loves sports and Hot Wheels.

He has taught me a lot in one year looking for air planes in the sky, smelling the flowers, and saying hi to everyone.

 
 

So Happy first Gotcha Day Reid!

 

 

   Reid being himself in his favorite Aerosmith t-shirt, rolled up pants and Chinese squeaky shoes :) 

 

That's my boy!