Oklahoma City Memorial

While we were in Oklahoma we were able to visit the Oklahoma City Memorial. This memorial was built after the Oklahoma City bombing took place in 1995.

The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19 children under the age of 6,^[1] and injured more than 680 people.







There is a chair for every individual that was killed in the bombing. Each chair has that person's name engraved on it and at night the bottom of the chairs light up.





On a corner adjacent to the memorial is a sculpture titled "And Jesus Wept", erected by St. Joseph's Old Cathedral. St. Joseph's, one of the first brick and mortar churches in the city, was almost completely destroyed by the blast.

For more about the Oklahoma City bombing copy and paste this into your browser: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing

The morning after

Last Sunday Kirk and I woke up to the sweetest sound. Andi Grace was squirming in her bassinet ready to eat. I look at her and cannot believe we are in Oklahoma and now have a newborn. The planner in me is freaking out but the mommy in me is enjoying the moment one by one.



Today Andi Grace gave Ema a little surprise for being such an awesome big sister. I am so proud of how Ema is handling the whole baby thing. She is doing great and loves to be a big helper.

Ema is offically the Big Sister!!

The last week that we shared with Ema before we got Andi Grace was kinda bittersweet for me. All kinds of fears ran through my mind. I wondered how Ema would adjust to not being the center of attention. I wondered how she would do having me dedicate a lot of my time to a newborn. As usual she rolled with it and proved to Kirk and I that she was a "big girl" and she handled it with grace. She has her moments don't get me wrong but each day is better and better. She is a great BIG SISTER!

The moment she had been talking about. She could not wait to hold her.

I love the smile on Ema's face in this picture! She looks so proud!

Our newest addition!

As most of you already know the last few months the Richardson home has been a little crazy to say the least. I started my new job and so far it has been great. I left for my dreaded 3 week training in Nashville at the beginning of September and I just completed it. OK so where my life completely turned upside down was last Friday. This is how it went. I get done in Nashville and I'm on my way home. Kirk worked from home that day and I wanted to be in Covington in time to pick Ema up from school. I walk in the door around 1:00 and Kirk's phone rang. It's Jeanna - the lady that had been helping us with our adoption process. She called to tell us that "our baby" was born Friday September 23rd around 7:30 am. Kirk and I stood in the living room looking at each other in shock. She continues to tell us that we could come to Oklahoma anytime to see her but she would not be able to be discharged for 7-10 days because she was a premie weighing in at 4 pounds and 15 ounces. Oh the questions that were running through my mind.

1. I have a new job that I haven't even finished training for- How will they feel about it?
2. I am no where near ready to bring a baby home.
3. I have NOTHING for a baby.

I had to begin to prioritize. First I had to finish my training. I only had one more week and that could not be put off so we enjoyed our last weekend as the Richardson 3 and got the ball rolling on our home study. While in Nashville I registered at Babies R Us and did a lot of praying! I came home on Friday, we completed our final touches on our home study, had a baby shower, and packed (again). Saturday we left for Oklahoma for another adventure that God had perfectly planned out for us. We arrived at the airport around 4:30 pm and our life was forever changed at approximately 5:15 pm when we met Andi Grace Richardson.


When we held her for the first time we both were overcome with emotion. She was so tiny. I don't think I had ever held anything so small. She was 4 pounds and 15 ounces of pure joy!

Nothing to do!

Many of you may know that I had a job from you know where and because I am making this blog for a family scrapbook I am not going into any more detail than that.

I was blessed to be able to give my 2 weeks notice last week and was blessed again to be asked to leave immediatly leaving me with a 2 weeks paid vacation. So whats a girl to do with a paid vacation - I was able to take Ema to school and pick her up each day, I have ran almost every morning, and I have cleaned my house from top to bottom. The only part about this new job I am dreading is that I have to go to Nashville for 3 weeks ( home on the weekends ). I cannot stand the thought of being away from Kirk and Ema for that long of a time. I REFUSE to cry this early because I promise I will not stop. So if you guys could use a little extra prayer time PLEASE add me. I am praying that the time flies and that I am able to focus and learn as much as I can. I am also praying that my HUSBAND is reading this and comes to visit me on each WEDNESDAY night after Ema gets out of school. I am a serious homebody and I love to be with my family so being away is going to be hard. There are times when I think " you are going to be fine, you can do this" and then times like today when I am thinking "You will never make it." So enough of my moaning and groaning.

Today Ema and I hung out all day. No cleaning, phones, fussing just me and her playing. We watched DVD's and popped popcorn and snuggled! That is my kind of day! I love this kiddo!

First day of 4K

Ema's first day of 4K went surprisingly well. We had been preparing her for months about going to school so I figured she would do ok. Getting her out of her routine can be a bit challenging so I was prepared for the worst. Tuesday morning she got up and was ready to go. On the way there she kept saying "I'm a little bit nervous mommy" and "You are going to stay with me Right? Cause I don't want you to leave me" . I thought, Oh brother, this is going to be a nightmare. We got there and I assured her she would have a great time and that all she wrote. She recognized her teacher from her testing session a few months ago and immediately gave her a big hug. I was so thankful.

Walking into school. Look at the expression on her face. She was so excited!

Ema and Ms Lindey

I put her necklace around her neck and Ema says "Thank you mommy. Don't worry I'm going to be ok."

Ema-
Taking you to school was a lot easier then I imagined. I guess you being so strong willed and independent helps a lot. I worried about little things you might encounter at school. (how will she get the straw in her juice pack, what if she can't wash her hands after she goes to the potty, how will she wash her hands before lunch) As soon as I picked you up you said "mommy I don't need hand sanitizer because my teacher gives us germ x before lunch." I asked you about the straw in your juice pack and if someone helped you and you responded a little annoyed by the question "NO mommy, I did it all by myself." I love that so far you are very confident and you don't mind admitting that you may be a little nervous. I love you so much and Ba' and I are so blessed to have you in our lives. I am so excited for you and this upcoming school year! I hope you have the best year ever! You make us so proud!

Love-
Mommy

Ema's request

Preparing for our first day of school was so much fun. I asked Ema if she had any special request for her lunch box She responds "chocolate oatmeal cookies". So chocolate oatmeal cookies it was. She has loves these since we brought her home.

Ema eating peanut butter straight from the jar. I swear its like I gave birth to her.

She can hardly wait until they are dry. She "checks" them often!

Another 1st!

Well we have had another 1st with Ema. She walked out onto our porch and was stung by a wasp. Oh my... I really don't think I have ever heard her scream like that. What you cannot see in this picture is the swollen place. Its was swollen for days. Poor Baby!

Camille's Trip 2011

Every year we are blessed to have Camille visit for several days.
I am always amazed at how much she has grown in a year. Kirk and I have known Camille since she was born. She was and still is a very special part of our lives.
I remember when Ken and Kellie moved - I think I cried for months. I was use to seeing Camille everyday it seemed and I could not imagine going months or years without seeing her. I have to say that Kellie and I have kept in touch through the years and allowing Camille to come and visit is something we always look forward to.
Ema adores Camille! Its funny at how much Ema reminds me of Camille when she was her age. We had 5 days of nonstop beat downs playing Wipeout on the Wii, Camille showed us her cooking talent and baked us peach cobbler, we took Camille and Ema to the Lady Tigers basketball court and toured their facilities, lots of golf cart rides and pool time.



This is the face that Camille used to get ice cream at 10:30 pm! She must know what it takes because we all loaded up and headed to Sonic!

FYI: Camille is a great cook but she definitely does not take after her mother with her housekeeping skills! (Just Saying)Half way through I was wondering what I had gotten myself into!

Ema modeling Camille's clothes after they had been shopping with DeeDee

Sending Camille back home is dreaded from the moment that she arrives and I think we can say that neither Camille nor I are good at saying goodbye.

We LOVE you Camille Grace Johnson see you soon!!!!

Happy 4th of July!

The 4th of July is always a day that I can get emotional over.
If Ema was still in Vietnam she wouldn't get to celebrate this holiday. She wouldn't get to see the fireworks like we have here, no big family get together with lots of yummy food, and most of all she would not have the freedom that we have here.
I will always be so grateful to Vietnam for allowing us to come there to get our daughter. We were treated with nothing but kindness while there for 13 days but living in the USA is something that many in Vietnam dream of.
I still remember some of the girls there touching Ema and saying "Lucky baby".
Having Ema with us here in the USA is the greatest gift and makes this holiday more special to us than it has ever been.

You have to know what she was doing here. She was given some of those poppers that you throw on the ground and they pop. She loved to pop them right beside your foot to scare you.

Pickwick 2011

We were asked to join the Smith's and the Sampson's for a fun filled weekend at Pickwick.




I have to admit that I was a little nervous about this trip for a few reasons.

• I am not a "roughing it" kind of person and when I think of the lake/river- I think of roughing it.
  
• Ema is only 4 years old and she cannot swim. I do not allow her to swim unless we are with her. What if she gets out of my sight.
  
• Ema sometimes is fearful of the pool so she will never get in the lake and what will I do with a 4 year old that will not get in the water.
• I know there are snakes in that water and NO lake is big enough for me and a snake!
  

So those thoughts ran through my mind while we drove to Pickwick. Once we got there I suddenly realized we would not be "roughing it" at all. (Thanks Chad for not giving us directions to a dump house)

The next morning we loaded the kids up and off to the lake we went.

Christopher, Ema, Maddie, and Benjamin

This was when my third fear that was proven to be unecessary.

Ema LOVED the water. Don't get me wrong, she wasn't jumping off the boat or anything but she loved swimming around. I couldn't believe it! She swam around like a little fish!

That's right! She even got on the tube (or whatever its called) She was grinning from ear to ear. I think I have a little daredevil on my hands!

What a cute bunch of kiddos!

I have to admit that I did not see any snakes but we did see a raccoon. This raccoon lead to a very interesting conversation amongst Leigh, Susan and myself that proved my friend Leigh's intelligence about wildlife. This is how the conversation went...

Susan: Look at that raccoon!
Leigh: Raccoon's won't bother you. Raccoon's are like cat's they cannot swim!

The following day at breakfast Leigh says "You know I have been thinking about that Raccoon. Raccoon's can swim. They have to swim to build all those damns in the water."

Emily: That's not a raccoon that is a beaver!

Thank you Leigh for inviting us to the Lake! I learned a lot at the lake.

1. Never take your phone to the lake!
2. If you take your phone make sure you have a bag of rice at the house
3. Wear cheap sunglasses not Ray-Ban's.
4. You know nothing about Raccoon's or Beavers!