Defining Hope: December 14, 2012 -- Grayson's 6 months old!!

Wow! Can you believe it! Grayson is 6 months old today!!! Makes me sad to think he is that old already, but I am so glad to be with him on this special day! He is growing so big and starting to do so many things.
*Smiles a lot
* Giggles at everything!
*reaches for things
*turning his head to the right much better now
*Spots his mommy when coming into a room :)
*recognizes Matt's voice on skype!
* getting good at tummy time
* rolls over when trying to change his diaper
*so tall and skinny he has a hard time sitting up for periods of time
* likes chewing on toys
*still no teeth, but slobbering on everything!
* very ticklish :) :)
*recognizes his name
*sucks on thumb
*likes hanging upside down and "flying"
*rolls over a lot

It's SUNNY today!! I was so surprised to walk downstairs today and see the sunshine! I really wanted to go on a scooter ride while in Taiwan since that is what they mainly drive here, even in the rain! So one of the Chinese nannies took me for a ride after lunch. IT WAS AWESOME! She took me out into the "country" area and I got to see a totally different side of Taiwan. It was beautiful! I saw orange groves, small villages, and elementary school here, and a driving school!! The driving school looked like an incredibly complicated obstacle course in the parking lot! She said it was very hard to take driving classes, but after seeing how the people drive here - I think that's probably a good idea! They cannot get their license till they are 18 here. Taiwan is just breathtaking with the mountains everywhere and it was about 75 degrees here today. Weather was perfect for an afternoon drive. So glad I got to see another "part" of the island and on a scooter!
After I got back Ansley and I went for a walk to the lake. We bought some ice cream there, which I was pretty proud of myself for doing that and talking to the Chinese guy :) No I didn't speak any Chinese, but I used my awesome "finger-pointing" skills to place our order!
I also got a card from Darla, Kenny, & Jesse. It was so sweet :) Things like that a such a huge "pick-me-up" when I am feeling home sick!

We heard today that the judge has not received our paperwork yet from the social worker :( Ted called the judge and the social worker and no one seems to know where our paperwork is. They said they will check on it Monday. Ted also saw the judge today and she asked him to stop calling her everyday to see if she got the paperwork :) He let her know we would really like to be home by Christmas and she understood that. So hopefully once she received it things will go faster. Please continue to pray for strength.

They have also been working outside to get ready for the new building this coming year. They transplanted a giant tree today to another part of their land! It was crazy. Below are some pics - they used a crane to move it :)
The sunshine today was so much needed by everyone! Thanks for all the continued prayers and love!