In July of 2007, my wife and I began having conversations about our family. We were happy having just our twin girls http://bradysgirls.blogspot.com/ but we were unsettled. I really wanted a boy to carry on the family name, but we knew we wanted another child regardless if it was to be another girl. Though three was an odd number, something felt right about it.
Twelve months ago today, we became a family of 5 with three kids (5 kids if you include our "boys" - the dogs) after God laid it on our hearts to adopt a baby boy from South Korea. Read the blog entry below.
This has been the blog of his story from our first adoption conversations through his first year with us. Read entry one here: http://luvfromasia.blogspot.com/2007/06/our-first-real-adoption-step.html
Though much more is in front of us, this blog will no longer be updated. It will remain for those that want to read the story, but updates about our family will now all be posted on our main family blog here. http://bradysfamily.blogspot.com/ From time to time there may be adoption info updates that will be posted here, but for the most part it is what it is!
We are ambassadors of adoption and encourage anyone to strongly consider letting God change your life and the life of a child by doing so. Read our story and you will see why! God is good!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
One Year with Quinn
One year ago, our life was just about to be turned upside down and we had no clue.
The adoption process was well under way to bring home from South Korea a cute little boy we only knew in pictures and one short video. Mr. Smiley had us all wrapped around his little finger. His contagious smile and bubbly attitude were obvious from even the short video and few pictures we had.
Then, the call came that everything was set and we were approved to get plane tickets and make our way to Seoul. Just days later, Julie and I boarded a Korean Air monstrous airplane and 15 hours later were standing in the heart of South Korea. Everything Julie and I had discussed, prayed about, worked on and planned for was suddenly upon us like a duck on a June bug.
The day we met him for the first time was surreal. His foster mom was so sweet and amazing, and Quinn immediately took to us. I instantly knew this little guy was brave and strong. He had already gone through so much turmoil in his short 7 months of life, yet here he was embracing us and seemingly ready for the next adventure.
Three days later, we were back in Texas, new son in hand, as a family of five. Quickly our life changed. We wanted a boy, and a boy we certainly got.
The last 12 months have been full of fun, challenges, and learning that boys are nothing like girls. Yes, our little Mr. Smiley has turned our world upside down in many ways. I call him a one man terrorist organization. In minutes he can destroy and be into everything in sight.
The adoption process was well under way to bring home from South Korea a cute little boy we only knew in pictures and one short video. Mr. Smiley had us all wrapped around his little finger. His contagious smile and bubbly attitude were obvious from even the short video and few pictures we had.
Then, the call came that everything was set and we were approved to get plane tickets and make our way to Seoul. Just days later, Julie and I boarded a Korean Air monstrous airplane and 15 hours later were standing in the heart of South Korea. Everything Julie and I had discussed, prayed about, worked on and planned for was suddenly upon us like a duck on a June bug.
The day we met him for the first time was surreal. His foster mom was so sweet and amazing, and Quinn immediately took to us. I instantly knew this little guy was brave and strong. He had already gone through so much turmoil in his short 7 months of life, yet here he was embracing us and seemingly ready for the next adventure.
Three days later, we were back in Texas, new son in hand, as a family of five. Quickly our life changed. We wanted a boy, and a boy we certainly got.
The last 12 months have been full of fun, challenges, and learning that boys are nothing like girls. Yes, our little Mr. Smiley has turned our world upside down in many ways. I call him a one man terrorist organization. In minutes he can destroy and be into everything in sight.
But, I would not change it for the world. There is something special about our son. God has big plans for him. I can feel it. Maybe part of that is turning the rest of the world upside down. Lord knows the world needs it.
Quinn is a boy full of energy, passion, curiosity and love. His favorite thing to do in public is wave and say hi to everyone. He loves people. He knows no strangers. It used to be all about our twin girls when we went anywhere. Now people see Quinn's amazing smile and it's all about him. He truly lights up a room. Though he likes to check out and get into everything, he is amazingly adapted. He loves our girls, our dogs and the rest of the family. As they have embraced him, his arms have been extended right back at them.
It's after he nearly kills himself after somehow finding the hidden pair of scissors that we have to remind ourselves of these wonderful attributes. LOL.
I really cannot believe it has already been a year. What a journey adoption was from begining to end. Our quiver is full and we are done having kids. But the Quinn story will always be fresh in our hearts and minds.
Julie and I are just blessed and thankful to be chosen as the parents for this amazing little guy. His smile is love. His joy is contagious.
And, his terror keeps us on our toes.
Life is good 12 months later.
http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=3082965&alb=0
(this will be the last post on Quinn's blog - future posts will be in our main family blog - www.bradysfamily.blogspot.com)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Yep, He is ALL Boy
After Julie had the girls, deep inside I still wanted a boy in the family. Being the last "Speers" in the family line, I truly wanted the family name to continue and I wanted the experiene of raising a boy.
Early indications are God has FULLY answered my prayers. Quinn is ALL boy that is for sure.
Though he can occasionally slip on the girls play shoes, walk around with one of their purses and push around a baby stroller, Quinn is every bit the boy our curious minds wondered about after the first two child rearing years with the girls.
In just under the year since came into our lives, he has truly turned it upside down. And I mean cups of water on the floor, unplugging electronics, shutting down computers, walking outside after figuring out how to open the door, eating everything he can grab, grabbing everything in sight....oh and that is a short list.
He is a ball of joy and a ball of pain all wrapped into one! God is good.
Early indications are God has FULLY answered my prayers. Quinn is ALL boy that is for sure.
Though he can occasionally slip on the girls play shoes, walk around with one of their purses and push around a baby stroller, Quinn is every bit the boy our curious minds wondered about after the first two child rearing years with the girls.
In just under the year since came into our lives, he has truly turned it upside down. And I mean cups of water on the floor, unplugging electronics, shutting down computers, walking outside after figuring out how to open the door, eating everything he can grab, grabbing everything in sight....oh and that is a short list.
He is a ball of joy and a ball of pain all wrapped into one! God is good.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
First Haircut!
Today was a special day for dad and Quinny. We both enjoyed some time together at my office and then we headed to get his first haircut! He was nervous and a little whinny but otherwise sat still and was a good boy! What a special moment for us two!
We ended the morning with a nice trip to CFA just the two of us!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
A Year Ago Today
It was a year ago today that Julie and I told the world about our little boy in South Korea. We had spent days praying, researching and thinking about this child that we had seen on our agency's website and finally we both knew that we were called to be his family and he our child.
It was a great day for us all and Julie as it was her birthday. I will never forget calling her parents and showing the little video we had gotten in the mail that very day to my family here that night. Most of us were in tears as we realized this precious little guy on the other side of the world was about to be a Speers.
We had a baby boy and soon he would be in our arms....
It was a great day for us all and Julie as it was her birthday. I will never forget calling her parents and showing the little video we had gotten in the mail that very day to my family here that night. Most of us were in tears as we realized this precious little guy on the other side of the world was about to be a Speers.
We had a baby boy and soon he would be in our arms....
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Quinn Update
People often ask via email, forums, calls, etc how Quinn is doing so I figured for those few that still keep up with his blog that I would answer that question.
Quinn is growing like mad. He eats like no other boy in the world! He just loves it here. He loves his mommy and daddy and is very attached to not only us but his entire family, especially his aunt Becky. He really loves his sisters too, though he drives them crazy and is already copying eveything they do (or at least trying to). He basically just loves people. He loves to walk around whereever we are saying hi and even giving strangers hugs....which of course we try and avoid at times.
He is really just a happy camper most of the time. He is very smart and figures out how to do things VERY quickly. He is way more to keep up with than even thr girls were with two at his age. It is amazing the difference between girls and boys and he is ALL boy! (he does like his sisters dolls, strollers and purses though.....)
He is talking alot more and is very communicative with nods, saying "yeah" or telling us no.
In general he keeps us laughing and reminds us all, that despite circumstances, we should have the joy of the Lord everywhere we go!
Quinn is growing like mad. He eats like no other boy in the world! He just loves it here. He loves his mommy and daddy and is very attached to not only us but his entire family, especially his aunt Becky. He really loves his sisters too, though he drives them crazy and is already copying eveything they do (or at least trying to). He basically just loves people. He loves to walk around whereever we are saying hi and even giving strangers hugs....which of course we try and avoid at times.
He is really just a happy camper most of the time. He is very smart and figures out how to do things VERY quickly. He is way more to keep up with than even thr girls were with two at his age. It is amazing the difference between girls and boys and he is ALL boy! (he does like his sisters dolls, strollers and purses though.....)
He is talking alot more and is very communicative with nods, saying "yeah" or telling us no.
In general he keeps us laughing and reminds us all, that despite circumstances, we should have the joy of the Lord everywhere we go!
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