Vacation in Hilton Head and Savannah

Last week we went on our big family vacation with the Hutchins side of the family. Grandma Sue rented all of us a huge beautiful house right near the beach. Almost the whole family was there. Tobin and I went for the whole week with my parents and Jessica. Clark and Jared had to work and met us half way through the week.

I am afraid that I took most of my pictures on Jessica's really nice camera and I still have not gotten those pictures from her, but here are some of my own that I took.


The beach was very pretty especially in the evening. Tobin loved playing in the sand and in the tide pools but didn't love the ocean until the very last evening. We rode bikes a lot and even got a baby trailer for Tobin. It was the best part of the vacation (besides fun with family).


Tobin with his Daddy and Grandpa finally getting into the ocean after a whole week of hating it.


Jessica is very daring with bikes. She and Jenny ride like this in NYC, I didn't care for it.


This is basically what Tobin did all week - throw stuff into the pool and play with his golf clubs.


Our cousin Cloe learned to ride a bike without training wheels that week as well. She was biking every where!
Tobin got a much needed hair cut from Aunt Nancy. She is the only one that can do it without a lot of crying.


At the park with Grandpa. We could ride our bikes all over the island and there were great bike paths that were flat. It was a biking heaven!


Cloe tried a ride with Tobin, but didn't want to go again after he kept messing with her hair and pulling on her shirt.


There was lot's of reading going on all week. Very relaxing, which is unusual for the Hutchins. There is usually always some major physical labor going on in the form of farm work.


Tobin ate the best when one of his cousins fed him. Ben was the best at it.


Clark and I rode our bikes to a ruin of a pre-Civil War era house.

We had such a nice time and it was sad to say goodbye to all of our wonderful family. I will post more pictures when I get them from Jessica (no pressure Jess). We took the big family picture with her camera as well.

Savannah

On Saturday we all had to say goodbye and go our separate ways. Since Clark's birthday was that week, Dad took our little group to Savannah for the day and night. Clark loves Savannah because of the beautiful architecture. We went for a weekend last year and loved it (though it is also really hot in June).

We stayed on an island across from historic Savannah so all we had to do was take a little boat over and walk around the beautiful historic areas. Tobin was not a huge fan of the boat, but felt better as long as he carried a golf ball around. It is almost like a lovey blanket for the week.

Eating at the famous Pirate House where Stevenson got the idea for his book Treasure Island.


The birthday boy himself! Tobin thought it was so funny when he would do this!



We did lots of sight seeing and a house tour (Clark's favorite thing to do) on Saturday and Sunday.




Uncle Jared carried Tobin around for a little bit to give our backs a break.


On the tour bus. That is what Tobin thinks about learning GA history.

We had a lot of fun and poor Tobin was so tired everyday from all of the fun. He got pretty depressed on Monday when he realized that we really weren't going back to Hilton Head and spend time with his cousins. He has been in a bad mood all week because of it. Oh well, all vacations must come to an end.

Number 26

Well, just had our monthly call with Kate and learned that our new waiting list number for a baby girl is 26. Pretty good from 30 a month ago I guess. It still will be around 6-8 months until we get a referral. I am hoping for a referral by Christmas and then we would travel around 2 months after that. But, with international adoption you never know what can happen and slow things down.

It is amazing to think that our baby Jessa is more likely already born and living somewhere in Ethiopia. We pray for her everyday that she will be safe, healthy, and taken care of until we can get there.

I also wonder how old she will be when we get the referral. Clark really wanted to stay in birth order, which I know is smart in the long run. But, I wanted an older toddler or preschooler. We want to adopt again and so this will probably be the only time that we adopt a baby or even a girl for that matter. Clark and I have talked about adopting older kids once our kids get a little older. As long as Tobin is always the oldest, Clark is happy.

Still I don't really want a young baby. I know that sounds crazy because most people love the cute baby stage. But, I would really love a 1 year old or older (good thing because this is the average age of babies that are adopted internationally). People have also asked me if I will be sad that I am going to miss the newborn/baby stage by adopting. I don't think I will at all! This is probably because Tobin's newborn stage was filled with walking the floors all night with a colic crying baby. Tobin would scream like he was on fire if he was out of my arms even for a second until he was 6 months old and even then he was not really happy until he could walk at 10 months. So my memories of a newborn are not the same as others.

In the end God knows though and so we will get the referral of the little girl that is meant for us. But, I can't help but wonder.......

Graduation

The last week of May was a busy one! The most important thing that happened was that my little brother graduated from high school. I can't believe that he is so grown up! I also can't believe that I am so old (I use to change his diapers). Jessica flew in from NYC and my grandparents even drove into town. It was nice to have the family together
but we missed you Jeffu.

On Friday night the Browns and Rita came over to celebrate with us and get to see Jessica.

What I did not know was that everyone was there to also surprise me with a banner and cake for my MBA graduation (which was a month ago or so). I was totally surprised and it was so great. Clark's parents even drove up and played the part of my surprise guests! Tobin got really excited when he saw them being sneaked in the front door and almost gave away the whole surprise.

Kissing Grandma bye bye! He will kiss people now if you ask him to.

Jenny was in town too and got to come to graduation!

Tobin fell back in love with his Aunt Jessa really fast! They were soon having a yelling contest.

Tobin likes to put food in his hair and this time it made a gel like substance.

My grandparents were in town for Jared's graduation and got to see how big Tobin has grown. They even got to see him do a somersault for the first time and the day they left he even said "Gigi" and "Bobba" which is what he calls them.

The graduation was great and Jared got to even lead a worship song and make his speech.

Tobin fell asleep half way and then slept for the rest of the reception and pictures afterwards.

The whole family at the graduation. We are so proud of you Jared! Now on to the next adventure in your life.