How the chronology of a narrative must ultimately bow to the demands of actually living that narrative...

We set out almost three years ago to chronicle our sweet boy's journey. To tell his story with pictures and anecdotes for his wonderful birth parents and their families and friends as well as for all of our family and friends who have spread around the globe.

If you know us at all, you know Mark loves telling a good story. (In truth getting him to finish a story has been a challenge at times.) As we look back over the blog over the last few months, it is clear that we have not employed a consistently dedicated and timely updating of our adventures with Jack.

It is not from a lack of desire. So we recommit ourselves to sharing. Not just because it is fun to bear witness to his journey, but because he --and his 3 year old compatriots around the globe-- provide a respite from the travails and challenges we encounter daily.

I hope that each of you find time today to dance in circles and hoot and holler - just to let the world know that you are alive.

Seriously, if the earthworms can dance, why can't we?

Daddy's Dancin' on the Teeter Totter

More pics from our Day at the Railway Park in Birmingham. Aunt Cathy is on one end and Jack is on the other. What a great day. And Daddy's looking pretty good up there, isn't he!

Homewood Park at Thanksgiving...

I played in this very same park 40 years ago. They updated the facilities. Kids still seem very happy. It was a nice day to be a dad.

Looking for choo choos

While in Birmingham for Thanksgiving, we went to Railroad Park. It's a beautiful urban reclamation project - 5 acres downtown adjacent to two railroad lines, beautifully and thoughtfully landscaped for myriad purposes. So incredibly cool to see this in Birmingham. Felt more like Montreal or Belgium. Of course, as you can see from Jack's face, its sole purpose was to provide him a vantage point for viewing choo choos.

Cruella de Ville Arrives on Lamont St

Grandma Ruth is always game on Halloween for whatever craziness Papa cooks up!

Papa is just praying that the hair dye is going to wash out.....

Halloween Madness!

2011 Halloween Family portrait for the Dygert-Seiferts

Introducing the Dalmatian Puppy, the Dog Catcher, the Fire Hydrant, and Cruella De Ville.

After we pulled a couple of WWF moves to get Jack into his puppy dog outfit (which he had previously BEGGED for), we then headed out for the Lamont St Halloween Craziness. Every year, they rope off two city blocks and we are then flooded with kids from all over Mt. Pleasant, Columbia Heights and other outlying neighborhoods. Jack was a little standoffish at first, but then got into the swing of things....

Grandma Ruth is Game!

Missing Daddy....

Karma's funny. I have been travelling a LOT lately and Jeff has had Single Parent duty. I have an idea about what that means, but until you are in the middle of it, you forget what it is all about. The highlight when you are the travelling Daddy is little videos that are taken when Jack wakes up. These videos are a tether back home and are a blast of sweetness across the time zones.

Here's the latest of about six that I sent Jeff while he's out in San Francisco speaking on Human Rights.

Enjoy!

Hey EVERYBODY! Let's CELEBRATE!

My mom, Jenn, just got married! She's the greatest and we are WAY excited. Have a great time, Jenn.

Jack

Starting the morning!

Jack talks about the Zoo Part 2

Jack talks about the Zoo Part 1

Jack reading a book this morning!

Winking, not Blinking!

Jack still needs some work on the whole blinking concept. This morning at breakfast, he started working on it entirely unprompted. Let's just say there's still some room for improvement.

Going to the zoo, that's where...

Daddy goes sailing for Labor Day

Tom and Vince took Daddy out for a lovely sail on the Atlantic. The weather was perfect and Daddy held up his end by knowing that the ropes are called lines and the sails are called sheets.

Labor Day in Lewes

Jeff and Jack are watching the cars by from our favorite room in Tom and Vince's house.. This was an amazing weekend with amazing friends. Jack kept asking when we were going back to Mr. Vince's house. We told him that he should get in line. There were a lot of people asking the same question!

Fun with Jack at the pool

Jack's goal is to try and touch my feet as I dive over him.

Opening his eyes would improve his odds! (Note pointed toes!)

He missed but is squealing.

Serious downgrade on the entry splash!

Annie Liebowitz? Maybe not...

Dad thought it would be fun to create some family portraits.

Here we are, getting ready to submerge so Cathy can get an underwater shot of all the Seiferts.

Jack is skeptical and certainly NOT joining in as that would require him to get his face and hair wet. Not happening.

Post-portrait. Jack is looking at Papa with one of those "Have you all lost your minds?" looks. Son, the answer is simple: Yes; many, many years ago!

Juxtapositioning

Jeff at the pool. And six feet away....

the rest of the crew. How can he look so serene?


Years of practice.

Around the dinner table...

Anna is happy to be at the beach!

The boys and their dad after a long day of baseball and a great meal by the McDonoughs.

Martinique makes us laugh and makes us smile!

Cousin Anna and Cousin Sage were superstars!

Anna and Sage spent tons of time showering Jack with affection and he ate them up. We were so happy to have them playing with them, watching over him, and loving on him. Thanks girls for being so sweet to your cousin!