April, 2008

We have a little tree/bush outside our breakfast nook window and for the last two springs a robin family has built their nest there.  I was so excited when they returned this year because this year at almost 3 Miriam notices and understands everything.  I knew she would LOVE watching the little birds grow.  The mother had been sitting on the nest for about two weeks and I think the babies hatched yesterday. 

Our agency reports:

"The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents
      registered with our office before December 31, 2006."

YES!!!  Thank you, God! This means that China has look at all the paperwork we submitted Dec 11th, 2006 and has approved us!! I haven't been this happy about this adoption in a LONG time!!

So it was a beautiful spring day here with temps in the mid-70's. So of course I let the kids play outside most of the day. Then just before bedtime, I ruffled Evan's hair as I often do and felt *something*. I pulled him over to the light, messed around in his hair again, and found IT.

Just wanted to quickly talk about a great website and discussion forum called Informed Adoption Advocates that I'm a part of.

I have a really bad feeling about something.  You see Miriam has been a very easy two year old... not that she hasn't had a "moment" here or there but they have been short and few.  No, no terrible twos here.  She's going to be three soon and about two weeks ago someone flipped a switch.  The level of whine and fit throwing is unprecedented in this house. A simple "wait a second" results in a full out tantrum to say nothing of a "no".  Yeah, the terrible threes are headed our way!  But that's not what worries me...

Yea!! I have FINALLY gotten the Adoption Info section of this site up and running.  I have a lot more to add to the site over the next few days/weeks, but it's a start!

Wow.  Where did the year go?  Has it really been a year since that little dark headed boy joined our family?  In honor of your first year together here are 12 things I love about you, Evan! (In no particular order!)

I read a lot of blogs and especially love the blogs of large families.  I've noticed a number of moms of many talk about keeping order by requiring that their children pick up the toy they have been playing with before getting another one out.  Well, this sounds great, but how to get a 1 and 2 year old to do it?  I started by putting "special" toys (mostly ones with smaller parts that are easy to loss like puzzles and blocks) in a cabinet with a lock.  I offer one of these toys but tell the kids we have to pick up first and then help them pick up the toys.  Miri

Conversation with Miriam last week.

Miriam: "Who this?" (points to self)

Mommy: "Miriam?"

Miriam: "No!  I Sissy! That's Brother." (points to Evan)

Mommy: "That's right Miriam.  Evan is your little brother and you are his big sister."

Mommy: "Do you want a little sister?"

Miriam: (pause) "Not really." 

We have just returned from a week long trip to see Mimmi and also saw Grandma W. for a few hours.  The kids had a great time, although Evan missed his Daddy as always.  Evan was actually a bit mad at Daddy when he first showed up again.  I'll post pictures later...

Well, at least our fingerprints are in the USCIS system again.  We drove to Charlotte NC today and were re-fingerprinted.  It went very well and I must say I like the Charlotte office a lot.  We were in and out in 20 minutes ... it would have been 15, but we had to take turns to watch the kids.  Now that that is done we have done everything we need to do to update our paperwork.  Just sit back and wait, and wait, and wait some more!