Sunday, May 20, 2007

When? and Are you trying to be like Angelina Joli?

I will start with the second one first.
No, we are not trying to be like Angelina Joli. Unlike Angelina Joli, I can not have biological children(the easy way, anyway) and I want to be a mom, so I adopt. I applaud her for bringing international adoption into the spotlight so that more orphans around the world can find a home, but I am not adopting to be like her. We are adopting because we want to grow our family, and China has a very good program.

When? We don't know exactly. Our Dossier (all of our paperwork and legal documents) was sent to China in October of 2006, that is why we have a DTC date of Oct. 13, 2006. The China Center for Adoption Affairs Logged our Dossier in at their offices on Nov. 13, 2006 (our LID). Our Dossier then went to Translation, and is currently Pending Review. The Review Room is where they will look at all of our documents to make sure everything is the way it is supposed to be. If they have any questions about any of our paperwork, they will ask it while it is in Review. We are currently hoping that we make it through the Review Room with no problems or else our Dossier could get held back, and our Referral could be delayed. The CCAA is currently reviewing documents that were registered with their office in April 2006. The CCAA goes in the order that they receive the Dossiers. After we get through the Review Room, our Dossier will go to the Referral Room where our Dossier will be matched with a babies file. Currently there are about 20,000 people in front of us waiting for a referral, so we are expecting it to take awhile. Probably close to three years. The baby will still be between 6-12 months, because we won't be matched until we get to the Referral phase.

Nov. 2006 LID Hair Bow Exchange

These are the hair bows from our Nov. 2006 LID yahoo group's hair bow exchange (the November Nightingales)

This hair bow is from the LeMaster's family in Ohio. May's theme was "rainbow" I love the corker style hair bows, and can't wait to put it in Chloe's hair.

April's theme was "pink and purple". These are from the Williams family, also in Ohio. They have already adopted one little girl from China, and are waiting for their second daughter from China. They also sent some really cool Chinese stickers and tattoos for Blaine that he just loves! Thanks to both families for some really cute hair stuff.

I tried to put the hair bow in Blaine's hair just to see what it would look like, and he was not having any of it, BOYS!

Oct 2006 DTC Secret Buddy Gift for April

April's Theme "April Showers Bring May Flowers" Didn't my Secret Buddy do a great job?

Thank You Secret Buddy! Once again we loved everything!

Pictures of my "Baby"




We went to my mom and dad's today for lunch, and I decided to take my camera. They live in the swamps of Louisiana and my son Blaine loves going over there for a visit. He had so much fun. Here is is "posing" for the camera. I didn't tell him to do this. All I said was "Blaine, stand over there and let me take your picture", and this is what he did. I love my little peanut head.

Friday, May 18, 2007

We went out to dinner the other night at P.F. Changs and this was my husbands fortune. (click on the cookie)



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I don't think anyone would consider Iraq "Wonderful"

Not much to report

OK, I haven't posted here in awhile, nothing of substance anyway. I want to keep this Blog specifically for Chloe stuff, and right now, there is not much going on as far as our adoption is concerned. I also try not to think about it too much because it is still such a long way off. Believe it or not, I haven't even bought anything for Chloe in about a month! I am trying to pace myself.

We have applied for a waiting child off of our agency's waiting child list, but we are not putting much hope into that. This is the 4th on we have applied for since beginning our journey, and we haven't been "chosen" to be parents yet.

My grandmother died about three weeks ago. She was suffering from Alzheimer's, so I am happy she no longer has to live like she had been living. I miss her, but as far as I am concerned she "died" a long time ago when she stopped recognizing any of us anymore. I know it sounds horrible to say the word "happy" but if you have ever had a loved one suffer from Alzheimer's you know what I mean. I know I wouldn't want to "live" like that.

I think I forgot to post a picture and thank our Secret Buddy for our April gift. April's theme was "April Showers Bring May Flowers" and our Secret Buddy did a great job. Chloe got a rain jacket and outfit, Blaine got a paint splatter type toy (which he loved!) and I got a flowered latte mug which I drink my coffee out of every morning. I didn't get any pictures yet, but I will probably post some eventually. I know our Secret Buddy really works hard on the gifts she sends us every month and I want to give her the recognition she deserves. Thanks Secret Buddy!

Let's see, anything else? Oh, today is my baby's (Blaine age 4 www.blainereed.blogspot.com) last day of preschool. On Monday he has to have his tonsils out. He is so upset about school being over, having to have his tonsils out, and knowing that his daddy will be leaving next month for training before his deployment to Iraq. I am also still torn about him going to Kindergarten. He is definitely smart enough to go on the Kindergarten, but I am not sure he is mature enough for Kindergarten. His teachers are no help, they say it is up to Joe and I. I am no good at making decisions, so I don't know what we are going to do. His speech is still kind of babyish and the kids and teachers have a hard time understanding him sometimes but I don't know if that is reason enough to hold him back. He goes to Speech therapy twice a week, but I don't think it really helps that much. I guess we will wait until August to make a final decision. I may just keep him back because of all that he will have to go through next year with his dad being gone and everything. Anyone out there have any advice?

Have to go and get my baby now. They are having an ice cream party at school to celebrate their last day. Do you think it would help if I stopped referring to him as my baby? By the way I have not read through this post, so if it makes no sense, sorry. It is also important for me to note that I can't spell.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

6 Months!

We have officially been LID at the CCAA for 6 months today!
Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers and waiting mothers!