Sixteen!!!

Well, I finally have some adoption news to report. I found out today that I am number 49 on the overall waitlist and 16 people are ahead of me with overlapping or similar child requests. Just to recap we are open to a little boy ages 0-36 months.
Out of that 16 people some are open to the same request as us but others will accept a boy or a girl and some will only accept under 12, 18 or 24 months. So, it still really doesn't mean much. However, in this process I will take what info I can get.
If you look on the right side of my blog my ticker says we have been officially waiting for two months today and my agency quotes a 1-10 month wait which is really broad so it doesn't really help. Someone from my agency posted that our agency told her they are giving referrals to mid June/July waiters now. That means they have waited around 4-5 months. Ideally, I am hoping that we receive a referral in enough time to get through court before they close for rainy season (typically Aug.- Oct.). But, I am trying to just relax and be patient. I would rather be pleasantly surprised than devastated. And, I have been stalking peoples blogs that were going through this process since summer of '07 so you can bet that I know how fast things can change in international adoption.
But, today I am happy to be lucky number 16!!!

Winter Vacation 09

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

7 and 5... How did that happen???

When you are a new mom everyone always tells you that your kids are going to grow up fast. And, when they are in the phase of tantrums and meltdowns sometimes you think (to yourself) yeah... they couldn't grow fast enough. Judge me all you want but you know you've at least thought it at one time or another :) But, really once they enter kindergarten something happens. Time takes off and your baby grows like a weed.

Captain Crazy turns 7 this week and Cuddlebear turns 5 next week and I think I may have shed a tear when I wrote those numbers on their cakes this past weekend. For some reason the odd years always seem like they are a bigger jump to me.
This year their birthday was a little quieter than most... but they did get a gift that is pretty awesome. We surprised them the morning of their party with a Disney Cruise. We set sail real soon and they are so excited they can't even stand it. And, I am thrilled that I get to slow down and spend a few weeks with them without a care in the world. Vacationing with my kids makes me feel like I can make time stand still so I can relish in their sweet youthfulness before they are all grown. I think that I learn so much about them as individuals and it really brings our family closer together when we can just be together without all the hussle and bussle of our busy lives.

On the adoption front we mailed our first big check (ha... bc we have been paying lots of checks here and there already) and the two passport pics for each of us that were missing from our file so we are still chugging along. There won't be much to report as the waiting is basically just that... waiting. Hubby and I will need to start getting some shots for our travel. Hubby still goes back and forth on whether he thinks we can both really travel together. I can't imagine doing it any other way. I really want us to experience Ethiopia together. We will see I suppose.
Now that I have talked about adoption it just reminded me that this could be our last family vacation without our missing link. Referrals have been coming in my request range at about 6 months of waiting, so maybe by the next trip we will be complete.

Happy Belated Halloween & Merry X-Mas!!!

Okay... I am a complete slacker lately. But, this time of year is CRAZY always. Since I posted last my super star big kid Captain Crazy won a math award at school that sure made me proud. He gets his math smarts from his daddy.
Then I spent my Halloween with Princess Belle...

The worlds cutest chicken
(note that he refused to say cheese and would only cluck for his pictures)

And, a very handsome football player.
We had a lot of fun going trick or treating.

I especially loved the Halloween Themed Pumpkin Cheesecake made by this wonderful blogger

The kids were fortunate enough to have fantastic friends along for the candy crusade!

Who said too much sugar is a bad thing. Doesn't every parent take their kids to the donut shop the morning after Halloween??
(note the completely full candy buckets in the background)
And, what day after Halloween is not filled with everything Holly & Jolly.
Say what? I know. But, I am married to Mr. Christmas and in our house Nov. 1st marks the holiday season.

So, I bid you adieu and Happy Holidays!!!