Monday, January 17, 2011
Another Check!
Our first home study visit is Jan. 29. We also have our living arrangements for this summer after the baby is out of the hospital! Yeah for getting 2 more things checked off the list!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Hair
The boys both had their hair cut last night. Of course Dominic's was in protest. Heaven forbid you can see the boy's eyes! I told him since swimming lessons are starting again next week, he needed the hair out of his eyes. Luke hopped up on the stool and proclaimed it was time for the grown out mohawk to disappear. So now he is sporting a very cute, very short hair cut. Whenever he wants his hair this short, I always think he looks so much younger. Mark and I both agree that we like Luke's hair longer. I couldn't believe that my husband was actually admitting he likes the boys with hair on their heads!
I have also realized that I have neglected posting pictures lately. I actually haven't taken that many since Christmas but need to get going with it again. I was planning on getting a new camera soon - I was looking at the DSLR types. But with the new baby coming home soon, I think I will just stick with my point and shoot purse/diaper bag sized camera for a while longer. Dominic wants a camera too. My plan is to get myself a new compact sized camera (so an upgrade for me) and give Dominic my Sony. I also need to take a Photoshop class so I can get the most use out of that program. Right now, I only know how to do about 3 things and I know its potential is much greater than my limited editing knowledge is allowing.
I have also realized that I have neglected posting pictures lately. I actually haven't taken that many since Christmas but need to get going with it again. I was planning on getting a new camera soon - I was looking at the DSLR types. But with the new baby coming home soon, I think I will just stick with my point and shoot purse/diaper bag sized camera for a while longer. Dominic wants a camera too. My plan is to get myself a new compact sized camera (so an upgrade for me) and give Dominic my Sony. I also need to take a Photoshop class so I can get the most use out of that program. Right now, I only know how to do about 3 things and I know its potential is much greater than my limited editing knowledge is allowing.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Check!
We completed our fingerprints yesterday. So that is another thing to check off the list. We have also been assigned a case worker for our home study. We have all our supporting documents gathered and are now just waiting on the background checks to be complete. We are hoping that only takes a 2-3 weeks then we can set up our first home study visit.
I spoke with H yesterday. She is still having lots of morning sickness - which is a good sign the pregnancy is healthy - however for those of us that have been there and done that - it is really a phase that you want to pass out of quickly.
I spoke with H yesterday. She is still having lots of morning sickness - which is a good sign the pregnancy is healthy - however for those of us that have been there and done that - it is really a phase that you want to pass out of quickly.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Growing Up
We had tons of snow yesterday. I told the boys we needed to go out before Dad got home and clean off the driveway. Dominic insisted I not use the snow blower because he "wanted to work". I have to brag on Dominic now. He did an awesome job! He shoveled the driveway - over half of it - by himself. When we were done, he turned to me and said, "Let's go get Mrs. R's done now." He only had to be re-focused once because he was laying down on the job. He earned his money with the snow shovel last night.
At one point, I stopped shoveling just to admire my son and his work ethic. He caught me leaning against my shovel and I think he was proud that he caught me "not working" too. When we were done with the neighbor's driveway, Dominic took a step back and slung the shovel over his shoulder. He said, "Mom, I think we did a really good job." I had to agree.
It still amazes me how shoveling a driveway for a 6yr old could teach him so much about life. I explained to him that whenever you are doing a job, you should always do a job you can be proud of later. He also learned that a good job is rewarded. I was trying to explain that "reward" sometimes must be self-satisfaction. He learned quickly, that it can also get you paid with money when his Dad gave him $10!
At one point, I stopped shoveling just to admire my son and his work ethic. He caught me leaning against my shovel and I think he was proud that he caught me "not working" too. When we were done with the neighbor's driveway, Dominic took a step back and slung the shovel over his shoulder. He said, "Mom, I think we did a really good job." I had to agree.
It still amazes me how shoveling a driveway for a 6yr old could teach him so much about life. I explained to him that whenever you are doing a job, you should always do a job you can be proud of later. He also learned that a good job is rewarded. I was trying to explain that "reward" sometimes must be self-satisfaction. He learned quickly, that it can also get you paid with money when his Dad gave him $10!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
In the Mail
Our home study paper work - phase 1 - is in the mail. We are getting our fingerprints next week so our back ground checks can get started. Our social worker said the back ground checks are typically the longest process in the home study. We are hoping to have our first in-person visit from the social worker in about 3 weeks.
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Car Seat Shuffle
As most already know, I'm a car seat freak! I love them. I love using all kinds of different seats and have owned.....well way to many for 2 kids over the years. But with the addition of a new baby, I get to feed my craving for new seats once again!
I already have the infant seat picked out and will order it in April. The seat we had for the boys expired in 2010. I chose the OnBoard 35 Air for several reasons. It is rated down to 4lbs, was designed by a NICU nurse with preemies in mind, it has wonderful customizable infant inserts, the most leg room of any infant seat, the tallest shell of any infant seat, and is also narrow through the base of the seat. So it will be great if we are bringing home a 4lber - like Little Miss A - or (fingers crossed) a 6-7lber term baby!
We do have one problem however. Mark's Camry - a somewhat small back seat. My plan was to get the baby a Radian convertible seat once the infant seat was outgrown - since all our current convertible seats will be expired by then. The Radian is the slimmest convertible seat on the market. So hopefully I can get 3 car seats across the back of Mark's Camry if I change the Frontier that Luke currently rides in to a Radian.
Of course Mark just rolls his eyes on the prospect of even more car seats in our house! But I did tell him that new car seats are cheaper than a new vehicle!
I already have the infant seat picked out and will order it in April. The seat we had for the boys expired in 2010. I chose the OnBoard 35 Air for several reasons. It is rated down to 4lbs, was designed by a NICU nurse with preemies in mind, it has wonderful customizable infant inserts, the most leg room of any infant seat, the tallest shell of any infant seat, and is also narrow through the base of the seat. So it will be great if we are bringing home a 4lber - like Little Miss A - or (fingers crossed) a 6-7lber term baby!
We do have one problem however. Mark's Camry - a somewhat small back seat. My plan was to get the baby a Radian convertible seat once the infant seat was outgrown - since all our current convertible seats will be expired by then. The Radian is the slimmest convertible seat on the market. So hopefully I can get 3 car seats across the back of Mark's Camry if I change the Frontier that Luke currently rides in to a Radian.
Of course Mark just rolls his eyes on the prospect of even more car seats in our house! But I did tell him that new car seats are cheaper than a new vehicle!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Adoption Update
We are working on the home study paper work right now. Gathering up all the necessary documents - like birth certificates, etc. Once we get through the home study, then it is all about waiting - again. I swear God really tests my resolve and patience level. I am not good at waiting......
The birthmother had an OB apppointment yesterday and all is going well. The baby's heartbeat is 160 - nice and strong for 13 wks. She will have another appointment in Feb.
The birthfamily has given me permission to share our story. The birthmother, H, is also Little Miss A's birthmother. Yes, that makes Little Miss A and our baby half siblings - they have different birth fathers. The children will know both grew in H's tummy - the truth is always best - and it won't be some "big" announcement when they are a certain age. It will "just be". Just like my boys know they are IVF babies that were once frozen, just like they already know that Miss A grew in H's tummy and that Big B (Miss A's soon to be miracle little brother) grew in Sarah's tummy.
Yes, we will have a unique family to say the least. A great friend and fellow adoptive momma puts it best. Adoption is an adjective. It simply describes the "how" our family came to be. It does not define it.
The birthmother had an OB apppointment yesterday and all is going well. The baby's heartbeat is 160 - nice and strong for 13 wks. She will have another appointment in Feb.
The birthfamily has given me permission to share our story. The birthmother, H, is also Little Miss A's birthmother. Yes, that makes Little Miss A and our baby half siblings - they have different birth fathers. The children will know both grew in H's tummy - the truth is always best - and it won't be some "big" announcement when they are a certain age. It will "just be". Just like my boys know they are IVF babies that were once frozen, just like they already know that Miss A grew in H's tummy and that Big B (Miss A's soon to be miracle little brother) grew in Sarah's tummy.
Yes, we will have a unique family to say the least. A great friend and fellow adoptive momma puts it best. Adoption is an adjective. It simply describes the "how" our family came to be. It does not define it.
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