Friends

We love spending time with friends! Over Memorial Day weekend we had time to catch up and talk about Micah with dear friends. We don't get to spend time with as much as we'd like with them so a weekend together at a cabin is wonderful!

It's for real!

Have to wait to talk to our social worker until Tuesday, but the mailbox held our 1800 approval. So, it seems our trip to China will most likely fall in August.
This statue that is found in Lancaster is similar to ones found in the city where we will be staying when we process Micah's adoption. We hope to stay at the White Swan hotel.

He said what??

I didn't know Ben knew the phrase, "I'm bored!" but he said it this morning on his first day of summer! How fast can we get those tickets??

Moving on

Ben's last day of school at the Montessori Academy was Tuesday and there was the Arts and Culture Day Thursday. We sweated it out watching each class perform a song and dance from different countries. Ben will have Ms Pearl and Ms Kathy again next year. The school encourages community by having 3-5 year-olds in the same class, keeping them together with the same teachers for the three years.
I mentioned to the teachers and Ms Karen, the director, that we'll keep them posted on how our trip to China will affect school attendance in September. We hope to put Micah in the toddler program at some point.

Duck friends

We visited duck friends and shared some food with them this afternoon. After our bag of oatmeal was gone, the ducks stood in a row looking at us. They must have been disappointed we had no duck food.
This hot, humid weather is good practice for us! When we travel to bring Micah home at the end of summer there will be plenty of hot weather. He is from the southern Guangdong Province.

New thought

Ben really enjoys people. Often his spicy friends will be high energy and action packed. I figured he liked that personality because it's different than himself, who is cautious and particular. He is amazingly like Brad.
Then a new thought hit me this week. Do I look like his friends? If I do, then I probably should sit down a little more.
I spent many years working with Junior High kids. I really enjoy that age group and I have often said it's because of my Dad. He probably could have been labeled ADHD. I loved following him around on our hobby farm growing up. So, spending time with Junior Highers felt very comfortable. So, maybe that's why Ben likes high energy people, too. He's used to following me around. Hummm.

Helping

Ben's class at the Little Gym is wrapping up. His instructors are so sweet to him! His All sports class, that fit in nicely after school, was a great size. Averaged seven kids.
I was cutting some coupons over the weekend for body care items for the local homeless shelter the other day. I like gathering lotions, pretty body wash and underwear that get used for the ladies' birthdays and Christmas gifts. I hope I still will have time to help locally, even if I end up dropping the coupon part of it, after I have two boys to keep up with. I used to pick up clearance gift baskets at January sales but pretty much don't try to do that any more. Ben is a great shopper but...

Changing gears

Bennett LOVES bike riding. The three of us ride on our own bikes now. Brad's bike has an empty spot in the toddler seat, waiting for Micah. Ben used to love riding there. And given how many bikes there are in China, he may have had some rides there before coming home at 25 months.

Figuring it out

Here Ben studies gummie worms with his friend Paige. We had a few fun hours at the park with play group last Friday. We enjoy our play dates thoroughly!
Ben asked a few days ago, "Will Micah wreck my trains?" I am glad he is forming a clear picture of what is ahead.

Fun times, too!

We did enjoy some down time yesterday at Inner Harbor. The weather worked out - very little rain. George, it was fun having you join us!

Ben's rainbow

We were out watering our lovely reworked beds today when Ben pointed out a rainbow. I guess I was being a typical adult: wrapped up in the work and not aware of the beauty around me. Thanks for noticing, Bennett!

Moving and shaking continues!

Yep! Getting ready for a new son in the house means getting things in order. We had a lot of help reworking the overgrown landscaping. We planned the beds so I will not be doing many annuals. Lots of flowering bushes and perennials. We are thankful for the help of the Jamaica team from our church who is doing work projects to raise funds for their June trip. Allan is a professional landscaper and I learned quite a bit in the process of replanting and pruning today!

One paddle at a time

OK, doing paperwork really is a step by step process. We did some online paperwork updates this week. Brad handed me my wallet back. I found out in the grocery store he didn't put the credit card back in! I was very thankful the management allowed me to pay by getting Brad's credit card number over the phone!

Getting the job done!

I feel a bit like this with all the house projects we are wrapping up (and cleaning out) on top of more paperwork for these stages we are going through. It is so nice to see the end of the tunnel coming closer! There will be one last round of papers we will need to sign before we get to go meet Micah!!
(I was having some boating fun in this picture!)

Our 1-800 is in process

When something from Homeland Security shows up in your mailbox it's usually cause for a happy reaction when you are in the adoption process!! We got a 1800 notice that our paperwork is in process to bring Micah home. We first thought it was approval but found out it's just a notice that they received our pack.
Ben loves making banana chocolate milkshakes with Brad. He will be happy to make one for Micah

Nesting

I had two rooms in my house pegged for an update. Silly me! I didn't get around to it before, so I decided that I should take care of them while we waited for a referral. In the mean time a March storm soaked our old carpet. Can you see what is happening here? It's a pretty good story which I will save for another time, but we ended up reworking the kitchen and our family room. In the middle of Easter and all these projects we got a referral! While I am still busy completing some of the details, it feels much better than making all the decisions and getting ready to do them! More work today!! Brad's family is coming tomorrow for a late Mother's Day dinner.

Micah

We started the process to adopt again in January 2009. My fther died unexpectly in February, so we put the process on hold for a few months. We got our paperwork State sealed September 1. Our Log In Date was October 23. We received Micah's paperwork March 25. Our Letter of Intent (to adopt Micah) was sent to China April 1. We got our letter of acceptance back April 28. We are now waiting for approval from the US government.
Micah did have surgery last Spring for a minor heart condition. He should be good to go!

Sizes

Bennett has certainly grown since he came home in March 2008. He hit the American growth charts on the lower percentages. At his 4 year check up he was around the middle. Micah is more toward the middle of the charts now. In a few weeks we will send a list of questions to the orphanage, including asking for his current measurements. I look forward to knowing what to pack! (See that red rash on Ben's face? We didn't know it right away but we soon learned that too much fresh fruit, which he loves to eat, causes it.)

He's thinking

Ben has cranked up the "WHY?" question again. The new brother has started him thinking and now we are back wanting to know all kinds of answers. I did have a bit of a break. Micah will be about the same age, 24 months, when we bring him home as Ben was when we brought Ben home at 25 months.
Here Brad and Ben check out a croc at the Hershey Zoo. We went in the morning - it's a great time to go!

Ben and babies

Ben has always been interested in babies and toddlers. Here at our play group's Easter egg hunt he atemptted to get little Natalie to quiet down a bit.(unsuccessful!) This should cause some interesting dynamics in our household. Hopefully lots of positive memories!

Trains and planes?

I suppose I could have called it trains, trucks, cars, boats and planes - all things Ben loves and I am expecting Micah to enjoy also. We hope Ben will enjoy the plane ride to China and back, becasue he is joining us on the trip to bring Micah home.

What does Bennett have to say?

Ben is looking forward to having a brother. We'll pick out things in the store for Micah and talk about things we will do together. Ben still loves his stroller but would be happy to give Micah a ride (!) Ben hopes Micah will learn his letters soon and will be able to drive. (Ben told me he's bigger now, so HE wants to drive. Some things will take some time.)

It's officiall!!

Happy, happy Mother's Day!
We got our letter of approval from China April 28. Such a simple peice of paper for all the piles of paperwork it takes to get it. Next step is approval for our family to bring Micah to the US. We quickly got our I800 paperwork sent this past Monday to keep the process moving. (This takes about 6 to 8 weeks)