Bennett 19 Months

Bennett turned 19 months before I even realized it.  He is no longer mommy's baby, but my big boy.  He weighs 23lb 11oz and 32" tall.  His vocabulary grows every day.  I believe today he said three new words.  He is getting a little better with his eating.  I am learning that I probably have more to do with his pickyness.  He is eating chicken nuggets, hamburgers, and fruit, sometime.  If I am strong and he thinks that is his only option, then he eats no problem.  But if he sees us eating his favorite, potatoes, then you can give up trying to get him to eat what he has been given. 

He is so much fun at this age.  He loves Mickey Mouse Club House.  As soon as we get home from school, he points to the TV and says Minnie...Daisy... Duck.  He dances worse than Goofy to Hot Dog.  We cleaned out our basement den, painted, and turned it into a toy room.  He loves the open space.  He is able to ride his truck down there, play balls, play with his train set, etc.  We are really enjoying it too.  The living room is no longer a toy storage. 

We are trying to prepare him for a little sister.  He recognizes sissy's picture.  He knows where sissy's room is.  I continue to pray that he will be a loving and caring big brother.

Merry Christmas - Anna Kate

Every year since we have decided to adopt, we have gotten a few gifts for our future daughter.  This year was different because we knew who we were buying for.  I look forward to Christmas 2013 when Anna Kate will be with us to celebrate.  Here are some pictures of AK's gifts.

Gifts from us.

Gifts from Kerri and Nanna/Poppie

Gifts from Cousin Lindsey and Aunt Beth

 



Christmas 2012

I cannot believe how time flies.  It is almost February and I am posting about Christmas.  I guess I could skip it, but I want to be able to look back and remember what we did. 

The weekend before Christmas we went to MS to celebrate Christmas with my family and extended family and Kevin's extended family.  My extended family got together with all 8 great grandsons at the church gym to have pizza and fun.  The boys ran and played.  It was a great time together.  While with Kevin's family, Bennett and Fischer got to play with each other.  It was so much fun to watch them together.  Bennett is a little more layed back than Fischer.  Fischer would tear into his gifts.  Bennett then would want his toy.  Bennett had the same toy wrapped for him to open, but he was not interested in opening presents.

The real treat that weekend was getting Bennett's picture made with Santa.  I knew he would not like this, but I still wanted his picture with Santa.  Sure enough, we have a priceless picture of Bennett sitting on Santa's lap screaming. 

To follow our usual tradition, we were at home Christmas Eve and went to the Candlelight Service at our church.  We opened Christmas presents and Santa Claus gifts Christmas Day.  I think Bennett did better last year opening gifts than this year.  He seemed more interested in what everyone was doing.  We got Bennett a Chuggington train set, Little People Zoo, and Melissa & Doug puzzle set.  Santa brought some books, Leap Frog Magnetic Alphabet, and various stocking stuffers. 

Here are some pictures from Christmas.

My Sweet Baby 

Priceless 

Bennett and Fischer 

 

Bennett's Little Blue Truck

 

 

Adoption Update

We finally received our I797 approval of our I800A.  It took longer than expected.  So our I800 has now be submitted.  Our time to travel starts now.  YAY!!!  It is expected we could get our travel approval in 10-14 weeks.  We would then have 7-14 days notice to fly. 

So now the frenzy begins.  We should get I800 approval in 2-4 weeks.  Once we have that we can submit our visa applications.  So I am currently working on preparing visa applications for us and our travel companions (Kevin's parents).  I also just got an email on completing the DS230 (AK's visa application).  I have not looked at it yet, but will need to get it completed.  The visa process is the a great example of what is wrong with government.  Depending on which consulate you go through, there are different applications and procedures.  Nothing is standard.  You can no longer mail in a form with all the necessary documents and fees.  You have to go through a courier service to hand deliver your documents (unless you are able to do this yourself).  Looking at the courier services is even more funny.  They are these homemade type websites.  I appreciate these people doing this service (with a fee), but I would have thought it would be more professional than what I am experiencing.  Then, maybe I am over complicating hand delivering an application and picking it up.

Even better news is that we also received an update on Anna Kate with pictures.  God has answered my biggest pray.  She can walk and even run.  Praise God!  The update letter is testament to our prayers and God's hand on AK.  At 12 months, AK is 18 lbs and 29" tall (Bennett was 21lbs and 29" tall at same age).  They say she is lively and active little girl who loves to play.  She can imitate people by waving and blowing kisses.  She can understand what the nannies are saying.  They also say that she is a good eater even chubby.  (I need one good eater.)  She is also a good sleeper.  Hallelujah!  What did a do to deserve two good sleepers? 

Please continue to pray for the following:
1.  Paperwork process goes smoothly.
2.  Pray for Bennett's transition.
3.  Pray for the families that will be keeping Bennett while we are gone and that Bennett does well while we are away.
4.  Pray for safe travels.
5.  Pray for AK's health.
6.  Pray for AK's adjustment, attachment, and bonding.
7.  Pray for our endurance in traveling and the emotions of meeting AK.

Anna Kate:

Happy First Birthday

Anna Kate,   Your mommy, daddy, and big brother wish you a Happy First Birthday.  It saddens my heart that you are thousands of miles away on such a special day.  I am reminded today of how I am indebted to your birth parents.  They made the ultimate sacrifice so that I could call you my daughter.  I am also full of excitement to know that in a few months we will finally meet.  Since seeing your picture for the first time, God has already started the bond with you in my heart.  He brings you to my thoughts and prayers throughout the day.  Every night I think about you and wonder how your day was.  I long to see you, kiss you, and hold you tight.  I pray that God will show our love for you through your nannies.  I pray their hands are full of comfort and their words are full of love.   Ps 139:13-18 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious to me are your thoughts, O God.  They cannot be numbered!  I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!  And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Bennett - 18 months

My toddler is becoming such a big boy.  He now weighs 23lbs and 3 oz and 32" tall.  I am surpised that he has not gained any weight since his 15 month check up.  He continues to be a picky eater.  He has really started jabbering.  Although he is about to be 19 months as I type this, he can say around 26 words clearly.  There are more words that he can sign only and names he can say that we can interpret but are not clear.  He knows almost all the animal sounds and can recognize all the common animals. 

We went to Nashville this month to visit his cousins and see the newest cousin.  Bennett had such a great time.  He loves his "EE" (Ethan) and ParPa (Parker).  He seem to do really well with me handling baby Micah.  He also plays with with boys.  I pray he will be a great big brother.