Why he's called My Little Monkey

Blake's nickname has always been "My Little Monkey". He's always been a climber. This boy could scale a crib up & over in no time flat! This was my view out my kitchen window the other day after school. After I recovered from my heart-attack, I got a few cute pictures. His brother is deathly afraid of heights, so at least I didn't have two up there! Bryce's nickname is "My Little Frog" he always squatted when he would "sit" & he looked like a little froggy...it's stuck true as well, he likes to stay on the ground, loves to jump & swim!

Adoption Update: We're asking for your prayers as we await clarification of a new policy implemented on March 31 st by the USCIS. DNA Testing of the birth parents & their child relinquished in Vietnam will now be required. This is a process which will take a minimum of 30 days to complete. This has the potential to cause lengthy delays & confusion. We do not know if the new procedure will be retro-active & affect those of us who already have our referrals or not. I will update when I have more information from our agency. For now, pray for the children waiting.....

I Can Change A Diaper.....

I can change a diaper!

Waiting for 4 missing slide guides that I ordered for our crib. They seem to be the important parts that make the side rail lower & raise. When they come in, she'll have a place to sleep. That would be good I think!

Step 7

We received an update this morning from our agency & we are now on Step 7 of the "12 Step Paperwork Process". From now on, we should receive an update when we move up each step. Step 7 takes approximately one week. We hope that Step 8 is completed quickly so our I600 approval can come in a timely manner. Step 8 can take from 30-45 business days. (This is when our child's dossier/legal documents is compiled). Thank you for your continued prayers as we wait to travel for our daughter. We are still awaiting new photos....hopefully in the next week or so. :)

A Few of My Favorite Easter Pictures

I love Easter & I always try to take some pictures around this time of year. This year I took a ton because our azaleas are almost in full bloom, but I'll just put a few on here. The boys are exactly 7 1/2 years old now! I can't believe it...time flies. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

Bryce is on the left & Blake is on the right.

On adoption news, our agency rep. is having hand surgery tomorrow, so we may not hear anything until next week. We requested new photos of Caleigh last week & I do know that our request was sent to the orphanage via email. So, right now, our prayer is for updated height & weight and a new picture or two!

Happy Easter

Blake & Bryce's First Easter

Just taking a walk down memory lane.....thinking of Easters Past & wondering what future Easter celebrations will be like....Blake & Bryce's First Easter Home!
2 years old. So sweet!

Just Because....

Just because she's so cute, here's a picture of our boxer, Bella, that I took today!

She's 6 months old.

Got the Re-Fingerprinting Appointment Letter

I know it's hard to believe, but something in this adoption process actually happened quickly! One week to the day of submitting our request for a re-fingerprinting appointment in ref. to the I-171H, we got the appointment letter! Now, we just have to find a morning in James' schedule to drive to Dallas & back to have our fingerprints updated. Next on the list, I need to check into when we have to have a home study update...I called my social worker who did the original home study...she called her supervisor at Dillon...no answer yet. I need to follow~up.

Fort Worth Zoo With Friends

We got to spend a great day at the Fort Worth Zoo with friends on Saturday. Their daughter was with our sons in the orphanage for 18 months and we endured the long wait for travel together. We have formed a wonderful friendship over the years and we cherish our time with them. It always amazes us to see them together here as they were in VietNam. If you have the opportunity to keep in touch with the families and children from the orphanage where you child lived, I would really encourage it. The relationships are priceless. Here are just a few of my favorite photos from the day.

Caleigh is 5 Months Old Today

Tick Tock, Tick Tock....The clock keeps ticking! Caleigh turns 5 months old today. I hope she has a wonderful day! I think the boys & I will go to Discovery Science Place to celebrate & to take my mind off of the fact that she's not here for her 5th month of life. That's what stinks about the waiting time; counting off the months we miss of our childrens' lives. All I can do is look forward to all of the years we will share with her. Now, if I can just figure out where I stashed all of the nuts and bolts for the crib when we moved from Alabama to Texas 4 years ago, maybe I can talk James into putting that crib together!

Re-Fingerprinting

Just finished typing out my letter for request for re-fingerprinting. Ah, the I-600 Process, you just gotta love it! NOT! Anywho, our fingerprints for the I171H expire on May 10th. The way things have been going for those waiting to travel, I'm thinking we won't be sitting in Hanoi applying for Visas home on the 9th, so, we must re-fingerprint & get another I171 approval with a new extended date. Woo Hoo! So, off the letter goes certified (since they don't take phone-calls & apparently only inter-office email) tomorrow. I'll let you know when we get our appointment. Definately don't want to wait on this little detail....I'm doing my part...now it's up to the government powers that be to do theirs! :)
"Peace Out".... as my kids say way too often nowadays!

March 14th: Follow~up: I got the nicest e-mail today from the Dallas District USCIS Office. They said our request has been received & our appointment letter will be arriving via snail mail soon. Great News...you just never know!

Little Mittens for Little Hands

First of all, let me say that I have the best next-door neighbor! I honestly think she is just about as excited about little Caleigh as we are! She has a little girl who just turned 4 & she has rummaged through her closets, the attic & boxes full of things to find the right sized clothes to pass along to me for Caleigh! It has been fun looking at all of the little outfits, washing & hanging them up in Caleigh's closet & filling her dresser. Yesterday morning during the snow, she popped over with these little mittens. They are so tiny! I can't wait for Caleigh to wear them next winter!!! So, thanks Becca for being a great neighbor & friend!

We had a touch of winter today....

Make a photobook - it's easy!

Baby Girl's Carseat

Here's Caleigh's carseat. It's on backorder, but it should be in within a couple of weeks. The purple is just the prettiest color! There's a very dangerous shop in Tyler called Storkland. I don't know if it is a chain or not, but they have the cutest things. I actually do not know how I managed to buy only the carseat when I went....

Sunday Afternoons

The boys are outside playing. The dogs are outside playing with the boys. I'm avoiding unloading the dishwasher. James is playing golf. What are you doing Caleigh? I hope you are fast asleep...as it's the middle of the night in VN. Oh, I love Sunday afternoons.....Sunday School in the morning, lunch & lazy afternoons...can't wait until Caleigh is here napping in her crib on our Sunday afternoons.

Fly paperwork! Fly!

Signs of Spring!

Bullard City Park. The first big swing of 2008!
Blake: Short Sleeves & Blue Skies! I love it!
Bryce AKA Spiderman!

The grass is turning green & the sky is blue...the first "swing" of the year! And, a new jungle gym!

Help!

Help! I can't stop buying smocked bishop dresses! Someone please take E-Bay off my computer favorites!!!

Officially on Steps 2-6

Today we received an e-mail from the Dillon Staff stating we are officially on Steps 2-6 of the paperwork process in VietNam. We will be in this "phase" for approximately 6 weeks. I am hoping for a height & weight update before too long.

The Baby's Stroller

Here's Baby Girl's Stroller...set to be delivered today by the UPS Man! I couldn't help myself & bought the Powder Pink color! So a check by the stroller & now I can concentrate on the car seat......

Recovering...

I had day surgery Friday Morning, so I am glued to the recliner & have been blog surfing & such. My boxer puppy has kept me company; such a sweet dog. Our boys have been at their grandparents since Thursday night. Truly, this house is way too quiet without them, so I had my mom bring them back this afternoon. James is home & has been a great help, but I am just not very good at this 'resting' thing. I'm more of an up & doing things type!

We finally got the long awaited "Vietnam Waiting Families Letter" from our agency on Friday. I was discouraged for my forum friends that the referral times have been extended from 6-9 months wait for a girl to 12-15 months. We all thought "it" was coming, but it really doesn't make "it" any easier for those still waiting. It's just really so darn long!

We are hoping to hear that our I600 form has been received/logged in the system in VN next week. The time frame for approval is supposed to be a maximum of 60 days, but it can be extended.

Take Care everyone & try not to let the wait make you crazy....I should say the same for myself! :)

I came across this photo earlier today. It's one of my favorites. This was taken at age 5 & I had titled it Remember Me Little. It's one of my favorites....

You Build Your Nest, I'll Build Mine

Getting started.

She's done...not me!

Mama Bird is getting ready for Spring on the front porch. This is her spot. We used to have swallows here every year, but this little bird stole her spot last year & it looks like she is back. So, here she is & I'll call this post, You Build Your Nest, I'll Build Mine. Although, as you will see, she totally finished before me!

I just had to try this out!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Wishing you much Love! From Blake, Bryce & Caleigh!

He watches over us.....

I picked up this antique picture at a local shop a few weeks ago. It was before our referral. I have it hanging in our home now. It reminds me every day of His Promise. I know that He is watching over our child. He carries her & holds her in His arms safe & sound while her mother looks up at Him. I'm in Texas & my baby's in Vietnam. She is well taken care of until I can be there to carry her home. Forever Grateful.....

*****************************************

Caleigh is 4 months old today!!!

Height & Weight Update: On January 25th, Caleigh weighed 10 1/2 pounds & was 22" long. This is not always exact, but it sounds right by tracking her weight each month since birth.

*****************************************

Blake & Bryce's Room

Well, there's been talk in blogland about kids'/baby rooms. I love seeing how others have decorated their kiddos' rooms. It's fun to get cute ideas & storage ideas. So, here's my sons' room. They're 7, but it's been decorated like this since they were 3 1/2. I like it because it's lasted well through these years & since it wasn't a true "theme" room, they still haven't grown out of it! I'm working on Caleigh's room. It will be a while before I'm done, but I'll post photos when I am! :)

Acceptance Papers to Vietnam

Our acceptance paperwork for baby Caleigh is on its way to VietNam!

Sweet Little Girl...Smile for Me!

Caleigh age 3 1/2 months. I think I got lucky & got a picture in with Christina's referral. Sweet little girl, next time won't you smile for me???! :)

Acceptance Papers Mailed

Our acceptance papers were mailed to Dillon today...along with a nice little check.

I think I enjoyed filling out this set of papers the best. It definately got done the quickest!!!

On the referral being from CanTho.

Several people have asked me, so I thought I would address it here. The question being "Did you request that your referral come from CanTho?" The answer is no. First of all, Dillon works with 5 different orphanages in Vietnam. I am not aware of PAPs being able to request what orphanage their child will be in....if it is an option, I was not told. I will be honest, I was very uneasy when I first learned that Dillon worked with the Red Cross Orphanage in CanTho where our boys were. The adoption of our boys was not smooth to say the least. There were too many problems & obstacles to mention...it would take all night. Long & short of it is that the local province of CanTho had much to do with numerous delays. I also think our previous agency didn't know how to deal with it too. When our friends & family heard that our baby girl is in CanTho waiting for us, they were dumbfounded. "Seriously, do you want to go back??? " Well, I would go to the ends of the Earth if that was where our daughter is, so I guess I can go back to CanTho! Don't get me wrong, I love Vietnam & we loved our time in CanTho as well. It was just the long wait to go! I am eager to travel back to Vietnam. I hope to have many days to tour & sightsee because we didn't venture out too much with the twins. CanTho....well, well....God does work in mysterious ways now doesn't He!

Sweet Friends & Sons

Thanks to my sweet friend, Julie, for bringing me these tulips yesterday in celebration of learning about our daughter. She has such a sweet heart & I honestly do not know how she found pink tulips (my absolute favorite!) on the 1st of February in East Texas!

I also found the sticky note where Bryce spelled Caleigh's name for the first time over a year ago when we told them we were going to adopt. I framed it for fear it would be lost. Thank you Bryce. You & Blake are going to be wonderful big brothers.