Monday, July 26, 2010

Hooray for the little things...

...like my daughter not peeing in her bed during today's nap.  And my Florida birth certificate arriving in the mail today with a lovely state certification attached!  (Cross one more item off the dossier checklist!)

Update:  My sweet and capable husband got his employment verification today, both for the home study and for the dossier, including notarization.  Isn't he great?  

Friday, July 23, 2010

Hands full?

It seems like I've heard this comment frequently in the last few weeks:  "Wow, you've got your hands full!" (upon seeing me out and about with my three children).  And sometimes I think to myself, "Yep.  Sure do.  [Sigh.]"  But mostly I think, "Really?  It's just three kids.  Is that so many?"  Some ladies, the moms of five and four children respectively, were discussing this in our Wednesday evening parenting class.  They both said they hear all the time:  "Are they all yours?"    So I'll be joining their ranks soon enough.  Can't wait to say with pride:  "Yep.  All mine!"

Progress-wise, I got fingerprinted this morning; Vince will get his done this afternoon.  It looks like we may be able to begin our home study within the next few weeks.  

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Parenting class

We just returned home from our two-day required adoptive parenting class, and I have to say it was actually fun!  We enjoyed laughing and talking with three other Christian couples from the KC area...I hope we'll stay in touch.  We learned a lot, and I left even more eager to speed this process along and bring our son home. 

Checked off my to-do list:  police clearance letters for me and Vince (we're good), and scheduled my FBI fingerprinting for next week.   I hope to receive my state-certified birth certificate from Florida in the mail some time this week. 

Monday, July 12, 2010

What will Ari name his Chinese brother?

This morning Ari seemed concerned that he wouldn't be able to pronounce his new brother's name.  (An amusingly mild concern, relative to what he could be concerned about, I think.)  I told him that we could name his brother whatever we want, if we choose to, but that I was sure he could learn to pronounce a Chinese name.  Hours later he suggested the name "John."  John, I said? Ari grinned.  Yes, John.  Hmmm...we'll put it in the maybe pile. 

I got my new Florida birth certificate in the mail today.  And tomorrow I will probably mail it right back to have it state certified.  I've been working on my 16-page questionnaire...have nearly finished it!  Vince asked if he could copy my answers.  Um, I think they might notice something like that.  Made myself an adoption to-do list.  Several of the items (like the questionnaire) are Vince-to-do.  (Note to self:  do not nag.)  This coming weekend we have a two-day (all day) parenting class with the adoption agency.  I'm going to pretend that it's a romantic get-away with my husband.  After all, we'll be child-free for a total of 12 hours.  When was the last time that happened? 



Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Boring progress

Since last I posted, I've received all the home study paperwork via snail mail and email.  Since DD#1 was sick over the holiday weekend, we had lots of time indoors to sign background check release forms and type up some documents for the dossier.  Florida refused to certify my old birth certificate and sent it back to me, so I mailed off another request for a new one.  Our main focus is preparing for the home study, which probably won't be until September--we will need medical exams, fingerprinting, police clearance, birth and marriage certificates, proof of this, that, and the other...and individual answers to a 16-page questionnaire.  Talk about introspection...