Monday, July 11, 2011

More Pictures From the Party

Me and my nephew Christoper - why does almost everyone I know like to remind me that I'm vertically challenged?
Sam and Eli - who turned one last week. He and Liam are only eight days apart! Very special boys.
Jack and Aunt EE, a special woman who spoils Jack rotten.
Eli enjoying cake.
Yummy mommy!
Cousins, brothers and friends.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Liam's Birthday Party

Liam turns one year old this week! I can't believe it. I remember when he was just a little baby. Now my baby is turning into a little boy. Today, we hosted a birthday party for him at Pizza Hut. Thank goodness for air conditioning. I guess it's a good thing my mom nagged me until I changed the location from a park to PH.
It took Liam just a little while to realize that he could make a big mess and did he ever! Look at that impish grin. What a cutie! We were so blessed to have many of our family and friends present at his party - they were the best presents!
A big birthday shout out to my dad who celebrated his birthday today. Mike's and my brother Doug's birthdays are also coming up. So many July b-days!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Coffee Break

So, I'm enjoying a visit with someone this morning and drinking (real) coffee, then I leave and realize that I have coffee stains on the right side of my shirt. Seriously, it's looks like I'm leaking. And we have a shoot with the City Manager this morning. Could things get any better? Life makes me laugh. Happy Friday!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Five Year Anniversary

Chart taken from Rumor Queen.

Today marks five years since the day we were logged into the China adoption process. On that day, the social welfare institute in China received our official papers and stamped them with the date 07/07/06. Then put them in a pile with other July 07, 2006 prospective adoptive families. Wow, it's hard to believe it's been five years. And those five years do not include the additional 8 months or so it took us to gather all of our paperwork for China.

As I looked through documents today, I came across a letter to a Secret Pal back in 2007. At the time I lamented the two year wait being better than a three year wait. Ha, if I had only known.

Unless China somehow misses me like some families who were logged in June 2006 and still have not received their referrals, we should receive Maggie's referral by the end of July/early August. Last night, I had a dream of a five month old girl who had a little scratch on one side of her head. I wish I had woken up at the time and written her name down. She had several. I thought one was Heshe which doesn't make sense and seems about normal for one of my dreams. I even saw Maggie's face which may have been inspired by the beautiful faces belonging to girls who were referred last month to a couple of friends in my Yahoo group. They are now anxiously awaiting their Travel Approval so they can bring home their precious daughters.

According to Rumor Queen, we should start hearing rumors in a couple of weeks or so. Based on the timing of past referrals, our referral is predicted to arrive between July 22 and August 16, but most likely will arrive between July 29 and August 4.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy Fourth of July!

Liam's first swim!

We spent the day at my brother Billy's in-laws. They live on a lake so it was a great opportunity for the boys to test their sea legs. Although Liam wasn't too thrilled when the bigger kids would splash water, he seemed to mostly enjoy his first time swimming.
The boys enjoyed riding on a mechanical horse. Good thing we knew the owner who opened the quarter box and let them keep riding.
We hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth! We sure did.

What Liam Wants For His Upcoming Birthday

Necklace? Check. Pink comb? Check. Random cardboard box? Check. How about some new blinds?

I Come In Peace

Now, change my dirty diaper.