Dad is making sure that Grandma is cutting things up just right for our chili dinner.
Eli is spending some quality time with Uncle Billy.
Papa decided to try his luck at ice fishing. No luck.
Eli and cousin Cassie reading a book together.
This photo is taken from one of Eli's favorite television shows on the Disney Channel called Go Baby!
On the show Baby experiences the world with his friend Sophie, who happens to be an Asian little girl. I looked everywhere but could find no photos of Sophie. She is adorable.
When this show first came out, I was still under the belief that we were moving right along in our adoption timeline to our baby Sophia and that she would be arriving in the next year. Silly me.
Anyhow, when Sophie would come on the screen, I would point to her and say Mei Mei.
Now, Eli thinks that all little Asian girls that he sees are his Mei Mei. Mei Mei means little sister in Chinese.
We were at Toys "R" Us the other night picking out a small scooter for Eli since his brothers and sister all have scooters. A little girl about 15 months old toddled over to look at a tricycle. She looked just like Sophie. Eli took one look at her and starting yelling, "Mei Mei"! He followed her all over the place. Her parents finally scooped her up and took her to another section of the store to escape Eli's hugs.
I think that the thought of adopting from China was planted in our heads while we watched the National Geographic special with Lisa Ling about China's Lost Girls. As a very independent woman, I was completely caught off guard by what has happening. Having never had a daughter of my own, I could not imagine wanting anything more.
It was quite some time later that we actually discussed the topic of international adoption. Eli had been born and there was such a gap between him and his siblings that we were considering having another child. Both of my last two pregnancies were high risk though, so another biological child was not advised by my doctor.
A few more months passed with some small discussions here and there. Finally, we decided to get more information. We submitted a pre-application to our agency and requested a packet with detailed information. We looked at all of the different countries and options. My husband had his heart set on China.
We knew that this decision would have a huge impact on our children, so we scheduled a family meeting. We announced what we were thinking about doing. To our delight, our children were very positive. They asked a lot of questions. We discussed what this would mean to our family and what implications there would be for each of them.
We met again about a week later and voted. Each child had a vote as to whether or not we were going to grow our family and from which country we would choose to adopt. The vote was unanimous to adopt and unanimous to adopt from China.
My husband and I began working on the paperwork. I enjoy writing, my husband does not. The long lists of questions took a toll on him. On our third wedding anniversary, he handed me his completed paperwork. It was the sweetest anniversary gift I have ever received. My daughter.
I cried all of the way to the adoption agency and turned in our packet with puffy eyes. Now we wait together for our brown eyed girl.
I couldn't resist this shirt today. I was picking up a prescription for Zachary and there it was. The same shirt that my blog buddies have their beautiful daughters wearing. I just had to get one for mine.
One thing that my children really enjoy doing together is baking cookies. They work as a team and don't argue (for the most part). I love being the silent observer watching how they decide who will have what responsibility. They each have their favorite piece of the process and ultimately work through the recipe together.
Tyler snitching the cookie dough.
My heart is overwhelmed right now with thoughts that Zachary is going to be gone to college in 3 years and that my time left with him is limited. I am worried about being a good stepmother to Katelyn and focusing on her while she is with us. I am actively involved with Tyler, making sure he's getting his homework done on time and he is staying at reading grade level. I am dedicated to Eli being healthy and challenged intellectually and physically. These are all things that I should be focused on as a mother and I really enjoy the role I play in each of my children's lives. I never want to miss a school or sporting event. I always want them to feel loved and 100 percent supported.
But lately, I have been feeling like an outlet with two power strips plugged into it. I need to set some personal goals for myself and make the time to achieve them. I have been reading other women's blogs about the excellent books they are reading and I need to be doing the same. I need to make a list of the books that I am going to read this year. On one of my favorite blogs, The Dragonfly and Ladybug, she talks about her writing and I need to be writing too. There is time in my day that is not being used productively. I should be outside more walking and exercising. I have got to get a plan so that I don't feel like I'm getting lost. Me Kimberley, the woman. I know I'm in here somewhere.
|
Add this to your site |
