Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Adoption #2
I received news today that my 2nd dossier was submitted into IBESR on November 26. The process is different now. There is a new law in Haiti concerning adoptions. Last time, my dossier and Mackenley's went into IBESR (the FIRST and one of the BIGGEST steps in this process) together. This time, my dossier is in and at some point it will be matched with a child and then I will be given that referral. I will then go to Haiti for 2 weeks. This is ANOTHER BIG change. I do not know the time frame for all of this. I am thrilled to have my dossier into IBESR and of course will be WAITING to get out next! My next news will be the referral of a child...Mack's sibling! Please keep all of this in prayer, especially as to the timing of everything. Thanks!!!!
Saturday, December 14, 2013
2 months home
****twice I have tried to add pics and twice safari has shut down....so for now, not pics :-(
By date on the calendar, today is the two month anniversary of Mack setting foot in the USA! It's pretty hard to even think back to how things were in those first days and weeks.
Currently he is sound asleep in his own bed with his monkey and Snoopy. Bed time is sooooooo sweet now. We read Good Night Moon and the Runaway Bunny in my bed (although tonight we read The Story of Christmas), then we pray (how he folds his hands the ENTIRE time I pray, which is often a long time, and how he has his own things to pray too) and then we sing Jesus Loves Me (to which he sings along now) Jesus loves the little children and Jesus Name Above All Names, before setting him into bed. Tonight he didn't get out. Most nights he gets up once or twice and I no longer need to put him back, I simple say "THREE, TWO..." and his little feet run him back and under the covers he goes :-)
He repeats EVERYTHING and talks away in Creole. On the way home from school each day I go through the colors and names of people we love. He repeats everything fairly clearly. Yesterday I got to my aunt Jackie and he says, "Jackie." I say, "Grandma," and he says, "Jackie," I say, "Grandpa," and he says, "Jackie." I look back like, WHAT?!?!? He is tugging at his jacket saying, "Jackie! Jackie!" LOL.
He has completed two weeks in his classroom at school. He truly enjoys it. He cries every morning as I leave him. He gives me the BEST smile and hug in the world when I come to pick him up.
He expects to watch "Elmo's Christmas Countdown" every morning before school (tough to do, but I need some time to get ready, so he watches it from 5:30-6:00).
He and the cats are best buds. He disciplines them regularly as well, pointing his finger and telling them, "NO!" and "Stop!"
He has received two haircuts from his Uncle Jermaine and is just the cutest!
He loves to have company, although his behavior can be quite unpredictable when we do have guests over. Grandma and Grandpa are his favorites to see along with his cousins and his buddies from GLA.
When he wakes in the night and comes to my room he goes right to his bed that is beside my bed. I am just amazed at his adjustment sleeping wise. He is comfortable and secure.
He LOVES his bath time. I think the laying in the tub up to his eye balls started from being so tired from his day at school but now this is a nightly tradition. He lays flat down and is unaffected by the water creeping close to his eyes, nose and mouth! He picks bath toys up with his feet and listens to the sound under the water as well as above.
As far as English on his own, he is saying "Eat," "Please, Mommy," "I love you," "Kitties," "I want...." "Banana," "Elmo," "Jesus," "Amen," "Bunny," "Stop," "What," "All done," "Wait," "Baby," "Water," "Monkey," Bye-Bye," "Hi," "Hello," "Ball," "Hot," "Snow," "Yummy," "Icky,"......can't wait to see what the next month holds! I am sure there are more words than this, but this is a good list for now!"
Today we went to the Santa Brunch at his school. I showed him a picture of Santa before we went. He said, "JESUS!" Ha, ha. We sat in the lunchroom and it was so fun to see how his table behavior has changed in two months! At his school the kids sit at tables for meals with open top cups and plates of food. He sat there today and ate his breakfast with no issues! Tonight we went out to eat and for the first time I did not put him in a high chair and no bib. He has GROWN so much!!!!
This child of mine cleans up after himself. He shovels with and for me (SO cute, he really shovels!) He helps me load the washer and dryer. He can get in and out of the car and carseat by himself. When he is done with the bath he tells me so, opens the drain and cleans up all of the toys. :-) He tolerates getting his hair brushed now. He told me, "I love you," without me saying it first! He is STRONGER than any little child I have ever known and I just can't wait to see what he will do athletically with this body of his! When I lotion him up at night and get to his hands he squeezes my hands SO hard that I know I will be able to teach him how to massage and he will someday rub his mommy's hands, feet and back! (here's hoping!)
He loves play doh, cars, Elmo, books, balls, shoes, balloons, and the list goes on. He does NOT like hats or mittens! He also STOPS dead in his tracks every time we get ready to leave the house now and this is due to the cold he feels. Today he stopped, looked at me and said, "Bye bye" and turned around as if he was staying home alone! His laughter is contagious and he is known to mimic the laughter of others...in particular the laughter of someone an aisle over in Target....it has happened many times. He also mimics coughs and sneezes.
There is so much more to be told. I will stop here for tonight. One more week of school for us both before we get two solid weeks together! I look forward to Christmas with him. I thank you for your continued prayers. It seems he has been mine forever. I cannot believe it has been just two months! Have a blessed end of 2013!
By date on the calendar, today is the two month anniversary of Mack setting foot in the USA! It's pretty hard to even think back to how things were in those first days and weeks.
Currently he is sound asleep in his own bed with his monkey and Snoopy. Bed time is sooooooo sweet now. We read Good Night Moon and the Runaway Bunny in my bed (although tonight we read The Story of Christmas), then we pray (how he folds his hands the ENTIRE time I pray, which is often a long time, and how he has his own things to pray too) and then we sing Jesus Loves Me (to which he sings along now) Jesus loves the little children and Jesus Name Above All Names, before setting him into bed. Tonight he didn't get out. Most nights he gets up once or twice and I no longer need to put him back, I simple say "THREE, TWO..." and his little feet run him back and under the covers he goes :-)
He repeats EVERYTHING and talks away in Creole. On the way home from school each day I go through the colors and names of people we love. He repeats everything fairly clearly. Yesterday I got to my aunt Jackie and he says, "Jackie." I say, "Grandma," and he says, "Jackie," I say, "Grandpa," and he says, "Jackie." I look back like, WHAT?!?!? He is tugging at his jacket saying, "Jackie! Jackie!" LOL.
He has completed two weeks in his classroom at school. He truly enjoys it. He cries every morning as I leave him. He gives me the BEST smile and hug in the world when I come to pick him up.
He expects to watch "Elmo's Christmas Countdown" every morning before school (tough to do, but I need some time to get ready, so he watches it from 5:30-6:00).
He and the cats are best buds. He disciplines them regularly as well, pointing his finger and telling them, "NO!" and "Stop!"
He has received two haircuts from his Uncle Jermaine and is just the cutest!
He loves to have company, although his behavior can be quite unpredictable when we do have guests over. Grandma and Grandpa are his favorites to see along with his cousins and his buddies from GLA.
When he wakes in the night and comes to my room he goes right to his bed that is beside my bed. I am just amazed at his adjustment sleeping wise. He is comfortable and secure.
He LOVES his bath time. I think the laying in the tub up to his eye balls started from being so tired from his day at school but now this is a nightly tradition. He lays flat down and is unaffected by the water creeping close to his eyes, nose and mouth! He picks bath toys up with his feet and listens to the sound under the water as well as above.
As far as English on his own, he is saying "Eat," "Please, Mommy," "I love you," "Kitties," "I want...." "Banana," "Elmo," "Jesus," "Amen," "Bunny," "Stop," "What," "All done," "Wait," "Baby," "Water," "Monkey," Bye-Bye," "Hi," "Hello," "Ball," "Hot," "Snow," "Yummy," "Icky,"......can't wait to see what the next month holds! I am sure there are more words than this, but this is a good list for now!"
Today we went to the Santa Brunch at his school. I showed him a picture of Santa before we went. He said, "JESUS!" Ha, ha. We sat in the lunchroom and it was so fun to see how his table behavior has changed in two months! At his school the kids sit at tables for meals with open top cups and plates of food. He sat there today and ate his breakfast with no issues! Tonight we went out to eat and for the first time I did not put him in a high chair and no bib. He has GROWN so much!!!!
This child of mine cleans up after himself. He shovels with and for me (SO cute, he really shovels!) He helps me load the washer and dryer. He can get in and out of the car and carseat by himself. When he is done with the bath he tells me so, opens the drain and cleans up all of the toys. :-) He tolerates getting his hair brushed now. He told me, "I love you," without me saying it first! He is STRONGER than any little child I have ever known and I just can't wait to see what he will do athletically with this body of his! When I lotion him up at night and get to his hands he squeezes my hands SO hard that I know I will be able to teach him how to massage and he will someday rub his mommy's hands, feet and back! (here's hoping!)
He loves play doh, cars, Elmo, books, balls, shoes, balloons, and the list goes on. He does NOT like hats or mittens! He also STOPS dead in his tracks every time we get ready to leave the house now and this is due to the cold he feels. Today he stopped, looked at me and said, "Bye bye" and turned around as if he was staying home alone! His laughter is contagious and he is known to mimic the laughter of others...in particular the laughter of someone an aisle over in Target....it has happened many times. He also mimics coughs and sneezes.
There is so much more to be told. I will stop here for tonight. One more week of school for us both before we get two solid weeks together! I look forward to Christmas with him. I thank you for your continued prayers. It seems he has been mine forever. I cannot believe it has been just two months! Have a blessed end of 2013!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Milestones
Well, the day is actually here. Tomorrow morning marks 7 weeks home and Mack and I will get in the car together at 6:30 am and I will drop him off at the child development center he will attend. I spent much time looking for just the right place and spent much time in prayer over this. We have visited and he has participated in the class 5 times. The kids know him by name as do the teachers. He is not speaking much English yet it will be exciting to see how he develops in that way as well as so many other ways over the next 15 days of class before we have 2 weeks off for Christmas and New Years.
I can't believe this day is here. I know in my heart that leaving him in the morning is going to be so hard on both of us. He does not do well at all with good byes. I have decided I will tell him I will see him later and that I will be back. Once he gets over the initial shock of us not being together he is going to love it.
I have to figure out how to prepare for school?!?! May not be able to do that in the evenings and on weekends anymore but rather actually find a way to use my prep to plan!
I wish I had time to write down all of the ways he has been growing....but to be brief, he is growing, thriving, learning, adjusting, attaching...I am going to sleep early! Good Night and thanks for your prayers!!!
I can't believe this day is here. I know in my heart that leaving him in the morning is going to be so hard on both of us. He does not do well at all with good byes. I have decided I will tell him I will see him later and that I will be back. Once he gets over the initial shock of us not being together he is going to love it.
I have to figure out how to prepare for school?!?! May not be able to do that in the evenings and on weekends anymore but rather actually find a way to use my prep to plan!
I wish I had time to write down all of the ways he has been growing....but to be brief, he is growing, thriving, learning, adjusting, attaching...I am going to sleep early! Good Night and thanks for your prayers!!!
Fun with Grandma last week while I was at school!
Celebrating at MOA after we made it through our first 2 days apart...goodness whatever shall we do this Friday?!?
Visiting with another friend from GLA who is now in MN!
First haircut w/ Uncle Jermaine
Looking sharp
Selfie with Mommy
Ready for bed!
He loved Watermelon!
Naptime before Thanksgiving dinner
Hanging out under the trees at Grandpa's tree lot
He is so comfortable at home...love it when he smiles!
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