Home Study = Almost Complete!

We got the call on the afternoon of Tuesday the 13th that our home study was complete! Well, with the exception of AJ's TB test result, which happens to be the only adoption-related thing that I can't seem to locate. Of course. So, we had to wait until the morning to contact the clinic for a copy of the results, but wouldn't you know, after hours of trying to get a hold of someone, nobody has it. And since it hasn't been thirty days yet since his yellow fever vaccination (a live vaccine), we had to wait until Friday to get his PPD test redone. In the meantime, our social worker had agreed to send us the home study for our review so we could let her know if any changes needed to be made. Then all she'd be waiting on is that PPD result!

We also made the switch from an independent adoption to an agency adoption in the last week. After coming across more and more information about the corruption that can be involved in intercountry adoption, we felt a huge responsibility to ensure that we are not unknowingly a part of taking a child from a family who is wanting to care for him. Feeling this burden but not knowing what to do about it, we rather accidentally came across an agency that stands for everything we believe in. Their mission is to find families for children, not children for families. That was a clear sign from God if we ever saw one! So, we're in the process of applying with them now and are so excited to be working with them! Our program director is so kind and wonderfully helpful. While unexpected, this has been an amazing development in our adoption journey.

So after our home study draft has been approved by us (we'll make our second and final revisions on Monday), our social worker will send it to our agency to review it. With their approval, we will give our social worker the thumbs up to consider it complete!

Once it's finalized, it'll be off to USCIS and we'll be waiting for our fingerprinting appointment and immigration approval! That approval (called an I-171H) is all we need to get on the wait list with our agency. SO exciting!

New Trick

"More?!"

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

And what an exciting day it was! James ran his second 5K that morning:

Handsome boys after stretching before the race.

In front of the huge crowd of runners.

Getting close to the end, only two more turns!

Crossing the finish line in just over 22 minutes!

Second 5K complete, and very well done!

Then we had our first date night in, well, I don't even know how long, at the 70th Annual Seabee Ball:

Family shot right before walking out the door.

Blurry, but look at that little boy's sweet smile!

I didn't even realize that the ball was on St. Patrick's Day when I bought my dress in New York. Even so, instead of wearing the same color as every other woman there, I think I was the only one in green. Sometimes ignoring the calendar has its benefits!

We had a really good time (and dinner was amazing), and I was even treated to a couple of dances with my handsome husband. To top it all off, the boy was fantastic for his babysitter partner-in-crime that evening - not a single fuss was made!

23 Months

While I pretend that nothing big is happing next month, let's just focus on what's already going on, shall we?

As of February 12th, AJ has been putting two words together. First, it was "Ni-night, Daddy." The following day it was "Bye, Mimi." He's even saying "love you" now!

More new, frequently used words: Awesome, milk ("momp"), balloon, gone, me, I, moon, outside ("side"), phone ("shome"), cracker, granola ("gongonc"), sorry, sit, Missy. I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot, as he's repeating pretty much everything these days.

He knows many animal sounds now. This should sum it up:

As of February 13th, he can (occasionally) jump and actually get both feet off of the ground. Who knew we'd be considering that an accomplishment? Apparently it takes more coordination than it appears!

He's now asking for "momp" (milk) daily, and as long as he's eaten his food, he gets it. He is still nursing multiple times a day, sometimes asking to nurse right after he finishes a cup of "momp," so clearly this doesn't seem to be a replacement for him.

He sings! The first song he sang, on February 23rd, was "Rise" by Shawn McDonald. He sings the last word of the line: "...rise..." "...me..." So cute! On March 5th, he started singing Newsboys' "God's Not Dead" while we were eating lunch.

His sweet face right after serenading me for the first time.

He's been incessantly slipping little bits and pieces of things inside the cabinet, and apparently (as I learned today), the fridge.

Time to put those muscles to use!

His other new favorite pastime? Putting all of the couch cushions on the floor and then jumping off of the couch onto them. So funny. He'll ask "mo?" and "momp?" to see if we want him to jump again. (Yes, milk and jump are apparently very similar words. You didn't know?)

Last, but certainly not least: HE SLEEPS! That's right. Finally, at 23 months old, for almost a week now he's been falling asleep and staying that way until morning (some days 6am, some 5:30, one not-so-great 4:20am wake up, and a glorious 6:40am this morning). He's even been falling asleep without us being in the room - I just lay him down, we pray together, then I kiss him and leave him with "Goodnight, I love you" - though we do play a 10+/- minute game of "AJ, stop talking or we'll have to shut your door." All in all, I'd call this a wonderful success!

Big boy on Ford Island. The trees on this island (all of Oahu) are awesome!

Up in the branches.

Trying so hard to pull the root up.

Silly boy trying to get us with his twig.

Seeing what he can make that twig to do.

I almost can't believe how much fun this boy is to spend our days with. We love you so much, Andrew James!  More than we ever could have imagined!

 Happy 23 Months!