Just an update

I haven't posted in a while because I have been really sick. I've learned a lot so far with my first pregnancy. It's amazing to me b/c pregnancy is always glamorized (or what I have seen of it). Nobody ever mentioned how sick they were/are while pregnant and it wasn't until I was sick that people started talking about it. It seems like something that is left unsaid. I like to be prepared and this was a big shock to me as I thought sickness was only "morning sickness". Morning sickness needs to be re-termed into all-day and night sickness! I know that some people don't get sick and they are LUCKY. I keep hearing that it should end any time now and keep hoping that it is true.

We are trying to get Nati ready for a new brother/sister and have started talking more and more about his bro/sis. He is more interested in animals at this point and could care less. Although one day I was asking if he wanted a brother or a sister. He looked at me and said "LITTLE brother" and the emphasis was on LITTLE. It cracked me up because we haven't been saying little brother or sister and had talked about adopting an older child before we found out we were pregnant! So now when we talk about the baby I try to say your little brother or sister!

Nati really likes to tell me what things are now! His favorite thing to do is point to an animal and say what it is. He has always been able tell us some words, but mostly he understood things and could not express them like he wanted to due to the language transition. And, just like he told me he wanted a little brother, he will tell me if the animal is a little (whatever the animal is ex: bear), if it has a term for a baby animal he will use that ex: a dog/puppy, or if it is a mommy or datty (whatever the animal is). So as we look at books I get "mommy lion, little lion, kitty." I'm not sure where he picked this up as I just point to the animal and say what it is and my descriptions are short and sweet. He on the other hand is very elaborate and gives lots of details about what he thinks we are looking at. Nuck's (duck's) are his favorite and he can spot them places I would never see them. We got some mail for Bath and Body works and it had a TINY duck in the background. He found the flier and brought it to me and kept saying "nuck, nuck". I told him that there wasn't a "nuck" and he proved me wrong! He also brought me a coloring book the other day and it had a bear on it. He thought it was a "kitty" so he kept saying "kitty". I kept telling him it was a bear so then he switched to "cat" and when that didn't work he starting meowing to try to get his point across. Finely I told him that bears have round ears and cats have pointy ears... his response was a frustrated "ishy" ("okay" in Amharic), he left the room found our cat in the hall outside the door, and chased it in saying "kitty". That I could agree to. What a ham! I love it!

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I pick you!

 

 

 

 

Oh so blue

 

 

 

 

We got to go blueberry picking the other night. Nataga loved it. His favorite part was sampling!

Adoption options

I just opened my email and it had some really positive adoption news. Holt's China program is looking for families to adopt b/c their program is moving so quickly at the moment! I know China adoptions were taking 1-2 years for some families-- so this was really encouraging to read-- also it sounds like an amazing time frame if the process IS that fast. Also, adoptions have opened again in Haiti!! I have copied and pasted parts of the email's I received (starting w/China and then info. on Haiti). I do not know a lot about these agencies and only wanted to share this info. for those who are interested in these countries who may have been discouraged due to the slow time frames of both countries. I can say that we (obviously) used Gladney and were very pleased with them. If you need any info. on Gladney let me know I'd be happy to share more about our experience. Anyway, I was just very encouraged by this information and if these are places you're interested in-- I thought I'd share the news!

CHINA
Last month, Holt matched over 25 children with families through the China Child of Promise Option - Holt's expedited process for children with minor to moderate, treatable physical conditions. These families will likely travel to bring home their children by the end of the year! Since this expedited process began, Holt has united over 600 children in China with families, more than any other agency.

Today, Holt only has a handful of families waiting to be matched with children through this option. We are currently accepting applications from families interested in this expedited process. Once your dossier is received in China, Holt will contact you about a potential match within a few weeks to a few months. Travel occurs approximately six to eight months after the match is secured.

To get started, apply online to Holt's China Program. Or, to learn more, register to attend Holt's special China Child Program Webinars on June 9th and 30th, where you can meet a China Child of Promise family and ask questions throughout the presentation.

HAITI
Adoptions have opened again in Haiti! The Haiti program is a wonderful option for families hoping to adopt younger children! The warm and welcoming staff encourages families to visit their child while they wait for the adoption to be finalized. With daily flights out of Miami this is a great opportunity for families to begin the bonding with your child and learning about their home country and customs. What an amazing way to begin your life as a family!

Currently the wait for a referral in Haiti is very short because there are many children waiting. The adoption paperwork is processed after a match has been made.

Children Still Need Your Help! Should you find that you cannot move forward with an adoption at this time, please consider making a donation towards Haiti to rebuild the orphanages. Since the earthquake, many children have been staying in a temporary location which consists of semi-permanent tents and shelters. They will remain in this temporary situation until the orphanages are re-built. The majority of the funds to rebuild the orphanage have been raised by organizations but additional funds are needed to complete the interiors. Your continued support of the children in Haiti offers them a future. You are welcome to give at any stage. Thank you in advance for your support.

Not what I was ready for

David and I recently got to see a picture of our "newest baby". I wasn't prepared to be so blown away by the baby on the screen. It was awesome-- there aren't words. I had heard that the baby looks like a peanut so I wasn't expecting much. I was amazed by how much you could see-- arms, legs, eyes, nose, mouth, spinal cord, etc. My doctors office doesn't allow kids b/c apparently they have cooties-- so my sister in law was sweet and watched Nati while we went, she was a real life saver (plus it was fun to hang out with her and her family). I would have loved for Nataga to be able to see the baby too. I guess not until it is born.

Seeing these baby picts. reminds me of getting Nati's referral pictures. I remember not knowing what we were going to see and then seeing this tiny baby on the screen. I'll never forget that moment.