Finger Painting!

I detest messes.  Actually, scratch that.  I detest cleaning up messes.  I wouldn't mind the mess if someone else was going to clean it up.  But I'm the mom and moms clean up messes.  So I guess this is why I haven't let Kinley finger paint...until today. 

She had so much fun and was very serious about her painting.  I'm glad I bought the paint brushes, because she wasn't big on the finger part of the painting.  My favorite picture is the one when she accidentally put her foot in the paint.  She didn't like it, and she wasn't sure what to do.  Love that girl so much.

Teach Me Something Tuesday

Many people have asked us why South Korea.  Here are some things we considered.

Benefits of the South Korea program and what we found appealing:

The availability of healthy infants - There are many children with mild and/or easily correctable special needs, too.  (The wait for healthy girls can be considerably longer than boys.)

Foster family care - Babies who are relinquished by their birth families for adoption are generally placed with foster families where they are well provided for in warm, loving homes until placement. 

Excellent medical care - Korea's medical care system is first-rate and comparable to the U.S.

Reasonable time frames - Approximately 18-24 month time frame from application to arrival.

Less onerous paperwork - Unlike other countries where separate dossiers are required, the Korean program accepts the U.S. home study as documentation enough.

Travel or escort options - You can choose to have your child escorted to the U.S. rather than travel (although many parents do indeed travel to pick up their children).

Grieving, Poo Spotting, and Soccer Playing Fool!

I have read many stories about adopted children grieving for their foster mother.  It sounds like the toughest part of adoption.  Right up there with the attachment process.  Tough stuff and not much fun for the adoptive mother, much less the grieving baby.  Well, Miss Kinley is doing some grieving of her own today.  Paci is GONE! I had decided recently that I was going to take on this little project before she turned two, and there's no better time to start something than a Monday, right?  I've started lots of diets on a Monday and that turned out great!  Ha!  Anyway, today at her nap I asked if it was time to rock and she immediately grabbed her blankie and ran to her room to look for a paci.  I picked her up and told her, "No paci sweet girl."  She wasn't convinced (or maybe she was confused).  She tried to wriggle her way down off my lap, but I wouldn't let her down.  She cried, briefly, a couple times.  Sucked on her blankie.  Chewed on her blankie.  Whimpered a few times.  And finally turned towards me, cuddled up, and closed her eyes.  That's it?!?!  Wow!  That was easy.  Side note:  It was precious watching her just close her eyes and fall asleep without that stupid paci in her mouth.  My beautiful, big girl.  I would like to tell you some horrifically funny story about how when Blake wouldn't give her the paci at bedtime she smacked him across the face and kicked him in the shins, but it's just not what happened.  She grabbed her blankie, we carried her to her bed and said our good nights and I love yous, and she laid down and went to sleep.  One more reason why I love this child more than life itself.

On to poo spotting!  Well, it has FINALLY cooled off (for now) and we were able to spend some really great family time in the backyard this evening.  Kinley loves checking out the garden, writing with her chalk, and just exploring.  Exploring can be a little dangerous in our backyard with three big dogs.  The "land mines" runneth over.  So it was poo scooping time!  Blake got out his little pooper scooper and the big trash can and started taking care of business.  But before he can get too far Kinley has already figured it out.  She is kindly pointing out the piles of poo for Blake!  Hysterical!  She's so sweet about it.  And serious!  This is very important work, and daddy needs help.  She followed him all over the yard until they were both done with their duties.  She is an absolute riot!

And one heck of a soccer player.  I know what you're thinking...I'm biased.  Of course I think my child is the next Mia Hamm.  I'm serious people.  For a tiny little 22 month old, she can stinkin' kick that ball.  And for all of you naysayers, I have video to prove it.  I've just gotta figure out how to get it on here.  =)

On the adoption front, no news.  We are still in the middle of our home study.  This week we are getting our physicals done so our doctor can write a nice note saying we are all healthy and have no communicable diseases.  Excellent! 

Fun Fact Friday

Snuppy, the world's first cloned dog (Afghan Hound), was created at Seoul National University (SNU) in South Korea.

This made me laugh.

Wordless Wednesday

Except for a quick note.  Yes, there are pictures of my hubby and daughter raking, sweeping, and picking up leaves.  No, these are not old pictures.  We have a strange tree that has started losing all it's leaves in August.  Strange and annoying since all the leaves wind up on our porch right in front of our front door.  Anyway....Wordless Wednesday!  =)

Summer at a Glance

So we're waiting for a package to come in the mail from our home study agency so we can start the madness that is the paperwork.  I'm very anxious...I've been out to the mailbox twice now already and nothing.  I will try again soon.  Also, I'm getting organized!!!  Which makes me very happy because at this point there isn't much for me to do, but that won't last long.  My organizing has consisted of me buying a folder holder :)  and some hanging file folders.  I've made files for all the different paperwork we'll be gathering.  Copy of application to Holt, birth certificates, marriage license, proof of everything, medical checklist, and all the I forms...I-600, I-600A, I-824, I-864, I-800A, etc.  Long story short, I feel better.  Like I've done something to get this process going even though my organizing means nothing in the big scheme of things except maybe this gives me a chance to stay sane through this process.  So, we wait.

And while we wait...Summer at a glance!