Undies & Tees

This evening we headed to Kohls and bought Rex - wait for it - his first pairs of underwear because he started potty training at school yesterday.  Having waited for this moment for so long, I just wanted to cry.  Rex's therapists are optimistic that in about two weeks he will be dry during the daytime.

While at the store, I also made a quick stop at the girls' clearance section just to see what they had and ended up buying three shirts for Big Sis at 80-90% off.  Aside from an outfit we purchased for her in her birth country, these are the first items of clothing that I have bought for Sister, so it felt special.  When we get closer to our pick-up trip, I am going on a little shopping spree for Big Sis, getting her everything she will need for the first month or so in our family.  I can't wait.

Summer Afternoon At The Park

My friend E and I got our wires crossed on some dates, so we ended up by ourselves yesterday at a local park.  Even though we missed our friends and hope to see them next weekend, we had a great time.  We enjoyed the playground, water features, bike ride and boat ride.

Queen of the boat eating a snack

Enormous field of water lilies

Now let's see how this Sunday goes.

IAC 287 & 288

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 287 which was held on June 18, 2014:

1) Dutch dossier from May 2010 referred a female child aged 2 years

2) US dossier from August 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status

3) Italian dossier from November 2010 referred a male child aged 6 years and 2 months

4) Spanish dossier from March 2013 referred a female child aged 9 years

5) Italian dossier from October 2013 referred a brother and sister aged 9 years and 9 months & 8 years and 6 months with features in health status

6) Italian dossier from December 2013 referred three sisters aged 5 years and 8 months & 4 years and 8 months & 7 years and 2 months

7) Italian dossier from February 2014 referred a female child aged 9 years and 4 months

8) US dossier from June 2014 referred a waiting child (#2197) with a profile on the MOJ site

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 288 which was held on June 25, 2014:

1) German dossier from August 2010 referred a female child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status

2) Italian dossier from November 2010 referred two brothers aged 6 years and 6 months & 5 years and 4 months

3) French dossier from January 2011 referred a male child aged 5 years and 6 months with a family history

4) US dossier from May 2012 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status

5) Italian dossier from May 2012 referred a female child aged 7 years and 6 months with a family history

6) Canadian dossier from August 2012 referred a female child aged 8 years and 9 months

7) Italian dossier from February 2013 referred a male child aged 8 years and 9 months

Weekend Wrap

Yesterday we had a terrific day.  In the morning, we met up with another adoptive family whose daughter was at the same orphanage as Rex, though not at the same time.  We spent a few hours at a park downtown where the kids enjoyed the playground and splash area.

We didn't worry too much about food.  Our friends brought a delicious fruit salad and I made a coconut custard pie for all to enjoy.  It wasn't quite a lunch, but we happily made do.

We came home for naps and dinner which was a favorite sandwich that we first had on a summer vacation: bacon, egg salad, tomato and avocado on focaccia (and just in case you're wondering, burnt is the only way that I can handle bacon):

Then we went to visit friends who are having a bumper crop of squash and cucumbers, so they gave us two big bags full of their garden's bounty.  This isn't even half of the beautiful produce we brought home:

Gorgeous, right?

Tonight, we had zucchini chowder and I roasted some of the other squash to make soup to freeze.  I'll finish that tomorrow.  Also baking some zucchini bread then.

Last night, Craig and I watched 12 Years A Slave to finish off a great Saturday.

Of course, today the kids decided they would make life miserable.  They both have been having a rough day with no naps and a lot more noise, restlessness, disobedience, whining, and destructiveness than usual.  Both have been picky with their food and very demanding.  We have not been able to let either child out of our sight all day, even here at home.  Interestingly, they were so united in their mission to test us as parents, that they have had some real tender moments between them.  I guess that's today's silver lining, right?  Have a great week, everyone.

Picture Of The Day

Lunch Date

IAC 285 & 286 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 285 which was held on June 4, 2014:

1) German dossier from September 2010 referred a male child aged 4 years and 3 months

2) Spanish dossier from September 2010 referred male twins aged 1 year and 9 months

3) German dossier from September 2010 referred a female child aged 2 years and 11 months

4) Swedish dossier from September 2010 referred a male child aged 2 years and 7 months with features in health status and a family history

5) US dossier from January 2012 referred a female child aged 8 years

6) US dossier from February 2012 referred a female child aged 8 years and 10 months

7) French dossier from March 2012 referred a female child aged 5 years and 3 months with features in health status and a family history

8) Dutch dossier from July 2012 referred a male child aged 3 years and 9 months with features in health status

9) US dossier from April 2014 referred a female child aged 2 years and 1 month with features in health status and a family history

10) US dossier from May 2014 referred three waiting children (#986 & #1245 & #2250) with profiles on the MOJ site

11) US dossier from May 2014 referred a waiting child (#2270) with a profile on the MOJ site

12) US dossier from May 2014 referred two waiting children (#2141 & #2320) with profiles on the MOJ site

13)  US dossier from May 2014 referred a waiting child (#2299) with a profile on the MOJ site

14)  US dossier from May 2014 referred a waiting child (#1221) with a profile on the MOJ site

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 286 which was held on June 11, 2014:

1) Spanish dossier from July 2010 referred a male child aged 4 years and 9 months

2) Spanish dossier from August 2010 referred a female child aged 2 years

3) Italian dossier from August 2010 referred a female child aged 6 years and 8 months

4) Swedish dossier from June 2011 referred a male child aged 3 years and 6 months with features in health status

5) Italian dossier from August 2011 referred a brother and sister aged 3 years and 5 months & 5 years and 3 months with features in health status and a family history

6) US dossier from November 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 3 months with features in health status

7) Swedish dossier from January 2012 referred a male child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status

8) US dossier from November 2012 referred a male child aged 1 year and 1 month with features in health status and a family history

9) French dossier from March 2013 referred a brother and sister aged 3 years and 8 months & 5 years with features in health status and a family history

10) German dossier from June 2013 referred a brother and sister aged 5 years and 1 month & 6 years and 7 months with features in health status

11) Italian dossier from September 2013 referred sisters aged 8 years and 8 months & 9 years and 11 months

12) US dossier from October 2013 referred a waiting child (#2316) with a profile on the MOJ site

13) Italian dossier from April 2014 referred a male child aged 9 years and 6 months

14) US dossier from June 2014 referred a waiting child (#2184) with a profile on the MOJ site

15) US dossier from June 2014 referred a waiting child (#2283) with a profile on the MOJ site

16) US dossier from June 2014 referred a waiting child (#773) with a profile on the MOJ site

17) US dossier from June 2014 referred three waiting children (#1832 & #1838 & #1839) with profiles on the MOJ site

18) US dossier from June 2014 referred a female child aged 10 years and 11 months

Rex Three Years Home

Transformed...

Growing, learning, thriving, laughing, loving, teaching...

A blessing beyond measure...

Happy Together Forever Day, Rex.

We love you because you are you.

*Three years ago today, on July 14, 2011, Rex finally left the orphanage that had been all he ever knew to join our family as our cherished son.