handsful

Before today, there were maybe 5 shirts and 2 pairs of pants in his closet. And, some of those he’ll have to grow into.

I rose with the birds today, and headed to a Mothers of Multiples sale in the area that I happened to see an ad for. In line before 7am meant I was the first and ONLY person perusing his size racks.

Oh, the adrenaline rush.

An hour later, I had 31 items including shirts, pants, jackets (went a bit overboard there), PJs, shoes, and a couple of books. Got Lainey a few shirts, a dress, and some play food.

Spent less than $2 per item. Yeah, baby. Great start to my weekend!

Another birthday party with cake, and where’s Dylan? Right there in the middle of it. Either he loves cake, cameras, or he’s got loads of friends. I’m hoping it’s all 3 :)

Ya’ think smearing icing on someone is a sign of endearment in China? Hope doesn’t seem to mind! Her mama, Amy, sent me this photo. Thanks, Amy!!

We are a little closer to getting Dylan…received our LOA on Monday. Basically, it’s China’s response to our dossier/letter of intent asking us if we REALLY want to adopt him. Uh, yeah.

So, we signed it, filled out more paperwork, and sent it on to our agency. Our social worker should have our home study update (required since we moved) to CCAI early next week. Then, they send it all on to USCIS (US immigration) and the approval process with them begins. We’re guesstimating travel in October or November. I think I mentioned that already, and it seems we’re still on track.

It’s nice seeing a new picture of his sweet face while we’re in the waiting phase.

I hate to blog out of order.  Call me a control freak…unfortunately, the title fits more than I’d like it to.  For instance, I was nearly twitching in my seat watching the kids fold the clean towels.  They were doing it all wrong.  But, I think I’m getting off topic. 

I must back up to birthdays again.  Back on the 11th, we had a family birthday party for M, P, E, and L.  I made 3 cakes (with lots of help decorating) and bought one (Ethan wanted an ice cream cake).

Marley requested chocolate cake, buttercream frosting.

it says Tater (Payton’s preferred nickname)…he chose strawberry cake, buttercream frosting.

Cookies and cream, Ethan’s favorite flavor hands down. 

Lainey wanted a cookie cake.  Abbey designed and decorated it with L’s help.  The characters say “Lainey”. 

Time to sing…

She enjoyed the attention!

Make a wish and blow!

harder!

she did eventually get them blown out :)

It was a great party. 

Guess who else had a party? 

These characters say “Happy Birthday Dang Yu Hai”.

The birthday boy with some friends :)

I love seeing him have his own special day. 

A pink flower just for Dylan.  I wonder how wired up all that sugar made him? 

Oooh, I think he’s gonna try it. 

Can my friends have some, too?

Awww…she’s letting him help cut the cake. 

We were so happy to get these pictures.  I was told that the party was held on the 7th, since the 4th was on a Sunday and adoption related matters aren’t held on Sundays.  I hope he was told that his mama and dada sent him his birthday treat. 

So, 5 cakes later and we have 12 year olds, a 4 year old, and a 3 year old.  Last post about July birthdays.  I promise!  ;)

Oh, how we love this little guy already! 

My friend Denise (see sidebar…Denise-Seth) is in China right now, adopting her 2nd child from China, Seth.  You may remember Dylan being in his birthday pictures back in March.  She graciously offered to try and meet Dylan, and take pictures of him if they were allowed to visit the orphanage. 

I was so excited to see these…I mean, he’s SMILING!  He was cute in those other pictures, but seriously??  I can barely stand the cuteness now! 

Seeing the pictures makes me so happy, but it also makes the waiting time seem that much longer until we can get there. 

Denise not only took the time to get all these pictures for us.  She also talked to him, spoke to the orphanage workers for us, gave him a hug for us.  It brings tears to my eyes.  I mean, she’s there adopting her own child and she went to such lengths to give us these precious gifts.  I’m so thankful. 

I’ll share more detail in another blog…for now, more cuteness. 

He’s happy.  The nannies he’s with seem to care for him. 

I think our next care package should include a shirt that fits better?  I guess pants are optional.  :)

The night before Lainey turned 4, I was joking with her that I wanted her to stay 3.  She laughed her “oh, you’re so silly, mommy” laugh and said “no!”.  I asked why she couldn’t stay 3, and she said “Lainey wants to be a big girl!” 

Well, Lainey girl, you are…

Good morning, sunshine!  So, how old are you today?? 

Oh!!!!  FOUR!!

Dressed up for July 4th…I mean, her birthday!  Same thing.  She’s ready for church!  (She looks so OLD here!)

sometimes those eyes do disappear when she smiles!

A birthday-girl sandwich.  heh heh

Middle and little sister share a hug

More posing with the birthday girl.  (ignore my goofy grin)  There’s no shot of Abbey with Lainey because most of us were already out the door when Abbey came downstairs.  She’s got her daddy’s “late” gene.  :)

After church, we headed out to lunch.  Fast forward to dessert.  Before the other kids got theirs, a bunch of waitresses came over and sang a VERY LOUD birthday song to Lainey.  She got very serious and tried hard to ignore it.  Then, they planted this in front of her and she wasn’t as serious anymore…

must. get. every. last. drop. 

Back home and time for presents…one from mommy and daddy, and one from big sister Abbey.

A blow up pool with sprinkler!  Awesome!

It’s all she asked for…

A little mechanical hamster.  She named it Tashu, same as one of Marley’s hamsters.  She made it a little bed in her wardrobe :)

Time to try out the pool.  The big kids do the hard work. 

Lainey had the easy part!  She loved it. 

Yes, that IS a taco with 4 candles in it.  Lainey requested her birthday dinner be from TB.  She absolutely adores the place, wants to eat there EVERY time we suggest going out.  So, we sang to her and she blew those candles out!  It took a few tries, but she did it.  In fact, for each taco she had (3), she put the candles in again, we sang again (in triple time!), and she blew ’em out again! 

It’s hard to believe that she’s 4 years old.  I look back at the pics of her when we first received her at 19 months old and think how little bitty she looks.  She’s so growny and independent, loves helping me out with whatever I’m doing (I know, that eventually wanes a bit…), and simply can’t wait for her brother to join us.  Oh…Dylan.  That’s right!

He turned THREE on July 4th.  We sent a cake to him using the in-China organization called www.ladybugsnlove.com  We’re waiting for pics of his celebration (the company takes the money we send and gives it to the orphanage with the instructions to buy the cake and provide digital pictures proving that the money was used for that purpose)  We’ve seen many birthday celebration pics, and were fortunate that Dylan was in a few of them!  I hope he enjoys having his own party :) 

In the meantime, Abbey bought a birthday present for him, too.  We’ll have it here, waiting for him. 

Thanks, Abbey…he’ll love it. 

Next stop…Marley, Payton, and Ethan’s birthday on the 7th! 

 

Stands for “Dossier to China”…three little letters that I’ve been waiting to hear for a while now!  Our agency told us today that our dossier – the mounds of paperwork that we’ve been working on since mid February – was sent to China last Friday.  They should get it within 3-5 days.  A couple of weeks or so after that, we will be LID – which means China will have logged us into their system and will begin processing/reviewing our information.  

Our agency estimates travel within 4-6 months after LID.  We’re praying for the “4” side of that estimate.  While we wait, we’ll be doing MORE papework involving US immigration and an update to our home study (since we’ve had a move and job change since our last one).   

One milestone down, several more to go.  We’re coming, Dylan.

The first thing we’ve bought for Dylan!  Couldn’t resist the sale rack at Old N*avy the other day :)  Size 2T, 27-30lbs. 

With our update last week, we received current measurements for Dylan.  Here are his stats:

24 1/4 lbs.

33.5 inches tall

18.5 inches head circum.

I looked at an online percentile calculator to see how he compares to other kids his age.  For his height and weight, Dylan is in the 3rd percentile for both weight and height…so, 97% of other kids his age are bigger than he is. 

For fun, I checked Lainey’s percentile stats.  Right now, she weighs about 38lbs and she’s 39 inches tall.  So, she’s at the 75th percentile for weight, and 37% for height.  I also looked back to see how old Lainey was, when she weighed what Dylan weighs now (at age 2 years 10 months).  She was 1 year 8 months old.  :)

I’d love to find some way to predict, based on a normal growth curve, what Dylan might weigh when we travel to get him.  Anyone know how to do that?