For the record.

Nothing exciting....

I want to remove this from my sidebar, but don't want to lose it so adding it as a post.

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4/14/09- Returned from Ethiopia; began adoption research
4/25/09- Attended Info Meeting at The Cradle

4/27/09-Faxed application to The Cradle (Home Study Agency)
5/2/09- Faxed application to IAN (International Adoption Net--Placement Agency)
5/4/09- Accepted with IAN
5/5/09- First meeting with adoption counselor scheduled-CANCELLED : (
5/13/09- First meeting with adoption counselor REscheduled
5/16/09- "Adoption 101" class
5/26/09- Second meeting with adoption counselor
5/29/09- DCFS licensing paperwork submitted
5/30/09- "Parenting at Risk" class
6/18/09- Third meeting with adoption counselor - mad dash to complete reading/worksheets commenced!
7/11/09- RE-fingerprinted
7/30/09- Home visit; DCFS clearances came through!
8/1/09- Dossier submitted (sans home study) and I-600A submitted

8/5/09- I-600A received by USCIS
8/12/09- Home study submitted to IL DCFS for approval

8/22/09- Received IL DCFS permit!
9/3/09- Home Study approved by IL DCFS int'l coordinator

9/10/09- WAITLIST- #5 baby boy; #12 baby girl

9/15/09- USCIS fingerprinting

9/24/09- Dossier sent to Ethiopia

9/28/09- Dossier arrived in Ethiopia!
10/2/09- WL Update: #5 boy; #11 girl

10/9/09- WL Update: #4 boy; #11 girl
10/12/09- Courts re-opened in Addis

10/19/09- WL Update: #4 boy; #10 girl

10/20/09- Received 171-H!

10/23/09- WL Update: #2 boy; #9 girl

11/9/09- WL Update: #2 boy; #8 girl

11/10/09- Officially two months waiting...
12/4/09- Offically three months waiting...

12/22/09- First see Little B's face....waiting....

1/1/10- Officially four months waiting...

1/25/10- Referral of Little B...ACCEPTED!

2/12/10- File opened with MOWA

2/25/10- Heard about my court date of 3/10!

3/10/10- Court date (didn't pass)

3/24/10- Second court date...PASSED!!

4/27/10- Leave for Ethiopia!

5/2/10- Meet Abel!

5/9/10- Home forever on Mother's Day

This morning.

Today my boy marched into day care like he owns the place.
He pointed out all the Halloween decorations: "ohhhh", "spiiideh", "punkeen".

Then he walked up to his friends....
"Hi, Gwacey!"
"Hi, Melia!"
"Hi, Jay!"
"Hi, Nay!"
"Hi, Wiiiley!"
One of his buddies didn't say "Hi" back and got a time out because nobody is rude to their friends at Titi's house (love that.) She then had to give a hug and say she was sorry. A-train grabs her so tight and says, "mmmmmmMWAH" like he's giving her a kiss.

I thought my heart was going to bust out of my chest.

All love.
So sweet.
This boy has turned my heart inside out.

{Mamarazzi} -- Jammie Day

Please pardon the bed head. There is no time for hair fixin' on this lazy Sunday.

{Mamarazzi} -- An afternoon at the park

This kid...

...is the most joyful human being I have ever met.

He will make you laugh like you have never laughed before.

He will make you stop and wonder at things you see every day.

He will make you think about how you could have ever lived your life without him being in it.

Well, at least that's what he does to me.

Much deserved updates

The little dude is a weed. Huge. Long and lean and out-of-control gorgeous.

He continues to have an adventurous side and is always on the go. This is his preferred tv-viewing site. Holy health insurance.

He is super creative and loves lives to play.

He is quite the jokester.

He thinks I am crazy and I am okay with that.

The summer has been a busy one, especially when you throw in his surgeries and travel. His vocabulary is expanding every day and he recently threw me for a loop by counting to 6. SIX! This from the kid who barely said a word two months ago.

He is also quite the vocalist and is constantly serenading whoever is lucky enough to hear with his sweet versions of Twinkle, Twinkle and the ABC's. The kid can carry a tune!

He thinks he knows his ABC's and will confidently (if not incorrectly!) tell you every letter he sees. Sometimes his confidence is persuasive!

Little man is having some sass-attacks lately. Who is this demon child who frequently takes residence in my sweet, innocent Abel? Ahhhhh...yes...

The two's are coming. Two fast.

In Season

The little dude and I are equally obsessed with nature's sweetest antioxidant. We are making the most of blueberry season and today was an

all day improvised BLUE fest!!

Pancakes with blueberry syrup. A delicious way to start the day.

Brie, blueberry and honey quesadillas.

Blueberries on arugula with edamame and goat cheese.

Don't knock it till you try it!

Brownies with whipped cream and berries.

My little friend is a purist. He likes his blue's room temp and in their natural state.

The best part of the day was hearing him pronounce blueberries.

Something like, "bubuvebele".