she will be 16 months old when we go get her...soon, baby, soon!

Excited to go to my favorite local consignment shop, Cherry Pick, in Eatontown this week to pick some up some "just in case she is small" outfits in sizes 12 month +.

 http://www.cherrypicknj.com/

We need just a few smaller outfits to bring to China in case she is on the small side.

I have mostly 18 month clothes and she will be 16 months when we go.

Most, not all, orphans are slightly smaller than their American counterparts for there size-to-age group whether in orphanage or foster care, though the ones in foster homes tend to get more attention and nutrition. she is in a foster home.

They catch up once we start feeding them! ;)

Funny thing, I have had several people ask me in the past few weeks if she is wearing 3T or 4T clothing right now (what?) 
Not sure where they got that from...I guess just their busy lives ... 

But she is only 14 month old right now, as I type this, a mere little pudgy toddler baby.

We are putting her crib together in the coming week or two. (convertible type so we can easily convert in the coming months as needed)

She will only be 16 months old when we go get her. little.

I. can. not. wait.

Here again is one of the most recent pics of her, not sure if this is on the blog yet, but it was taken at her one year old birthday party, just 2 months ago. I like that we can see the man's hand in this image so we can get an idea of her size. 

Isn't she amazingly beautiful? we just adore her. 

(want to kiss those pudgy baby cheeks)

Love.   

Blessings, Lynette

sneak peek at the nursery

There is much to do, but here is a look at the furniture, wall, and closet colors.

Aqua is the design splash of color. The frame was bought by mom during one of her NJ Shore visits.

We went for our jelly doughnuts and coffee at Muller's Bakery (A Landmark!)   http://www.muellersbakery.com/ then to the shops next door where we found the frame.

The pics in the frame are the most recent we have of Phoebe, when she turned one at the end of February (we hope to travel to get her at the end of June or beginning of July).

Blessings, Lynette

I 800 APPROVAL

So excited to simply report our approval. Another step on the journey to Phoebe, completed. Almost there little'n.

.Blessings, Lynette

Know someone who is adopting? If you've ever wondered, yes, you should send cards, give hugs, and plan a shower. :)

Who knows how this will be accepted, but I feel the need to say it, so please accept it in a loving way.

And this is not about me, at this point in the adoption process I have already been loved-on in many ways, but I do know that adoption can seem foreign to many people, and it need not be that way.

I know of cyber-friends who are adopting who have been left out of the love-loop, so this is for them, and for all those who come after us. 

I really feel so much for a mom on my adoption support group forum who brought her older adopted child home. Apparently, there was no fan faire, no showers, no nothing.

So sad. 

Whoever you are reading this out there, maybe you will say "right on", or maybe you will come to some sort of a realization, I don't know, but I hope this helps in some way?

I have to hope that Jesus will speak through me on this subject matter. 
God is Love, God is about adoption, God builds families!

Children whether they are birthed from your own body, or adopted from foster care, domestic, or far away lands... whether they are one-second-old when they are placed wigging in your arms, or fifteen years old and speaking another language, becoming part of your family, entering into existence as your family member is a HUGE and EXCITING milestone, NO MATTER HOW IT CAME TO BE.

Just like the mom with the growing belly, the adoption wait for the adopting mom should be supported and celebrated. The home coming should be, too.

Whether it is a simple congratulations and a hug (because it is not about material gifts), or maybe it is a meal during the long dossier writing period, or a note during the LOA wait...no matter what, it is about showing that you care and that this rite of passage is important.

Maybe you like to plan the big stuff, so bring on the balloons and shower umbrellas.

No matter what, it is important that this mom-to-be, and this beautiful, loved child be treated specially.

The mama-to-be should be treated with understanding, happiness, and love whether pregnant or adopting.

If adopting, early in the progress congratulations are in fact in order! For the love of Mike, YES!

Here is a hint: don't ask an adopting mom "so is this thing really happening?" (would you ask a pregnant lady that? hmmmmm....)

Instead, hug her and tell her how happy you are for her! :-D

Along the way.... support, cards, (of course gifts are always fun, but no one is greedy here)

All of this, it is important.

Feeling unsure since it is adoption and you are not families with that? Then just ask.

Mama-to-be does not bite (unless she has been up all night rereading the paperwork for the umpteenth time, she may nibble just a little bit...just kidding) :)

Ask if a meal would be helpful, or if they are registered somewhere (some do, some don't, but we all need and want "stuff"...hey, we all know "stuff" is fun, you know you like "stuff")

Ask if they would like a shower, or just send a note of encouragement, meet her for tea.

You get the idea.


Yes, if you are the type that normally would gift a pregnant mom some lotion, then why not the adopting mom. If you would gift the 7 month regnant mom a onesie and hair-bow, then why not the adopting mom?

If you would normally plan a shower, then why not for the 8 year old waiting to come home from Ethiopia? She will still need a  nice bed set, and t-shirts, and books.

Sometimes a shower is better before travel, sometimes after the child is home. That is a personal choice. I know for us I felt before was better so we have the nursery all set. And I registered at Target and Babies R Us.

But 9 times out of 10 I bet that mom would love that rite of passage sometime, somehow.  

 If not a "shower" then a get together at a cafe with her closest friends (they are calling those "sprinkles" now a-days).

How about sending a care package?

Meals are so helpful !  Both during paper chasing time and later (I can't tell you how many times Kev and I stared each other with bleary eyes over mounds of paper work and wondered what we would have for dinner at 9pm, with an empty fridge, because we were both working full time and burning the candle at both ends.)

I could go on, but I will not.

Here is a link to an adoption shower I thought was so adorable. I hope they don't mind me posting it (and I will respectfully remove it, if they prefer me not share it here) http://thecookingvent.blogspot.com/2010/09/baby-sammy.html

ok, just one last thought:

How much fun is it to share in a family's love and excitement?

 >>REALLY FUN.<<

So then, why not?



Blessings, Lynette

Painting the nursery. "Before and during" photos

Here are the "before" and the "during" photos.

"After" to come later for this "work in progress".

The walls will be a tan coffee like color, with a splash of surprise color in the closet: a light bright aqua.

Light and dark aquas will also be used as accent colors here and there (ex, photo frames) I think that will look great against the dark tan. :)

Another accent color is white/cream with a  very crisp white as the trim, and a softer cream color in the furniture (they call it "oyster shell").

Oh, and look at my new hair cut. Honestly, this is after a long day of painting, and back pain, and part of that day having my hair in a hat, so I cannot speak to it looking very glamorous about now, but you can see that I had m--a--n--y inches cut off. Sending them along to locks of love. 

One photo of me only, because I am always behind the lens, the rest of my dashing husband, and extremely cute doggie.  (pooch is jealous of all the attention that Phoebe's room is getting)

So, without further ado, here is Phoebe's nursery getting it's makeover. :)

Blessings, Lynette

Celebrating LOA~ dinner at "Fuji", and paper work

We enjoyed a very delicious and beautiful meal at Fuji in Shrewsbury, NJ last week, as we celebrated receiving LOA "Letter of Acceptance" from China.

Then we set to work getting all of the post-LOA paper work done: i864 and i800, as well as signatures for Holt.

Here is the USCIS pile:

Our papers arrived at USCIS early on Monday morning. Please pray that all are accepted as-is, and approved. Of course, most importantly we pray for God's will.

ps- We are definitely going back to Fuji! Great food and a pretty restaurant.


Blessings, Lynette

Portland Baby Shower Love

So nice to receive my Portland Baby Shower parcel recently.

This troop of darling ladies, friends with my mom and my sister, who don't even know me personally, had a shower for me and Phoebe. 

Your thank you cards will be on  their way ladies, but in the meantime let me just say that this box was such a sweet surprise, full of lovely things for Phoebe, and I thank you so much for thinking of us during our long wait to bring her home. 

xo xo xo !!!!!

Blessings, Lynette

Hip Hip Hooray, we have LOA!

~~~~~Yippee~~~~~

You can't even imagine my excitement level right now.

I danced around the kitchen, then walked the dog (which is a work out, she walks YOU, not the other way around) and then danced some more.

Time to clean-off some of this energy out, think I will mop.

Something... I am just so energized!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, baby!

Thank you, JESUS!!!! All the glory to you!!!!

Can I get a whoot-whoot?!

Blessings, Lynette