What I will miss...

This week, hubby and I are departing on our annual "no kids" vacation. 

It's always a good trip for us, for our marriage.

It's always a really hard trip for me, personally.  It's so hard for me to leave the kiddos behind for so long.  I know they will be in great hands with my parents, and will have an outstanding time, and not miss us for a second, but it's hard for me to function when my heart is left behind.

Here's some recent pictures that will be floating around in my head, and keeping me afloat, until I see them again.

What they say....

 Some things I've heard about a second child:

They can be late bloomers.

They don't talk as early.

They tend to rely on their older sibling to accomplish tasks they could otherwise do for themselves.

I have to say that each of these comments have tended to be true about Little Miss.  Looking back to when Brae was this age, he seemed more articulate and verbal than she is now.   That said, I think Little Miss is talking more Spanish than Brae did at this age, and is intermixing the two languages a little more.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not at all concerned about Little Miss's development.  In fact, I think she's outsmarting everyone.  Why would you do things for yourself if your older brother will do them for you?  What need is there to talk when all you have to do is give your older brother "the look," and he will get exactly whatever you need?

No doubt about it.  Behind her quiet lips is an active brain at work.  And, she's winning.


PS - I have every intention of taking away this bottle that is in her hand on her 2nd birthday.  Don't judge.    : )

A breakthrough.

Our adoption process through the state is moving slower than molassas.  Uphill.  In the w.i.n.t.e.r.t.i.m.e. 

Each time I've tried to get a hold of our caseworker, it's taken her weeks to respond.  When I call her voicemail, the greeting says, "Hello, this is Alice.  Today is Monday, February 4.  I will be out of the office all week ..."  The greeting has said February 4 for two and a half months. 

When I send her an email, it takes three follow-up emails on my part to get one, two-line response from her.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not necessarily blaming her.  There are only three caseworkers in our county for all of the adoptions.  Two of those caseworkers only work part-time.  It's part of the economic/budget shortfall. 

But it is beyond frustrating.

My last missive to her was no different.  I just wanted a status update.  No response.

One week later, no response.

Two weeks later, no response.

Finally, this week, the third week, I received a response.  She was transferring our file. 

Turns out, given her overloaded caseload, another caseworker (the one full-time caseworker) agreed to take one file from her.  That file is ours. 

We were overjoyed.  Already, since that transfer, we have had more communication with  our new caseworker than after four months with our old caseworker.

And, just this morning, we received the best news yet: our homestudy is starting in two weeks. (!!!!)

The process will take an average of three months, according to our caseworker.  That means that by at least the end of July/beginning of August, we should finally be on the wait list.

A breakthrough.

Brae-isms

A recent survey showed that, according to the people who took the survey, the "cutest" age of a child is 4.5 years.  Brae is almost that old, and he certainly does not disappoint.  So, with that, here is the next installment of "Brae-isms." 

***

1.  We are in the process of painting our house.  This last weekend, we got some sample paints (a mix of greens/browns), and Brae and I found an inconspicuous corner in the back of the house to try some of the samples.  As we painted swaths on the house, I numbered each swath.  After sample #3, I stepped back and remarked, "Brae, I'm not sure I like #3.  It kind of looks like poop."  Brae grinned.  We kept painting.  After we had painted all 8 sample colors, we stood back again to marvel at our collage.  I sighed, and said, "Brae, you know, I actually think now I like #3.  What do you think?"  Brae looked up at me, startled.  "Mommy?! You like poop?"

***

2. One morning over breakfast, the following conversation ensued (in Spanish):

Yo: "Brae.  Aqui esta algunos Cheerios para desayuno.  Mira, un Cheerio, y un otro Cheerio.  Uno y uno es dos, no?"

Brae: "No, mama! Uno y uno es once!"

(English translation: I asked Brae if one Cheerio and one Cheerio makes two Cheerios.  He informed me that one and one makes eleven, not two.  Clearly, I'm the one in need of a math lesson). 

***

3. One Sunday, on our way home from church, the following conversation ensued in the car:

Brae: "Mommy, I want to go to heaven and see Jesus."

Me: "Okay.  But not right now."

Brae: "But, Mommy! I want to!"

Me: "Brae, did you know you don't need to go to heaven to visit Jesus? Did you know He's all around? He lives in your heart and you can actually talk to him whenever you want."

(Silence).

(More silence.  I look in my rear-view mirror to see Brae in the back seat.)

Brae: (Looking down at his heart).  "Jesus? .... Where's my house?"

***

4.  This last weekend, I was driving with the kids to a playdate.  We stopped at a light.  There was a homeless man on the side of the road, holding a cardboard sign.  He was asking for money.  I rolled down my window and gave him some cash.  We then drove away.  As we turned the corner, Brae said, "Mommy! I want to go home and get my piggy bank so I can come back and give him all of my money."

Resurrection Sunday (Easter) pictures

We live in Oregon.  It is a beautiful, lush, green part of the country.  It is that way mostly because we get rain 6-9 months out of the year. 

But, this weekend was phenomenal.  I saw one temperature reading at 81 degrees on Sunday, which is virtually unheard of for March in the Great Northwest. 

Below are some pictures of the weekend.  Because, really, words can't do justice.  Especially to the series of photos we took trying to get the 4 grandkids in one picture together.