Adoption and Pregnancy Questions Answered!

Okay, first up, the adoption. Here's where we're at: Home study is COMPLETED! We're officially awaiting our immigration approval (it takes 60-90 days) and then all of our initial paperwork is complete! Phew! That took forever! After that we're just waiting to be matched to our girl!

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about our adoption/daughter and the answers!

Q. When will you get her?
A. We're not exactly sure, but we're "scheduled" to be matched in February and then we travel 4-6 months later. So... next summer if everything goes according to schedule.

Q. How old will she be when you get her?
A. We requested to bring home a child that was somewhere between 1-2 1/2 years old.

Q. Do you know who she is?
A. Not yet! We should get to see some pictures and read all about our girl sometime early next year (February is our estimated time).

Q. Will you keep her Chinese name?
A. We will give her an American first name that we have chosen, and we will use her Chinese name as her middle name.

Q. How long is the process?
A. It differs for everyone! We're looking at about 18 months from our application to bringing her home.

Here are some of the top pregnancy questions I've gotten and their answers:

Q. How are you feeling?
A. Terrible! The whole spectrum of symptoms. Nausea, headaches, acne, exhaustion, boobs on fire, dizziness and by the end of the day I honestly feel like I might have the flu, my whole body just hurts. Plus I look (and feel) about 26 weeks pregnant when I'm only 11.

Q. Was this planned?
A. Um, no.

Q. Do you hope this one is a girl?
A. Yes! However, the pressure is definitely off as we're going to have a daughter through adoption no matter what. Although, the thought of three boys sort of makes me want to go cry in the corner. I LOVE my boys to pieces, wouldn't trade them for the world. If this little one is a boy,  I'll feel the same about him.

Q. Will you find out the gender?
A. YES! I already did some blood work that tells you the gender and I should have the results in the next few weeks. At that time, we're going to do a little reveal party. I'll be sure to post about it then!

Q. Are you done now?
A. We were done before this one came along, so, yes. I smell a vasectomy in someone's future.

Q. Will you do another home birth?
A. No, not this time. Our insurance covered it last time, and this time it doesn't. We have chosen a midwife/birthing center in a hospital that we feel really comfortable with.

That's all everyone has been wanting to know! Any other questions, feel free to ask! I love talking about adoption, pregnancy and myself :)

Here's some fun math for you on a Wednesday. When we return home from China (as long as it's according to the estimated schedule) I will have the following aged children: Max (4), Ben (3), adopted daughter (1-2 1/2?) and Littlest Lincoln (5 months). That's 4 children under the age of 5. Hold me. And send coffee.

Life is what happens when you're making plans...

This post could also be titled "Family Planning Gone Awry..."



Was that a clear enough announcement?

Yes, it's true!



While we were (not-so) patiently awaiting being matched with our precious daughter in China, we received some VERY unexpected news that we would be getting a baby MUCH sooner and in a much different way than we had ever thought.

The littlest Lincoln will be born mid March of 2014. We're still awaiting being matched and are loosely "scheduled" to go to China to bring her home in August of 2014. We'll add two new children to our family next year.

Life doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes, it's SO much better.

"Mini Carnival"

One hot day in June, we decided to make Max's every dream come true and take him to... the Mini Carnival.

You know those pack up and go touring carnivals that come around every so often? Ghetto, bad food, expensive rides? Yah, that's the one.

Max was in heaven.























He asks to go back to the Mini Carnival every. single. day.

The Gillette's Visit!

Would you guys like me to start blogging again? Yeah, me too. 

Forever ago (early April) the Gillette fam came to Denver to see us. We love when that happens. 

Kira and Ben enjoy the same breakfast of eggs. The older boys prefer cereal. 

Aside from hanging out with the kids at home and playing games in the evening, my favorite part is watching our little ones together. 

We went to the zoo, Boulder, out to a few of our fav restaurants and just spent time together. We love the Gillettes. We wish we could have lots more time like this. 

All 4 of our little rugrats. 4 kids is A LOT of kids (That one's for you, Kim!! A little inside joke for the rest of you)

Come back, Gillettes!! 

Right Now

There's so much about right now that I don't want to forget. Things that drive me crazy, make me smile, and warm my heart.


Max. On his tricycle. With his Thomas sunglasses and long sticky hair. Yes, I said sticky. His hair is actually sticky, but we're growing it out so we're going with it. He rides his trike all the time now.




He also wants to do everything by himself. Including putting on his sunglasses, which is why they're worn like this.


And no socks for him. He prefers bare feet, but when I demand shoes, he refuses socks. He now sports a little blister on his heel and hobbles around but still will not. wear. socks.


And this one? Always with his horsie. Always wanting what his brother has (ahem, the Thomas sunglasses?). Always wanting his binky. Always with a filthy face.


And always wanting a freshly picked flower. The yellow ones.

These two. Together?





Well, my heart just explodes.


And then, Max torments Ben in some way (or vice versa) and I sigh and breathe deep and remember to hold tight to these precious memories. The ones that will soon be too distant. The ones that are forming their little childhoods. The ones I hope they'll remember with a smile.

I know I will.

A WINNER (Finally!) and an Update!

First of all, THANK YOU for being so patient while I gathered some info from the fundraiser. The winner of the $50 Stella & Dot gift card is HILLARY CUMMINGS! Congratulations, Hillary! Please email me your address and I'll get that in the mail to you :)

A huge thank you to everyone who purchased and helped spread the word!

SO much has been happening lately with the adoption! We've done our physicals, our financial statement and adoption petition and ordered a million copies of marriage and birth certificates. We've met twice with our social worker who is putting together approximately 30 pages that basically paints the picture that is our entire lives. We meet with her one more time and then she finishes that and we can begin sending papers every which way to get them authenticated, sealed and what not before they can go to China. At that point, we will be what is called LID (logged in Dossier) which basically means WE CAN BE MATCHED TO OUR DAUGHTER ANYTIME AFTER THAT!! We're still a good 4 months at least away from being LID, but that's the next big step!

So, we're pretty excited to be active in the process now! I know once we're LID their will likely still be a good little wait (4-6 months) before we're matched, but it feels darn good to be working towards bringing the little miss home.

That's all I have for you today! Ritchie and I are spending our very first night away from the boys this weekend and let me tell you, after this week, I REALLY am looking forward to it!

Bare With Me

I know I said I would choose a winner of the Stella & Dot gift card today, but given that we expanded the companies of the fundraiser so much, I'll need a few days to gather all of the information of the buyers before I can make a fair drawing. Hang in there - my goal is to announce the winner on Friday! Again, thank you all SO much for your support!