...Love Without Boundaries, a
wonderful American run foster home for children who need a little extra
love and care to start out with. They saved our daughter's life when she was only 4
months old and have taken care of her every day since. Today I can rest a little easier knowing she is being fed, sheltered and loved. Every precious child deserves these things. Please consider
going to their website and sponsoring a child. They are amazing!!
http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/programs/foster-care/sponsor-a-child/
The A Team!
Aaron, Amanda, Adrian, Adam, Asa, Aidan and Ava
Monday, December 24, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The Secret's Out...
I guess it's not much of a secret considering most people that I've recently told pretty much knew it was coming but we now officially have a wonderful announcement to make.....
We have a new daughter!!!! Her name is YuHe (yew-huh), which means "rain on the lotus" and she is almost 3 years old!!
We are just so excited and completely in love! We think she is adorable and she has an amazing smile. She is described as being a sweetheart with lots of energy! She is going to fit right in with the Forbes family kiddos.
We feel very blessed to have this opportunity again. And yes, naturally, a little tiny bit overwhelmed too. We hadn't counted on adopting so soon but I just couldn't pass up the chance to reuse our dossier within a year of Ava coming home and so we've been scrambling to make it work. We've had preapproval since the beginning of June but there were some changes in the rules and things got a little complicated for a bit but we are moving forward and are now waiting for USCIS to approve our I-800A. We hope to be logged in by the middle of January which would make travel around June if all goes well! Keep your fingers crossed for us!
And what do the kids think about all this? Well, the boys say they can't wait to have another sister!! They were all for it from the beginning and never hesitated when I asked what they thought about it. I think I have the sweetest, most giving, boys in the world. Ava looks at her pictures with me and we talk about Mei Mei (Chinese for little sister) and we practice saying sister but she can't really understand yet what this means. YuHe will follow her a year behind in school and I think that they will become the best of friends. We can't wait to meet her!
Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!
We have a new daughter!!!! Her name is YuHe (yew-huh), which means "rain on the lotus" and she is almost 3 years old!!
We are just so excited and completely in love! We think she is adorable and she has an amazing smile. She is described as being a sweetheart with lots of energy! She is going to fit right in with the Forbes family kiddos.
We feel very blessed to have this opportunity again. And yes, naturally, a little tiny bit overwhelmed too. We hadn't counted on adopting so soon but I just couldn't pass up the chance to reuse our dossier within a year of Ava coming home and so we've been scrambling to make it work. We've had preapproval since the beginning of June but there were some changes in the rules and things got a little complicated for a bit but we are moving forward and are now waiting for USCIS to approve our I-800A. We hope to be logged in by the middle of January which would make travel around June if all goes well! Keep your fingers crossed for us!
And what do the kids think about all this? Well, the boys say they can't wait to have another sister!! They were all for it from the beginning and never hesitated when I asked what they thought about it. I think I have the sweetest, most giving, boys in the world. Ava looks at her pictures with me and we talk about Mei Mei (Chinese for little sister) and we practice saying sister but she can't really understand yet what this means. YuHe will follow her a year behind in school and I think that they will become the best of friends. We can't wait to meet her!
Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
My Little Fashionista!
 | ||
| This girl cracks me up- I just loved how she got all dolled up in her scarf, leopard print jacket, shiny sequin hat and cow mud boots completely on her own. This girl has style! Incidentally she was going out to play with her brothers who were wrestling in the front yard. She loves doing what they do and bossing them around, of course! |
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
A Visit with Baby Willow!
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| My brother and our girls. |
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| Aunt Mandi wins a smile! |
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| Such a beautiful girl! |
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| Smooches from Cousin Ava. |
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
I want to remember..
this morning when we were cuddling in bed, dreading having to get up, Ava reached over and gave me a big hug and kiss. I told her "you make mama happy". She pointed to her self and said "me happy". What a nice way to start the day.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
One Year Ago Today....
It was one year ago today that we first met Ava...
And what a wonderful year it has been!
And what a wonderful year it has been!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
First Day of School!
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Aidan's first day of 1st Grade!   |
Monday, October 8, 2012
Warning... Whining Ahead....
I haven't posted in a couple of months.
I don't blog or talk when times are tough. I shut down and go inside myself. If you ask, I'll probably tell you but I'm not entirely comfortable being open about my struggles. I'm especially sensitive to the "you brought this on yourself" thoughts- I am my own worst critic. But I've come to think that it is important to be honest about the hard times in this process as well as the good. Especially because there are so many adoptive bloggers out there that do and I know I'm not alone. We've been lucky that our transition with Ava has been pretty darn easy, then on August 3rd she had her palate surgery. This was ten times harder on all of us than the heart surgery. First, I think it was more painful for her. Second, she self soothed by sucking her finger and that had to end. And lastly an attack of eczema (either from the stress, an allergic reaction of some sort, or perhaps it took the place of her sucking her finger?) had her itching all night instead of sleeping. This has made for a sleepless couple of months.
I was sad to see her stop sucking her finger. It ended that night at the hospital and she won't do it anymore no matter how hard I convince her that it is ok now that her mouth has healed. Her last piece of babyhood was ripped away. So now when she goes to bed she tosses and turns, flips, kicks her legs and itches. She used to pop her finger in her mouth and within five minutes she was out.
In order to take care of the eczema we slather her with Eucerin and Hydrocortisone and limit the amount of baths she has. Baths are luke warm too, no more hot baths. They dry the skin. She takes an allergy medication at night before bed. Things are starting to improve on that end and she is no longer itching throughout the night.
But I'm feeling claustrophobic!
We go to bed at 6:30 pm and she finally falls asleep in my bed around 7:30pm. We move her to her crib, which is right next to our bed, about 9 pm and then she comes back to our bed about 4 a.m. She kicks and tosses until she finally drives us crazy and up and out of bed around 5:30 a.m.
I'm a light sleeper so I feel and hear everything. I miss sleeping! And I miss having my own room! And I have a crick in my neck from sleeping in awkward positions around her! (yeah, I know, "whine, whine, wahh, wahh" - but I did warn you earlier that this wasn't going to be pretty...).
Until she is able to truly communicate and understand that she has her own room and she has to stay in it, I don't see anything changing soon. This has undoubtedly been the toughest thing for me. My boys were always independent and after a few months of being nearby they moved to their own room and we never had co-sleeping. I know she needs us and so I'm digging deep for the perseverance and patience. And my constant mantra is "nothing worth doing is easy."
So there is my whine session, the bad and the ugly. Next post will be about the good because the kids started school in the midst of all this and I've got some super cute pics!
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Fun in the Sun, Sand and Surf!
When asked, these are the boys favorite things about going to Maine
Asa's favorite: the fishing
Adam's favorite: the good food
Aidan's favorite: the waves
And they all said spending time with Uncle Bob and Aunt Angie!
 |
| Going fishin' with Pepe! |
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Arrgghh me matey!  Thanks again for the memories Uncle Bob and Aunt Angie! |
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Letter to myself in five years...
I reprint this here from No Hands But Ours. This letter really hit home for me and I wanted to add it to my blog so that I will never forget it.
You can find the link here:
http://www.nohandsbutours.com/2012/07/25/a-letter-to-my-pre-adoption-self/
Dear Nancy (in 2007)
I know you’ve just started to seriously consider adopting a child. I know that the thought of adopting has been on your mind not just years, but since you were a little girl and heard about the abandoned baby girls in China and saw videos of the Romanian orphanages. So I understand that adopting isn’t an impulsive thought. And I know that even though you don’t know how or where or if a child will come to you, or what he or she will look like, that you are excited… and unsure… and scared all at the same time.
But I am you… five years later… and five years into your adoption journey. And I want you to know some things that I think will help you along the way, some really important things.
1) I know that you are currently thinking that adoption is a great way to add to your family, and it is! But you should know that your adoption journey is going to be so much more than that. Adoption is gonna rock your world like you’ve never imagined! You will not be the same woman ever again. It will be profound in your life. Bigger than you can fathom. Be brave and faithful, and you will be rewarded.
2) I don’t want to scare you, but you need to know this. This journey will be the hardest thing you’ve ever done. You will cry. Your heart will break, and you will feel grief like you’ve never felt before, so much that there will be moments that you fall to your knees. There will be days your sadness envelops everything you do. During the worst times, you will withdraw from both your family and friends and feel completely and utterly alone. And indeed, there will be no person around you that can either understand the grief in your soul or console you. I promise you, it will get better. Please know, the trials of the process are part of what make the rewards so great.
3) In your times of pain and sorrow, you will never be alone. Not only will God be with you, but in times of grief, your relationship with God will grow and become something more amazing and powerful than you can imagine. There will be days when you pray without ceasing. And in these times, you will feel His hand comforting you. Trust Him. Feel Him. Lean into Him. Listen to His quiet whisper in your soul, but also be prepared when He speaks loud and clear.
4) Some of those closest to you will doubt your sanity, your judgment, and your worth. You will lose close friendships of people you thought you’d have your whole life. You will be questioned and judged. But you will also gain amazing friendships of people you don’t even know yet! Some will have walked a mile in your shoes and will “get it.” Other friends won’t have a clue what you’ve been though, and that will be ok too because you’ll learn that they love you completely and totally unconditionally. These friends will hold you in the hard times and will be the first to celebrate the blessings.
5) I know you’re a mom already, but get ready to love someone you haven’t met yet like you don’t even think is possible! Oh I wish I could tell you just how much you are going to love this child! This love is just so so much more than you can imagine it will be. Once you meet this child, you will be so certain that this is the child you were destined to have all along. I know that right now you can only try to visualize the face of your child, and I know you try to imagine what it will be like to make this child, a child another woman grew inside her, your own. But get ready to shake with emotion when you first see your child enter the doorway. You’ll remember every little detail of the moment you meet your child, and although you’ll try, no words will come close to expressing how amazing it was to have that child placed in your arms. You will be awed daily. A tiny weak frail child will be the strongest person you have ever met. This child will teach you more about life than anyone ever has, without ever saying a word. Get ready to burst with pride and joy and so so much love.
6) You’re never going to see the world the same way again. I know that you already see blessings and God’s beauty, but trust me when I say that this world is even more beautiful and amazing than what you see right now. After this journey, a child’s laughter will sound even sweeter. Your husband’s hand in yours, no matter where you are at, will be the best place in the world to be. You will appreciate a nap and a tidy home even more than you do now. The sweet smell of rain will seem like God’s little miracle just for you. A smile will creep up your face more easily. You will fear things that you’ve never thought of before. And you will run towards and embrace things that currently scare the pants off you… like the words “special needs.” Your priorities and goals that you value now may be shelved and forgotten forever. But soon, you’ll have a much better appreciation of what’s really important and truly beautiful in this world.
7) You will doubt yourself. You will doubt your decisions, your worth, and your ability to do what you willingly and gladly chose to do. You’ll lose sleep. You will have times when you are sure that God overestimated your capabilities, and you will plead with Him to lighten your burden. And because you not only chose, but actively sought out this adoption path, you will feel unworthy to complain or stress or regret… yet at times you’ll feel quite unworthy and have stress and feel regret. Know it’s ok to change your mind. It’s alright to re-assess and change directions. It’s ok to quit and take up a different path. And in this process, you’re confidence will grow strong.
8) Through your adoption journey, you will learn more about yourself than you thought possible. You’ll learn that you are stronger than you thought. You’ll learn that you can be pulled in a gazillion different directions and still get everything that needs to be done, done. You’ll learn who really loves you. You’ll learn to walk away from the things that don’t really matter and concentrate your energy on the things that do. You’ll learn lessons in patience, and you’ll come to appreciate how amazingly proactive you can be. Some things that you think are important right now, won’t even be a thought in five years. And things you never even considered, will completely occupy your thoughts and your actions.
9) Although you will learn so much and gain strategies and techniques to become a better parent, you will never get to a place where you feel like you pretty much know what you are doing and feel totally confident in your decisions and actions. You will not have all the answers all the time. And that’s ok. On many occasions you will feel like you are going crazy and are completely out of control. Do the best that you can do at the time, because actually that’s all you can do. Listen your gut. You’re going to make mistakes, lots of them in fact, and try not to feel guilty about what you did wrong or what you could have done better. It’s ok to wing it. It’s alright to pretend. Go ahead and fake it till you figure out a better way.
10) Five years later, in some ways, your life will be just as you had imagined. And in some ways it will be very different. Five years later, you will still be on this adoption journey, and you will realize that it is a journey that lasts a lifetime. There is no destination, just the journey itself. It doesn’t end the day you unite with a child. That day is just the beginning. Five years later, you will be so very amazingly happy. You really will be! And it doesn’t stop there! You be content. And confident. And so fulfilled. And the Lord will bless you more abundantly than you ever dared to ask for. And five years later, you’ll be so very sure that the adoption journey was one that you were meant and called to do.
I understand that you really won’t be able to appreciate these words now. I know that without the experiences behind them, they are just that… words. You can’t really understand the depth of what I’m saying now. But you will in five years.
Love,
Nancy (in 2012)
You can find the link here:
http://www.nohandsbutours.com/2012/07/25/a-letter-to-my-pre-adoption-self/
Dear Nancy (in 2007)
I know you’ve just started to seriously consider adopting a child. I know that the thought of adopting has been on your mind not just years, but since you were a little girl and heard about the abandoned baby girls in China and saw videos of the Romanian orphanages. So I understand that adopting isn’t an impulsive thought. And I know that even though you don’t know how or where or if a child will come to you, or what he or she will look like, that you are excited… and unsure… and scared all at the same time.
But I am you… five years later… and five years into your adoption journey. And I want you to know some things that I think will help you along the way, some really important things.
1) I know that you are currently thinking that adoption is a great way to add to your family, and it is! But you should know that your adoption journey is going to be so much more than that. Adoption is gonna rock your world like you’ve never imagined! You will not be the same woman ever again. It will be profound in your life. Bigger than you can fathom. Be brave and faithful, and you will be rewarded.
2) I don’t want to scare you, but you need to know this. This journey will be the hardest thing you’ve ever done. You will cry. Your heart will break, and you will feel grief like you’ve never felt before, so much that there will be moments that you fall to your knees. There will be days your sadness envelops everything you do. During the worst times, you will withdraw from both your family and friends and feel completely and utterly alone. And indeed, there will be no person around you that can either understand the grief in your soul or console you. I promise you, it will get better. Please know, the trials of the process are part of what make the rewards so great.
3) In your times of pain and sorrow, you will never be alone. Not only will God be with you, but in times of grief, your relationship with God will grow and become something more amazing and powerful than you can imagine. There will be days when you pray without ceasing. And in these times, you will feel His hand comforting you. Trust Him. Feel Him. Lean into Him. Listen to His quiet whisper in your soul, but also be prepared when He speaks loud and clear.
4) Some of those closest to you will doubt your sanity, your judgment, and your worth. You will lose close friendships of people you thought you’d have your whole life. You will be questioned and judged. But you will also gain amazing friendships of people you don’t even know yet! Some will have walked a mile in your shoes and will “get it.” Other friends won’t have a clue what you’ve been though, and that will be ok too because you’ll learn that they love you completely and totally unconditionally. These friends will hold you in the hard times and will be the first to celebrate the blessings.
5) I know you’re a mom already, but get ready to love someone you haven’t met yet like you don’t even think is possible! Oh I wish I could tell you just how much you are going to love this child! This love is just so so much more than you can imagine it will be. Once you meet this child, you will be so certain that this is the child you were destined to have all along. I know that right now you can only try to visualize the face of your child, and I know you try to imagine what it will be like to make this child, a child another woman grew inside her, your own. But get ready to shake with emotion when you first see your child enter the doorway. You’ll remember every little detail of the moment you meet your child, and although you’ll try, no words will come close to expressing how amazing it was to have that child placed in your arms. You will be awed daily. A tiny weak frail child will be the strongest person you have ever met. This child will teach you more about life than anyone ever has, without ever saying a word. Get ready to burst with pride and joy and so so much love.
6) You’re never going to see the world the same way again. I know that you already see blessings and God’s beauty, but trust me when I say that this world is even more beautiful and amazing than what you see right now. After this journey, a child’s laughter will sound even sweeter. Your husband’s hand in yours, no matter where you are at, will be the best place in the world to be. You will appreciate a nap and a tidy home even more than you do now. The sweet smell of rain will seem like God’s little miracle just for you. A smile will creep up your face more easily. You will fear things that you’ve never thought of before. And you will run towards and embrace things that currently scare the pants off you… like the words “special needs.” Your priorities and goals that you value now may be shelved and forgotten forever. But soon, you’ll have a much better appreciation of what’s really important and truly beautiful in this world.
7) You will doubt yourself. You will doubt your decisions, your worth, and your ability to do what you willingly and gladly chose to do. You’ll lose sleep. You will have times when you are sure that God overestimated your capabilities, and you will plead with Him to lighten your burden. And because you not only chose, but actively sought out this adoption path, you will feel unworthy to complain or stress or regret… yet at times you’ll feel quite unworthy and have stress and feel regret. Know it’s ok to change your mind. It’s alright to re-assess and change directions. It’s ok to quit and take up a different path. And in this process, you’re confidence will grow strong.
8) Through your adoption journey, you will learn more about yourself than you thought possible. You’ll learn that you are stronger than you thought. You’ll learn that you can be pulled in a gazillion different directions and still get everything that needs to be done, done. You’ll learn who really loves you. You’ll learn to walk away from the things that don’t really matter and concentrate your energy on the things that do. You’ll learn lessons in patience, and you’ll come to appreciate how amazingly proactive you can be. Some things that you think are important right now, won’t even be a thought in five years. And things you never even considered, will completely occupy your thoughts and your actions.
9) Although you will learn so much and gain strategies and techniques to become a better parent, you will never get to a place where you feel like you pretty much know what you are doing and feel totally confident in your decisions and actions. You will not have all the answers all the time. And that’s ok. On many occasions you will feel like you are going crazy and are completely out of control. Do the best that you can do at the time, because actually that’s all you can do. Listen your gut. You’re going to make mistakes, lots of them in fact, and try not to feel guilty about what you did wrong or what you could have done better. It’s ok to wing it. It’s alright to pretend. Go ahead and fake it till you figure out a better way.
10) Five years later, in some ways, your life will be just as you had imagined. And in some ways it will be very different. Five years later, you will still be on this adoption journey, and you will realize that it is a journey that lasts a lifetime. There is no destination, just the journey itself. It doesn’t end the day you unite with a child. That day is just the beginning. Five years later, you will be so very amazingly happy. You really will be! And it doesn’t stop there! You be content. And confident. And so fulfilled. And the Lord will bless you more abundantly than you ever dared to ask for. And five years later, you’ll be so very sure that the adoption journey was one that you were meant and called to do.
I understand that you really won’t be able to appreciate these words now. I know that without the experiences behind them, they are just that… words. You can’t really understand the depth of what I’m saying now. But you will in five years.
Love,
Nancy (in 2012)
Friday, July 20, 2012
A few of my favorite things!
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| I love the crinkle in her nose when she's being goofy. |
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And how her eyes light up when she's trying to make me laugh.  |
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| How her hair is so soft and shiny and totally unruly without a barrette. |
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| I could go on and on...Oh, how I love this girl! |
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Summer in Review...
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| Hamming it up with friends! |
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| Loving the beach! |
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| Hanging with Dad on his 39th birthday! |
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| Hugs with Meme! |
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| Aidan graduated Kindergarten! |
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| Celebrating the USA! |
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| Posing for pictures! |
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| Cuddling on the couch with big brother! Look at that smile! |
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| Growing Flowers.... |
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| And picking flowers! |
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| Playing in the rain! |
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| What's more fun than that?! |
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| Fish, fish and more fish! |
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| Water gun fight! |
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| Playing in the sprinkler trying to avoid the water gun fight! |
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| Asa's 10th Birthday! |
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| Wearing our new shades! |
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| Painting our toes! |
| Watching Dora and learning the word "backpack"! |
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| Slowing down once in a while and getting our beauty rest! |
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| Kitchen Renovations! Yuck! |
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| Rides on the tractor! |
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| What's a summer without some slip & slide action?! |
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| Climbing a mountain! |
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| With the whole family! I sure am one lucky mama! |
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| Ava did it the easy way! Thanks Daddy! |
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| We made it! |
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| The top of the world! Well,Vermont anyways! |
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