Around the World & Back

Adoption Update!

live2roam — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 02:21:55 +0000

Yes, here we are 3 years into our adoption with not much new or exciting news. And will probably be giving the same type of update for the next 3 years, but I am at peace with that aspect of our adoption. We updated our home study in April and have filed for a THIRD extension for our I-600A. I sent off our paperwork today, so am very thankful to be done at this point and time. I used to love paperwork (like I should have been a secretary in another life), but now that I have two kids, I barely have time to shower. Needless to say, I find the paperwork a bit daunting, but I know very worth it in the end. I also must give some kudos to USCIS-if you can believe it. I had some questions, which I emailed and received a response within 24 hours and it was actually a helpful response! Now that is what I call my tax dollars at work! On the flip side, when I originally sent in my request, they said they didn’t have a record of my file. Whateves. I got it all taken care of and it is done. We are in the non-Hague system under the 600 form and are electing to stay that way. I sent off a large packet of paperwork today, so we shall see shortly! If you have any questions (that is if anyone is still reading) about what you need to do to renew you I-600A for a third time, drop me a comment and I would be more than happy to help!

Off to Grandma’s House!

live2roam — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:45:06 +0000

We recently spent some extended time at my parents where we went to a local children’s museum. Ainsley loved playing with all the neat little science projects they had to offer. She had a great time jumping off anything that was more than an inch from the ground.

We had some tea…

Slid down the big slide (her favorite)..

And did a little fishing….

Andrew was such a great sport. He rode around in his stroller and just took it all in. That is of course after he pooped all over his stroller and I somehow forgot any wipes. Someday soon he will be up playing also!

Maternity

live2roam — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:01:38 +0000

We are quickly adjusting to two children around here and I have been loving every minute of it. My first maternity was a challenge for me to stay home, so I assumed that would be the case this time around. But Andrew is such a sweet baby and Ainsley is so much fun thus I have really enjoyed being a SAHM. It has come as somewhat of a surprise that I feel this way, in the past I have always been very career oriented, but that is not so much the case these days. I think I could work part-time and be perfectly happy, but I am going to give it the college try and return to work in 2.5 weeks. Snif. On to the pictures! Suffice to say I had a longer than usual recovery after labor, but am feeling pretty good these days. We have been able to do some fun things thus far and hope we can continue to do so with two kids! As many of you know, we have our first family vacation to Colorado in September, so that will really test our parenting abilities!

Andrew is such a charm. He is so good natured and such an easy baby. He loves sleep (takes after his mommy!) and to eat (this one is mommy and daddy!). He is such a smiley baby and loves to be talked to.

Love the pouty face….

And of course…a future thumb sucker!

Ainsley definitely has my personality and free spirit. You never know what she is up to, but you can bet it will be wild and unexpected. She is such a chatter bug. We have whole conversations about everything and does really well with her speech. She loves to sing and dance, especially with Dora. We have a great time singing tunes and dancing around the house. I think this series best sums up her personality.

I did it….

Prepare to meet your demise….

Now I will destroy you….

Andrew Scott

live2roam — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:02:45 +0000

Andrew Scott

8lbs. 7oz. 21 inches

6.14.2011 10:22pm

So much to say….

live2roam — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 01:27:04 +0000

Things have been extra super crazy since I last posted, but with two children on the horizon I have a feeling that is going to be the norm. I will try to start from the beginning, but a lot of it is hazy as I feel like our lives are becoming one big blur. But it’s a good blur, so I am not going to complain. As far as the newbie to the family, things are going right along. I am extremely tired, but such is to be expected. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything in his room which is only painted because someone did it for me. I am very aware I have committment issues and thus holds true for his room decor. I have until June 22nd and I am, at this point, hoping he doesn’t come early.

Ainsley is great. She is a chatter bug. She can count to 20, knows a lot of her colors, and loves to talk. Wonder where she got that? Her favorite game is “Where did it go?”. She likes to hide something under her arm and ask “Where did it go?!!”. It’s so cute. We are working with her letting her know she will be having a brother and seems pretty open to the idea. I am sure she will be okay with it, until she realizes she has to share her parental time long term. She loves to use the potty. We aren’t potty trained at this point, and I don’t really want her to be. She is only 19 months, we have PLENTY of time.

Work is insane. I have been frantically trying to tie things up with my impending maternity leave. I was most recently in Seattle for a conference and I really liked it there. I have been before, but I was much younger. Unfortunately, I was not able to see a lot as in between events at the conference I was laying down trying to get my ankles back tot he size of human feet, not that of a hobbit. I did manage to snap a few photos…

The newest highlight is my nephew, Hayes. He made his appearance into the world on March 30th and he looks exactly like his daddy. He is such a cute little baby!! I just want to squeeze him!!

I think that brings it all up to date! I have been snapping some photos, I hope to post some very soon! I hope everyone out in the cyber world is doing well!

Oh Boy!

live2roam — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:47:59 +0000

Well, well, well…we are expecting Baby Mac #2 in June! We found out at our ultrasound last week that Ainsley will be welcoming a little brother into the mix!! We are very excited and feel blessed beyond belief to be welcoming an additional family member. We originally were not going to find out the gender of Baby 2.0, but since this pregnancy has been almost the complete opposite of my first, I was starting to feel that we could be looking at some blue. We have been very pink around here for the last two years, thus I knew I would have my work cut out for me. The planner side of my brain overtook the spontaneous side…..so here we are. And we couldn’t be happier. God is good!

Adoption update!

live2roam — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:09:27 +0000

It is getting to be that time where we are ready to update our HS. I have been working on some background checks, physicals, and other paperwork to get to our yearly renewal and it feels good. Although it is just a HS update, I still feel like we are working towards bringing home the last member of our family. Now if only I could find our 800 renewal….hmmm…. Anyhoo, as to where we are in the whole process? Still waiting. I really don’t know how much longer we will be waiting for our child, but I assume it to be about 2.5 more years. We started the process in 2007 so we have been in the “paperwork pregnancy” phase for 3 years. At times, the process has seemed agonizingly slow and at times it has come at me so fast it took my breath away. But alas, it is all about perseverance and keeping our faith that our little one will be home soon!

It really does exist!

live2roam — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:11:56 +0000

I have heard many a fable about the mysterious child who falls asleep playing. I truly thought that would NEVER be us. Ainsley is such a bad sleeper and requires so little sleep that I resolved myself to the fact I would never have one of those children. The child that collapses from exhaustion right where they are. Well…..enter a little cold, A LOT of sleepless nights, and a little holiday overload and this is what you get.

Yes, that would be my child who fell asleep playing in the living room. I have been waiting for frogs to fall from the sky into our back yard….or palm trees to sprout in the midwest….or for our cat to start talking, but alas, I think it was just an anomaly. This was followed up by a 1.5 hour nap an hour later. Could it be, we are all going to finally get some rest? Here’s to hoping!!!

Happy New Year!

live2roam — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 18:04:53 +0000

Our rockin’ NYE party had long been over for these two little people by the time we got to pictures, but they were good sports. Can’t you tell? We have been battling some sort of crud in our house for the past few days, so here is to hoping that is not a sign of things to come. I hope everyone had a fun/safe/restful evening and is ready to take on 2011. There are some crazy changes coming our way in the next year, but would you expect anything less with us?

Happy New Year!

A few pics

live2roam — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:41:16 +0000

I mentioned that we had some professional pictures taken at the pumpkin patch as a family back in October, but am just getting around to posting them. Although the session was complete chaos, Ainsley actually smiled! She usually sees the camera then goes into some kind of tornadic tantrum. Needless to say, I was very please. I am hoping for the same luck again in a few months!