One more week and she’s officially ours!!!!

I know to a lot of people it doesn't really seem like a big deal, but finalization for an adoption truly is.  It's whent EVERYONE recognizes that our Korean born daughter is ours!  To top it all off, November is National Adoption Awareness Month, so for us to get a court date in November is EXTRA special.  I just get emotional thinking about the meaning of it all. 

We've known Chelsi was ours the 2nd we heard about her.  No picture necessary.  I remember back to when we finalized Kaelin almost 3 years ago and it was so emotional.  I was practically in tears during the court proceeding.  Just to hear them say that they see her as our daughter as well as the other government entities is a wonderful feeling.

November 28th will be a very special day for our family.  Needless to say, I have Chelsi's Happy Adoption Day book all ready to go for the judge and attorneys to sign, as they did Kaelin's.  Just a special momento.

Let’s compare notes

I know you're not supposed to compare your children to each other, but sometimes I can't help it when one reminds me so much of the other.

For example:

Chase and Chelsi....so much alike.  They've been our laidback babies.  They both were a little slower than the other two at the milestones, but not because they couldn't....just didn't feel like it.  They both like to laugh and make others laugh.  They have many, many facial expressions that say everything.  They're more like their dad.  They have the personality I wish I had.  Here's another thing....they both are our sleepers.  Can sleep through most anything and anywhere.

 

And, no, we didn't teach these faces to them.  They both did these at the same age on their own.  That's just too funny!

Cole and Kaelin are a lot alike as well.  They are our sensitive children.  They try so hard and take everything to heart.  They are very bright and it's hard to just let go sometimes.  They're my Type A's....like mom.  They're my little worry warts sometimes.  They are the lover of babies and animals.  These two also have great smiles anytime a camera is around!

It's these neat little complexities that make me love them even more.  I love to watch them grow up and their lives unfold right before my eyes.  It's such a wonderfult gift and is so amazing.  Yes, a lot of days are beyond crazy, hectic and making you want to cry sometimes, but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Enough already!

My poor baby.  The doctors and the agencies recommend (and really kind of want in case treatment is needed) blood tests run when your child arrives from outside the country.  Well, about 6 weeks after Chelsi arrived we went to the hospital to do just this and they stuck her about 6 times in one day to get blood and came back with zilch!

 I decided I was not repeating that for quite some time.  That was 7 months ago.  I finally worked up the nerve to request the orders be sent to the hospital again and took her tonight.  After sticking her once in each hand and each foot they finally got maybe 3-4 cc's of blood.  Not near enough for the tests ordered....probably not even 1/4.  But, I told them to use what they got and that's all they're getting from my brave little girl!

 She was SO good.  She didn't even cry the first stick.  The 2nd tech wasn't so good and she cried.  The 3rd did both of her feet and she did great through them both.  She is such a tough girl!  You would never expect it out of her sweet, tiny little self.

 Momma loves you Chels Chels!

A little about the changes going on in Korean adoption.

I rarely say much about this. All-in-all I think it's a great step for South Korea and their children.

Now that being said, I know this article is old, but this part of it bothers me some;

"While adoption is considered as a way to carry out spirit of noblesse oblige or giving help to society abroad, Koreans tend to choose adoption for getting pure joy of rearing children,''' said Cho Min-hye, an official at the Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea."

I believe, and this is only my opinion, that the vast majority of adoptive parents abroad do not at all view adoption, from any country, as "noblesse oblige or giving help to society abroad". Yes, there is publicity on occasion of the Hollywood folks adopting and mentioning this, but most of us 'regular' families do not view adoption in that regard.

To be honest, our family has NEVER viewed the adoption of our two South Korean born daughters as saving a child or helping anyone. The only way we've viewed it is that we prayed for more children, couldn't have them biologically anymore due to reasons of a personal nature, and we truly believe they just happened to be born in Korea. We love our daughters as much as we would if they were biologically born to us. And yes, as any other family who continues to give birth to additional children, we wanted more for the joy of raising them.

I hope that the wonderful people living in South Korea, our daughter's homeland and a piece of our hearts, understand the reasons behind most adoptions abroad. They are, very much, for the love of our children as they are, "our children".

Some videos of Chels Chels

Click here to see some of Chelsi from today playing with blocks video and having a GREAT time!

Here are some videos I combined over the past several months.  Her personality has REALLY started to come out.

Chase’s first play date without mom and dad.

This is new territory to me.  He's been away from us to be with relatives (grandma and grandpa), but never people I don't really know.  I felt kind of overprotective when his friend's mom left a message asking if he could spend sometime at their house and wanted to call back and say "well, I need to talk to and meet you first".  I was so relieved when I called to say that and she said she totally understood and does the same thing with her kids.  WHEW!

 Tonight after work I went over there with him and while the boys played me and Wes' mom chatted for almost an hour to get to know each other more.  It helps that Brian's aunts and uncles live so close and know them, I felt a little better.  His mom was SO nice and the boys really did seem to have a lot in common.  So I left to come home and Chase ate dinner with them.  He got to stay for a little over an hour without mom or dad and when he got home he said he couldn't wait to go back.  The boys had such a good time.

 Big step for this momma!

Our latest pictures including Halloween

Halloween was tiring for all of us.  1 1/2 hours of trick or treating is wearing, but family would be kind of upset if they didn't get to see our vampire, goofy grim reaper, princess and fairy princess.  We have SO much candy!  Of course, mom and dad will take care of the chocolate....I mean you wouldn't want the caffeine on top of the sugar, right?  It was a tad chilly at around 40 degrees, but survivable and what kid in their right mind is going to complain until they get a fair amount of candy.  We even put the candy we were giving out, outside on the porch and left our front light on.  People really did take it on the honor system.  We cam home later and there was still some candy in the bowl.

All four of our trick or treaters.....had to leave Chase's red eye in this time.

Here are our princesses pre-makeup and glitter.

 And, our little fairy princess after all that trick or treating.

Well, here's Chelsi the other day when she was having snack.  That daylight savings ending is just havoc on little ones!