My 3 year old

We had a family party for Parker this weekend. I have no intention of friend parties until he can actually ask for one or name some children. He often makes the blanket statement "all of my friends" referring to those in moppets, daycare, playgroups etc. Sometimes he will name a few children, mostly girls!

My Mom and Nicole helped me make (well actually I think they did it all) ice cream cone cupcakes. The frosting wasn't as fluffy as I would like (Nicole told me you cannot put food coloring in, need to buy gel). So the frosting was my fault, but they were cute.

Ready to blow out his candles
I think all he ate was 2 cupcakes

Playing with one of his many fun toys. He opened his water table first and said "I want to play with that now" Did I mention 3 (well 2.5) brought on this demanding attitude. Jim says it reminds him of the scene in Wedding Crashers where Will Ferrell demands "Ma, the meatloaf"...we are working on manners,

Don't mind out stripped deck but this playhouse was a present from us. The next day he said "Mommy did you and Daddy buy me that play house for my birthday? Thank you so much!"

I told him he could try gum at age 3, he chewed a piece and did not like the spearmint. He asked for another piece that afternoon, and swallowed it. I told him he would have to wait until he got older. Ten minutes later he announced "Okay, I older".

He is sweet boy but he is strong willed and emotional. He speaks about being "so sad, so happy, and loving things so much." He is so grown up I completely forget what it is like to have a baby in the house...

VIDEO

We were also fortunate to get a video of Evelyn from the traveling family! This is beyond special and needless to say I have watched it many times. I have heard them say her Chinese name, observed how she interacted with others, and watched her walk. Despite our long wait, I am still in complete shock I get to parent this lovely little girl.

Another Surprise!

As of March 1, there are going to be no more updates on Evelyn (from our agency/China) unless we pay for them. Around $80 for pictures and measurements. That made me a bit sad, but there was no guarantee we would get regular updates. I may ask for one closer to travel for updated measurements. It is no secret that international adoption is costly, so this seems like nothing. As I understand these updates are being outsourced, as it is costly and time consuming to have staff from the orphanage complete these updates.

We were so lucky to get photos of Evelyn from a delivery Love Without Boundaries made to her SWI. A group of Yangxi families sent donations and LWB purchased items the SWI needed, and our Evie was photographed at the drop off! I donated the money I would have spent sending her a care package she may have not gotten...and let's face it she's too younger to understand someone sending her something. I would rather the SWI have what they need.

The photos came to me by way of another Mom...how amazing!

On the right
COME ON LOA!

Happy Birthday Parker!

My baby is 3..and no one tells you what that entails. There are urban legends about the terrible 2's. He is such a sweet boy but the tantrums and the arguing. He had been asking for a few weeks if it was his birthday, so we started a count down. He reminded me that I had to "decorate the house" for his birthday and that he wanted to "go to a place with a slide".

We put some balloons and a book in his room, he was so excited to wake up and see them.
Jim had put his bike in the living room and Parker spotted it off the balcony...He said "Oh that bike for me!" Notice the banner above him, I call that decorating.

He had a birthday muffin, which he did not eat..and asked for cake. After a trip to the Y, we went to a playdate at the park (slide #1). When we got home he asked for pancakes, which he did not eat. Parker is not a big fan of carbs, unless it is rice, noodles, or couscous.

He woke up to a package from Grandma and Papa, that contained Duncan, another engine on his list. After some bike riding he got to choose dinner.

He asked for noodles (most likely to use chopsticks) and split a curry dish with me, we visited slide #2, and stopped for yogurt. He sang happy birthday to himself in multiple locations that day. We came home to skype with Grandma and Papa or as he calls it "talk on screen".

We have a family party this weekend, he told me to keep the decor up for his party.

I can only hope his birth mother is at peace, and one day that she will be able to know this wonderful son we share. He is loved by so many people and brings so much joy to our lives.

When the subject is :)

I mentioned that a family was headed to Evelyn's orphanage when they picked up their daughter. I knew the day was coming and was cautiously optimistic. We do not receive our babies at the orphanage and some people are denied permission to visit. It is the SWI's discretion if families visit, take pictures etc. My only hope was that they could see her and tell me she was okay.

I got home at 3:00am from work and gave my a phone a glance as I headed up to bed. Imagine my surprise when my email contained :) in the subject line! They saw her, touched her, took her photos and a video!!!!!!! I am not sure there are enough exclamation points. She was so detailed for me, knowing that I would want to hear everything.

They brought her in and she said she was beautiful! She took off and was walking. (What?? my baby in an orphanage is walking sooner than my Parker! What?? I am in trouble!) Her husband attempted to pick her up and she did not like it, I do think she has been around very few men.
For a point of reference she just turned 14 months, and Rushton said she looked a bit bigger than her daughter who is in 9 month clothes.

Rushton said the Nannies loved the babies so much, this makes me so happy and know that she is in good hands until we arrive.

When the family entered the room Evelyn started to cry...keep in mind their baby has been gone for almost a week now, Evelyn has been with her since she arrived at the SWI...they are essentially sisters and now she is gone. Rushton patted her cheeks and the Nanny took her to her nap.

Rushton you look amazing, after we picked up Parker I looked a nightmare! and look at her sweet girl!

This trip is 3.5 hours, each way, with a new baby....who has known you a few days. The trip to the SWI is not easy emotionally or physically, this is wonderful that the family made this trip. She said rather than being sad she focused on the joy of having her daughter. She did feel sad leaving Evelyn, and wished she could have brought her home to us. I cannot thank them enough for asking to see our baby, she looks so lovely.

Jim and I agreed that we will go, if we are permitted. This is our daughter's history, the women who have cared for her, the place she was found. Even if it is heartbreaking to see, we need to know and Evelyn deserves to know.

Prayers for this family as they begin their journey home!

Finally...Mexico

Last month we were lucky to get away from winter and visit the Mayan Riviera. We stayed at the NOW Jade in Puerto Morales. We traveled with my parents, which was really wonderful since we don't live near them. Parker keeps talking about vacation with Papa and Grandma and said he wants to go with them next year. All things considered he is a great traveler. Poor guy had to see a doctor on the trip because he caught an infection. We were concerned as he kept complaining about his ear and had fears of him bursting an eardrum on the plane. He got 5 days of antibiotics, which I knew would not be enough...after we got home he needed another round.

Here is some of our fun...

He was Pavlovian around the bars...each time he saw one "I thirsty, I want juice" We allowed juice and all kinds of fun non-alcoholic drinks.

As always, playing with his chop sticks

As usual, Parker received lots of attention at the resort. One woman came up to Jim and said "I want to take him home"

With his Papa

Swimming alone..."Go away Mommy, I do it myself"

Grandma gave him some new trains and he insisted on making them castles

Grandma and Papa

I, of course, got sunburn...one day around 5 people came up to me and said "Your back is burning" Yes people, I am aware, I am wearing a 50 sunblock that I have reapplied four times...inevitable.

This trip came at just the right time, although I could use another already!

LID!!!

We are logged into the China system, which is our Log in Date (LID). It was 3/2...our agency told us to expect 10 weeks for the next step. There is no rhyme or reason to the next step...some people wait 30 days some wait 130.

Jim wagered 53 days, I said 73...the average right now has been around 64.

The next step is the big one, after that all down hill getting all of the government paper work where it needs to be.