January
Eliana’s ears were pierced on the 15th.
February
We threw a birthday party for Eliana at church on the 17th. The theme was “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
We hosted a local Chinese New Year celebration on the 17th (CNY was the 18th). There were 40 people present including 10 Chinese daughters.
Eliana turned 5 on the 20th.
March
We attended the Charlotte Chinese New Year celebration on the 3rd.
We registered Eliana for kindergarten on the 9th.
Doug turned 44 on the 14th.
We went to New Bern, NC on the 22nd for Carmi to attend a 3-day paralegal seminar.
Doug and Eliana watched Bridge to Terabithia at the movie theater on the 31st.
April
Carmi turned 44 on the 19th.
On the 24th, we agreed to adopt Karys from our agency’s current special needs list.
May
On the 1st, we mailed the special needs application and Letter of Intent (LOI) to CWA.
CWA mailed our Letter of Intent to China on the 4th.
We went to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC on the 5th.
The three of us went to see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End at the movie theater on the 28th.
June
Eliana graduated from preschool on the 2nd.
We received pre-approval for Karys’ adoption on the 8th.
We attended a Dragon Boat Festival on the 9th and Doug participated in his first Dragon Boat race.
We attended the CWA Family Reunion at Myrtle Beach, SC from the 20th through the 24th.
Carmi and Doug received their passport renewals on the 27th.
We attended an FCC picnic on the 30th.
July
Doug participated in his 2nd blogathon on the 28th.
Eliana was baptized on the 29th.
We received our Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for Karys’ adoption on the 31st.
August
Eliana’s first soccer practice was on the 18th.
We received Travel Approval (TA) on the 20th.
We attended open house at Eliana’s school on the 23rd.
Eliana’s first day of kindergarten was on the 28th.
September
Eliana’s first soccer game was on the 8th.
We left for China on the 14th.
Karys was adopted on the 17th.
We arrived home on the 27th.
October
We went to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC on the 13th with a large group of parents who are CWA clients.
Eliana’s last soccer game was the 29th.
Karys experienced her first Fall Festival on the 31st. She dressed up as a ladybug and Eliana was the pink Power Ranger.
November
Eliana had a cavity filled on the 1st.
Our annual trip to the photography studio was on the 3rd.
Some friends through our adoption agency came into town for a visit on the 11th.
Our 21st wedding anniversary was on the 15th.
Eliana lost her first tooth on the 16th.
Eliana lost a second tooth on the 18th.
We attended our town’s Christmas parade on the 20th.
December
Doug tweaked the look and function of the site on the 4th.
Carmi started working from home on Fridays on the 14th.
Doug directed the Sanctuary Choir’s Christmas cantata entitled “Night of Alleluias” on the 16th.
Aunt Kerry took Eliana to see Alvin and the Chipmunks at the movie theater on the 27th.
Carmi and I are always looking for ways to maximize the space in our house and our attention has recently turned to the girls’ room. Eliana and Karys will continue sharing a room because, well, the third bedroom shall be occupied by a young man one day.
The four of us went shopping this afternoon and purchased the bunk beds shown below (minus the ‘colorful’ bed spreads and pillows, Mickey and oversized crayolas). Eliana is excited that she’ll be sleeping in the top.
We really liked this one because the top bunk is lower than normal. Even
Carmi will be able to check on Eliana without climbing up the ladder.
The beds will be delivered next Wednesday.
I was chatting with a lady at work this afternoon about Eliana and Karys and the girls’ first Christmas together. During the course of our conversation, I mentioned that Carmi and I planned to also adopt a son from China if the good Lord wills.
She countered with, “Well, you can’t adopt them all.”
It’s not about wanting to adopt them all. However, it IS about wanting to complete our family.
The more I ponder her statement, the more I realize in retrospect that most people have given me a “Huh?” look when I mention a third child. Why is it that having one or two children equates to normalcy but three (or more) is lunacy?
I guess we’re headed for the crazy house.
Eliana will occasionally let Karys participate in “big girl” activities like playing on the computer.
Karys was brushing Eliana’s hair and inadvertently poked Eliana in the eye.
Little ones get bored rather easily.
Karys was squeezing a bit too tight.
My sister, Kerry, took Eliana to a matinee showing of Alvin and the Chipmunks after lunch.
Kerry said there were several spots throughout the movie where Eliana just laughed out loud. Eliana also remembered details in the movie when questioned afterwards so it sounds like the movie held her attention pretty well.
That’s an amazing feat!
Poor mommy had to go to work today.
Karys wanted to say hello and make mommy feel better.
