Uncle Santa?

Last night was Jayden's daycare Christmas party. It's a wonderful party - lots of amazing Colombian food, singing, and of course Santa! When Santa arrived, Jayden went for the classroom...not too keen on the man in the red suit. After gifts were handed out, Mommy took the opportunity to get Jay's picture with Santa. I thought enough time had elapsed to warm up to the guy in the red suit. Well, you see the result.

Later Uncle Santa came in his street clothes and we were so excited to see him and spent much of the rest of the evening hanging with him.

Someone just woke up...gotta run!

Family Day - 2 Years!

Saturday was our 2 year Family Day celebration. We went to a new kids museum and it was wonderful. I think I have found our new annual trip for the next couple years - I am not sure how this will show up, but the floor is a map of the world and he is standing near Guatemala.

He was good for one picture and then ran out of the shot where I had him standing near NC.

Jayden is such a joy! Happy Family Day kiddo!

Concern from those in Guatemala

The last several months, I've been following the new adoption law and it's implications from several sources. I think this article sums up the concern well.

http://www.adaguatemala.org/English/news/

Some nights I don't sleep so well...

but they always seem to...

Who is really losing out

Why must we keep repeating misinformation? Why? Over the last several months Guatemala adoptions have been in the news. Most of the reporting has been poor at best and exploitive at worst.

The AP and other news organizations have reported that under the current notorial system, the notories (lawyers) are paid $30,000. That is insane. First let me explain that there is definitely an international fee...what it includes: lawyer to represent you, lawyer to represent the child, all family court fees, PGN (Guatemalan court system) fees, foster care, formula, clothes, doctors’ appointments, all documentation fees, translation fees, transportation for doctor's appointments, etc. The international fee is a flat fee regardless of how long your process takes...5 months or 1 year, it's the same. Formula, it's what we have here except there is no generic version so it's $20 per can. The lawyers are legally responsible for the children until they are adopted. They find them foster care. In Jay's case, he was in foster care, six weeks prior to my referral so that would mean the lawyer was covering the all his expenses up to that point. Let's also remember there is no insurance there so it's not like my co-pay covered his vaccines, etc. He also had a lot of additional testing, i.e. HIV, Hepatitis screenings, etc. Money is always a sensitive topic to be sure, but I think the fees I paid were more than fair. I paid for someone to take excellent care of my son. I paid for someone to see my case through the process. I paid for my documents to be translated. I paid for many services in order to bring my son home and the media seems to lose sight of that. Let’s be clear $30K does NOT go to the lawyers in Guatemala. The international is no where near $30K.

A law was voted on yesterday in a special session of Guatemalan congress. There is a sigh of relief for the most part from the families that are in the middle of their adoptions. The law is all in the name of stopping corruption and becoming Hague Compliant. I am thrilled for them, but petrified for the children who hadn't received a referral or those whose mother is starring poverty in the face and now may not have adoption as a choice. I am scared because Guatemala has no social service mechanism to handle or care for these children. The prospect of children going to an orphanage is horribly sad, but there are no state orphanages so that really isn’t an option. Remove the lawyers in favor of a central authority and in effect, you are removing the foster system as well. If they push out the private orphanages and there is no foster system where exactly will these children go?

The articles I have read how “easy” it is to adopt from Guatemala that last year alone over 4,000 children were adopted by Americans. They speak of how high that number is. I want to yell and scream at them. Do you know how many years of adoptions at that rate it would take to get to the current number of Guatemalans who have been backed into a corner to immigrate to the US illegally? Do you realize that there is a horrific trend of mothers leaving their children behind to ride the Train of Death through Mexico in hopes of making to the US so they can send money for food, clothes and school back to their children? If you haven’t read Enrique’s Journey, go get it, read it. 48,000 unaccompanied minors are making the trip each year in an attempt to find their mothers here in the US.

This new law has the potential to stop adoptions altogether from Guatemala. Most likely the best case scenario is it is going to greatly reduce them. It really is not about adoption, it’s about what is going to happen in a country that is so impoverish and has no structure to handle it. The families that were considering Guatemala as an option for adoption can choose another country. The children and their birthmothers in Guatemala won’t have that choice. Please don’t lose sight of them and that is the real tragedy being missed in the media and in the passage of this new law.

He took a bad picture

Last night I was trying to get a picture of Jayden actually looking into the camera. He's always hated the flash and so when he sees the camera, he usually tries to avoid it.

Here's Mister Photogenic...

Caught between the moon and Guatemala City

So two years ago on this date, Pop Pop, as he is now known, and I got up at 3am to begin our journey to Guatemala City.

We flew Continental Airlines through Houston. I had miles on US Airways and he had them on Continental so we both researched who could get tickets in two days and hopefully in first class. Long story short, Pop Pop won this one. Being the complete travel snot that I had become over the previous two years, I did a lot of ""your" first class doesn't have this" - it became somewhat of a joke.

Contintental still has a lot of the old school first class amenities. Real glasses and plates, table clothes, etc. It was decadent to be sure. I was shocked that they served first class even during pretty rough turbulence. They asked to wait to give us coffee so we wouldn't get burned, but yet the flight attendents were still serving...shocking. And for those that know me, this was not a fun experience here. Turbulence and I are not friends.

Houston to Guatemala City is 3 hours. We landed, gathered our things, and got on the hotel shuttle bus. We arrived at the hotel and got in line to check in. We weren't in line more than 2 minutes, when Jayden, Carmen and her family arrived.

We took over a side room in one of the hotel restaurants, ordered food, shared gifts, instructions on Jayden's schedule and went over the remaining paperwork for the embassy. It was so surreal in many ways. We said our goodbyes, lots of hugs and tears and then checked in and went up to our room.

He was mine.

2 Whole Years!

Two years ago on December 8, I got "the call". It was a Thursday morning and the caller id was from my adoption agency. I was sort of confused as to why they would be calling. I started off by asking if it was "the call" and if we had pink slip. She said yes, so I got up to walk out of the building to finish the call.

Pink slip is literally a pink piece of paper with your US Embassy appointment. I got a call on a Thursday that I had to be there on Tuesday. Our appointment was at 7:30 in the morning. At this point, I kick into PD mode - there are a lot of logistics to be nailed down... travel, work has to be covered, what to bring, etc, etc. It is also the "dawning of what is about to happen".

Grandpa and I board the 6am flight on Sunday morning to fly to Guatemala City. We got to the hotel, got in line to check in and Jayden was there with his foster family waiting for us. The two hours we spent with them flew by.

Two days later was the embassy appointment and then we were on our way home.

This is just before going to the US Embassy...

Update on the milestone

Today while driving in, I apparently took the preferred route. At one intersection, when I made the "correct" turn, I heard "Bueno" from the backseat.

Milestone blown out of the water

Admittedly, I am biased at the skill level and development of my boy. There is one area that he is downright exceptional. He possesses a skill that as a first time parent, it would never have occurred to me to track. I am positive that his pediatrician would not track it as no other child possesses this skill at such a tender age.

Jayden is a backseat driver. He is passionate about which direction I should go when we come to intersections. If Mommy does not take his impassioned pleadings from the backseat to make a turn, she is met with a faux tantrum of epic proportions. If Mommy, however, follows said backseat drivers directions, she is met with a full gusto "wwweeeeeeeeee".

We are currently in training to use the words "left" and "right", as finger pointing and "this way" are what is used to provide direction from the backseat. Somewhat difficult to see from the front seat.

If I could figure out how to drive and take video at the same time I would.

Bethel China

This past weekend, Jayden and I met Grandma and Pop Pop for an amazing weekend in Nashville, TN. We were invited to Shaohannah's Hope Fellowship weekend. It was an incredible time, celebrating adoption and understanding more about orphan care around the world. I am still trying to comprehend it all.

Friday night we attended an SCC sound check and dinner where we met many incredible families who also came in from out of town. The dinner was hosted in a gym and there were many kids running around. There was a gentleman who was helping Jay shoot baskets, I went over to introduce myself and met Guillame. Guillame has a foster home for blind orphans in China. It is the only foster home for blind children in all of China. www.bethelchina.org He and his family's story is incredible and God is doing amazing things through BethelChina. Check out the video on their website... www.bethelchina.org

Trying to be creative

Okay so I am trying to get creative with the templates...since I am not html savvy it's proving to be a little bit bumpy transition. I'll get it right eventually. I promise.

underconstruction

MAKING A FEW CHANGES...BEAR WITH ME

It Sold!!!

My house sold! Okay not the one I am currently in, but the one I had built. I hope it found a good family to take care of it. It went really quick once it came off contingency. It would have been so nice to be at the other end of town, but it's all good that the move didn't happen.

The most painful part of this process is the unpacking...the house had been staged for 6 months and now I am unpacking the 1/3 that was packed. I am leaving all the china packed. If a formal party takes place, I'll unpack it, but since formal and Eli are not two words that occur in the same sentence or paragraph, I'm not anticipating needing the china.

The unpacked has, however, brought back to light my obsession with all things educational for Jayden. I started collecting books, workbooks, etc prior to my homestudy and while waiting to get a referral with no idea of gender or age, I filled that nesting need with all things "educational and international". The kids has several atlases...you get the picture. So the bookshelves are filling back up and the inflatable pirate ship has re-emerged. Pictures are going back up on the wall in high quantities. We're making home a little bit more homey again.

I've done more painting and re-claimed a guest room for an office. I had it in my bedroom but the hum of the laptop calls in the middle of the night...not good for me. I hope to paint the living/dining room over Thanksgiving, but we'll see how ambitious I am. If I accomplish that, I'll have a guest room and the master left to paint.

I'm giving it two more years and then will decide if we are going to stay put or attempt a move. I'd like to stay put through the elementary school years if at all possible, which is 2 1/2 years away.

Adoption editorial

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/02/AR2007110201782.html

This is a very good editorial regarding Guatemala adoptions written by a Harvard Professor. I'll write more on this later, but it's a fairly emotion filled issue for me and not one to delve into while working.

Treeeeeee

It's been a busy couple weeks with appointments, dead work computers, parties and jury duty, but I was able to make Jayden's "school" party on Wednesday. It was a great time and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. He was a skunk.

He's telling me about a tree with the emphasis on eeeeeeee.

A few good pics

Which boy was doing his own thing?

We took "the boys" David, Matthew and Jayden for their now annual photo shoot. This particular shot took about 10 minutes to "capture"...give you one guess as to which boy was constantly running out of the frame?

in case you were wondering how potty training was going...

Yeah, Baby, Yeah

For the last several years, I have participated in our office football pool. It's $5 a week to participate. Before you think that's a terrible way to spend your money, please note that I won a couple weeks of pools the first year I played. I managed to win enough to pay for that season but also the season's since.

I took one year off and decided to jump in again this year. It had to be fluke, I don't watch football, let alone have a concept of which team is better than another.

Well, I AM BACK ON TOP BABY I am ranked number 1...wooo hoooo.

We'll see if I can hold on to it but for now...WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

My little singer

Jayden has always loved music. In the car, he's been trying to "sing" to Mercy Me, SCC and others since before he could talk. He first started singing to "I lift my eyes" and I'll have to look up the artist because I am terrible at remembering things like that.

Anyways, if we are stuck in traffic and mommy turns on the radio to find alternative routes, a fit is pitched until the CD or Klove is back on. As he gets older, he can sing more words and gets louder. We have added Veggie Tales and now Jack's Big Music Show. Jack is the new current favorite.

Lately we've moved from requesting CDs to actual songs. Let me say a two and half minute song can be repeated at least 10 times between home and school. He also remembers lyrics... I can start a line and he finishes it and with a big smile of course.

Based on all my reading, he'll have to wait until at least 4 before anyone will take him for guitar lessons...yes, I looked and the real 1/2 size guitars aren't cheap, for that matter neither are lessons. Well I have a little bit of time before that of course.

update

UNICEF Guatemala is joining the JCICS in it's support of grandfathering the 5000 kids into the current process ...this is awesome news. Please continue to pray. Things appear to be changing by the hour so I keep reading between things at work.

Pray for the families and their children who are caught by this and that they are united forever very quickly.

Guatemala 5000

This week many, many adoptive families will be calling, writing, emailing their senators, congressmen, Unicef and the Joint counsel on behalf of the 5000 Guatemalan babies who have been referred to forever families here in the States. At the end of this year, President Berger is shutting down all adoptions from Guatemala until the US ratifys the Hague Convention.

Families may just have received a referral or they may almost be complete with their process and regardless, these families would go on hold for an undetermined amount of time. The US is supposed to ratify late spring so on the surface, it appears it would add an additional 4-5 months to the waiting process. There are approximately 5000 children that would be impacted by this...either staying in foster care or hogars.

Apparently this is only the tip of the iceberg... I've spent as much time as possible over the last week researching what I could on-line, especially after the Anderson Cooper show on CNN. Without going into a huge rant, that was some of the poorest reporting I have seen in a very long time. Research would have gone a long way but then accurate does not always sell.

http://www.adaguatemala.org/English/news/

taken directly from the website - please follow the link and read the timeline...

LAST NEWS
The dreadful Ortega law was approved by Congress in its third reading today, Wednesday October 3rd. 2007. The final reading and actual approval will be next Tuesday. ADA is meeting with all lawyers and adoption agencies representatives this Saturday to present the emergency plan. Constitutional challenges are being prepared and we are ready do to everything that is necessary to get the transition cases home and adoptions open for the children of Guatemala. The law could take thirty days to become effective, but it could take more time. It is still undecided.
There is no question that there is a way to make millions of dollars with adoptions. Simply by making them impossible, UNICEF is rewarding our president with a 28 million donation for this accomplishment, with the complicity of the congressmen. UNICEF is using the money of the taxpayers of the First World to eliminate poverty in our Third World country, by eliminating the children of the poor, because as the UNICEF delegate said: the underdevelopment of a country begins in the uterus of a poor woman. Genocide is not a crime of war. UNICEF is showing us how it can be done, without any risk for the perpetrator. We will not remain silent while they do it. That is a promise.
ADA asks of those of you who would want to help adoptions in Guatemala to join your efforts to ours. Contact your adoption agency and they will let you know what can be done.

The concept that adoptions could be forever stopped in Guatemala is gut-wrenching. I look at my little guy and cannot fathom the privilege it is to have him in my life. He is amazing and his birthmother is one of the most courageous people I know. The Guatemala 5000 could lose a second family as a result of what is happening. The countless others whose mothers only want the best will no longer have adoption as an option.

Please, please pray tomorrow that this law will not pass. There will be thousands of children (not just the 5000) who will be caught in the crossfire of this law.

Lovin' Jack

For those of you who are not regular viewers of the Noggin channel, let me introduce you to Jack's Big Music Show. Jack (blue), Mary (yellow) and Mel the dog are the characters to one of the best kid's shows ever. The creators were on Seasame Street for years and then launched out on their own. Each show has a different style of music (marching band, swing, scat - some of my favorites).

http://www.noggin.com/ - click on Jack... great website for the preschool set.

Greta, Molly and Jayden

My achey breaky heart...

Enough said...

The last step

We had a huge surprise in our mailbox last night.... Jayden's US passport arrived. I was shocked that it came in only 7 weeks. I had to send all my original paperwork with the application and have been a bit nervous. We can now go anywhere in the world we want to! This was the last hurdle in my mind in the adoption process.

He was facinated with it when I showed it to him, but then he enjoys any pictures of himself...even those where is sporting the deer in the headlights look.

Wooo Hooo...we're done with everything!

The beach...

This past weekend, we were invited to a friend's at the beach (the Outer Banks). It was a lot of fun and Jayden had a great time. He was at the ocean last year, but it was in Maine so there really was not a lot of sand. He walked right into the water, but didn't like that it pulled at him. He walked up to the water line after that and was very content to have Mommy fill his bucket with water.

He also had his first experience in a full size pool. He was a little nervous for about a minute and then had himself a grand time. Mommy will be signing him up for swimming lessons next year as he has no fear of the pool.

It was also very nice to have a day that wasn't over 100 degrees. Wooo hooo thank goodness for ocean breezes.

the Latest Bedtime fashions

Some kids need a favorite stuffed animal to go to sleep at night, but my child....leather sneakers with socks.

Help me mommy

It's been a busy, busy week... I had to travel and we prepared for an open house yesterday. Thankfully Grandma came in to stay with J for the traveling.

I was basically gone 22 hours but it was an overnight as far as J was concerned (it was supposed to be a long day trip but travel delays...) and on top of a 4 day trip a week ago. Basically he decided he wasn't interested in a normal bedtime. Attempts to go to bed were met with shrieking and yelling "Help me Mommy, help me!" and "Granma, Granma, Granma". Of course as soon as the door opens, he would sit up and say "hi". He would then start telling everything he needed to take with him from his crib.

Language development...it's a double-edged sword.

We also signed up for parent and child soccer classes. He'll be in the "Thumper" class. We start after Labor day. So glad there will be no known spectators there as J is much more coordinated than Mommy. I'll post his picture in his uniform (it's part of the fees) and will intentionally be leaving mine out ;-)

face only a mother could love

Nothing like a good nap to make the day great!

Becoming a Shutterfly addict

I was given a gift certificate for my birthday (month ago) for Shutterfly so that I could make an electronic scrapbook for Jay. I like to refer to it as my electronic stressbook. I put many hours into it but was finding it hard to find time to do all the writing that I wanted to for it. So.... I opted for a collage poster. It should arrive sometime early next week. It's a pretty slick little program to build it...it took time but was much more fun than the 10 attempts on the book.

P.S. we don't have water issues but we are very into the Seasame Street water fuzzies that color the water. We mix a lot of red and yellow.

Everyone's Take on the week

Not feeling so good and mad that Mommy left me for a couple days.

I'm only going to share one photo post-surgery...there is another incision on her neck. She is actually doing really well snapping back quickly.

Feeling groovy again... his hair defies gravity and the weight of water.

Is it Friday yet?

It's been a busy week or so.

Last Sunday, I flew up to DC for a conference. Sunday evening was spent with my college roommate and her husband. It was so good to see them and catch up a little bit...it's been far too long between visits. They are leaving soon for a missions trip to Hungary with the whole family. I'm very excited for them and can't wait to hear all about their trip.

Monday through Wednesday was the conference. It was excellent and I am still processing it all. I am starting a new project in a new industry and am excited about all I'll get to learn and faciliate for my new client.

I took Thursday and Friday off to spend with my parents who came to take care of Jayden while I was traveling. Thursday I took the dog into the vet for surgery and we went to the Durham Bulls - the whole entire family...brother, sister-in-law, neices, grandparents...it was fun. Jayden LOVES going to games, but was pretty subdued this time because of what I thought was teething.

Friday afternoon, picked up the dog after her surgery...I'll post pictures later. Came home and the parents left to take care of the neices. Child felt warm...temp 101, not freaking out. 2 hours later (8:30) child feels warmer, temp 103...we truck off to urgent care which is closed. We come home and mom debates emergency room...she decided if we get to 104 we're going (it's literally 2 minutes away). We're up most of the night because Jayden won't let me put him down (very uncharacteristic). Saturday morning we get up first thing to go to urgent care. His temp is 100 there. He tests positive for strep.

Saturday involves more attempts to get medications in. Jayden hates taking medicine... I have no idea why but for the past year, it's a battle. I can get one medication down in a bottle but that's it and that's only if he doesn't see you put it in there. I negotiate with the doctor...give me 24 hours to try to get antibiotics in him, otherwise I have to bring him back for the shot...which is very painful speaking from experience. It took a couple trys but late in the afternoon, I got one dose in. Also during this time, we discovered that pain medicine/fever reducer is available in supository form. Who knew? And what fun. After an afternoon of unglued screaming, he finally passed out after taking a bottle. I think he hit that point where he was so tired, he was delirous and couldn't figure out how to get to sleep...so not his usual self.

Sunday, he was mellow but definitely feeling better. We hung out and watched a couple episode of "Jack's Big Music Show" and Veggie Tales. I must say for having strep throat he was a real trooper.

Now back to work...

Two years ago today...

July 18, 2005...I ran outside at 4pm to take "the call". You get "the call" at the end of the day because they know you won't be able to concentrate after you get the information. So outside I go in the lovely heat and sit on the curb. His name ... Ronaldo Luz L... L... it took me a day after the shock wore off to realize...Ron Luce?

After taking the call, I ran back into the office to get the pictures and email with all the medical information. I said yes to the referral before I got off the phone. Here is one of the pictures. He is six days old here.

Who knew that beautiful sleeping boy would grow into the full of zest and life boy that he is today.

been a wild couple weeks

It's been a wild couple weeks...

The housing market is not exactly thriving so I am anticipating pulling my house off the market after an open house and saying goodbye to the new one. It's disappointing. I was really looking forward to a shorter commute and being closer to everything we are involved in. I really enjoy working from home a couple days a week but I'll be limited to one since it means two round trips. It's all the little things that I'll miss but it's not the most devastating thing.

Both dogs have been sick and required some major overhaul as I like to say. Willie's breathing has been difficult and loud...think bulldog complete with snoring and constant snorting. Originally they thought it was his larynx and I prepared for massive surgery through his neck, but once they had him sedated and were able to look, it was determined it was his soft palate. Good news, it was much less invasive surgery and no more bulldog! He looks so much less stressed now that he can breathe. Bad news, he had to have six more teeth removed. If I didn't do something, he would have had a respiratory emergency in which there was no way to get him to a vet fast enough. Picture me coming unglued over the dog collapsing trying to get him and Jayden to a vet in minutes in order to save him... not worth the trauma to any of the three of us.

During this time, Mama had an "episode" what we think was a minor seizure. I run her in and find out that it's kidney failure (bloodwork revealed) and a side effect is high blood pressure. Canine blood pressure is strangely similar to human blood pressure in terms of what is considered normal. She was over 212...so she started blood pressure medication and we had to make several trips for some additional tests to make sure she is responding to the medications. She is on a new food which she absolutely hates. On the bright side, I think she is feeling better as she is back to her old, obnoxious self. We're just in maintanence mode and eventually this will take her but I think we've at least got another year or two.

Jayden's vocabulary is exploding and he's growing like a weed. We're working on potty training. He's doing wonderful at daycare. He seems to think we lack indoor plumbing and is not interested in going potty at home. He loves his Wilwee and Mamah.

Grandma and Grandpa are coming to visit this weekend and are staying with him while I travel for work. It'll be fun to see them. We're having a big picnic while they are here so Grandpa can meet all Jayden's buddies that he's heard so much about. I'll post pictures of the chaos/fun.

Carmen

Several weeks ago, Jayden and I met Elizabeth, J's foster sister. They were together in Guatemala and both were dearly loved by Carmen. The reason we were able to meet is that both families received a letter from Carmen and we both contacted the agency to find out if other families had received a letter as well.

I was not surprised by the letter and sort of anticipated that Elizabeth's family would receive one too. I was right and gave the agency permission to give her family my contact info.

Just prior to visiting J in Guatemala, I learned that Carmen had breast cancer, had a double mastectomy and was recovering well, but that she needed chemotherapy. I helped with getting funds to Guatemala for her chemotherapy and treatment since I was traveling the next week. I was able to meet her and two of her children when they brought J to the hotel. I also was able to see her and spend time with other members of her family when I picked up J to come home. I know she loved him - she and her family wrote him beautiful letters. I said that I was praying that he would be home for Christmas and she said she was praying he would be able to stay for Christmas. She loved each of the kids in her care (we brought back a birthday card for one of "her kids" that was turning 13).

The letter we received said the cancer had returned. It took over six weeks for the letter to make it from Guatemala. Sometime between the letter being sent and trying to find ways to help Carmen passed. Carlos (was involved with J's adoption) said it best... she is with God now.

Carmen will be missed. She holds such a special place in the hearts of so many. She was a woman who loved her family and she loved those who were trusted to her care. She was loved and is missed.

How food should be enjoyed

mmmmm... sour cream... yes, we eat that and salsa with a spoon and shovel it in.

This morning's conversation with J went something like this...

E - "Did you have a good night's sleep?"
J - "No"
E - "Were you up all night?"
J - "yeah"
E- "oh my goodness, why didn't you tell Mommy you were up?"
J - blank stare

Doctor, doctor give me the news...

Yesterday J had his 2 year appointment and completely enjoyed himself. No shots - thank goodness. Outside of our annual flu shot, he won't need anything until 4 or 5. He's been growing and we're in the 75th percentile for height. I was surprised.

If I spend anytime thinking about it, I am completely blown away by the changes in J over the last 18 months. He was so quiet and observed everything when he came home. He still observes everything but he's not exactly quiet. He's grown by leaps and bounds and it definitely one of the most joyful kids I know.

His speech is exploding. I spent the afternoon Friday at daycare - we made sock puppets and had a party for two kids who were moving on to pre-school. He comprehends, responds, follows directions and talks in Spanish. He already knows to switch to English when he talks to me. He loves his Wilwee (Willie) and Mamah (Mama) - we say night night and bye to the dogs. We now have the "oh so critical P" when we say the word help. He used to leave it off and I figure if anyone is going to teach my son to swear it should be me ;-) We had a few weeks of hell mommy, hell whenever we wanted something.

He now enjoys talking to Grandma and Grandpa on the phone and can answer their questions. I wish they could see his expression because he usually has an ear to ear grin while talking to them. He's changed so much from that shy tiny boy to my wonderfully loud, full of life, full tilt boy. Can't wait to see what the next year brings.

JC Penny Catalog male model in the making

Playdate

Sunday was wonderful fun. We met Elizabeth and her mom at a local park and then ended up coming back to our house...it was just a tad bit warm. She is adorable. I know they don't remember each other but Jayden was all too excited to have a new buddy.

Apparently we had a complete role reversal. During my visit trip when Jayden was 4 months, we heard that his foster sister was very rambuctios and he was super quiet. Yesterday, she watched him and he was his full tilt self.

We're going to get together again soon. It's so much fun that they live so close.


Potty training - I am following Claudia's (daycare) lead on this one. She said he was ready and apparently is doing pretty well for her. For me...absolutely no interest. This coming weekend will be the big push from me. I have to slow our weekends down just a bit for us to have a shot at it. I figured out I need to talk about it a lot more. He defintely gets "el bano" but "potty" may be a different story.

Life Decisions

Last week, a life decision for Jayden before me, I had to make a choice. I was torn, not completely knowing what to do.

I stood at the display at the Carter's outlet.

Briefs or boxer-briefs?

We've begun potty training and I went to purchase the post-success necessities. We've got a ways to go but we're prepared.

For the record...I got a package of each... he'll have to choose.

Meeting a very special person

This Sunday afternoon, we have a very exciting playdate planned. I know the significance of it will be lost on Jayden, but I am so completely excited fot this particular playdate because I have wanted it to happen since before Jayden came home.

In Guatemala, a foster mom can have two babies at a time. When Mom and I went to visit Jayden in October of 2005. We heard about his foster sister and how spunky she was. She kept their foster mom busy. Her name is Elizabeth. Agencies are very protective of their clients information. I asked if there were any way to find out where Elizabeth was going or if they would contact her family on my behalf. As a matter of policy, both families have to contact the agency completely unsolicited, releases must be signed, etc.

Due to set of circumstances, I'll expound on a different post. Both Elizabeth's family and I contacted the agency at the same time. I was suspicious that they would contact the agency so I asked that they give my information to them. That day I received an email from Elizabeth's mom.

She and her mom live within a mile or two of my office !??!?!!? We set up a playdate for this Sunday. I know Jayden won't remember her, but I can't wait to meet them. It never ceases to amaze me how God arranges things.

the "other" kids

It's been a busy couple weeks with the "other kids" in the household. This is actually an older picture of Mama while she was recovering from surgery 2 years ago. She's been a little under the weather these past two weeks and gave me a little bit of a scare that I would be making a "decision" regarding both dogs at the same time. She is almost 12 and Willie is 14 1/2 so it wasn't out of the question.

After a big round of testing, she is going on long term medication and an all new diet. She should be with us for a while now. Phew...wasn't prepared to lose the Diva this soon. She is starting to feel better...her Diva dial is back on high. I know this because Needy Hour is back on in our home.

What is Needy hour? Needy hour starts promptly at 7 and usually lasts until 8/8:30. This is when everyone in the house needs something. Jayden gets his bath, jammies, snack and then is heading off to bed. The pups want some attention and usually get in the middle of the happenings. Several nights a week, the cat will chime in as well. I think their coordination in their efforts to demand something all at the same time should be appaulded... how often do a two year old, two dogs and a cat coordinate their efforts? It's chaos but it's our chaos. Needy Hour...we embrace you!

Get a Frosty for Dad

There are more than 150,000 foster children waiting to be adopted in NorthAmerica.

This Father's Day Weekend (June 16 and 17), you can help foster childrenfind permanent homes. All weekend, participating Wendy's restaurantsacross North America will donate a minimum of 50 cents from every Frostyproduct sold to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.The goal is to raise $1 million to support the work of the Foundation'ssignature program, Wendy's Wonderful Kids, and you can help!

Click on theweb address below to watch Rockin' Frosty and then forward this email toyour friends and family to spread the word about Father's Day FrostyWeekend.You can also cut and paste this url in your browser's address bar:http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/frostyIt's a Frosty you'll never forget!

Best regards,Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
800-ASK-DTFA

Two is rough...

Saturday was Jay's party. It was a great time. What you see above is Jay being faux upset. He'd been in there about an hour when it was time to come in to eat.

Two has brought some changes... his insistence on wearing a watch and his new found love of sleeping in his shoes. Attempting to remove said shoes usually is grounds for show casing new features in the tantrum arena. The latest features include new high levels of pitch and increased memory of the offense...i.e. out of sight, out of mind doesn't work anymore...it used to be you could bait and switch and he would forget and stop crying. No more. He is on the tenacious side, but as I remind him, I AM more stubborn.

He also is holding me accountable to be polite. Some of his first words were "thank you". I would hand him something and tell him to say thank you. Once we got the thank you part, and he does it without being reminded most times, I added the "you're welcome". Now he will say thank you repeatedly until he hears "you're welcome" or "de nada". He also is getting "please" down as well. That used to be pointing and adament "thank you"s in succession until you figured out what to hand to him.

He's quite the little boy and watching him change is so much fun.

Hello Two

Jayden had a fun day all in all. Saturday is his birthday party and several of his buddies are coming over for cake and playtime in the pool. It should be a wild time.

Terrible Two's

Today Jayden turns two. No one informed me that the terrible twos start promptly at two...to be more specific the morning he turned two. He woke up in a really bad mood...maybe it was because he woke up to a flash camera in his face. I'll post pictures later.

He was grouchy all the way to school (daycare) and when I dropped him off. They have big day planned - the kids are going to bake a cake together to celebrate and there are all sorts of fun party favors and sidewalk chalk that Mommy brought in.

Grumpy, grouchy pictures to follow....

Apparently he's embraced the E in extrovert

Hanging with friends (David and Matthew) at the Animal Planet Expo...we had a great time hanging with the crowd and introducing ourselves to other people waiting in line.

There are two women behind J in this picture. What I didn't catch on film was his multiple visits to pop his head in between theirs to say hi. He must have walked up behind them about 4 or 5 times put a hand on each shoulder, leaned in and said hi. I thought my friend knew them and I kept letting them know if he bothered them, I'd grab him. Turns out they were COMPLETE strangers and my friend didn't know them, but thankfully they thought he was hysterical.

This was at a Durham Bulls game on Friday night. The first hour was spent with Mommy chasing/walking him all over the stadium as he joyfully ran up to people to say hi. He settled down and enjoyed yelling and cheering with the crowd for an hour. He gets into sporting events so we'll keep going to them.

Bear with me...

Okay I got the dreaded spam posting over the weekend. I was warned, but in my efforts to prevent it, I put up the Fort Knox of security. I'm working on it and hopefully will find a happy medium at some point.

Today we are one week from two...so hard to believe. He is so full of life and pretty much runs full tilt from morning to night, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Salsa anyone?

The yellow band really should be going over the top of his head...there is a little boom mike to take orders, but he chooses to wear it this way a lot. For the record, plastic tacos really are a stale comparison of the real thing, but J insists that either I or one of the dogs try a sample often.

Sandwich Manor is going up

We went to take pictures and walk through but they were working on it...hence the strange angle. The gapping hole is the dining room. Sunday we went to visit and Jayden walked up to the window leaned out and said "oh no".

This is from the next cul-de-sac. Mine is the one on the right. All three houses pictures should have move in dates within a month of each other which will be fun.

The two window area will be Jayden's room. The double wide window can be yours, if you come visit. All the trees you see, well, they will meet their demise in the near future for more homes.

Please pray the current home sells soon. With the collapse of 20% of the mortgage market things slowed down.

Stolmit school of parenting

Many of you have no idea but I ascribe to the Mitchell Stout school of parenting. I would even venture to guess that Mitch doesn't know he has a school of parenting, but he does.

See parenting is a lot like drama training. The blocking is all the basics... how to behave, learning, boundries, etc. But the real spice of any drama or of life, is to get the character to come out. Remember...if it feels stupid and is big so everyone can see it, you're doing it right (I paraphrase and am taking some liberties with the curriculum).

Jay is definitely developing his character. He is so full of life and joy. At just shy of 2, this boy is definitely entertaining and is developing quite a sense of humor. He is starting to use phrases and words to get reactions (it works). The current favorite this week is "oh no", but he says it like he is from Minnesota. He says "bye" like he's from Alabama. If I knew Spanish well enough I bet I would pick out phrases that sounded like they were from Guatamala and others that made him sound like he was from Columbia.

Separation Anxiety

We had a party this past weekend for Matthew's Mama, Berna. It was a great time and the boys were able to play together which is always highly entertaining.

This week I had to leave my munchkin for a business trip. Thank goodness Grandma is willing to come and stay. They have a great time together and it makes mommy feel much more at ease, but I still miss the big guy.

Sandwich Manor

I am a member of the Sandwich generation. As part of my roles and responsibilities of this generation, I find it necessary to remind the generation above of my membership. We have lots of running jokes about this. As part of my recognition of being in this generation, I have dubbed the new house "Sandwich Manor". My mother, however, has dubbed it "Club Sandwich" because it sounds more fun.

Sandwich Manor it is. I figure if I have to pay for it, I get to name it. It's sort of like a college dormitory but without the plaque (although I may have to get one and put something it on their room door - there is a bedroom that I refer to as their room, but who knows if they really will occupy it permanently). Anyways, Sandwich Manor was "pinned" this past weekend. Basically they clear the lot and put flags at the corner of the house so you can see where it fits in the lot. Poor Mama (the dog), she is going from a yard she can run in, to one she sulk in. We'll have to visit the dog park to stretch her legs. I think she'll be the only one disappointed with the new digs.

Hopefully, the current homestead will be sold soon. I am ready for the quick commute and more time with Jayden and being closer to all our friends.

First Class Voice

For those of you who are big "inside voice" instructors, I hope what I have done with this concept does not offend. I just have been amused since I hear parents use this terminology with children too young to get the concept. I have put my own twist on it, however.

Jayden is often reminded to use his "First Class voice". He is pictured above using his "Economy Class voice". Oops must go... apparently he is using his "what-do-you-mean-there-is-no-room-left-in-the-overhead-bin" voice and needs some attention.

the Gang

Matthew, Carmen, David and Jayden got together this past weekend for storytime, crafts and snacks. They all had a great time and enjoyed coloring themselves as much as the paper.

Obnoxious toy recommendation: Lucky Ducks...it's loud, has may parts and it's loud. This is a current favorite and quacking can be heard for most of the evening.

the new digs

I took a picture of the lot but it's still on my camera...this is the brochure picture of J and my new digs. Hopefully the old digs will sell very soon. Ours will be a slate grey color and the garage is a little different but this at least gives you the idea.

It's been a busy couple weeks. The little guy isn't so little. He's over 33lbs at this point and my back can prove it! He's really starting to talk and sing.

On a side note... my brother's birthday is this Friday and he greatly enjoyed the Mary-kate and Ashley e-card I sent him.

Such a ham

This past weekend we had an egg hunt at the house. Six kids under 2 and 1 that's 3 1/2...it was chaotic but a ton of fun. I am on the road this week but J is hanging with Grandma. He's scored big points by calling her Grandma and telling her "I do" instead of letting her feed him. This boy is a complete hoot. Below are a couple pictures of J and friends...