The big news is...
Mommy is getting deployed for six months.
She is due to ship out on October 25.
We can't say where she is going.
We can say she won't have a lot of time to make sand castles in this sandbox.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Ravens And Spanish
Daddy was at the Ravens game on Sunday, cheering them on to their BIG win over the Cleveland Browns. Merrilee stayed at home, but she was showing her support and cheering in her own way...
By the way, Merrilee is learning to speak Spanish. No kidding. She can already count to ten in English, Chinese, and yes, now Spanish...
By the way, Merrilee is learning to speak Spanish. No kidding. She can already count to ten in English, Chinese, and yes, now Spanish...
Sunday, September 27, 2009
A Trip To The Library
Merrilee loves books. She loves to read and loves to have someone read to her. A few weeks ago, she went to the library and got her very own library card. This weekend, she went back with mommy, returned her books, and checked out more books. We love having the Catonsville branch of the library so close to home...
We have some major news coming soon -- let's just say Merrilee will have a little adjusting to do!
And here is a short video from the trip. Note how heavy the backpack is at the end...
Then it was a visit with Mr. Al, inside his restaurant, Matthews 1600. Merrilee loves Al...
We have some major news coming soon -- let's just say Merrilee will have a little adjusting to do!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
An Important Face Behind The Scenes
The paperwork involved when you adopt internationally is massive.
Everyone who applies has to have a social worker do a home study report. In our case, because our wait grew so long, we had to have that home study updated a couple of times.
Even when you get your child, the paperwork continues.
You have to have your social worker come back six months after you get your child and do a post placement report. And, then again at twelve months, your social worker comes back for one final post placement report.
In our case, we were blessed to have a wonderful social worker. Anne Pearce was referred to us by another family who adopted from China. She works for the United Methodist Board of Child Care in Baltimore. Over the past few years she has become a friend working "behind the scenes."
She offered so much support while we were going through the adoption process.
She paid what we think will be her last scheduled visit to us last week, in preparation for the twelve month post placement report.
Anne, we couldn't have done it without you! We will forever be grateful. We hope you will continue to follow the blog and visit from time to time.
We look forward to finishing all the paperwork and storing away that mountain of paper. From time to time we will go back and look at it, and we may even wonder how we did it and how we survived the nearly four-year wait for Merrilee. One thing we know. It was well worth it!
Everyone who applies has to have a social worker do a home study report. In our case, because our wait grew so long, we had to have that home study updated a couple of times.
Even when you get your child, the paperwork continues.
You have to have your social worker come back six months after you get your child and do a post placement report. And, then again at twelve months, your social worker comes back for one final post placement report.
In our case, we were blessed to have a wonderful social worker. Anne Pearce was referred to us by another family who adopted from China. She works for the United Methodist Board of Child Care in Baltimore. Over the past few years she has become a friend working "behind the scenes."
She offered so much support while we were going through the adoption process.
She paid what we think will be her last scheduled visit to us last week, in preparation for the twelve month post placement report.
Anne, we couldn't have done it without you! We will forever be grateful. We hope you will continue to follow the blog and visit from time to time.
We look forward to finishing all the paperwork and storing away that mountain of paper. From time to time we will go back and look at it, and we may even wonder how we did it and how we survived the nearly four-year wait for Merrilee. One thing we know. It was well worth it!Sunday, September 13, 2009
Soup For You!
Well she's never seen the Seinfeld episode, but Merrilee would be very angry if someone ever told her "No soup for you!"
She loves soup. Especially this broccoli and cheddar soup her mother made for her.
And what would soup be without those tasty little oyster crackers?
She loves soup. Especially this broccoli and cheddar soup her mother made for her.
And what would soup be without those tasty little oyster crackers?
Monday, September 7, 2009
Ice Cream And Kitty Cats
Mommy and Merrilee took Aunt Sharoun out this past Friday. They went shopping at the Columbia Mall and had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. As these pictures show, Merrilee's favorite part of the meal was apparently the ice cream at the end...
And Merrilee had fun with Aunt Sharon outside by one of the fountains..
Finally, Merrilee is loving her little kitty slippers. These were a gift from Ms. Tamara last year. They were a little big last year, but now they fit just fine. Merrilee loves the little whiskers coming out from the front. They close with velcro too, and everyone knows that velcro is a toddler's best friend...
All in all, it looks like ice cream and slippers make Merrilee a pretty happy child!
And Merrilee had fun with Aunt Sharon outside by one of the fountains..
Finally, Merrilee is loving her little kitty slippers. These were a gift from Ms. Tamara last year. They were a little big last year, but now they fit just fine. Merrilee loves the little whiskers coming out from the front. They close with velcro too, and everyone knows that velcro is a toddler's best friend...
All in all, it looks like ice cream and slippers make Merrilee a pretty happy child!Saturday, September 5, 2009
"I Love To Ride My Pony..."
Merrilee loves to ride her rocking horse.
She loves the song it plays, "I'm a pretty pony..."
Sometimes she gets going so fast and hard, she falls off right onto her little tushy. But when she does, she is giggling all the way...
She loves the song it plays, "I'm a pretty pony..."
Sometimes she gets going so fast and hard, she falls off right onto her little tushy. But when she does, she is giggling all the way...
A Day At The Mall
The other day Merrilee and mommy got to spend a nice day out shopping at the Columbia Mall with Aunt Sharon.
They even had lunch together at the Cheesecake Factory.
One thing Merrilee really enjoyed was when Aunt Sharon took her to feel the cool water coming from one of the waterfall foutains at the Columbia Mall.
They even had lunch together at the Cheesecake Factory.
One thing Merrilee really enjoyed was when Aunt Sharon took her to feel the cool water coming from one of the waterfall foutains at the Columbia Mall.
Books, Books, Books...
We are so lucky.
Merrilee loves books. She loves to read, and she loves to have others read to her.
Every night we read to her before she goes to bed. It calms her down and makes her sleep much better.
One of her favorite books features the "Can Do Kids" and after just a few readings, Merrilee knew all their names. It is now one of her favorite books...
Merrilee loves books. She loves to read, and she loves to have others read to her.
Every night we read to her before she goes to bed. It calms her down and makes her sleep much better.
One of her favorite books features the "Can Do Kids" and after just a few readings, Merrilee knew all their names. It is now one of her favorite books...
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