Post-placement

Yesterday we finished our 3 month post placement visit with our social worker, Marilyn. As usual, it was enjoyable and went by so quickly. We are now one visit closer to being able to finalize our adoption in Washington state. As these visits are beginning to come to a close, I am realizing how fast this has all went. Yesterday, Marilyn showed up right at 11. My kids seem to have difficulty keeping to a schedule while at home. Or should I say that I have a problem keeping them on schedule when they are home. I had just started to give them lunch. He was in his highchair and Ivy was using the potty. She then visited with Bec while I finished… [more]

We absolutely adore our social worker from our agency. From the first time I spoke with her on the phone last fall, I knew that she was someone that I could count on. This initial perspective has rang true for the past year. She has helped to guide us, support us, and celebrates our family in a sensitive and caring way. No wonder why I don't get all freaked out about her visits. This wasn't always the case, of course. The first time she came out I cleaned for almost 2 weeks, always thinking and noticing something that could be improved. That morning I went out to buy a huge variety of drinks and snacks to tempt her with. As I recall, she had… [more]

Adjustment - Agegnehu has exceeded all of our expectations for adjustment into our family and into the general public. He is a very pleasant boy and is generally happy unless he is tired or hungry. Everyone enjoys being around him. Attachment - Agegnehu is very attached to all of his family members and recognizes them readily. He is also becoming familiar with other, extended family members. Upon visual or auditory contact with dad, mom or sister, he becomes very animated in physical and verbal cues, including smiles and happy sounds. He also makes movements to be picked up and held by these individuals. He will crawl rapidly towards them and pull himself up on their legs. He loves to be held when he is… [more]

I'm done! I finally finished this last night after everyone was asleep. I remember thinking about doing placement reports while I was filling out my dossier. When the actual time came around, I balked. After filling out all of the other applications and forms, why did I have a block regarding this one? Maybe I'm just out of practice? Maybe back then it was just a dream and now my baby is a reality? To help me out, I used the template provided by my agency. It seems a little mechanical to me, not like my usual style of writing, but I can live with that. Due to translating and such, they like to keep the wordings somewhat simple to help… [more]

Actually, he is almost 10 months, but he's 3 months to us. We celebrated our homecoming anniversary with our very first family vacation to the beach. If you take away getting there and coming back, the trip was amazing. If you do add in the travel time, it kind of averages out to worthwhile but not happening again anytime soon. The Ethiopian government requires post placement letters from parents at 3 months, 6 months, one year and yearly after that until the child turns 18. Along with specific photo requirements, they want to hear about his adjustment to his new family and how he is doing physically. With this letter in mind, I have been keeping a mental filing… [more]

Today is the one month mark for bringing home Becken! Chris and I were talking last night and saying that it seems like he has been here forever, but also like we just picked him up. We said the same things when we had brought Ivy home from the hospital. These two get along so well. They hold hands in the car while they are in their car seats. It is so cute. Ivy has really taken to her role as big sis and is such a huge help. Bec just loves her. He looks for her and when his eyes rest on her they just light up and he gets excited. When Chris comes home from work Bec about… [more]

After all of my aversion to thinking that Becken would arrive on time, he arrived in my arms ten minutes after his flight landed as scheduled. There were a few moments of anxiety when another plane de boarded first and there was no baby on board. At least no Ethiopian baby on board. The pilot and attendant came rolling through the gates, and I tentatively asked if there was anyone else coming. "We're it", he said. I almost had a surreal panic attack until Chris said that there was another plane. Whew! This one was the right flight. We knew so even before we saw him, because other passengers kept coming up to us and asking if… [more]