Bringing Up Baby Frances

long overdue photo update...

2011-01-20T12:41:00.001-08:00

We had so much fun with the Grouchos in Maine last summer! It has been a little lonely over here on the east coast- so we really appreciated spending time with them. It was so cool to vacation with our good friends. The girls really missed each other and had so much fun together. This swim spot in Acadia was perfect. Nice long shallow stretch of warm water for little swimmers, great sand for digging, and schools of tiny cute fish in the shallows. HEAVEN.

A Good Snow

2009-12-20T16:28:00.000-08:00

First green tree for Frances. Last year we just had her pink tree up- now we have both.

If I can't have my mom's chocolate covered cherries...guess I will just have to make my own!

Don't most little girls wear their Little Red Riding Hood dress to trim the tree?

My snow angel...could barely get up after making a snow angel...too many layers!

Enjoyed the 6-8 inches that fell in our area last night and today. I felt like a tourist as I watched in fascination people removing snow from their drive ways and walk ways with snow shovels, snow blowers, and plow trucks. Everything was salted and sanded. Amazing.

Frances is way into making snow angels- she woke up early with a smile on her face anticipating playing in the snow.

Wish I had a picture of Frances opening up her present from her Grandma and Grandpa! She was so excited when she opened up her box to fine the number one item on her Christmas list- Hungry Hungry Hippo!

...number two and three on this list- a spork and a popsicle maker?!!

Our first New England snow

2009-12-06T09:43:00.001-08:00

hmmmm.... this tree is right side up when I choose it? But it is still pretty outlined in snow with a bright blue sky...sideways.

It has been a warm fall (until now) in Massachusetts. Just last week Frances pulled the front door shut as I yelled "NO"! We had stepped out onto the front porch to grab the mail...in our lounge pants and bare feet. Luckily it was all sunshine and 64 degrees warm while we waited for a random passerby-er to loan us their phone so we could call Frank at work to come home and open the door. Ah...good times.

So this week is snowy and cold. Glad I learned that lesson last week!

We are off to hunt down a Christmas tree, this wintry snow has us in the perfect mood.

Frank: Honey, you may not survive a New England winter.

Me: Ha whatever! This is nothing! Little snow, a little warmth. I thought winters here were brutal????

Our Halloween Moon

2009-11-01T22:26:00.000-08:00

The weather was crazy this Halloween. It was sunny and 72 in the day and still balmy at 66-68 degrees in the evening with a warm gusty wind. And even though it was not a cold and dark night; leaves swirling around and the clouds flying past the moon made a lovely and spooky evening.

Frances had so much fun trick-or-treating with her cousins. She was excited all week talking about it. To say she had a blast...is an understatement. Very sleepy on the way home she talked about how she was going to: "I- k-n-0-w......., let's go trick-or-treating tomorrow and get more candy...and say trick-or-treat!...and say thank you!...okay mom?"

We miss our friends!

2009-11-01T21:48:00.000-08:00

Wanted to show you, my Oregon friends and family where we are hanging our hats: Our dinning room is split between a coffee corner and a play area. Works for us.

We dig the hardwood floors.

We really like the house that we have rented. We have the bottom of three floors. I love the old character (That we don't have to maintain!) and the bay windows. The town we are in works for us. It is walkable and is a quick drive for Frank to get to work.

Above: What it looks like when Frances is MAD. (She did not want me to take her picture. I was told I was not her best friend. Feel kind of guilty! It would be annoying having someone with a camera in your face when you have said NO!(I'm sorry Frances))

It has been really hard adjusting to life on the east coast. Wish that I could bring a few of you with me!!! I miss play dates with good friends. I miss pinochle dates with my girls. And I miss dinner, drinks and game night...been missing that one for a long time actually! I miss Omsi, the Children's Museum, shopping around and eating bagels in Portland with our groucho peeps. (Frances tells me she can't wait for Lucy bath time!) And I am really going to miss Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family.

Stop growing!

2009-11-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

Above:Walking to dance class in her funky tights and cool trench!

Inside joke: I tell Frances to stop growing, just for today- tomorrow she can grow a little. She smiles and agrees. Promises to be my baby. An hour or two go by and she laughs and tells me that she is growing! And she is. Somehow she went from 2t this summer to a 4t this fall??!! At three there is very little toddler left. She is such a big girl and very proud of herself. I love her confidence, strength, and even her temper! When Frank and I took her to her first 'on her own' gymnastics class we were worried and wondered if she would cry, if we would need to go in with her. Nothing doing- she waved goodbye and was the first one in line to go to class. Awesome. And later at dance class the same thing! She thinks of gym, dance, and library group as school.

Below: Frank preparing for a nice New England winter by adding a swing to her doorway. Seriously gives me an extra 15-20min of free time each day.

And Now She's Three Years Old

2009-08-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

Opening her loot!

A nana sandwhich!

Fun in the sauna...I mean bounce house!

Danielle, Birthday girl, Delaney, Tyler, and Baby Jack Boy (as named by Frances)

Today was the big day and "Baby" Frances is now Three Years Old. We had the party at Nana's house and in my brother's yard. It was a hot and steamy New England Summer's Day, even more so after the Thundershowers that passed through. Appropriately enough it had the feel of a day in Vietnam. The Blow-Up Elephant Bouncy House was a big hit with the kids, as was swimming in the pool during a downpour listening to thunder off in the distance. As it got closer we paraded into Nana's house, soaking wet in bathing suits, and were met with towels at the ready. Swimming in a downpour sure beats grilling in one. The burgers were all over done and two packs of hotdog rolls were soaked. But Crystal and I worked together and got it done. The best part was being with family and friends - and of course the home-made triple-decker strawberry cake with strawberry-creamcheese frosting which was one of Crystal's best ever! So Frances bounced and swam and ate and laughed (and yes cried when it was time to go), she blew out her candles and opened her presents and now she's Three Years Old!

A Green TuTu For Frances

2009-08-18T10:51:00.001-07:00

Frances' third birthday is this coming Saturday. On Tuesday morning she received her first gift -it was from her BFF in Oregon and was she ever excited to receive a package in the mail. Maybe we should have known better than to open it BEFORE we left for the grocery store - because Frances insisted on wearing her brand new green TuTu! She was so concerned about crushing it, she would not wear it in the car seat but traveled in her underwear. At the store the usually shy Frances (there is something about being in costume) pirouetted for everyone who complimented her. It was really a lot of fun.

And oh yes - she would have nothing to do with the headband...but it looks great on me!!

The LeGallo's go Boston...er the greater Boston area

2009-05-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

And here we are looking for an apartment while at Frank's mom's house. All is well and I am thankful for the slooooow dial up connection. Warning: Do not consume potato chips with dial up Internet service.
I got very sad and teary an hour before landing in the Boston airport and also this past Friday. I miss Oregon. I miss my friends and family!
But no worries- I will be replacing you all with Steak and cheese subs. I will have one for each of you- in fact I am almost there. Seriously- how can Oregon have missed this meaty goodness?Then I will be rejoining the old WW. (Groucho- I will have a cannoli for your family.)
So if you want updates...Frances photos....Massachusetts photos....
then you must leave a comment! I need communication folks. I am allllllllllllllllll alone.

Go Night-Night Papa

2009-05-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Frances has discovered a new game - she wants papa to pretend to go to sleep (in her bed) so she can startle him awake with a loud noise. Her Noisemaker? A metal Curious George teapot filled with coins! She can be very specific in her instructions. She wants papa to lay down, on my back. with my toes pointing up! I hardly fit in her bed so she has agreed to let me sleep on my side - unable to find the words she lies down herself - "like this papa!". Then she makes sure I am comfortable with blanket and pillow and everything is quiet. I can hear her studiously filling the teapot with coins and then - CLANG CLANG CLANG!!. And then papa sits up startled awake - over and over and over again. That's my girl!

Bubblicious

2009-04-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

long overdue update!

2009-03-25T20:03:00.001-07:00

Frances is growing and learning. At 2.5 she is both fun and exhausting. She is really talking now, in full sentences, making jokes and I can't keep track of the new things she says. She will rub my face and look in my eyes and tell me, "I love you mama". She called frank a 'ketchup face' at dinner time. Someone suggested pizza for lunch and then Frank or I said, "me too", Frances then said "me too" and a second later yelled, "me three!" and cracked her self up!
She has been going to gym class with Frank every week and is doing really well. She still loves Curious George, but barbie movies are fast becoming a new favorite. She changes her dress multiple times throughout and sings and dances along with the characters. Her voice raises, arms go up, head back and eyelids closed as she belts out the lines. Hilarious.
We have been very busy with a two week visit from my Sister and her two kids. Frances loved having big kids to play with. Towards the end half of us were miserable with colds, so we did not have as much fun as we had hoped. Though we still made it to the beach!

Below: Me and my crazy sister Heather making a Frances sandwich.
Below: Frances, Destiny, and Patrick

Below: Destiny and Frances ready to shop!

Happy Holidays

2008-12-25T22:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to everyone. We did not send out cards this year...so I will wish you all the best right here!
Christmas this year was so quiet and different. We were snowed in and could not make it out for our big family dinner on Christmas Eve. So the three of us snuggled in and enjoyed a quiet Christmas. Frances really got into the presents this year. I love the look on her face when she opens a gift. It took all morning to open presents because she wanted to play with each one before moving on to the next. It was a lot of fun. Our living room looks like a ransacked toy store.

Thanks Aunt Patty for the dollhouse! In another year or so she might be able to access the third floor without a footstool. She loves it...and if you look at the closeup above you can see that Curious George is enjoying his mansion. We might purchase some dolls...but I don't think George will be moving out anytime soon as he is at the top of the toy pecking order. Hmm I wonder if 'The man with the yellow hat' comes in an 8-11inch doll?

Looking Pretty with her stolen flower in her hair. I had to move my flowering bulbs a little bit higher...

Very pleased with her fancy dress from Nana. She cried when she had to take it off but perked up when I suggested that her princess PJ's might be more comfortable. Thanks Nana! It is a beautiful dress.

Rocking her 'bear' boots and new pink hat and mittens also from Nana! These Mittens were worn to bed at least once.

Crazy excited to receive another package in the mail...so excited that she could not bother herself with clothes after her bath.

SNOW!

2008-12-25T17:17:00.000-08:00

We have been snowed in and Frank and Frances have been playing out in the snow. She was very excited to show me a snow ball that she made and refused to leave it outside...so there it sits in the freezer!

chaos

2008-11-14T16:28:00.000-08:00

It is a little hectic in this LeGallo household...we are picking up camp (haha) and moving closer to the big city. We have a lot of work to do between now and December first when Frank starts his new job. Our internet is in a box... I only have so much power left and do not know which blogs to read.
chaos...

Hope

2008-11-04T20:35:00.000-08:00

Tonight's election has brought me to tears. I just do not have the talent to fully express what it means to me and what it will mean to my child- so I won't. I just wanted to express my joy.

Freazing in Lincoln City, Oregon

2008-10-04T13:56:00.001-07:00

Last Monday we decided to grab a quick trip to the coast. It was supposed to be warm, low 80's! Um, no try high 50's. We got suckered and we froze! Frances decided to take a quick dip, but Frank scooped her out. She loved it; the beach, the wind, and would have loved to splash around in the water.

Look ma, no hands!

2008-09-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

My blog is boring...but

2008-09-06T20:52:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of amazing writers out in the blogosphere creating great blogs. This is not one of them. My blog is more like a little scrap book for the grandmas, nanas, and friends in which I say how adorable and smart my kid is. Sometimes I wish I had one of those other really smart blogs because I have a few things I would really like to say...hmm it would have to be anonymous.
Imagine my surprise to discover how popular I have become among the "tree sap in hair" Googling sect. Oh yeah! Go ahead and Google, see who pops up fourth. So in light of my blogger success I created a link above on the left. And while my blog may be boring I feel I have made an important contribution to society: Got Tree Sap? It's okay, because I have answers!
I promise cute unrelated pictures to follow.

Photo update...

2008-08-10T22:23:00.001-07:00

She likes to read on the pot... I hate this book so it has become the official potty book. Take that, Cuddles.
Napping with Papa

My Grammy and her great-grand children

photo update...

2008-08-10T22:08:00.001-07:00

Napping along the bike paths of Sun River
Loves babies...
Just a squirrel, trying to get a nut. OH, but look at that really cool fence in the background. Yeah, we built that.
I quit my day job to become a baby photographer. Oh yeah, I don't have a day job. But seriously this is my newest cousin and he his adorable. Congrats to his happy parents.

Camping little mama

seriously I can't stop...

2008-08-10T21:43:00.001-07:00

If you look close you can see the top of Frances's head.

My beautiful nieces that I had the pleasure of hugging in NC. It was a gift in light of sad circumstances that I was able to reunite with my siblings and their families. We ate nothing but Carolina bbq, sweet sweet tea, and milk shakes for three days. Frank called me 'Sweet Tea' instead of Honey for a few weeks.
Both my Franks. I love these two individuals more than anything.

It was worth all the hard work turning dirt into a place to play for Frances. With MUCH help from Frances's Grandma.

Long time, no post...

2008-08-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

An amazing quilt from the Sisters, OR Quilt show. We had fun walking around this fun little western town with quilts being displayed everywhere. It was however very painful for our nephews while Mom shopped!

It has been a busy summer. Some good and some not so good.
Here is the good stuff:
Frank's Mom came for an extended three week stay. She brought our nephews ages 11 and 12. Frances loved having a full house. It was a lot of fun. And for part of this time his sister's family of four was able to come for a week. Frances loved having her cousins to play with. It was hard when they all left. We have never had so many people in our house at once, it definitely feels empty. They can come back anytime they want! We miss them all.
Three is such a small family. Not nearly loud enough for me...or Frances! Family of four sounds nice.
Frances went camping for the first time. She also went canoeing and has spent a lot of time splashing around in public fountains with our best girlfriend Lucy and also in the new water fountain at our local park. We spent an amazing three days in Sunriver. Frank rented a bike and trailer. We are hooked and can't wait to find a second hand bike trailer so we can take our bikes out and about again. And the absolute best thing is that Frances has been proudly using her potty! The pee pee in the potty/ pee pee on the floor ratio is definitely tipping in our favor.

Remembering that First Father's Day

2008-06-16T23:31:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of meeting my daughter on Father's Day. It is hard to believe we have been together for a whole year. On this Father's Day I found myself remembering that first day. I was so nervous I did not know what to expect. How would she react when I tried to hold her? How would I? She seemed so small and helpless. Now that baby is my little girl who amazes me everyday with what she knows. And I look forward to the second year and try to imagine where we'll be on next Father's Day.

No crayons, thanks

2008-06-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

These days Frances has little blue lines all over her hand...sometimes her mouth. Her knew thing is scribbling with a pen. She does not want crayons- just a pen and a scrap of paper. And without showing or telling her how, she holds the pen perfectly in her small hand.

Oh, and a word from the wise- don't let your pen enamored toddler see you place pens/pencils behind your ear!

Frances at 21months, poor crock never had a chance

2008-05-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

Toddler parenting has been very challenging lately. well, actually for the whole month of May! First she had a virus with a high fever, followed by teething...FOUR teeth at once, and then Frank was away for work- leaving me in fear of being an only parent for a week, after a very fussy cranky two weeks. Her new words are "Nooooo" and "MINE". Oh man, has she been testing her limits and boundaries with me lately causing me all sorts of grief and worry, only to wake up the next day super super sweet and full of hugs and kisses. Even though this month has been tough I have really embraced staying at home with her. My first month home was hard. I felt a little alone when Frank was at work or sleeping. But I don't feel that way anymore- which is good. She makes me smile and laugh and I am enjoying all this time we have together. Here are some of the things she does at 21 months that crack me up:

*She loves to help me wash dishes. She gets so excited when I am at the kitchen sink. She runs for her little pink stool and drags it over to the sink, climbs up and rinses the dishes I hand her and places them in the strainer. I always wash the recycling last and she knows to rinse those and put them in the recycling bin instead of the strainer. (I have to sneak in dish washing if I want it done in a timely manner!)

*Still my water baby. She takes showers and loves to go under water at swim class.

*No picky eater here. Loves all types of food. Frank was making dinner the other night and she asked for a bite. He handed her a piece of onion he was chopping. She ate it and said, "More...bowl" So Papa gave her a bowl of onions which she carried to the coffee table then dragged her stool over and set down and ate every last one.

*She loves it when I open the moon roof and roll down all the windows in the car. She laughs and screams in delight as her hair is whipped around by the wind. It is a beautiful sight.

*I absolutely love her silliness and sense of humor. It is hard to drive because when I look at her in the rear view mirror she makes silly faces, smiles, and blows kisses to me.

I can't believe it has almost been one year of all of us together as a family.

Papa, we miss you!

2008-05-20T19:42:00.001-07:00

Little Baby Momma

2008-05-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

Changing her Bear's diaper.

Pointing to her hurting teeth.

And super cute after sleeping.

You have my whole heart and I love you.

How do you remove pine tree sap?

2008-05-05T21:22:00.000-07:00

Below are step by step illustrated instructions for removing a mess of pine tree sap from the back of your toddlers head.

STEP ONE: Take a large spoonful of peanut butter and apply to tree sap matted hair. (creamy works best)

STEP TWO: Hand PB spoon to toddler.(Warning: Do not skip this child pacifying step)

STEP THREE: Warm PB lathered hair with blow dryer. (Diffuser not necessary)

STEP FOUR: Comb hair with a fine toothed comb.

STEP FIVE: Rinse hair in warm water and shampoo as usual.

Tree sap gone!

Frances + 4 McPherson boys!

2008-04-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Nice Pajamas...

The McPherson boys: Devon (age 3), Aidan (5), and Austin (8)

Frances tackles Austin

Playing cars with the boys

I have had a very crazy week. Our house has been over run by three boys for the past five days, with two more to go. Our good friends are off cavorting in sunny Mexico enjoying their first real vacation with out kids. It felt really good to be able to do this for them and Frances loves the boys. Four kids is sooooo much work.

I was doing great at first, but am starting to tire. Today I took the kids to the park and noticed half way through playing that their youngest was wearing slippers! I ran out of PJ's for Frances, see the P-jamy 'get-up' above. So far I have remembered to feed everyone.

A full house has been so much fun. I want another...ONE. Family of four sounds nice. Frances is having an absolute ball with these little guys. I don't know what she will do when they go home. I will have to schedule a busy week to ease her back into her life as an only child.

smooshed daisies

2008-04-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

Frances' new thing is picking daisies. I keep finding dried up little flowers throughout the house. It is hard to get anywhere on a walk, as she has to stop and pick daisies and dandelions. This is always followed by an, "uh-oh" as she drops one from her handful.

2008-04-25T21:16:00.000-07:00

Frances runs...cooks...and washes dishes!

I am ending my first month as a Mom who no longer works another job for 40hrs. a week(Hate that other title. (SAHM)) I must confess I was a little worried I was going to he to ask for my job back! I was definitely missing people, and feeling successful at the end of a work day. But I am warming up to this challenge and enjoying all of our close time together. I definitely see myself working part time after the summer, even if just a few days a month.

Frances is wonderful. At 20months she is doing and saying a whole lot. She is running and climbing. Frank is enrolled with her in a parent-tot swim class. She smiles the whole time. Her language has really taken off. She says new words every day it seems, and is starting to link them in a sentence with prompts. We ordered half a dozen parenting books as she has discovered she is her own self and sometimes does not want her diaper changed...or wants a snack,"nak, nak, nak" right now. Toddler parenting is definitely a challenge. I miss what little bit of baby time I had, but am loving this little person emerging. I love her humor, dramatics, craziness and sweetness.

I love it all.

Blankets for babies- Emergency Relief for Vietnamese Orphans

2008-03-04T21:18:00.000-08:00

Vietnam has been on my mind and in my heart lately. Severe weather in northern Vietnam has caused illness in many children from orphanages. It saddens me deeply and hits so close to home. Please read this report from Ethica (This is a respected organization that advocates for ethical adoption practices):
http://www.ethicanet.org/item.php?recordid=blankets&pagestyle=default

Blankets for Babies—Emergency Relief for Vietnamese Orphans

Ethica, Inc. has received troubling reports of severe, cold weather in northern Vietnam that has taken a toll on orphanages in Hanoi, Bac Giang, Hay Tay, and Bac Ninh provinces. We understand 3 children have died in the past week and 10 more have been hospitalized. In the past two months, 9 of 19 infected infants have died.
Government officials at the National Fund for Vietnamese Children are concerned that many more children will be vulnerable to a virulent form of rhinovirus that has in some cases, progressed to pneumonia. This can be fatal for institutionalized infants and children already vulnerable to illness. The officials have met and given Ethica's representative in Hanoi permission to secure and deliver much needed blankets, heaters, warm clothing, and formula on March 7th and 8th. We estimate that $9,350 USD will be needed for this emergency relief fund which will assist 469 children under 16 years old and 152 babies from 1-7 months old.

I will always wonder what it was like for Frances as she grew from infancy to toddler hood without us or her first family. It breaks my heart that she has suffered. When we were in Vietnam we learned that Frances had pneumonia and was taken to the hospital. We even have an xray of her tiny chest. It has not occurred to me until now how close we came to not having her in our lives. I can’t even fathom it. After all we went through, all that time spent waiting, worrying , wishing, holding our breaths.

Please check out Ethica and donate. Please pray or send your thoughts to the children in Vietnam and to the families waiting to bring them home. I know they are waiting, worrying, wishing and holding their breaths.

Now I am on my way to Ethica…once I figure out my paypal password.

I miss my Franks

2008-02-05T22:30:00.000-08:00

Frank and Frances left this weekend to spend a few days with family. I miss them something terrible! I hate going to sleep and waking up without them. We bought ONE economy window seat for the two of them. Turns out the other two were empty and they had all three to themselves. Frank said the low point was when Frances threw her sippy cup behind them and that he does not think anyone was hit. The hight point was when Frances pointed at her bracelett and actually said, "bracelett-pease-pease" and then, "Thank you" when Frank retreived it for her. She has just started saying Please, by whispering "pease". It is very adorable and Frank was floored by this new conversation.
I love you both. See you soon.

Frances and Nana

Danielle, Delaney and Frances

My darling baby...

2008-01-27T23:20:00.001-08:00

This picture is for Julie who is waiting for her referral. Anyone reading please send a prayer or wish her way. Your Sweet girl is out there. You have amazing strength, compassion and patience. Though I know you have no choice, you do it well. We feel very lucky to have you and the Lucy clan in our lives. It will that much more fun when Lovey joins the group. (Just today Frances and Lucy experienced BFF status when Lucy spit out a blueberry and hand fed it to Frances. I can't wait for Lovey to be in the mix.)

My dramatic baby

2008-01-27T23:10:00.000-08:00

Looking fabulous in my great furry green vest! (Another Thank you present!)

Are you looking at me?

Good.

I love that Frances will let me dress her up. She loves to wear hats and then direct me around the house to different mirrors to check out her 'look'. Here she looks incredibly adorable and about 90 years old with those too-big-sunglasses.

My wild and CRAZY baby...

2008-01-27T22:52:00.000-08:00

Frances LOVES this Christmas gift. (It was a great gift, Thank you!) She goes crazy jumping up and down while laughing hysterically. Check out the wild eyes.

She is not napping here, she did not gently slide off her stead, but was perhaps 'thrown'. I did feel horrible, because I took time to snap this photo after she fell. She had great big tears and hiccups after this. Of course now I have proof that she is a fake- look at that face, she was not hurt. After her tears dried she got right back on.

Seasonal blogger?

2008-01-27T21:55:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to post these pictures from October...in October! We visited Frank's family in Massachusetts for Frances's baptismal. I don't know why, but I love that she was baptised barefoot!

We had time to drive up to Main to visit family and check out Acadia National Park. It was incredibly beautiful.

And Frances got to see the Ocean for the first time...that we know of. She was not content just dipping her toes in the Atlantic.

She would have gone swimming if we would have let her go!

Frances very happy walking with her Nana and Papa.

We are well and happy and I think I might have more time to blog and...fold laundry soon. I never gave my friends with children enough credit- there are just not enough hours in the day! Which is one reason I gave my notice...and will soon have a lot more time with Frances. I worked so hard to bring her home and the two hours I share with her after work before she goes to bed is just not working out for our family. I am not sure how long this will last, but whatever else I do, it will have to be more family friendly. Motherhood is wonderful and she is amazing. Her language is really starting to take off. I think that if I blink I might miss something.

October in Massachusetts: Hiking

2007-11-26T06:59:00.000-08:00

Frances hiking with Mom (me) in Her Ergo baby carrier through the Flume.

Happy girl with Papa...

Towards the end of the Hike she insisted she walk. She was still only walking if we had both her hands, it was slow going.

She was not hunting, only hiking.

Lucy, see this really great pumpkin hat? It is headed your way soon, don't worry!

We had a great day hiking "The Flume" in the White Mountains. The last time we were in Massachusetts the leaves were amazing shades of yellow, orange, and red... still not bad green. Frances really likes being outdoors and she had a great day.

October Apple picking

2007-11-21T21:46:00.000-08:00

Don't look at my apple

Delaney

Danielle

1 apple, 6 teeth, no problem.

Oh my, I am behind in my blogging. Let me try and catch up.

This October we spent two great weeks visiting Frank's family. Frances had so much fun. I have never seen her so happy- she LOVES being around other kids and she loved her cousins. Delaney and Danielle loved her right back and were excited to help her pick her very first apple.

Cock-a-doodle-doo

2007-11-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

And Happy Halloween to you!

The very scary McPherson's: Jessy, Aidan, Devon, and Austin.

Notice the wild look in my eye? This is my naughty face where I am about to do somthing CRAZY, and I am really excited about it.

This Halloween we camped out on our lovely porch for an early dinner while we waited for little trick-or-treaters. As you can see Frances was a proud rooster. It was a very nice evening with our good McPherson friends stopping by.

Frances is doing great. At 14 months she is learning and growing fast. She says: Momma, Papa, Kenya (our bird), Nana, Night, Dog and Hello. Mind you we understand her when she says all this, you may only understand the first four! She also points to the correct animal in her "My Little Animal Book" (Thank you Julie!) when we ask her to find the:bird, cat, and dog. She recognizes many of her toys when called by name and loves her stuffed animals. She hugs, kisses and feeds them. (also bites their little noses...)

Oh yeah, and she has been walking! She took her first steps the end of September and started walking on our recent trip to Massachusetts! By the time we returned home, mid October, she was a walker.

We have been a very busy family and will blog more soon.

Beautiful Embroidery Art from Vietnam

2007-09-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

A few of my favorite things from VietNam

2007-09-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my favorite embroidery pictures. I gave this to Julie who helped us at the very last minuet translating letters into Vietnamese. It was purchased at Tan My, the oldest embroidery shop in Hanoi.

http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/1006/4566267/0/brt0_art

I have been enjoying reading Scott's blog, http://www.scottlan.blogspot.com/
and seeing VietNam in his posts and pictures. He is currently in VietNam traveling and exploring this beautiful country with his very adventurous Mom. (Look on his blog for a picture of her on a motor scooter!) He is anxiously waiting for an invitation to his Giving and Receiving ceremony to finally meet his son Henry.

There is so much to love about VietNam; I love that: Frances was born there, the people were very friendly and that they love children, the combinations of French and Asian architecture, the good food, the amazing coffee and pastries, all the green, the warm rain, and the beautiful art. I had a very hard time adjusting, but still, I can't wait to go back. And we barely ventured past our hotels. It will be an amazing family journey when we return together when Frances is older.

August Update in Photo's

2007-08-25T23:10:00.000-07:00

Frances with Julie, playing with the wrappings instead of the very nice books she received for her first Birthday. She also enjoyed the tissue paper from other gifts.

This month the birthday girl decided to reach as many milestones as possible before she turned one! She progressed through belly crawling, crawling, pulling self up, walking with dad, walking along couch in the short span of a few weeks! Now she can pull ALL the toys out of her toy basket.

It was not all fun, Frances also got her first shots- four of them. She was able to charm the nurse out of two toys. The ball she held on to for the rest of the morning and finally let go sometime in the middle of her first nap.

The three of us were able to hang out together on her birthday. We took Frances swimming, which we had not done since the hotels in VN. She still loves it and kicked and splashed. Here she is looking cute with Papa in her favorite hat.

Happy Birthday Frances

2007-08-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Please check out http://www.dlindley.typepad.com/ for some beautiful birthday photo's

Water Baby

2007-08-04T22:34:00.000-07:00

As you can see, she loves bath time! (July 12, 2007)

Frances, Mom, & Kenya too

2007-08-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for another bath in her tiny 1960's sink

August 4th 2007

Letter to Frances

2007-07-31T23:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Frances,
I am not sure when it happened but I recently realized that I no longer feel like an imposture. I feel like your Mom. When you reach out, you reach for me. When you cry, you cry for me. It is amazing to have your love and for you to receive mine. It is a beautiful gift. I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. Your photos we received were treasured. But knowing you and loving you is tenfold. It is like we opened a little box and so much… goodness is spilling out that it fills up everything. I was told your Vietnamese name means “Scent of Heaven”, but surely you were heaven sent.

In no particular order here are some things that amaze and entertain me:

I did not know you had a bottom lip! I know now that you tuck it in when you are sleepy.

I love that you are still my “Velcro baby” and are happiest when stuck to me.

Your perfect little baby body sprawled out when you sleep.

That you say Ma, Mom, or Mom-mom-mom when you are sad- And that you are talking to me!

Oh, and that you say na-na-na with your scrunched up angry face that you make when you are mad

Your funny faces that you make with me and at me like when you scrunch up your nose.

When I “meow” like a cat you copy me…and your meow is more of a “mew” and the face you create when doing it is so not pretty, it cracks me up!

The sweet way that you will lay your head on my shoulder and pet my arm or pat my face.

That you feed me cheerios and sometimes pretend you are going to feed me a cheerio, but than snatch it away.

That you laugh all the time, especially when Papa and I pretend to laugh.

That you wave hello and goodbye sometimes with both hands instead of one.

You are learning and growing so fast. Everyday you show me a new funny face, make a new sound and crawl faster. I don’t want to blink.

Love Mom

For Karen who asked, "Why am I not blogging like Grouch's Family?"

2007-07-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

Now that we are home, I have been on hiatus.
Frances is doing great. We are great.
I am not sure if we I will continue the blog or not? I do know that I would like to post more information about our trip for other families that will travel soon. So I will be working on that "report" first. And then I will have to see how it goes.
I can tell you that I still have to pinch myself sometimes. It is wonderful and she is amazing. And cute too!

At PDX Monday July 2nd 8:15pm

2007-07-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

WELCOME HOME!

2007-07-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

Feel free to call if you are awake, Tuesday morning 12:55AM, Because we are Home!

2007-07-03T00:34:00.000-07:00

We're Home!
It is 12:36 AM and Frances is WIDE awake...
but that's okay, so are we!

What is the first thing we did?
1. Said Hello to Julie and her mom Sue at the airline gate!
2. Picked up most of our bags...minus one. A very small one with nothing but purses inside. Seriously. A suitcase full of purses.
3. Were picked up by a very gracious person!
4. Drove 1.5 hrs home...
and on the way stopped to order a large pizza with no surprises. (No fish or yoghurt cream sauce)
5.Popped on over to a grocery store for: bread, milk, pop, and last but not least, FORMULA
...because we being the very new parents did a very bad thing. Ran out of formula the morning we left Hanoi! We had to buy another brand in the HongKong airport.
Her tummy is handling the three brands okay...for now.
6.Now all our tummies are full and we are all very happy to be home. Frances is rocking out on a borrowed exersaucer from Danica. She loves it, and lets out a random happy scream.
7.So what to do next? I would love to call everyone right now, but I guess I will wait until the morning
...

Don't lists usually end in 10? I have got to go, because I am feeling dizzy. 20+hrs on a plane have given me air legs? Does that exist?
Wow, I have lost my mind. Sorry about the pointless ramble.
Yeah, We are home!

Visa in Hand

2007-06-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

As of Thursday afternoon at 4pm (Hanoi Time) we officially have permission to bring Frances home! We have her Vietnamese passport with her official US Visa. Now we just have to get home. We have decided to go with the flight that has us leaving Hanoi, Vietnam at 11:05am on Monday July 2nd and arriving in Portland Oregon on Monday evening at 8:22! Now we can just enjoy our last weekend here and see some more of this mad city.

Stuck in Hanoi

2007-06-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

The final challenge to our trip will be to find our way home. We were originally scheduled to fly out of Hanoi on Thursday morning. But since the Visa wont be ready til afternoon that aint gonna happen. Its not easy making last minute changes to get from Asia to Oregon. But we have travel agent extraordinaire on the case and at least now we have options. It is not only proving difficult to find room on the Hanoi to Hong Kong to LA flight but the final connection to Portland is tough. Seems a lot of folks are flying that way this weekend. But after a long night of email communications (gotta love the technology) at least now we have several options. Do we hold tight here for couple of days and wait for the smooth connections or do we get out of this country as fast as we can but have to make new connections with overnight layovers with a ten month old baby (and pay to switch airlines to get to Portland). Which will we choose and what will work best? As soon as the decision is made and the flight is booked we will let you know!

Hanoi Beginnings

2007-06-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

So Wednesday evening we arrive in Hanoi and of course we are now on our own (with the other family but no agency help). There had been no vacancy at the agency’s preferred hotel so they had booked an alternate. When we arrived we all agreed that we would spend just one night there. It was not in a good area and it was not very nice. The important thing was to get to the US Consulate in the morning and then find better digs.

There was a small hotel restaurant. Crystal did not trust it enough to eat the food. The rest of us took the chance and made it out ok.

Wednesday morning we made it to the US Consulate to get the Visa process started. It was a little frustrating at first. The forms were not filled out properly and the baby’s pictures we were given by our agency coordinator were not the right size or format. They should have been done as regular passport photos but were not. We almost had to leave to go get new photos taken before our applications would be accepted. The consulate worker took pity on us when she realized we were on our own. She was able to make the photos work and instructed us to come back at 2 pm for the final interview.

After some running around we were finally checked into the Melia Hotel, just outside the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Very nice! Crystal and I sprung for a suite on the 19^th floor and the views of the city are fantastic. It is a good thing we are comfortable because we don’t know when we will be leaving!

The final interview was very easy. The woman at the consulate was very friendly. It was really just a matter of paying the fee and signing some final documents as all of our paper work was already examined and found to be in order. There is still a 24 hour waiting period as some final background checks are performed. Apparently the photos of the babies get transmitted to a US office in Kentucky and checked against some database. We have been told we can pick the Visa up on Thursday afternoon at 4. The only problem we may run into is if the computers go down – which is not unusual to happen around here. And the we can head home! Of course we have all missed our return flights and don’t know when that will be!

INS Appointment and Off to Hanoi

2007-06-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

On Monday morning we finally had the big INS appointment (with US Dept of Homeland Security). The purpose of this interview is for US approval of our adoption – to ensure that it has been done legally and ethically according to US regulations. This approval is needed before adoptive parents can apply for a Visa which allows the child to enter the US and become a US citizen. The interview went easier than we expected. The woman was very professional and understanding. We appreciate her efforts to make sure that adoptions are done ethically. On Monday afternoon our coordinator from the adoption agency’s Ho Chi Minh City office retrieved our approval in a sealed envelope.

We were not able to obtain a flight to Hanoi for the Visa application interview until Tuesday afternoon. The other family and we moved into the same hotel for our last night in Ho Chi Minh where we were also able to spend time with our Groucho’s family and there new daughter. Crystal also had the opportunity for one more Ho Chi Minh shopping spree. When we arrived at the counter to check in for our flight to Hanoi we discovered that we had not purchased tickets for the babies (at ten percent of a full fare). We were sent to the “Excess Baggage” counter to purchase them! We finally made it to the gate about 15 minutes before the flight. This 2 hour trip was to be a test flight before our twenty plus hour trip home. We all did pretty well.

The Groucho's are in town!

2007-06-24T00:38:00.001-07:00

I remember how nervous I felt landing at the HCMC airport, looking for a man holding a sign that read our last name. It was so much fun for our family of three to show up at the airport to greet our friends over at Groucho's family! We three stood in the crowd and held up their sign.
Welcome to Vietnam, we can't wait to see our girls together!
We have been so lucky to form friendships with "Groucho's family" and "Love from Vietnam" because they are really nice people, and they live so close!
Congratulations M&M on your lovely new daughter! ...mind if we pop by for a visit and let the girls get acquainted?

-As always, I will be holding my breath for Julie (Love from Vietnam) who is eagerly awaiting referral. Come on baby, show yourself; you already have two little friends!

HCMC update:
It is Sunday here, and we are nervously waiting for our Monday INS appointment. But today we have fun... once Frances wakes up we will visit her new little friend.
Baby update:
She is amazing. She lets her poppa carry her around and loves it when he tosses her in the air. And she likes it when her momma feeds her carrots with chopsticks!

Still in Ho Chi Minh

2007-06-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

Well Friday came and went and we are still here in Ho Chi Minh City. We were told that our I-600 was not filled out completely and we had write out another one. It didnt make much difference though as Frances' Vietnamese passport was not ready. We were told that the passport would for sure be picked up on Friday evening and we could expect our INS interview on Monday morning at 11:45. Then it will be off to Hanoi on Monday afternoon and maybe the Visa appointment at the US Embassy on Tuesday. So we are still on track to fly out on the 28th. On the plus side Groucho's family is flying in today so we can spend some time together in Ho Chi Minh with both girls. We are looking forward to a good weekend.

Loves the Water

2007-06-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

After our trip to the zoo we all headed back to the hotel to play in the pool. We took Frances into the water and she absolutely loved it. She smiled and laughed more than ever. I think it was the best time here so far.

Asleep at the Zoo

2007-06-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was a free day. After breakfast we took a trip to the zoo with the other family. Frances really keeps to her schedule, and since it was the middle of her nap time she slept through most of the visit. The zoo here is not the most modern of facilities and was not the happiest of places to see.

medical check

2007-06-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday morning we were taken to the International Medical Center for Frances' medical check. We walked through a courtyard and into the main hospital. So different from what I am used to in an American hospital. The hospital staff are all very professional and serious, it is the facilities that could use some modernization. We were taken into a small conference/examination room where we met with a doctor and a nurse. Frances was weighed and measured. The doctor performed a short physical exam and read through her medical chart. It all went well and we are now one step closer to obtaining her Visa. We are just waiting for the Vietnamese passport to be issued and we can go for the INS interview. Hopefully that will be Friday. After the exam we went for lunch with the other family that is here adopting through the same agency. Frances really enjoys being out and about. While at the restaurant the power went out for a short while - a not uncommon occurrence here. I cant believe the tangle of electrical wires that string along the utility poles, I don't know how anyone could ever figure out what leads where. Later that I afternoon I went in search of someplace to buy baby formula. There are lots of shops in this area but I had yet to see a place that sold basic groceries. Finally I hit the jackpot at the TAX department store, a small grocery market on the second floor. It can be fairly difficult navigating through the streets but I am starting to get the hang of it. Most intersections have no stop signs or lights and the streets are full of scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and cars all just maneuvering around each other and constantly honking horns to signal where they are. To cross the street you just walk out into it. No one stops - you just become part of the traffic flow and make your way to the other side. It can actually be entertaining to watch. Sort of a controlled chaos.

Second Day

2007-06-18T16:41:00.001-07:00

Tuesday Morning

Baby Frances’ second day was more difficult than the first. She cried a lot more and at times was inconsolable. This is to be expected as she is in a state of shock or bereavement after leaving her caregivers. She has latched onto Crystal as her primary caregiver so Crystal constantly holds her and takes care of the feeding and cleaning. I am in more of a supporting role. If I have to hold her for a bit she won’t stop crying unless Crystal is in her view. She sleeps on the bed with us and will continue to do so at home for a time as we ease her transition. She seems to be most receptive to me in the morning just after she wakes up and likes to have her back and tummy rubbed. But when its time for that bottle it is Crystal who she wants. Though we do let her watch me make it up so I am part of it too. I think her previous home was more open air, she really likes to be taken outside. She especially seems to enjoy the hotel courtyard where the pool is. We have to remember that not only are we strangers to her and she cant know we mean to love and care for her but we also smell and sound differently. She is used to the sound of theVietnamese language, English must sound foreign to her. This will be even more pronounced when we return to the States. So we will be making it a very quiet homecoming and follow the experts’ advice which include limiting her contact with others in the beginning and slowly bringing her around.

Giving and Receiving

2007-06-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

Monday June 18th 2007
Today the Giving and Receiving ceremony was held at the Binh Duong Provincial Department of Justice. It was presided over by two ladies from the People's Committee. Also present were the Orphanage Director and the Catholic priest who run the orphanage. It wasn't very ceremonial. Essentially we signed the documents finalizing the Vietnamese adoption. We are now the legal parents in the eyes of the Vietnamese government. This is the first step in getting Frances home. Now we must meet the requirements of the US government and obtain a Visa which essentially gives her permission to travel to the USA. In order for a US Visa to be issued Frances will require a Vietnamese passport and a satisfactory medical checkup. Crystal and I must then interview with an INS official here in Ho Chi Minh City. If the INS approves our petition it will be off to Hanoi for a visit to the US Embassy where the Visa will be issued. The purpose of the INS interview is to ensure that there was legal and ethical in keeping with US Immigration Law. If all goes smoothly this week we will be in Hanoi on Monday.
There is another family from the same agency here this week. It is nice to have someone here we can share this experience with. I think it is making it easier on all of us. We plan on spending time together seeing the city and maybe some areas outside the city as we wait for the process to unfold.
We will continue to update as things happen and time permits.
Bye for now
The LeGallos

Happy Father's day to Frank

2007-06-17T01:44:00.000-07:00

It is Sunday the 17th here in VN.
We arrived midday on Saturday the 16th and forced ourselves to stay awake.
So today we are not feeling all that jet lagged.
Thank goodness because today we are parents! We brought Frances home this morning and have been laying low in our hotel room getting to know our daughter.
I am so happy and sad all at the same time. She was definitely attached to her caregivers from the orphanage. Though she has stopped crying, (napping right now) she still takes these great big upset breaths. I hate that this is causing her pain and grief.

She is beautiful. She is amazing. You should see these big eyes in person! I will treasure this time here in Vietnam, but look forward to the time when she is securely attached to our family and trusts that she is loved and will be well taken care of.

Our hotel is old and beautiful. I love 1920's architecture. The Majestic was built in 1925 and has loads of charm, full of art deco moldings and fixtures. I have never been in such a beautiful hotel. I am glad we splurged on this part of the trip. I have been feeling much culture shock and I need to be comfortable in our room. We have enjoyed eating at the outdoor restaurant on the fifth floor. It is really a great view where you can watch the traffic flow below.

-Wow, If you could see the traffic. Everyone rides scooters and man can these folks drive. You should see the intersections were two streets cross. No lights, they all just...merge at once. It looks orchestrated! Instead of blinkers, they beep horns. I wish I could explain it. Just imagine the busiest intersection in your city. Now take away the traffic lights. The only rule is that you yield to anyone bigger than you. Okay, got that? Now take away the cars, trucks and buses. Instead place these drivers and passengers on ONE scooter. Family of 4 you say? Yes, a family of four and more fits on ONE scooter. Okay, got that? Now let's say that you and your family need to cross this medley... guess what you do? Just start slowly and methodically walking out into the street together in a line. Crazy stuff.

Tomorrow is the Giving and Receiving ceremony. We will keep you all updated.
Thank you all for your well wishes and support, it helps! My stomach is in knots from all the stress and worry. I will ask Frank to post a picture.

At The Airport

2007-06-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

We are on our way!

It has been a crazy week. I still cannot believe I am here…In the LAX airport, with a 7.5 hour layover. We are settled at an empty gate in the international terminal. And thanks to good good friends I am typing on a laptop, after which I will settle back and practice my Vietnamese (I am hoping to expand my five words to ten in the next 20 hours.) and then perhaps when I need to relax I will listen to the Nano! A very thoughtful gift, One of the best I have ever received, here I am with 20 hours of travel ahead of me, and now I have a Nano loaded with music and books to help ease the long, long flight. I will treasure it. Wow, I feel like a hip young person hanging out in a terminal with cool technologies. The loud overhead messages in other languages help set the mood.

Sigh, I can’t believe I am here, and almost there. I have been sad, scared, excited and nervous all week. But I woke up this morning happy, happy, happy.

Oregon gave us an amazing sendoff this morning. The sky was clear, the air was warm, and the mountains were majestic! I can’t wait to come home soon with our family of three.

-An amazing sendoff, you bet!

We also got a call from our good friends over at “Groucho’s Family”. Guess who is going next? They are! I am so excited and happy for them. We have been through this long wait with them side by side and it was bittersweet to be leaving without them.

-No wifi,

6/14 2244

3 more hours until takeoff!

Have G&R date, will travel!

2007-06-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been a whirlwind few days! Let me catch you all up.

MONDAY: We were not expecting to receive our official dispatch (3rd letter) from the Department of International Adoptions (DIA) in Hanoi for at least a few weeks. So on Monday you could have knocked us over with a feather when we did. So we held our breath…not for very long because on

FRIDAY we received our travel dates! And you are not going to believe this but we will be in HCMC next weekend! Frank and I will meet our daughter for the first time on Fathers day. We are so happy. We are also very busy. This is not much time to prepare and we needed visas and airline tickets ASAP. We sent off our visa application on Friday and had better get our visas and passports back by Wednesday morning because the very next day we fly!

We will keep you all posted as we finish what we started over a year ago! I can’t believe we are almost there…
It is all feeling a little less surreal now. And a little more scary!

June update

2007-06-04T21:29:00.001-07:00

Oh and guess what else? An update! It feels like we have just weathered a long drought and finally it rains! Purposeful metaphor, you should check out the weather in Vietnam. It is the rainy season. It is hot and it is muggy and I can’t wait.

Baby Frances,
What will you think of us? We already love you and can't wait to meet you. I can't wait to see you smile and watch you crawl. No walking okay? I want to be there for that first step!
We did not know why we had to wait, until we saw you. We are blessed that you will grace our lives. Please stay happy and healthy and know that we are counting every minuet until we are united as a family.
Love,
me, who wants to be Mom

Possibly, hopfully, could it be true? Travel THIS June?

2007-06-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

The Last steps: Our Adoption Decree

1) Certification from the PDJ (Provincial Department of Justice, from the province Frances is from). I do not know what exactly is being certified…but I know we need it!

2) Formal adoption approval: Our paperwork travels back to the other end of Viet Nam to Hanoi where we wait for the DIA (Vietnam’s Department of International Adoption) to officially approve our adoption. Our agency calls this the 3rd letter. The PDJ now has 7 days to prepare and sign the Adoption Decree.

3) Last but not least, TRAVEL DATES!!!

Our heads are spinning
On Friday June 1st (though we like to say May 32nd) we received news that our Adoption Decree had been certified. Step One Hundred and ONE, done!
We were happy, one step down a few more to go. But we were not too excited as a few families from our agency have had their decrees certified for three weeks now. We were starting to accept a possible summer with out our daughter.

We were then shocked to learn that today June 4th we received the 3rd letter! We could actually have travel dates this week or next! We are guardedly excited, but it is looking like we will meet Frances THIS month. Step One Hundred and TWO, done!
We will be holding our breath for the next week until we have that travel date. Please cross your fingers for us and for the other families still waiting for good news. It is a long journey and we could use any luck you might spare to bring us through to the end!

Curry heals broken heart

2007-05-28T01:32:00.000-07:00

Last week was very hard for me, one of the toughest so far. Tuesday May 22nd passed and so did Frances’s eighth month. The 22nd of every month is always sad for us, but still I held onto some hope that Friday would bring us good news. We are waiting for our adoption decree to be signed, certified and couriered to Hanoi. This is the final process that would end in a travel date. I was griping onto hope that Friday would bring us closer to bringing home Frances. I was then crushed when two other families were signed… but not ours. It broke my heart. I was very angry and sad.

It has been 8 months since we received our referral, 8 MONTHS!
I cried for every month that I have missed and will never know the joy of. It felt like the whole 8 months was weighing down on me, and I felt the loss very deeply.

We had made plans to have Thai dinner with our Portland friends, whom are also adopting through the same agency. I was so close to canceling. But I didn’t. I am so glad because we had a great time. One very strong tropical Mojito drink later, and I began to unwind. We then had some of the best Thai food I have ever experienced. Perhaps there is some restorative property of curry? Most likely it was the company! Towards the end of dinner we were all talking about an interesting place to visit, and someone said, “We will take the girls!” We all smiled. How can I convey to you how much that simple phrase meant to me? Instead of mourning all that we have lost it made me think of the very real and not to distant future in which we will hold our daughter in our arms. We have so much to look forward to.

It is amazing how the heart heals and protects itself. I am filled with optimism and hope once more. Soon she will be home and we will watch her grow, and I could pick up the phone and call M or Julie…and we could “take the girls” anywhere!

...more delays and I'm Okay

2007-05-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

We are waiting for the provincial government to sign important paperwork. First it was going to be signed on Tuesday... then today... now maybe Monday! There were 9 families waiting for this step, now only 7. I am disappointed that they did not sign all 9.
But I am feeling strangely calm about everything. I keep thinking that I will be Frances Mom by next month. I feel that it is going to happen very soon. My gut tells me we will be in Vietnam NEXT month and have a travel date THIS month.
Basically I need to not worry about it anymore. My worry won't make her come home any faster. I am going to try and relax...
I am going to concentrate on... baby care books, our house projects, who is going to win 'Survivor', and what is going on with 'Lost'...
Man I love those two shows. Survivor started out ho hum, but has really kicked it into gear. And what is not to love about Lost? Tropical beach, paranormal intrigue and mystery- I love it.
My 'gut' better not break my heart!

On May 1st 2007 She Smiles!

2007-05-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

Are hearts are full as we see new pictures of Frances. Finally we get to see a little smile! Now we just need to hear her giggle. Hopefully it won't be too far off. Our agency has their first family in Vietnam as we speak completing their adoption. Things do seem to be finally moving along and we should be one of the next families to go. We will keep you updated. But until then, She Stands! She smiles!

Our Adoption Time Line

2007-04-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

In the adoption world it is ALL about timelines. When so much is unknown all you can do is research those who have gone before you… and hope that your process is much quicker!

January- March Began researching Adoption
Saturday April 1st, 2006 Went to open House at Agency
April 3rd, 2006 Filled out application and returned to agency!
April-May Gathered all the documents needed for Dossier
May 29th, 2006 Home study Completed
May 30th, 2006 Home study sent to BCIS
June 23rd, 2006 BCIS Appointment for fingerprints
July 13th, 2006 I-171H Approved
September 12th, 2006 Re-did employment verification and State Police letters
September 25th, 2006 Received Referral!!!!
October 15th, 2006 Sent care package to Baby Frances
January 11th, 2007 Received updated photos of Frances!
March 3rd, 2007 Received Letter of Referral Acceptance
March 27th, 2007 Another update with photos!
? ? ? ? ? ? Soon baby will make three and complete our family!

NO NEWS YET.
Yes, it is taking a long time.
Thanks for pointing that out.

(If you are starting the adoption process I seriously advise you to put this on a mug or T-shirt. Better yet, both. You can thank me later.)

The Beginning

2007-04-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

It has been just over one year since Frank and I began our adoption journey.
On a Saturday morning, April 1st 2006, we walked into our agencies door for the first time to attend an 'informal information session'. We were unsure and cranky. Being a parent was becoming a fleeting dream and not something I could take for granted.
I will never forget the feeling as we walked out of our agencies door! We did not have to say anything. We both new this was IT by the way we were holding hands, swinging them together and when we looked at each other we knew we felt the same. All Shinny eyed and smiles. One of us said, "This is it! This is what we are supposed to do!" and the other said, "Lets come right back on Monday and turn in our application!".
It has been a long journey and I do hope we are near the end. Even with its ups downs and all arounds she is more than worth the wait. I can not wait to be her mama. I am madly in love with this child that I have never held. Her eyes stare back at me from a photo, they are full of intelligence, wisdom and grace. I can't wait to meet her. Will she be silly? Will she be serious,as her photo's hint? Or will she be shy?