Scott took this photo at work, and every time I look at it, I laugh.



Corporate America at it’s finest!

CCAA has updated their information to announce that they’ve finished reviewing applications received by April 30, 2007.

YIPPEE!

So, what does this mean?
What this means is that they don’t have any questions for our family about requirements to adopt another child from China. It means that we sent everything in correctly.
Initially, CCAA simply stamped the paperwork to indicate the pieces were all there and translated. Upon review, they actually “review” all the papers to ensure they were all sent in, and correctly notarized, and approved for adoption.
It’s actually a huge step in the adoption process.
When we adopted Cadence, passing the Review Room was around one half the wait time. Of course then the total wait was only 10 months, but we had passed Review Room by the 5th month of waiting. If that’s any indication for us now, and IF things speed up as all indications are pointing, it means that we’ve endured 1/2 the wait, or more for Melody.
There were huge declines in applications after April 2007 because of the new requirements set out by China. So, in theory, (hopefully) this also means that CCAA workers can now shift more time toward matching, at least that’s my take on it.
And the last thing it means, is this is the last hurdle for our waiting. Sure, there’s more waiting. We’ve waited 2 years, and might have to wait 2 more. But no more hurdles, except of course for the idiotic ones here in the US, which force us to possibly reapply thru our own governmental paper-pushers after the current applications are so old that they’ve expired.

But.....for now.....I think I’ll just bask in the glory of knowing that China thinks we’re A-OK.

YIPPEE!!!!

It seems by the time I start to blog about something, the event has lived out it’s time, and it’s on to the next thing.
I wanted to still post pictures showing our Easter fun, if nothing else, to show that we actually had Easter here.

The weekend before Easter was spent at Cadence’s best friend’s house, Alyson. They had a pre-Easter event, of sorts, with several of their friends from preschool. Her dad made lots of bubbles for the girls, and Cady tried catching them in a pretend watering can. Needless to say, she didn’t catch too many, but at four years old, it’s the going, not the getting there that matters more.

Alyson’s house:


Alyson is on our far right. Cadence is in the middle.



Goodies in the eggs






BUBBLES!!!!

















The next Saturday night, we colored our eggs. Cady got very scientific in her color exploration.






I think Mom’s done this before.


And then, it happened. The Easter Bunny came!!!!!















.....and left Daddy trying to figure out how to take out all the goodies in the basket that he dropped off.


BTW, this is the same Easter dress she wore TWO years ago. She insisted.


Easter 2007

Here we are, almost at the end of the year, with summer coming around the corner.
Our baby girl got her preschool pictures taken, and along with them are the graduating pictures for this year. She’s graduating from preschool! Next year will meet us head on with many new adventures. Kindergarten is something she is ready for, and can’t wait to dive right in. Me, however, I’m not so ready for my baby to be going to elementary school. It’s gone by too fast. I want to do it all over again with her. But I’m excited for her.
The presentation for graduating preschool will be held in May. I think the two of us parents are going to be crying as we sit in the audience....a lot!

Here’s the latest preschool portrait April 2009

(She’s grown so much in the few short years we’ve been a family. But she’s still Daddy’s Babygirl)

I assembled pictures below from days we spent with her at preschool over the past few years. As I fumbled through all of the pictures on my computer to find her preschool photos, I couldn’t help but think of the song Bookends;

‘Time it was.
Oh what a time it was.
A time of innocence.
A time of confidences.

Long ago. It must be.
I have a photograph.
Preserve your memories.
They’re all that’s left you.’



Her first day of preschool, August 2006


(So cute. My precious, little monkey)





In this one, she had to point out to the teacher, that Mama was standing ‘over there’



October 2006





December 2006








Spring dance rehearsal at school April 2007




(Auntie Kris shows how proud she was after the performance)





October 2007



School portraits November 2007




Cheezy smile May 2008



Dance practice at school August 2008





November 2008





December 2008




Graduation picture. April 2009


WE LOVE YOU, CADENCE.
We’re so proud of you!

Well, as of yesterday, we’ve been waiting to hear back from China’s matching team (CCAA) for 24 months now. That’s 2 years. Or 730 days. Or another way to calculate it is by way of this equation:
(way too long) X (anticipation) + OlderSisterWhoTalksAboutYoungerSisterOnADailyBasis = DesireToSpeedUp

Daniel and I had a fabulous time in Vegas. Scott was a trooper for allowing me to spend time with my son, and taking care of Cady by himself. She had a difficult time Friday night, but she survived my absence. More importantly, Scott survived her difficult time.

The river raft ride was fantastic! We started at the Hoover Dam- a few miles out of Las Vegas, and ended in Arizona. Our tour guide was extremely funny, which added to the raft ride.



We stayed at the Wynn Hotel, in a very upscale room. Flat screen TV in the bathroom for goodness sakes! We both learned how to play craps. We won big Friday night (around $400 each) and lost just as big Saturday night. But in the end, we spent 3 days/2 nights, spectacular dinners, open bar, and we both walked away from the weekend only spending around $100. I’d say that’s pretty darned good.

We also went to Circ Du Soleil, Mystere. With the live band on the balcony at the right corner, and the singers on a balcony on the left corner, and all the spectacular acrobatics, I don’t think any two people would ever experience the same thing at the same show.

It was really a relaxing time. And I’m glad I was able to spend it with my son.