Doing the Dossier- Where We Stand Now

The last outside document is in the mail, on the way to us!

I am having my photos taken this week (also required).

Cuban Daddy is gathering our original birth certificates, marriage license, etc....

And I think that's it!!!

Then...

Have to get a few forms notarized, 

Scan them to our agency for pre-approval, 

Make copies,

Get them all Apostilled in Atlanta, 

and then send them (& $2,000 translation fee) to our agency to send to Honduras!

I can't believe we are SO close!!!

Please pray that things continue to go smoothly, and we're able to wrap this up this week!!

Thank you!

~ 6 in Love ~

Sippys 4 Siblings - Making Change

So we left church with an awesome surprise today - 

2 more 'Sippys 4 Siblings' cups were filled & turned in!

What a blessing!

We are seriously so touched each time one of these is given to us.  

We know that they have been filled intentionally.  

Filled lovingly.  Filled purposefully.  

Filled prayerfully.  

Filled thoughtfully.  Filled unselfishly.  Filled generously. 

Filled with the knowledge that every little bit helps.

Filled with the knowledge that one person can make a difference.

Filled with the knowledge that every cup helps bring a baby into a family.

And we're so blessed, so fortunate, that you all would choose to help OUR babies have a forever family.  We know that God smiles every time one of these is given.  He loves that we (meaning all of YOU!) love His children, and are all doing what we can to take care of them.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you for not forgetting us.  Thank you for not forgetting *them*.

If you are interested in helping us bring #3 & #4 home, this is a great way to help.  Comment & I'll send you a Sippys 4 Siblings sippy cup (or you can use one you already have).  Start collecting your change & just send it over when it's full! ALL goes into our Adoption fund toward adoption fees & expenses.  Take as long as you need, no rush.  We hope that this can be an ongoing fundraiser.  Some of you are working on your second Sippy!  Today, the church family asked for their cups back to fill again!  Wow!  

Some of you have put them in your car cup-holder, some have taken them to Bible study or to playgroup.  Some are having your children participate.  Whatever it is, we appreciate it!

And, for the life of me, I CANNOT figure out who put over $25 in bills into our 'Sippys 4 Siblings' cup at our house.  Guilty party, reveal yourself!  

THANK YOU!!!

Thank YOU for making change... & causing change.

~ 6 in Love ~ 

Only a Few More...

I feel like I've been saying this forever, but we are NEARLY done w/ the Dossier! 

I can literally count the number of documents needed off the top of my head.  

That is success in itself!  

Yesterday, I got a call from them saying our bloodwork results were in & that all looked good.  But before she could get off the phone, I asked if I could come get the results.  Apparently an odd question.  She lowered her voice & whispered, "I wouldn't.  They'll charge you."  Huh?  For real?  If it was enough for her to risk telling me, it was more than I wanted to spend for a free piece of paper.  And she was pretty insistent.  So, after confirming she could get it in the mail TODAY (Yay!), I agreed to let her mail it.  And then I thought to ask which tests were on the results.  She listed the 3 blood tests we had done.  Me: "And the urine analysis we had done?  It's required to be documented too."  The nurse replies they don't have those results yet, but that she'd call when they got in.  :/   Seriously.


Today, I got a call from our Dr.'s office (only a couple hrs before they closed for the weekend), saying that they had our notarized forms ready to be picked up. Yes!   It was impossible for me to make it today (even though I really wanted to!), so I'll go first thing on Monday.  I want to believe that they'll follow the detailed instructions I wrote on how to do it, but things just haven't gone too smooth lately.  Praying anyway!  

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* So, waiting on bloodwork forms to arrive in mail, waiting to be called about our pee, and will pick up notarized physical sign offs Monday.  

* Cuban Daddy is waiting on one official piece of paper, and needs to gather his copies.

* we'll get a couple things notarized...

* confirm that all looks good to Buckner...

* make 3 copies of everything...

* take it to Atlanta for apostilling...

* we'll mail 3 copies to Buckner w/ our $2,000 Translation fee...

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And then we'll feel SO much closer to getting our babies. 

Counting down documents, 

~ 6 in Love ~

The Smartie That Saved My Sanity

Have you ever had one of those parenting 'issues' you just can't seem to solve?

Mine (in this moment) was getting K to stop calling us after we've laid him down for the night. 

We'd go thru our 'routine' of pajamas, storybook, brush teeth, go potty, sip of water, turn on music, filter, sing song... you know.  And no matter what, there would be at least 4-5 calls from that room after we left.  

Drove. Me. Nuts.

And nothing seemed to work.  No matter how prepped we were.  No matter what tone we used -from sweet & loving (the only one that calms him down) to fierce 'I'm-so-serious' faces & teeth-grinding.  No matter if it were me or Cuban Daddy.  No matter what toys we took away (Put them time-out.  Yes, this actually works wonders during the day.).  No matter what, he would call. And call.  And call.  And I would lose it just a little more.

And then a Smartie candy saved my sanity.

It was like an idea, gift wrapped from God.  One day, during his nap, I was racking my brain about what to do.  And then it hit me.  My kids LOVE candy.  They rarely get it, so it's reserved as a super special treat.  

So I tried the plan.  When I went to tuck him in, I showed him the one Smartie.  I let him smell it, hold it, look at it. (Stop laughing.)  And then we put it on his dresser where he could see it.  I told him if he called anyone, cried, or got out of his bed, I would come and eat it.  Seriously, ya'll, I did.  And it worked perfectly!  

Not. A. Peep. 

Praise Jesus!  I couldn't believe it.  Of course, knowing my son, I knew that the day would come where I'd have to eat the Smartie.  A few days of awesomely perfect bedtime behavior passed, and then he called.  Shoot!  I didn't want to do it. 

I went in, asked what he wanted (for me to turn another light on), took the Smartie off the dresser, sat on the bed so he could get a good look...and ate it.  

Total. Meltdown.

It was so tough.  But, I knew it had to happen.  I let him have a couple mins to calm down, and left.  A few sad minutes later, he was asleep. 

And it's not happened again.  He knows Mama means business when she says she'll eat his candy.

Look what I got!

A little less stress, a little more sugar, 

~ 6 in Love ~

'Going Green' on Another Level

So, yesterday was St. Patrick's Day.  Cuban Daddy had his bloodwork done for the adoption that morning - He decided to celebrate St. Patty's by 'going green.'  Ugh!  Glad he survived. 

I know, I know.

I'll be here all night. 

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And seeing as though I'm 1/8 or so Irish, I decided to celebrate w/ the kids too.  Who am I kidding?  I love all 'special' days & would've participated anyway!  

Pretty much all the kids knew about St. Patrick's day was that they'd better wear green or get pinched!  So, green they wore...all day.  K proudly announced upon exiting church nursery, "And I didn't even get pinched today!!"

G begged for a Shamrock hand-painted on EVERY nail.  

There's not much I wouldn't do for that face!

Seriously, child, how'd you get so cute?!

Be still, my little green heart.

Hope you had a good o'day too!

~ 6 in Love ~

The Sounds of Frustration

Argh. 

The sound of frustration that comes along w/ massive amounts of paperwork.

I'm losing track of days, and I don't feel like researching the calendar to figure at the moment. But a few days ago, I called our doc about required updated bloodwork/urine analysis and paperwork.   

Day 1- I stopped by w/ 2 toddlers to drop off paperwork (I knew it may take a few days) & schedule bloodwork appts.  I think I mentioned before, it will take SEVERAL days for the paperwork (which our Peds did in a matter of 2 hrs). Anyways, I couldn't schedule the bloodwork b/c they needed to know exactly what type of tests were required.  Ugh.

I emailed the agency, heard back w/in the hour (awesomeness).  And news was good.

So, tried the entire day to get in touch w/ someone to schedule at the docs...to no avail.  Seriously, I'm calling the doctor's office & can't get a person?  Work day ends.  Grrrr.

Day 2- I call & get a hold of someone.  They said, "You don't even need an appt, just come on in!" These are our hours.  So, excitedly, I plan to come in & leave K w/ my mother in law.  

Let's do this!

 I show up to a full waiting room.  But, I'm thinking, "Hey, I'm just here for like a 2 min. bloodwork session that doesn't require an appt.  I'll be in and out in no more than 20-30 mins."  Right?  Plenty of time to get G from school & K from my MIL. 

That's where I'd be wrong.

45 long minutes go by.  Nothing. 

I tell the receptionist I can't wait...and that I didn't realize I had to for so long.  I'd need to come back another time.  She tells me she's sorry, she should've told me today was going to be busy.  She was nice about it, but.....Irk.

Wasted time & inefficiency are major pet peeves for this mama. 

Day 3- I remind Cuban Daddy how urgent it is that we get this done.  He agrees & goes one morning, out of the way, thus making him late.  He waits for a bit, but then when he gets to the back, they ask him for 'written instructions' requiring him to get this.  Seriously, this is new info.  So, late for work, having no idea what they're talking about nor how to get it, he leaves.  Wasted time.  CD's not a fan either.  Teeth grind.  

I make several attempts at calls again, & finally find out that I can just bring our Dossier instruction packet for them to see the sentence that requires this lab work; and make themselves a copy.

Day 4- With G at school, K and I rush over there (once again) to a time she said should be good.  Skeptical.  This is totally how I felt waiting too, bud:

But we only waited about 10 mins in the waiting room.  Gave them our precious packet for them to make copies.  I made sure they made one for Cuban Daddy, and asked, "So, when he shows up, this will be easy for him, right?!?"  They assured me it would.  

Moved to the back, & waiting some more.  Ran out of things to keep K occupied, but he was okay.  He was so busy flirting with all the nurses that walked by, getting head pats, free stickers, and a big head?  Haha.  

And, it's done.  Praise the Lord!

Side Note: Getting your blood drawn & peeing in a cup...in a germy doctor's office...are SO much fun with a 3 year old boy.

Aye aye aye.

I'm thinking I should send him with CD when he goes just so he can enjoy the full experience. :)  

Celebrate the small victories, right?  Well, since this 'small step' was such a major hassle, K and I went to one of our fav (but rarely gone to) places for a lunch date...where they have my favorite sweet tea.

Making the whole thing worth it.  Aahhh.

And that, my friends, that is the sound of victory.

One less step, 

~ 6 in Love ~

Help Me Find G & K ?

Random.

G & K have gotten a couple of modeling jobs lately.  They really LOVE doing it & think it's so fun.  They're both (usually) happy, friendly, and know a camera when they see it.  HA!  I think it's a good experience for them.  We're throwing the money they earn into a college savings account.  A win, win!

Unfortunately, when you do a job, they don't tell you much about when you may see yourself in the ad, etc.  Using the little info I do know, I was wondering if you'd be willing to help be my 'eyes'?  I'd really love a copy or a photo of what they'll be in.  Hello, scrapbook!  

The last print ad job K had was this one for Carters clothing:

I never received the ad in a national mail out.  Fortunately, a couple of friends spotted this picture on their Facebook page.  Yay!

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So that brings me to now.

Both of the kids (separately, but one day after the other) had photo shoots for Birthday Express.   They should be featured (if they make it thru edits, etc) in the same Spring or Summer 2013 Birthday Express catalog.  Of course, they may also be on their website  www.birthdayexpress.com & any other advertisements for them.  I subscribed to their free catalog (we actually already did, as I have purchased from them more than once!), so we *should* get a copy.  However, in case we don't or don't see it, or it's featured elsewhere, would you keep an eye out for these two?

A photo I snuck of G getting set up for the shoot. It's all "LadyBug" themed stuff.

Must have worked hard for the money... 

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And this is what K was wearing for his Birthday Express shoot.  He may be with or without a brunette 'mom' in the photo.  It also may be the back or side of him; and he may be held.  He's likely far away in a 'room' full of 'Max & Ruby' themed supplies.  

Seriously worn out after that one!

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Okay, the one I probably need your eyes the most for is this one.  G got her first big job the week before the Birthday Express one.  We were told she'd be featured on the side of a Graco carseat box.  I think it's a high backed booster.  (*We were in Savannah at the time of the call & my parents took her, so I'm not entirely sure what it looked like.) Anyways they said on a box on shelves in Babies R Us (& wherever else it may be sold) this Spring.  Of course, like before, the photos can be used on any Graco ads, online, catalog, etc.  But for sure on the Box.  
I wasn't there, so don't have a photo of what she was wearing.  But, I think it was a pink shirt, jeggings, & hair in a side braid.  

We were there today to stock up on snacks & took a peek at boxes to see if it was out yet.  It wasn't.  The lady working that area said they hadn't gotten the new line of boosters in yet, but could at anytime.   

Little brother photo bomb. 

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So, if you spot one of the babies, would you please snap a picture or link me or something?  

I'd really, really appreciate it!  Thank you!

~ 6 in Love ~

K's 3 Year Old Portraits

Prepare yourself for an outrageous amount of photos of pretty much the cutest little boy ever.  Oh, wait, I may be a little biased. Ha.  

I shot the first half at a local park, stealing him away while he was playing.  

The second set were in my parents' backyard.

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My love.  

There can never be too many, 

~ 6 in Love ~