Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Kate & Abigail Playdate

With only two days left until Cindy and Russ return home with Chloe, we played hard to keep Abigail distracted from missing them. We can tell that she sure wants her Mommy and Daddy home, but is handling their absence well. Kate is going Trick-or-Treating with Abby and Taylor tomorrow, so that promises to be another fun time. Hopefully it will be a cool night because all three girls have warm costumes. Stay tuned for the Halloween pics!









Above: I've got to say that this is my favorite shot of the day. I have titled it, "At Least She's Not Going Commando."










For Cindy and Russ

No worries. All is well here while you are in China with Chloe....

Sunday, October 28, 2007

The Pumpkin Patch










Saturday, October 27, 2007

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Poo-Poo on the Potty!

Poo-Poo on the Potty!
Poo-Poo on the Potty!
Poo-Poo on the Potty!
Poo-Poo on the Potty!


Hot diggity-dog, this is so much better than Poo-Poo in Mama's Hand!

Kate signed potty, took my hand to bring me to the potty, sat down and did her business. She was clearly distressed at first, but as things started, ahem, moving along, she started laughing and clapping. Then she jumped up and grabbed the little insert in her toddler potty so she could deposit her gift into the big potty and flush away. I'm so glad she doesn't like to "save" things like this to show Daddy at the end of the day....

Another bit of progress: Last night Kate signed potty, pulled her pants down (well, off actually -- she's more of the free spirit type) and then went all by herself and pee-pee'd in the potty. The pants issue has actually been a real obstacle as Kate's motor planning issues make it very difficult for her to pull pants down and up. Even with very loose clothing, she struggles to remember when to pull down and when to pull up. It seems so easy, but it's really not for Kate.

Woo-Hoo Kate! We are soooooo proud of you!

Monday, October 22, 2007

A Beautiful Day in China!

Chloe is with her forever family now and what a GREAT day they had. Go check it out at http://home.earthlink.net/~rwbolton/journeytochloe/id22.html





A preview of the pics:


God is good!

Sunday, October 21, 2007

For Cindy and Russ

Quick preface for the rest of you: Our good friends Cindy and Russ are in China to adopt Chloe, their second daughter. They should be meeting her anytime now! While they are in China, we are following our usual routine, which often involves Abigail -- their first daughter. We went to church this morning and then to Crispers for lunch. Kate and I are spending the night at Abigail's tomorrow night, where I've already been instructed by Abigail that she and Kate are going to take a bath together, make popcorn, and watch a movie. Works for me!
To follow the journey to Chloe, go to: http://home.earthlink.net/~rwbolton/journeytochloe/







Above: Abigail muttering "c'mon Kate...!"



Left: Troublemakers, for sure!


More pictures in a couple of days!
We love you and miss you!

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Still Alive

Just busy as all get-out. I apologize to those of you who have emailed and I have not yet responded. It has been a matter of, "I need to email so-and-so, but need to do it when I have time to explain what's been keeping me busy, blah, blah, blah." I should have just emailed and said, "I'm crazy-busy, but I can't wait to catch up with you." How rude - please forgive me!


What have we been up to?

Melissa:
Tutoring about 12 hours per week, plus planning for my lessons (all time-consuming, but so much fun -- I LOVE teaching!)
Educational Consultant job -- August - November tends to be about 25 hours / week, then it slows down
Curriculum Job -- in tandem with my Educational Consultant Job -- one of those tasks that's never truly done
Adoption paperwork for Addison -- essentially done, we're just waiting for a few documents, then it's off for authentication and then to China for the wait, wait, wait.

Scott:
Chef-fing -- always a busy job
Up extra early to get Kate ready for school three mornings per week while I'm already out of the house tutoring
E-baying / working on his dune buggy / watching the baseball playoffs (Cubbies, you are breaking my husband's heart)

Kate:
Always the busiest in the family
School three days per week, which she LOVES
Swim lessons and play date with Abigail on Tuesdays
Dance lessons, speech therapy on Thursdays
Sunday school on Sundays
Kate is all about GO! GO! GO!
Potty training? Don't even ask. It's going, well, extremely s-l-o-w-l-y. I'll be honest with you, though, I'm just not stressed about it.
I am, however, a wee bit stressed (and paradoxically THRILLED) that our daughter can now undress herself from the waist down, which she has taken to like a duck to water over the past few days. The highlight from my week (Kate will hate me someday for posting this, but that's life, my non-potty-trained child): Kate stripping down, standing on a footstool. I look over and spy "that look" that tells me, uh-oh, it's time for #2. I RUN to her, a few seconds too late, and like the best outfielder in a Game 7 winning play, I reach my left hand out and catch the "prize."

Eeeeewwwwwwwwww. Only a mother.

Addison: I wish we knew such minutae about our little guy, but at least we have an overall update. He is running, jumping, playing. He loves going for walks, playing with cars and can go potty with an adult's assistance. (Does this mean that, a half a world away, his foster mother is experiencing the same thing?) He sounds happy, healthy and busy. We can't wait to bring him home.

More later, but here are a few photos to catch you up on all-things-Kate:


Of course this would be the day that Blogger is having trouble uploading photos. Will work on and get back to you asap.





Hugs and love,





Melissa, et. al.