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.