Big Girl Room, In the Making

We decided to move Avery to the guestroom and make her big girl room. She is very excited. I have been moving furniture all week and we still have to paint.
Since I moved Avery's stuff into her new room I decided to go ahead and put the crib and baby stuff back in the nursery. I know it will be awhile before that room gets some use again, but it sure looks cute.
Back to Avery's room. She has decided she wants a princess room, big shocker. I still haven't decided on everything, but we're making progress.
Next week we'll paint and I'll post pictures of the progress.

Moving Right Along

Just a quick update.

We got our agency packet, so soon we'll be assigned a coordinator. I am really looking forward to that part. As some of you know we didn't have the best communication with our case workers last time around, so this time I'm hoping our expectations are met, and feel confident they will be.

We've been in contact with our homestudy agency and they gave us a heads up on some things they might take awhile to get, so we were able to request those now. Hopefully that means we won't have any hold ups. Our fire inspection is done and we put our request in for our local record checks.

I'm getting ready to decorate Avery's new room. She has been sleeping in the guestroom, since she likes the BIG bed, so we're moving her there permanently. I'll post pictures as I go on that.

Now for Russia, still no real news on accredidation. I am feeling more patient this week than I was last week. Hopefully we'll hear soon though.

That's all for now folks.

On Our Way

Take a deep breath... close your eyes... say a prayer and... JUMP!
We are going for it. We've decided on an agency and we are sending our application in for adoption #2.
I can hardly believe it. In less than a year we could be a family of 4.

So now for some of the boring details. For those of you who aren't familiar with adoption terminology I'll try to keep things basic.
The agency we've chosen is not yet accredited in Russia, but they are part of the group that is to be accredited next. Hopefully that means this month. We are requesting a girl again as you probably all know.
Because of the law changes that occurred while we were in process to adopt Avery, we expect that our next referral will be for a child in the same age range, 10-18 months. We are hoping for the low end of that scale.

Right now we are working to compile our dossier. That is the paperwork that we gather to submit to Russia for approval to adopt. We also have to schedule our homestudy. Right now I expect all of these things to take about 2 months to complete. That is if I hustle to get it all done.

Avery is starting to realize what this means. Today she said she'd share and change diapers, but she couldn't give her sister a bath because she can't turn on the water. I'll be happy if she just shares.

So that's all for now. I'll be updating more frequently now that things are moving. So stay tuned!!!

2 Years Ago Today!!!

My brain is going a million miles a minute tonight and I just can't sleep, so I'm gonna share a few thoughts on our last 2 years. Bear with me, as I'm emotional, it's late, and who knows if what I'm typing is even words at this point.

2 years!!! I really can't believe it. It honestly seems like a lifetime ago that I became mommy to my little pooka girl. Really, I can not remember what life was like before her. Last year, I remember feeling like it felt like forever, then also felt like yesterday. Today it just feels like forever.

I honestly don't know how I got so blessed. Avery is just the perfect match for our family and I can't imagine anything better than her. That being said these last 2 years haven't been a walk in the park, but I'd live every hard day over again, to get to where we are today.

To have her run to me a hundred times a day with such vigor and yell "HUG!" and wrap her whole body around my legs.

For every "Mommy, I love you too much. You're my best friend".

I'm so lucky to watch her put on her tap shoes and run off to dance class with her friends, and see her learn that butterfly starts with the letter B.

I love being the one that gets to kiss her owies, and even being the one that tells her to go back to bed for the umteenth time when she thinks one more potty break is a "great idea".

I love that after 2 years of singing her special lullaby, she asks for it every night and then sings along with me.

I love that she makes up crazy voices and laughs just to hear her own voice. I love that all her imaginary friends have the same name.

So today, as I look back at what it has meant to me to be Avery's mom for the last 2 years, all I can do is thank God, and be very grateful that I was chosen for her.

Today as we all go through the motions and live out each moment, I'm going to take some extra time to hug my girl and think about a warm breeze blowing and the sun shining as I walked to the courthouse, an interesting luch at the Irish Pub, the hands of the orphanage director cupping my daughter's face as she kissed her goodbye, fighting back the tears as I walked away from the only home my daughter had ever known, and rocking my baby to sleep for the very first time.

Almost!

Two very important things are going on in the Stevens House. First, we are coming up on our 2 year anniversary of becoming a family. It was September 28, 2004 when we first learned of our baby girl and one year later on September 27, 2005, a judge declared us forever her parents. Seems like a lifetime ago to be honest.

This year we are going to celebrate our Family Day by going to an indoor waterpark/hotel. Avery's choice, because no doubt this mommy is not relishing being in public in her bathing suit. It'll be fun though.

The second big thing is our journey to "Super Grover" - sorry folks that's the name Avery has chosen for her little sister, so you'll have to play along until we can come up with the real deal. We have made the decision to definately go back to Russia. God just keeps calling us there, no matter how much I look for alternatives. I am actually really happy about it, and even looking forward to the travel. OK, for those of you who have been through it, yes, I'm nuts!

We have chosen an agency and filled out our application. I should be mailing that in in the next couple weeks. Things have the potential of moving quickly this time.

So aside from the big things happening here we've had some other milestones since I last posted.

Avery gave up the paci - not willingly, but not kicking and screaming either. She is fully a big girl now, and quite proud of herself.

We had our 2 year PPR visit, that went well. I always am happy to gush over Avery, so it's pretty easy.

We have potential buyers for our flip house!!! I want that headache off my hands.

We also made the decsion to take our house off the market for the time being. There are moments when we question that decision, so we are giving it until the end of the week, but there's just no action, so maybe God is trying to tell us something.

Cha-cha-cha-cha Changes!

Let me first start off with a big 'ol pat on the back for myself. After 22 months I did it! I left Avery overnight - 6 nights in fact. Impressive eh?!?!




I accompanied my very good friend Julie to Guatemala in order to bring home her newest addition Annie, and help her with her other two babies. It really was a wonderful trip, even with 3 kids under the age of two. We may have looked like a side show to the Guatemalan folks, but it was so worth it.

And yes, Avery did amazingly well. She barely noticed my return last Tuesday. In fact I didn't get a "Mommy I missed you", no she said "Hi Mom! I've got gum, wanna see?". I think it's safe to say that we survived!

Ryan started a new job yesterday. Very exciting. You can really see the relief in his face. After 10 years at CINTAS, he finally feels like he can enjoy his job.

Our house is on the market. We have found a house that we'd like to buy, but are waiting to make an offer. I am totally in love with this place! It really feels like home, and that's saying alot considering it isn't finished yet.

We are back to weighing our options for the next addition to our family. We'd appreciate your prayers for that. I'm trying to be more laid back this time around. I'll let you know how sucessful I am with that.

Our flip house, well, that is on hold at the moment, hey we own it, so it can sit for a while in order for us to get some of our ducks in a row.

Turning Three

Summer is just beginning and already we are busy busy!

Avery celebrated her birthday in true princess fashion. She had a nice little tea party and all the girls got their nails "done" - if you can call it that with 3 yr. olds.

A few days later Avery and I were off to California for my cousins wedding. Ok, for a place I've never wanted to visit, California is gorgeous. I could live there.

A little funny from our trip - Avery got some Gatoraide with her lunch one day. After eating I put her drink up and she was looking for it. She wanted to know where her "crocodile" was. Huh? It took me awhile - GATORaide - Crocodile. Silly kid!

We are still plugging away at the house. The progress is slow right now, because so much of what we are doing is structural. I promise to post pictures soon. I honeslty haven't been to the house myself in weeks, since they were reinforcing the floors - made me nervous!

Back to the center of our attention, the fabulous Avery. She is just blowing me away. So grown up, I'm telling you. She hadn't been showing any interest in the alphabet, or learning her numbers (by sight) she's counted and been able ot recite for some time. Well, lately it is all she wants to do. She will see a letter "J" and look at me and say, "Mommy, 'J' says 'jah' - JUMP!" She really is getting it. The water is still a hit! She is swimming like a fish. In fact this week she took her arm swimmies off and walked right in. Being the good mom that I am, did I immediately rush to her aide as she glug, glug, glugged to the bottom - trying as hard as she could to swim mind you, NO, I waited ot see what she'd do. The girl did nothing, so I swooped her up out of the water, to which she replied, "Hey, why'd you do that, I was 'wimmin'" I said, "No, honey you were drowning, weren't you scared", "Nope! Can I do it again?". Ugh! fearless and it does not do good things for a mommy's heart.

Stay tuned for more summer adventures!

We're Flipping a House

So, to fund our next adoption, we decided to get creative instead of going into debt. Ryan thought it would be good to do a project together and we are flipping a house, along with my parents.

Avery calls it her house, but the only person (thing) suited to live there now was the dog sized racoon family that inhabited it when we took possession. (gasp!)

I don't know how often I'll be updating since we are knee deep in demolition, but I thought a few pictures of our disaster, um, I mean house, would be fun for you all to see.

And BTW - I've never hurt so bad in all my life. I've trimmed bushes, hauled bricks, knocked out walls, and pulled out more nails than I ever care to count. Now I need a manicure, bubble bath and some aromatherapy to calm my nerves. Oops - about 10 weeks to go...

The Palace

Lovely Shed - see the vines growing from the roof - That's Class!

That's SUPPOSED to be a Gutter

The Dining Room

How Do You Like My LIving Room Color Choice

pepto pink not working for ya? - how 'bout the curtains?

Where Did My Baby Go?

It's official, there are no remaining traces of babyhood in our home.

Diapers - check
Highchair, bottles, formula - check
Changing Table - check

Crib - check

That's right she's in a big girl bed (well she thinks so). After a week of Avery climbing out of bed, escaping her room and wandering into ours, we made the switch. Oh, did I mention, the wandering was at 2 a.m. and was accompanied by the sounds of barking. Nothing like scaring the pants off mom and dad. So here she is - her first night out of the "cell".

So now to the barking. Yep, I swear, she thinks she is a dog. Oh and has an imaginary puppy friend that I have to let out to potty. And yes, we has an ice storm and a foot of snow - you'd think an imaginary puppy would be easier. At least I'm not cleaning up accidents, but wait, I am... She also has a bar of soap in the tub that is a puppy. As I type this puppy is sleeping in its "house" under a washcloth. The soap puppy is the messy one. He splashes and makes a mess in the tub, never the toddler, always "My puppy spashed you Mommy" "It funny". For mommy, not so much.

And to what do we attribute the new fascination with puppy power? Ah, now that is the kicker, it's all my fault. I offered to keep my aunt's dog overnight. Riley is Avery's surrogate dog and he came for a visit. Well, my wild monkey decided, it wasn't enough to play with Riley, she wanted to BE Riley.

So, yes, that is my little lipstick queen IN the dog crate with her furry friend. You'd think we'd just get her a dog, but alas - not gonna happen. I'll stick wit letting the imaginary puppy out for potty breaks.

Another Year Comes to an End

Holidays, fun, but oh so hectic! This year I tried to get things done earlier, so that I could spend more time enjoying Avery and my family in general. In many ways I succeeded. The gifts were wrapped as soon as we bought them. I was done buying for Avery by the day after Thanksgiving. Still, it wasn't as easy as that.

We did manage to have a few afternoons baking cookies and that was so much fun. Avery wore my apron that I had for Christmas baking when I was a kid and she did a great job doing sprinkles. Our cookies weren't up to Martha's standards, but Avery didn't seem to mind.

I had worried that the tree tyrant from last year would be back to dole out some hefty destruction, but overall she did really well at looking and not touching.

Christmas Day was loads of fun and I can honestly say she has played with every single toy. She got a doctor's kit and I am continually "sick" now. She runs for the kit and says "Oh Mommy, you sick, I "pix it" - make you better."

Ryan and I are looking at investment property. Apparently we need a project. I think it will be great if we pull it off. A nice little chunk toward adoption #2 would be great. Speaking of adoption #2 - we hope to start that in the summer, but it is so in the air. We don't know really where we'd go again or what works best for us, but I'm researching and we think we are narrowing down the field.

Oh, Avery got this interactive doll for Christmas and we take it and it's diaper bag everywhere. It cries and Avery gets so frustrated when she can't make it stop. She brought it to me and said "Mom, it won't stop crying!"; to which I said, "Now you know how I feel."

Wednesday marked the milestone where Avery had been ours as long as she had lived without us. Lots of hugs and tears on that day. She spent 15 months and 23 days under the care of the Russian govornment. She has been talking a little more about Russia. In fact we were downtown and she looked out at all the big buildings and said "There's Russia!". I guess the buildings are about all she remembers, outside of the baby home.

Enough about us for now. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!