Tatiana and Diego have joined their Mami in walking away the pounds! I can proudly say I've put in the DVD twice this week!!! Tatiana walks along with me. Diego is so funny! He is swaying when we do the side steps. I began using weights the second day we walked, and the children picked up coasters and modeled Mami's movements. It was a fun site to see- wish I had a photo to share! Andrew usually sits on the couch and cheers us on...they are really precious!
Getting ready for Diego's 3rd birthday. Decided we would not do a theme necessarily, but hot dogs and cake! He has already found some of his presents in our closet! I tried playing a game with him this morning to distract him from the huge yellow dump truck Ben got him, but he had already eyed it! So, when he was eventually distracted and left our bedroom, I put it in our closet...Diego is so smart, though...he came, found me getting ready for work, and was so smooth---just went in there took that truck off the shelf and started checking it out!!! How fun! He was so cute...well, I wrapped all the presents tonight! The party won't be until next weekend, the 6th.
Ben's parents gave the children a swingset. The children love it. Andrew saw it for the first time and yelled, "Colombia!" I assume because it brought back memories of when we stayed at the Refugio where the children were able to play outside on a swingset.
We have our first post placement report today. I will contact the adoption agency tomorrow to verify what other forms are needed to go with it and send it off this week! Yeah!
Well, that's all for tonight...thanks for listening!
9.26.2007
9.23.2007
Ask & It Shall Be Given To You...
Matthew 7.7 -"Ask and it shall be given to you." Thank you, Father for the promises you have given me and my family. Thank you for the ones that I have seen with my own eyes come to pass! Thank you in advance for the fulfillment of the ones to come! You are God! You are the One in whom I place my trust! Thank you for your neverending love and forgiveness! You are awesome!
Today, we went to church, and there was no children's church. Andrew did super! Tatiana had some problems at the end- getting ancy. And Diego, well, he had difficulty sitting still throughout! It was so fun being able to hold Tatiana and Andrew in my arms from time to time and worship the Lord! It was neat to watch them go put change in the Adoption Change buckets on the altar. I am so blessed. Today, I decided instead of just reading the Bible and praying with the children that I would start trying to teach them Bible Scripture. My nephew, Kaleb, went to a private Christian school where he learned a memory verse for each letter of the alphabet. I found that online, and I want to start implementing that tomorrow! And, you guessed it---we will start with Matthew 7.7.
Today, also, we used picture cards to review objects and name recognition. Andrew is learning so much!!!! He is able to recognize many half of the 52 cards! I am so proud of him! Tatiana did not do to bad either...Diego had fun repeating after them as well. I want to get a Leap Frog computer/tv dealie-o. I have to look at them more and maybe can find one on e-bay? We were given the LeapFrog videos. They watch them all the time.
Ben and I are considering taking Tatiana out of Preschool and working with her at home with Beamie. We were given lots of Pre-K and KG workbooks and can do the same as what she is doing at school with the exception of socialization. However, for that aspect, we have talked about setting up playdates with homeschool moms twice a week. I am excited about that! We have some great friends and then Diego can also be involved!
Well, they are all learning more English now. The boys are throwing more tantrums now when they don't get their way. Andrew dramatizes A LOT! Diego seems to be mimicking his behavior. But I was told that the Terrible Twos was improperly labeled, it's really the Terrible Threes...Well, I am determined to have a Terrific Three Year Old! We can learn to share with each other without throwing a tantrum. We can learn to give rather than take all the time...we can learn to wait and be patient...We are going to continue imparting God's principles into them, and We WILL see this fruit in their lives...Thanks to all of you who have supported us throughout this journey...We appreciate all the words of encouragement you have given us along the way...God Bless!
Today, we went to church, and there was no children's church. Andrew did super! Tatiana had some problems at the end- getting ancy. And Diego, well, he had difficulty sitting still throughout! It was so fun being able to hold Tatiana and Andrew in my arms from time to time and worship the Lord! It was neat to watch them go put change in the Adoption Change buckets on the altar. I am so blessed. Today, I decided instead of just reading the Bible and praying with the children that I would start trying to teach them Bible Scripture. My nephew, Kaleb, went to a private Christian school where he learned a memory verse for each letter of the alphabet. I found that online, and I want to start implementing that tomorrow! And, you guessed it---we will start with Matthew 7.7.
Today, also, we used picture cards to review objects and name recognition. Andrew is learning so much!!!! He is able to recognize many half of the 52 cards! I am so proud of him! Tatiana did not do to bad either...Diego had fun repeating after them as well. I want to get a Leap Frog computer/tv dealie-o. I have to look at them more and maybe can find one on e-bay? We were given the LeapFrog videos. They watch them all the time.
Ben and I are considering taking Tatiana out of Preschool and working with her at home with Beamie. We were given lots of Pre-K and KG workbooks and can do the same as what she is doing at school with the exception of socialization. However, for that aspect, we have talked about setting up playdates with homeschool moms twice a week. I am excited about that! We have some great friends and then Diego can also be involved!
Well, they are all learning more English now. The boys are throwing more tantrums now when they don't get their way. Andrew dramatizes A LOT! Diego seems to be mimicking his behavior. But I was told that the Terrible Twos was improperly labeled, it's really the Terrible Threes...Well, I am determined to have a Terrific Three Year Old! We can learn to share with each other without throwing a tantrum. We can learn to give rather than take all the time...we can learn to wait and be patient...We are going to continue imparting God's principles into them, and We WILL see this fruit in their lives...Thanks to all of you who have supported us throughout this journey...We appreciate all the words of encouragement you have given us along the way...God Bless!
9.18.2007
Nataly's Coming Home!
One of the people me, Ben, and the children have been praying for at night is a little girl named Nataly. Nataly is from Colombia, and she is about 6-7 years old. She didn't have any parents, and was put on a waiting child list. One of my friends, who is like a long-distance sister, on the CHI Yahoo Support Group, chose to petition the Colombian government to assume care for Nataly as her Mami. Today, Jennifer received word that she has her daughter!!! Jennifer will be traveling in about a month to pick up Nataly and bring her home!!! I am so excited for her...
When I explained to the children today, Nataly is coming home, Yea!! They thought Nataly was coming here to our house...I had to show them pictures of Nataly's Mami's blog and point out who Nataly's Mami was and explain that Nataly was being adopted and now has a Mami and will be leaving Colombia much like what happened with you..."Ah, si..." I'm not sure that they totally understood, but they are hearing the word adoption more often...I want them to know that they were chosen, and special children of God and were placed here with us- just like Nataly will be with her Mami- for a purpose...
So, rejoice with me! Another orphan has a Mami!!! Please also, pray for Jennifer and her mom as they will be preparing to leave for Colombia in 3-4 weeks! Check out her blog page at:
http://www.andthentherewere2.blogspot.com/
Thanks and God bless to all of you!
When I explained to the children today, Nataly is coming home, Yea!! They thought Nataly was coming here to our house...I had to show them pictures of Nataly's Mami's blog and point out who Nataly's Mami was and explain that Nataly was being adopted and now has a Mami and will be leaving Colombia much like what happened with you..."Ah, si..." I'm not sure that they totally understood, but they are hearing the word adoption more often...I want them to know that they were chosen, and special children of God and were placed here with us- just like Nataly will be with her Mami- for a purpose...
So, rejoice with me! Another orphan has a Mami!!! Please also, pray for Jennifer and her mom as they will be preparing to leave for Colombia in 3-4 weeks! Check out her blog page at:http://www.andthentherewere2.blogspot.com/
Thanks and God bless to all of you!
Adoption Celebration
The Adoption Celebration/Shower went well this past weekend. Mandy, G-Mami, MC'd it. Including her, we had 4 adoptive families represented besides us. Many of those testified of the goodness of the Lord throughout that process. One family had adopted domestically and are now in the process of adopting in Liberia! One person was an adoptee who had also chosen to adopt when she was later married! It
was a great time to celebrate the blessings of adoption.
After we shared our testimonies, the children were prayed for as well as those still waiting to be adopted; and then, we went into the fellowship hall and had refreshments and of course, presents! The children kept referring to this celebration as "Feliz Anos!" I gave up explaining about the fourth time...I have a few pictures that I will try to post at a later date. Some of the goodies they received included: clothing, a few toys, gift cards, 2-dollar bills, bubbles, and a humidifer (a smart buy!).
We will continue to support Children's Hope International and raise awareness of local businesses such as our photographer, who support adoption. We thank all of you who came and blessed the children, as well as all who have helped us bring them home...thank you!
was a great time to celebrate the blessings of adoption.After we shared our testimonies, the children were prayed for as well as those still waiting to be adopted; and then, we went into the fellowship hall and had refreshments and of course, presents! The children kept referring to this celebration as "Feliz Anos!" I gave up explaining about the fourth time...I have a few pictures that I will try to post at a later date. Some of the goodies they received included: clothing, a few toys, gift cards, 2-dollar bills, bubbles, and a humidifer (a smart buy!).
We will continue to support Children's Hope International and raise awareness of local businesses such as our photographer, who support adoption. We thank all of you who came and blessed the children, as well as all who have helped us bring them home...thank you!
Passed the 3 Month Mark!
Woohoo! We have made it passed the three month mark! We have grown together in such a short time. It is truly amazing! God blesses us each day. Some days are more difficult than others, and some days we wish would never end. We have so been blessed!
The children continue to grow. We have been readjusting the pants for the boys. Tatiana is shooting upward. She has grown an inch since we've came home--that's literal people!!! The boys would not keep their growth chart on the wall, so I cannot report on their height changes. However, Andrew is still a bit taller than Tatiana, so I suspect he is rising as well.
We took our first professional family picture! It was fun; the kids did great. They love posing in front of the camera. The couple that did our photos were part of a group of photographers who make up a project called Celebrating Adoption. This group cancels sitting fees and gives you no obligation to buy and gives you a proof book. Our pictures look so awesome...I wish I could share with you all but there is a copyright on them. When I get the link and info to our gallery, I will post it.
Update: Diego is saying his name! Yippee! For some reason before, he would never answer us when we asked him his name, but now he is! Tatiana and Andrew's English is becoming clearer everyday. Even Diego is speaking English. Diego is counting and saying the alphabet- not in order but he is saying it.
They continue to say their nite-nite prayers, prayers thanking God for our food at meal time, and have began praying for each others' owies! They also have been verbalizing names of loved ones; it is so precious to hear them cry out, "Bible, Bible!" We hope to instill the importance of the Bible to them.
Tatiana is in preschool at the FBC Daycare. We are debating about continuing the program. We may keep her at home and schedule playdates twice a week for her and Diego to meet up with some babies of friends we know, and continue to do schoolwork here at home with my Mother. We will keep her there through the end of the month for sure, possibly next month as well. We are still undecided.
Andrew's behavior is improving at school. He is getting tutored in English by a friend of ours from Germany. She speaks English, Spanish, and German. She is a doll. So sweet, and Andrew loves her.
Diego is finally potty trained...during the day; he occasionally has accidents at night or nap time, but for the most part he is!!! That is something to shout about! Woohoo!
They are so much fun...and a lot of work, but very much worth it all. Thank you all for your continued prayers. We appreciate all the support you continue to show us.
The children continue to grow. We have been readjusting the pants for the boys. Tatiana is shooting upward. She has grown an inch since we've came home--that's literal people!!! The boys would not keep their growth chart on the wall, so I cannot report on their height changes. However, Andrew is still a bit taller than Tatiana, so I suspect he is rising as well.
We took our first professional family picture! It was fun; the kids did great. They love posing in front of the camera. The couple that did our photos were part of a group of photographers who make up a project called Celebrating Adoption. This group cancels sitting fees and gives you no obligation to buy and gives you a proof book. Our pictures look so awesome...I wish I could share with you all but there is a copyright on them. When I get the link and info to our gallery, I will post it.
Update: Diego is saying his name! Yippee! For some reason before, he would never answer us when we asked him his name, but now he is! Tatiana and Andrew's English is becoming clearer everyday. Even Diego is speaking English. Diego is counting and saying the alphabet- not in order but he is saying it.
They continue to say their nite-nite prayers, prayers thanking God for our food at meal time, and have began praying for each others' owies! They also have been verbalizing names of loved ones; it is so precious to hear them cry out, "Bible, Bible!" We hope to instill the importance of the Bible to them.
Tatiana is in preschool at the FBC Daycare. We are debating about continuing the program. We may keep her at home and schedule playdates twice a week for her and Diego to meet up with some babies of friends we know, and continue to do schoolwork here at home with my Mother. We will keep her there through the end of the month for sure, possibly next month as well. We are still undecided.Andrew's behavior is improving at school. He is getting tutored in English by a friend of ours from Germany. She speaks English, Spanish, and German. She is a doll. So sweet, and Andrew loves her.
Diego is finally potty trained...during the day; he occasionally has accidents at night or nap time, but for the most part he is!!! That is something to shout about! Woohoo!
They are so much fun...and a lot of work, but very much worth it all. Thank you all for your continued prayers. We appreciate all the support you continue to show us.
9.05.2007
Pig tails and Pink shoes!
Pig tails and pink shoes!!! My dolls! Tatiana and Diego have grown so much just in the short time we've been together! Tatiana will start preschool tomorrow and is very excited to be going with her G-Bubbie, Alex. 
Diego is our really goofy hijo! Love him mucho! We had to take him to the doctor today. He has had the sniffles on and off for a while now. The doctor is giving him breathing treatments for a bronchial infection. I took pictures while he was doing his breathing treatments. I must post tomorrow. He is such a character! Love him so much! He is a lot of fun!
The children are adjusting well thus far with minor issues. Andrew has had some difficulty in school with the language barrier, but is improving each day. Last week, we began tutoring with a friend who speaks several different languages. He loved it! He will continue once a week. He also has began working on the computer at starfall.com. It is a great learning program that helps with the alphabet and reading. We have Open House tomorrow night at his school and look forward to seeing more of his school work and talk more extensively with the teacher.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
