Happy Halloween

Sofia and her new Cop Car. She is even taking out her handcuffs. She means business.

Sofia writing us a ticket!!!

Our beautiful family!!!!

My first trick or treater!!!!

Sofia was arresting Jade the witch.
Sofia had so much fun Trick or Treating tonight. She got alot of cool stuff along with some candy. I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween.

Trunk or Treat

Tonight, we took Sofia to her first Trunk or Treat. We had such a good time seeing everyone. Happy Halloween

Sofia and Micah

Erica and Micah came over this morning. I helped her set up there family Blog. You can click on Our Little Manatee. Micah and Sofia played very well today. I asked if I could watch Micah, that way I could get some practice in before Little M comes home. I think Sofia will make a good Big Sister. (The photo were taken with Steve work camera) I think our broken camera works better. Hopefully Santa will be good to us and we will get a new camera.

Crying, Mad, Angery, Upset, Happy

You ask why? Well I didn't want to post anything about our paperwork on Sofia's Gotcha Day. What we know at this point. The USCIS department said they reviewed our paperwork. But they said it would be another 2-4 weeks before they would make a decision. So I emailed them on Tuesday to ask why the 2-4 weeks. They have yet to respond. We also found out that another Lifelink family who's paperwork was approved on the same day ours was, got there I600A on Monday, which is the paperwork from USCIS.
I'm so happy for the Hensons they are in Korea right now meeting there son. To our little guy if we could we would move mountains so that you could come home. Happy 8mos to our little M. We love you
Mama and Daddy

Happy Forever Day

Happy Gotcha Day Sofia, our silly, happy energetic, polite beautiful daughter. We can't believe that its been two years ago that Sofia was placed in our arms. Sofia is such a blessing to our family. She is truly a gift from God.
We love you.
Mama and Daddy

Sofia got an early Gotcha Day gift

Today, I watched Alyssa. Sofia and Alyssa played and danced until they were out of breath. Grandma came by to drop off some food she made. (Thanks it was good) Our neighbor Vickie came over to bring a Gotcha Day gift to Sofia. She got her the Tinker Bell Doll. Sofia has been talking about Tinker Bell for weeks. So tonight we bought her the DVD. (We planned on giving it to her on her Gotcha Day, but we couldn't wait) We were surprised that She watched the whole movie. She went to bed with the doll tonight. We plan on going out to eat tomorrow night. Sofia gets to pick. She wants Applebee's, Chuck E Cheese and Sho Gun.

We watched the DVD in Bed. Daddy made us popcorn.

Its been 2 years almost

I'm posting a little early. We will be celebrating Sofia's Gotcha Day on Wednesday the 29th. I have always taken a photo of Sofia on our coming home day, which is the 10, it also happens to be the same day Sofia turns another month older. So I put this slide show together of photo's we have taken on the 10 of every month since we have been home. I did throw in some extra photo's.

Carepackage

First we want to say Thank you to the Henson's. Today, we dropped off little M's care package. It was so nice to meet Jill and Cydney. We hope to see them at some of Lifelinks events. Its always nice to meet other adoptive families. Especially since our boys are the same age. This is the second care package we sent. The reason we thought we should send another one is I don't think little M will be home for Christmas. Steve on the other hand is still hopeful.

Sofia and I went to scrapbook last night at Lifelink. Michael, Micah, and Sofia enjoyed the DVD. Then it was time to play in the nursery at Lifelink. We didn't get much scrapbooking done. But we had fun.

Alyssa and Sofia

Sofia and Wrigley hanging out.

The girls have created a Band. Remember to turn down the background music before playing the video.

Playworld and Lunch!!!!!

Sofia and I met Michael, Rachel, Alyssa and Grandma at playworld today. Sofia had so much fun. I didn't get a chance to take many pictures. I was too busy helping the kids. They all seem to want to go up to the top of the playhouse. But for some reason couldn't find there way back down. Sofia and went to lunch with Michael and Rachel. The kids pick out the booth and wanted to sit by each other, but we thought it might be a little hard. We are so blessed to have such great friends.

A day of Celebrities

Today we went to a Red Ribbon event, that honored School Resource Officers. So Steve got his picture taken with Miss Illinois. Sofia was a little confused with Rich the other officer in the photo. She kept looking at him like you are dressed like my daddy. It was kinda funny. At one point she grabbed Daddy's hand and Rich's hand and walking around. I wish I could of gotten a photo of it.
Sofia and Daddy had their photo taken with the jolly green giant from the green giant factory. The event was at my old school. It's been a long time since I was at my High School. We hope Sofia can go to my old school.


Sofia got her face painted by the Fine Art students. Brings back memories. When I was in school I did face painting for a couple events.

I went to Cesar Millan. AKA The dog whisper. He is on the Discovery channel. In the picture he is signing my book. (PS he signed it To Mellissa From Cesar Millan xoxoxo 08. I think he is very good looking. (To quote Mellissa telling Donna, "He is sooooooooo hot!")

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got a call from our SW, DCFS has sent our approval letter to USCIS. So we can check one more thing off the list. I should take the time to explain the steps. So we are at step number 5. I hope this helps explain the process. If I have missed something, I'm sure one of my fellow Lifelink friends will correct me. With each step they give a timeframe of how long it will take to get to the next step.
1. Referral
2 Acceptance paperwork
3 Legals
4 DCFS
5 USCIS
6 National Visa Center
7 Embassy issues your P3 packet to Eastern
8 Eastern returns P3 packet to Embassy
9 Embassy issues Visa Appointment
10Embassy issues Visa
Baby is Ready to Travel as soon as the Visa is issued!!!!!

Frustrated!!!!!

I been wanted to post about our second adoption. We got our referral on Aug 14Th. Which was a very very happy day for us. On Sept 9Th our paperwork went to DCFS. The frustration comes with DCFS. We still don't have our paperwork from them. Its been over 4 weeks. Its not looking good for him to be home by Christmas. (At this rate anyways) We have been praying, he would be home for his first Christmas. We just have to sit back and wait and see. God has a plan. If its met to be it will be. Its out of our control at this point.

Sofia's first Baby Shower

My cousins Mary, Dannan, Lydia and Aunt Cindy.

The girls were not wanting to share grandma.



The girls playing the string game. They were guess how big Lydia was.

Grandma and Alyssa were watching over Dannan. She is such a cute and happy baby.

Today, we went to my cousins Lydia baby shower. Sofia and I really had a good time at the shower. Sofia was the first to eat and the last one done. She sure does like her food. We played two games. Aunt Cindy and Aunt Rhonda won.