A little "sneak -peek"...

So here's a little peek at what Pala's room is like. We still have to find a bedroom set such as a dresser and headboard/footboard set because as you know the original set won't fit up the stairs. Boohoo... I really liked it! But we are still using the crib until she decides she wants to be in the twin. So, her crib is ready to go, her clothes are in the closet and boxes for now, and the comforter set for the twin bed is ordered. Yes, I finally found it!! It should be here next week and then I can finish up her room. The crib set is Lambs & Ivy Vintage Baby... a dear friend gave it to us when we first started our journey to Pala. The letters are traced and cut out of scrapbooking paper, then I taped sheer ribbon to the back, and then stuck the bow to the wall with a glue dot. I know, a glue dot? I promised not to put any holes in the walls so I improvised! AND... if Pala pulls on them it won't hurt anything. They were so cute when Amy did them for Simeon's room that I couldn't just put the white wooden letters uplike I had originally planned!
Our VISAs are here, so now we are waiting on our ICPC and Pala's passport. The passport office is closed for Durga Puja so that bides me a little time to get things finished up. I plan to have everything done by October 1st so that I'm ready to go whenever our caseworker calls. If she calls before I'm done then I guess the rest will have to wait...

Kids grow way too fast...

I'm so glad that Cooper decided to get up early this morning! My gosh, the poor boy tried on 5 pairs of jeans this morning and they were all too short... the 6th pair finally fit! So... I'm begging all of you who insist on giving my boys "a pinch to grow an inch" on their birthdays to please just leave it at 1 instead of 2 or 3... this poor mama can't keep up!! :)

Candi, that means I have another bag of clothes ready for Ethan and at this rate there will be another one tomorrow :)

On another note... we are in the market for a different bedroom set for Pala. I know, I know the one we bought off Craigslist last year IS beautiful... we love it! but the armour will not fit up the stairs to get it into her bedroom. We tried everything yesterday... believe me... there was a lot of "gripes", a few words that should not have been said, a lot of pinched fingers and taking things apart and it still wasn't going!!! This baby is big AND heavy!! We are still going to use the crib but have decided to invest in a twin bedroom set so that she can transition from the crib right into a single bed when she's ready. I was hoping to have the room done yesterday so I could post pictures this morning but I didn't anticipated this dilema. Sorry, guys! :( Right now I have Pala's crib up in her pink room with her pretty tea rose bedding and a few stuffed animals and white curtains. Very simple for now. Back to Craigslist to see if I can find a bargain!! However, it's not a priority right now for me as I'm still finishing up some education requirements and trying to pack so that I'm ready when our caseworker calls.

Not much excitement going on here, just a little sillyness... :)

Pala's Birthday Video

Judge signed!!!

We are officially Pala's legal guardians!!! This judge is not messing around!!! Can't wait to get our "legals" and see all the stamps and signatures for myself, especially that NOC that took so stinking long!!! :) Come on passport office.... get us through fast! Well, we actually need it to take at least a week... our paperwork was just sent in for mine and Shad's tourist VISA's and they take 3-5 days from arrival! lol

CASE APPROVED!!!!!!

Oh my word!!!!

Our case was approved!!!

That was super super quick!! We weren't expecting to pass court before the end of the month when they close for the Durga Puja holiday! I am still in shock!!

Now the judge will sign our case next week and then ISRC will apply for her passport! Wow!! In about 4-5 weeks I will finally be holding my angel!!!!

Thanks for all of your prayers!!!

Getting so big...

A family traveling to bring their daughter home took these pics and had this to say...

Pala was the most curious of the older children at Anju's office location. She was standing in her crib and watching EVERYTHING.... very happily. I am sorry I didn't have them put Pala's oufit on (the one Maggie sent for her) but they had just finished dressing the kids and I couldn't bear to ask them to change her! I hope Maggie enjoy's the pics! :)

Thanks guys!!
Wishing you safe travels home!!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY PALA!!!

Just in case you didn't know...

Pala is 1 today!!!

Yesterday, we celebrated with family at camp.
As always, when we host a BBQ there is too much good food!! BBQ chicken, roasted corn, etc.
We started a video diary for Pala's keepsake box to let her know how much everyone loves and misses her on her birthday... and every day that she's not with us!

We each had special t-shirts on for the day and of course I had to be a kid and lick the cake like she would have done. :)

and just when I thought I was really crazy....
we got a puppy for Pala !!
(well, actually for mommy but Pala's birthday was an excuse)

This is Molly!!

I'm hoping to get a video around of the party later this week.
We are still waiting for Scrutiny so no more new news. The Nix Family traveled last week and took this small gift to our little princess, so we are hoping to have some new pictures soon. We sent this outfit and photo album of our family for her. Let's hope it fits! :)

Hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend!!
God bless!!

Our summer hodge podge of fun!!!

It's so hard to believe that the summer is almost over. We've had a lot going on while we wait patiently to bring Pala home.

Treyton and Cooper both participated in the summer soccer program.

Of course due to their age difference were on 2 diff teams so that made a lot more running for me... but isn't that moms do anyways?! RUN, RUN, RUN!!! Ha!

We've enjoyed a trip to the County Fair and also took a few craft classes this summer...

the boys made their own dream catchers, sewed tote bags, and made special birthstone bracelets for Pala and mom.


Attended Shad's company picnic. They host it every year up on Little York Lake just outside of Cortland. We always have a good time going. More food than you could imagine!!

Squeezed in a couple of trips to the Science Center in Ithaca and then Darien Lake.


Watched the Summer Recreation's production of Beauty and the Beast. Treyton and Cooper were the wolves. The kids all practiced Monday thru Thurday for about 8 weeks. They did a really great job!!! Way to go everyone!!

Celebrated India's Independence Day on August 15th at India Day in Corning, NY. Good food, great entertainment and of course... Henna tattoos!!

Somehow we still managed to make it to camp!!
(It feels like I'm forgetting about something!)

And....... celebrated Treyton's 10th birthday!!! Yep.... 10! Wow!! Time flies!!

Next week is FULL of dentist appointments and eye exams! Yeehaw!! :)

Austin is missing from most of the photos because he was busy taking guitar and golf lessons and then spent a week in Myrtle Beach with his Uncle Shawn and Aunt Roberta. I have yet to see photos from his trip... hint hint!! but I AM constantly hearing what a good time he had and about "the chick in the pink polka dot bikini at the beach"!! :)
Thanks guys for having him down!!!

FAMILY IN NEED!!!!

I'm sharing an email that I received from our adoption agency today with you all in hopes that someone out there will be able to help this little boy in need!! Please pass this on to as many families as you can!! If you would like more information please contact me and I will forward it to the family.

Dear Families,

We hope this email finds all of you doing well. We are contacting all of our India families to share with you about a little boy named Ben.

Ben is a 7 year old boy adopted from India/ISRC. He joined his family right before his 1^st birthday. Ben was diagnosed in 2007 with systematic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Ben has become very ill in the recent weeks and is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant. In an attempt to help Ben’s family find a possible match for Ben we are sending this to all of our families who have adopted a child/children from India. If you are an individual of Indian Heritage and/or you have an adopted child from India that is 18 years of age or older you can go to the following link and order a kit: http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now/join_now.html and submit it back to the Bone Marrow Registry.

Please feel free to pass this along to other families that you think might be able to help, especially those of Indian Heritage, and please be praying for the family. Thank you!

We have NOC!!!!!!

Finally!!! Ms. Roy received our NOC today!!! According to Tami she was just as excited as we are!!!! Just after I posted my last whiny post, Tami called to tell us the good news!!!!

Thank you for your prayers!