Maisy News

Maisy's SWI sent us pictures taken the day before.  That was seriously nice.  We got several pictures and an update on her growth.  She is brilliant, social, beautiful and very loved.  In one of her pictures her Auntie is holding her.  Maybe I will get to meet this lady and maybe I won't, but I will be eternally grateful to her for the care and compassion she has shown my daughter.  Maisy already weighs 18 pounds and is 28 inches tall.  Her foot is 4.5 inches long and she loves to eat but has no teeth.  She is almost 8.5 months old.   Then there is the issue of my shopping for baby clothes.  Houston, we have a problem.  Most of the clothes I've bought are not going to fit.  I called the Carter's Factory Outlet Store in Grapevine, Texas, where I bought the vast majority of the stuff,  and asked if I could exchange it.  I don't want my money back.  I just want bigger clothes.  I left all the tags on.  I expected to get shot down.  I was so wrong.  They are going to let me exchange Maisy's stuff.  I kind of explained the situation to the saleslady and she couldn't have been nicer.  YEA!!!  I love you, Carter's!!!  So, guess where Ben and the kids and I are going on Saturday?   We also have a Britax carseat still in the box that MeiMei will not fit into by the time we get her.  Hopefully, Babies R Us will let us return it and then pay the difference for a bigger one.   Please continue to pray for our little girl.  We miss her so much.   Joy Unspeakable and Full of His Glory, Amy

Maisy Update!!

Clearly, a word one is castigated for using in law school (check me out Professor C. "clearly, clearly, clearly...) my daughter is the most beautiful and important baby in China.  I know this because we already have our Pre-Approval.  Oh sure, most of the time it takes 2 to 4 weeks to get the PA, but the CCAA must know that our Maisy is a princess, so, we got ours in 4 business days.  Can't beat that with a stick, Kids!!!  I still can't post pics.  It's killing me.  She is so cute.  Her little cheeks are so round it looks likes she's hiding nuts in them.  Precious, I tell you, just precious!!!   Everyone knows I cannot do math.  But, I did figure out that Maisy is only 8 months old last week contrary to the 9 months old previously posted (and reported to me by a wonderful person at GW who will remain nameless.  Maybe she can't do math, either.)  Count the months, though, December 21, 2008 to August 25, 2009 is 8 months and 4 days.  I really am praying that we get to go to China and get her before her birthday.  It would be such a gift if her first steps could be to her mama!!!  Don't walk yet, Little Jolly, wait for Mommy, pretty please!!   Nothing else to report.  The kids are back into the swing of things.  I am not impressed with Bobby's Language Arts teacher's advised reading list.  Who thinks 8th graders should be reading the life story of Gary Gilmore or It by Stephen King.  Me either.  I went through the reading list with a marker.  I would be glad to discuss it with the teacher should she take issue with my editing of her list.  The Grapes of Wrath didn't make the list.  Nor did anything by O'Henry, Bret Hart, Flannery O'Connor, Jack London, Chaucer, the Bronte girls, Faulkner, Edith Wharton, Walt Whitman, Alice Walker or Toni Morrison.  I could go on, but you get the picture.  If I want my kid to be obsessed with gore, sex and murder I'll just let him read whatever he wants and then get the movie.  How about offering some actual literature at school?  My daughter believes she has graduated to teacher status.  I'm not sure where she got the idea, but she just tells me she has to go to work every morning and I buy it.  She's pretty bossy.  Maybe she took over.   God is amazingly good.  Love to you and yours, Bobby, Abby and Maisy's mama, Amy

REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was going to try and fake people out that this post was no big deal....COULD NOT DO IT!!!  We got our referral and have already sent in our LOI (letter of intent) and are waiting for our Pre-Approval!!!  I can't post a pic or any identifying information until we get the pre-approval but---know this---she is one cute muffin.  She is 9 months old and just perfect.  Last night Ben and I sent all of our paperwork in for the official acceptance of our precious girl's referral and then this morning I got an e-mail from our referral counselor saying that we were "just in time" because someone had posted our baby's pic on www.rainbowkids.com this morning.  Seriously, I am sick to think of the outcome if we hadn't been compelled to get it all done last night.  That was definately God's timing.  I cannot wait to share more info.  Please pray for our darlin'.  We can't wait to bring her home.   The rest of the family is totally stoked too.  I am so tired I can barely see straight.  I've worked the last 2 Saturdays so I'm happy to have a 2-day weekend this week!  Bobby and Abby started back to school today.  I cannot believe Bobby is in 8th grade.  He came home talking about girls.  I prefer to remember the time when he panicked because he realized he'd worn 2 pair of scooby doo underpants to school.  He get's it from me----just last week I....oh, nevermind.   Here's my final thought.  God is good.  He keeps me from hurting myself all the time.  Even though I think the light at Penn and 36th is confusing and completely arbitrary, I've yet to cause a wreck----even though I nearly have on 2, count 'em, 2 times.  Who thinks green means go (not yield)?  Yeah, me too!    Joy Unspeakable and full of HIS Glory to you and those you love, Amy