17th July is Ahnja & Anita's Gotcha day

Another guest post from Catherine with the pictures you have been waiting for

Aleshia and Keith are orphans no more!

Amanda is having trouble getting pictures through but did manage to get some to Brent.  So for any that didn't see them on Facebook here are the rushes of Aleshia & Keiths Gotcha Day.....

Aleshia meets Mommy for the first time and soon they are off to start the journey to collect little Keith.

I keep coming back to this picture Amanda, you look so happy.  Its been said before but it was always in God's plan that you would be together, you were literally made for each other.

 

This amazing picture of Keith & Amanda brought tears to my eyes.  Precious, priceless, what an amazing smile as Keith reaches out to touch Mommy's face. 

Then its off together to sort out the passport photos (or maybe Visa's)? See how the children are leaning into their Mommy?  They have no idea yet about family but they are sure going to find out soon!

And in Brent's words.....'Hey, Aleshia, guess what! We're free!!'
They already look so comfortable in each others company!

And today, 17th July, they get to meet 2 of their sisters.....hang on Anita and Ahnja, Mommy is only a few steps away from you.......today is your special day.......

Today is the day you meet Mommy, Aleshia & Keith.  today is the day you start to learn what its like to be loved and cherished, nurtured and held, to be part of a living breathing praying and praising family.

God is good, we cannot wait to see the pictures as Mommy springs you out...Godspeed Amanda, as ever you carry our love and our prayers with you.  Love and hugs too for Brent and the rest of the children eagerly awaiting news at home.

Catherine, Vince & Nathan xxxx 

ps, Amanda will update you in much more detail when she gets an internet connection!

16th July is Aleshia & Keith's Gotcha Day

Catherine here, yet another interloper, sorry, guest blogger!

Its already 16th July here in the UK and in Bulgaria and that means its Aleshia & Keith's Gotcha Day

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Time to spring them out Amanda!

First Aleshia........

and then Keith...........

No longer orphans but Unroes - can't wait to see you both in the arms of your Mommy & Daddy!

Amanda, give those sweet babes a kiss from me, Vince & Nathan

hugs & prayers

Catherine x

A Package for Ahnja

We haven't sent a package to Ahnja until today.  The caregivers where she is told her that we were the ones who left her when she was little during Brent's last visit.  Our hearts broke and Brent tried to explain otherwise.  We were afraid to send anything, because we really didn't want to stir anything up further.  Since we know we are going to be there to pick her up soon, we wanted to let her know we were thinking of her and get her back excited about coming home.

I tried to find things that would be small and things that would excite her.  She is such a girlie girl and so grown up in many ways.  She is also full of SPUNK.  So here is the package that left today and will arrive around the 9th of July.

A butterfly outfit

A hat with sparkle

A purse

Pink and white jewelry

Butterfly stickers

A butterfly necklace (it came with two in the pack and I will wear the other)

A note to her in Bularian that our wonderful attorney translated for me

and 

A singing card

Please pray that it is well received and the staff don't cause any more grief. 

Pray that it gets her excited about her new life - as a very loved member of our family!

I will be picking she and Anita up in 13 days!

The Baby Shower that our friends are doing for us online is still going on.  Please go check it out!

Another Sign They Are Unroes!

Well there was is another sure tell sign that my Bulgarian Blessings are Unroes!  They have appointments with our medical provider set and on the calendar.

We all see a wonderful lady named Anita.  She is so good with my kids and has already started getting even the specialist appointments set up.  She has helped us through more things than I can count.  If she wasn't the one taking care of my kids then I would be fretting much more, but I always know that she takes care of them just as she would if they were her kids.

Anyone wonder where our Anita Faith got her name???  Yes, my calendar now has an appointment for Anita to go see Anita!  lol

Yes, my tiny Anita Faith will not be just looking at pictures of her family for much longer!

This close feels so good and I am thrilled to have their names on the calendar

 for THEIR appointments!

Keith and Aleshia - A little of the Schedule!

Ok, so the Baby Shower is still focusing on Keith and Aleshia right now and there is so much more about them to tell.

They are the first two kids that will be picked up.  I will leave on July 13th and arrive in Bulgaria on July 14th.  On July 15th, we will travel to Aleshia's region and spend the night.

First thing on July 16th, we will pick up Aleshia!

Then we will drive to where Keith is and pick him up!!

Then we will take them both back to the capital city with us!!!!

I am so excited to hold them!!!

No more of being so unstimulated that he has to occupy his time this way!

Mommy's lap is where she will be sitting!!!

I think this will work well for strengthening those legs and stimulation!

Soothing is much better in one of these than what Keith is use to!

A walker to work with should be good for them both!

Best if all though:

When they need comforted Mommy's arms will be FOREVER available.

When they need to learn, Mommy will be so excited to teach.

When they need anything, there will be a whole BIG FAMILY ready to love them and take care of them!

To say I'm excited is the understatement of the world!  I've longed for that moment since I first laid eyes on them!!!  

Keith and Aleshia!

Today the lady throwing our online baby shower is focusing on Keith and Aleshia.  They will be the first two to be picked up and they will share a "Gotcha Day"!  Her post focusing the baby shower on them is HERE.

So I thought I'd focus on them today on the blog too!

Keith is 5 years old and Aleshia is 6 years old.  Neither of them can even sit up without support yet.  Aleshia was transferred to a mental institution when she was only 3 years old.  Keith has been in his tiny crib in that same orphanage since he left the hospital after he was born.  He's been in a "sick room" for over 2 1/2 years at this point, even though he was initially moved there because of a respiratory infection.  :(

Both of them have a long way to go developmentally.  Keith has a lot of growing that he needs to do.  Right now he will still be riding in an infant carseat, because he was only 12 pounds when Brent was there. We've got a lot to do in order for him to begin to grow in size and develop the skills to sit, crawl, stand, and eventually walk.   Aleshia is bigger, but seems to have something going on with her hips.  We will be working to see what is going on with them, as well as see if she can gain the ability to sit up and to bear weight on her legs.

Here is my favorite video of Keith I think:

Here is my favorite of Aleshia:

So very soon I will hold them.  

Their forever will begin and the days in an orphanage and a mental institution will be over.

Here is the stroller that will take them through the airports:

Here is Aleshia's bed waiting for her:

Here is Keith's bed waiting for him:

The swing, bouncer, and walker are put together.

It is almost time to go and get them!!!!

TRAVEL DATES!!!!

This won't be long because my head is spinning and tears are still running down my face periodically.

I will leave here on July 13th!  Praising God so much that I can't even describe it!!!  I thought it was going to be another long weekend of waiting.  Then in the middle of the night, just before 4am my time, I got the email!!!!!

I still have to work out the details, but I can tell you that with them saying I can come - I am going!

Praise God extra today, because HE IS SO WORTHY!

Orphans no more and the orphanages, institutions, and group home will no longer hold them, because they will be in MY ARMS!

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!

Still Preparing

There isn't any news, but I thought I'd let you know what we are doing to prepare here.  Last night I determined that it was finally time to look into some travel cots as well as see what other things I could find to ease travel a bit.  So, I went to one of my favorite websites for great kids merchandise.  You can go there through THIS LINK.

I ordered some travel cots that fold up and would even be good for the kids to sit on during a long layover (praying we don't have any that are too terribly long!).


I also ordered a set of diaper bags  that attach the the stroller.  I'm thinking these would make a nice "carry ons" and will be easy to get around the airport since they attach.  These come with two in the set.



I ordered this activity stander as well.  It folds up and I'm hoping to manage to get it into my luggage so that Aleshia has a way to stand up in the hotel.  It will also be great to take with us places once she is home.  It will allow us to let her be standing and a part of Sunday School class or other activities on the go.  The height is adjustable, so we can use it for Keith as well.  :)  It is very reasonably priced for these type of things, which is something else that I love about One Step Ahead.  :)


I have been trying to figure out a good way to feed Aleshia and Nicholas on the trip.  They both eat only pureed food.  They are use to regular meals being pureed, so not baby food.  I found this neat gadget to puree their food with so we are set on that too.



They have tons of great stuff there.  I've always found their stuff to be high quality and not just what you find in an every day department store.

If you want to go check them out for special needs stuff, travel stuff, or just kid stuff, then please use my link.    They give me a $10 credit if you order from my link and it can help pay for the crazy stuff I'll likely need when these kids get home!

Hope you enjoy looking around in there.  They have great toys, clothes that provide sun protection, great safety gadgets, gear, and even outdoor toys.

Saturday Night Blessing

We took the children to hear Squire Parson's and his wonderful group on Saturday night.  He was at the church that I grew up in.  His son recognized us from when we use to go see them all the time.  He came over to talk to us and it thrilled the kids.  It was so nice to see them again and Squire came up to speak before he sung.

The service was wonderful.  It was loads of fun, full of personality, and more than you could understand without being there.  I felt encouraged, challenged to have more faith, so thankful to be sitting at His feet, and then I got something I didn't expect.

Squire talked about finding out that he had Leukemia a short while ago.  I remember reading the news on his site and sending up prayers.  Seeing him back singing and so strong was wonderful!

Then he sung a song that he had wrote about that time.  These are the words that God used to give me such a wonderful assurance:

Later when the room was empty
I was talking to my Lord
Thanking Him for all the blessings
on my Life He had poured


I felt a touch upon my shoulder
I turned around
No one to see
Once again I felt Him touch me
I knew the Lord had come to me


I'm still here I heard Him whisper
I am still upon the throne
I'm still here I'm right beside you
Child I'll not forsake my own.

You can go hear part it HERE.

The tears started to flow.  I knew exactly what God was telling me.  See my Keith is NOT alone in that isolation room.  He never has been!  Yes, people have treated him horribly.  Yes, people forgot him and there was a long time that I never even knew he existed.  God will not forsake His own and my children are His and have been since long before I knew they were there to love them!

GOD WAS THERE!

So often during this journey, I've prayed that somehow God would hug them for me.  I've prayed that He would ease their loneliness, keep them company, and make them feel loved even while in a place where there was no love.  I've prayed it knowing He could and hoping that He would.  I've known that He loved them even more than I do, yet I've felt such despair that I can't hold them in my arms.  I've begged Him to hold them in His.  I've cried as I fell asleep, while I showered, when I had to slip away from the kids and say I had to go to the bathroom just so that I could cry without spreading my sorrow to my little ones.  I've begged for His protection for them, for Him to ease the discomfort of hungry bellies, help them have hope inside for a family even though they didn't even know what it meant.  I've begged Him to give them dreams of Mommy coming to get them and to help them know it is going to happen.  I've asked Him to prepare their hearts for the huge change coming and help them to be ready to be loved and us to be ready to meet their differing needs of which we can't even imagine yet.

Then in the 79 words you read above, God spoke to my heart.  He told me that He is there with them.  That I can rest a little easier.  That He has it under control and they are safe in His arms until He brings them into mine.  As the tears flowed, I felt such a relief.  I am trying hard to hang on to that peace and relief.

Soon my wonderful Father is going to wipe away my tears and theirs and place them in my arms, but until then none of us are alone.

I highly advise you go listen and see if you can get some of that peace.  It made the rest of the weekend (which are always SO HARD) so much easier.  It made today so much easier.  It is making waiting so much easier.

That being said, our Father likes to hear from us.  Please talk to Him and ask Him to bring them home quickly!  :)

We Have a Little Problem

Ok, this post I will probably post to both blogs.  It is hysterical, sweet, and I really don't know what to do.

Julianne has decided she wants to sleep in Aleshia's crib.  The crib had been up for a good while already.  Julianne had been going to sleep in her own bed some nights and then we carry her to our bed.  Other nights she just goes to sleep in our bed to begin with.  We don't leave her in her room at night while we are asleep, because if she wakes up she doesn't cry, but instead climbs out of bed and rocks and hits her head on the floor between her legs.  I can't bear to wake up and know she left a place on her head while I was sleeping so I take her to my bed.  Even at that sometimes she bangs before I get to her when she is sleepy or when she wakes up from having fallen asleep and not yet in my bed.

So, I go in her room the other evening and this is what I see:

Do you love the "Poor me, I don't know how I got here" look above,

or the "You know you can't even think of scolding me when I am this cute" look below?

What about this next look?

This is the "You really did figure it out and explain to Daddy how I got here, 

so you really do know me well, so I'm sure you are aware that I am 

WAAAAAAYY CUTE!"

                                                 
Yes, my sweet and very smart daughter took the small chair over and used it to get onto the arm of the rocking chair, which she then used to climb into the crib!

Then the next night while we were getting the kids ready for bed (and after a very long day playing outside that made her tired before 2am evidently!) I go in and find her to have already put herself into Aleshia's bed and gone to sleep!

So the question is, "WHAT ON EARTH DO I DO?"!  She is nearly 6 years old and doesn't need to be in a crib.  She walks and obviously climbs quite well!  She still has the playpen, because she is unwilling to give it up.  

Do I let her continue this and pray that it gets old before Aleshia gets home?

Do I move the crib elsewhere so that she can't get in it?

Do I buy her a small portable crib like this one that I get for Keith and Aleshia?  (These are on wheels and can wheel into my room for those two at night which is why I bought those specific ones.)

Do I leave the crib there and fight with her to stay out of it?

I really don't know.  She wanted in Keith's highchair when I put it up and I explained it is for her little brother Keith.  She will still ask, but it is to get me to tell her that.  When I say it is for her "little brother Keith" she beams and giggles.  She's been interested in the walker, swing, etc that I've put together.  She tried to get into the walker, but when I told her that it was for "the baby", she didn't try to get in it any more.  

I don't know what to do about the bed.  

Opinions Appreciated Please!

A Busy Mom's take on Digiscrapping.....

First off I need to declare that I am an imposter, sorry, that should read a guest blogger.

I've hijacked Amanda's blog to give you a busy Mom's take on digital scrapbooking.

My name is Catherine and some of you will know me maybe from the Reece's Rainbow FB page or perhaps from Amanda's own FB page.  My alter ego is CatDesignz which is my digital baby - the Child of My Heart if you will.  That's the name of the kit that Celeste Lombas and I used to give Amanda's blog a new look ready for the children coming home - a little digital nesting if you will!

Amanda asked if I would make some layouts of the children which I was delighted to do - you can see them in the left hand side bar.  You can even pretty your own adoption blog up in the same way.

Who, me?  I hear you ask?

Yes, You - you too can digiscrap.

And here's the gorgeous proof

This is Amanda's very first digital layout - and I promise it won't be your last Amanda.  Before you know what's happening you will be teaching the children to make their own layouts!

 ' But I'm too busy to figure it out......'

If you want something done give it to a busy person!!

Before I met Amanda I thought that I was a busy Mum (thats British for Mom BTW!).  I work full time managing a Shopping Mall, volounteer as a School Governor, care for my hubby who is disabled by PTSD, raise our 11 year old son and work a second job as CatDesignz, mainly selling my product at My Memories. Oh, and then I blog, tweet, have a Facebook page, an Etsy store and generally try and stay digitally active

Yes, I seriously thought I was busy until I met this amazing lady and her equally amazing hubby Brent who parent their rainbow family of 13 and are making room for another 5.  Now I really understand what a busy Mom is!!  You are fantabulous Amanda and I am so blessed that our paths have crossed.

When you said you had no time to figure out how to digiscrap I knew that I had already thrown down the gauntlet without saying a word.......and, yes, I am right and you are wrong on this one - he he!   'Cos you figured it all out yourself!!

And if time challenged Amanda can produce a stunning layout so can you and I'm here to show you how  to get started - mainly in response to comments on FB and in emails to Amanda about how you wish you could do it too.

As I mentioned, in my spare time I work for this amazing company called MyMemories - thats where I sell my digital creations.  And though I declare an interest they really are a great starting point for would be digi scrappers and particulary busy Moms.This is not a hard sell because you can actually get started for free

As well as selling digital kits for folks to use they also have THE most popular and easiest to use software.  Its called My Memories Suite V3 and there is even a free trial version available. 

You do need some kind of graphics software to be able to use graphics files - thats your pictures, backgrounds and cliparts

Oh, and heck, I am bursting to tell you this, My Memories giving away a free photobook at the moment and you could use the offer without even having to buy the software - just use the free download version!!!

If you click on this link it will take you to the My Memories home page where you will find the link to the free photobook - there is also a little snippet of footage from the Lifestyle programme which shows you how fast you could fill an album.  This is where it gets really interesting for busy peeps because you can use a pretty pre designed template and just plop your pictures in - simples!

Have a look at these gorgeous photobook  templates - literally one for every occasion.

There are also album templates that you can use if you don't want a full photobook - wherever the grey spaces are you can add your pictures by dragging and dropping them in

Like I said you can use the free version of the software to order your free photobook - there are even free templates with the trial version too so you don't have to spend a cent except for postage.  (look for the free trial button on the right hand side of the page)

 Here is a short video which explains a little about how to get your free photobook  - its the first of 3 video clips but Lisa, the presenter is a great tutor who is really easy to follow



Once you download the software you will want to use it for all your pictures, I promise you!  The programme opens up on your computer - you don't have to be on line to use it - you can use it any time.

To help you with using the software there are a bunch of video tutorials and written tutorial  files that you can download and print out.  I found these priceless for teaching me how to use the software one easy step at a time.  Have a look at this one and you'll see what I mean


There is also an amazing and supportive community on Facebook where you can show off your creations, look at other peoples for inspiration and even ask for digi help and advice

I do need to warn you though.......

IT'S ADDICTIVE!!!!!!

and just to prove how quickly you can become proficient with this software here is Amanda's second layout

Of course the layout is not quite perfect - there are not enough children in the picture - I should say another 5 would just about do the trick! And Amanda will soon fix that please God!

And should you like what you see and decide you want to buy the My Memories software please, please  don't pay full price.  I have a discount coupon for $10 that you can use.  I also have a little surprise for Amanda who doesn't know about this......if any of you buy a copy of the My Memories version 3 software before the end of April using my code  I will donate $20 to the Littlest Unroe fund for each copy of the software sold.  The code to use is STMMMS26788.  Just type it into the coupon space ( or better still copy and paste) before you pay.  This will discount the software down to $29.97 for you.  I will get an email telling me you bought a copy and then I'll donate $20 to little Keith's funds.  Does that sound like a good deal? Oh, and you also get a coupon code for $10 worth of free kits too!

Of course there are lots of other programmes that you could use, like Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop Elements most of which also have free trial versions but they all have a mighty steep learning curve too.  My Memories V3 is far and away the most user friendly that I have found.

Feel free to pop over to my CatDesignz Facebook page and say hello - thats where I showcase all my kits and templates - you never know - you might just catch the bug!!

Happy Scrapping & don't forget to leave Amanda some love for her lovely layouts

Catherine x

ps, be kind to me, this is my first ever guest blog spot - thanks Amanda

PRAY       ADVOCATE       DONATE       ADOPT

Small Update

Our paperwork from the meeting that went well on Tuesday has been translated and is at authentication.  It will be submitted to the MOJ next week. 

Please pray that the paperwork continies to fly through and that our babies are in our arms soon.

We are continuing to prepare for their arrival here at home.  :)  Nesting times 5 is hard work!!  lol  I've not had a baby swing in our home since Dayton outgrew his in 2002, but I do now!  Pictures will come soon!

Thanks for your prayers and keep them coming!  God is so good!

Happy 6th Birthday

My sweet Aleshia is 6 years old today!  This is the day each year that ends our 17 days of having four 5 year olds.  Oh how I wish she wasn't missing another birthday at home.  I just got finished putting her rocker/bouncer together.  That way it felt like a birthday present a little. 

I was able to send her a birthday card in a package that we were able to send to her.  The director at her institution is very nice and helpful and gave us an address to send stuff to her at.  So we sent her a book that I recorded, another book with buttons to push,  and then a singing card.

I put this together for her tonight:

This works  like a bouncer and has the vibration feature,

but is meant to be a toddler rocker too. 

I'm hoping that she finds it soothing

and that she begins to try to rock it.  :)

Happy Birthday My Sweet Princess!! 

Mama is coming for you soon!

How the Day Got Better - Praise

UPDATE FROM TUESDAY MORNING!!!  THE CHECK JUST CLEARED!!!!!  PRAISE GOD!!!!

I have to say that I was overwhelmed today with the prayers and kind words of so many.  I asked for prayer and boy could I feel it!  So many people sent messages, gave toward our FSP, and shared our need for prayer.  I truly was left with happy tears before it was all over with.  I could just feel the prayers going up and I have to believe that tiny Keith felt them today too!  

That warms my heart!  The little boy who has been so forgotten for so long is not forgotten.  The devil may have thought he would keep him there hidden, but he won't!  God has a hold on my tiny boy now!  There are lots of Christians praying and the devil doesn't have a fighting chance! 

We saw some movement today.  Our Senator's office has been told that our stuff will reach the next stop on Wednesday.  The letter about Keith's medical situation was forwarded by the wonderful lady who has been helping us to the USCIS officer.  I am trusting God is going to keep this thing moving and praising Him for the help we were able to get from Senator Portman's staff lady who has been so helpful and understanding.  God is on the move and your all's prayers are so appreciated!! 

I was pretty spent there for a while today.  Then I realized that my tiny "Chromosomally Enhanced" Princess was asleep.  Well I knew that was a gift for the perfect nap for me.  I had just had a Facebook conversation with a wonderful praying adoptive mom who encouraged me so much.  My teenage son Denzell and Dayton both said they had it covered here and all the kids were so good, so I laid down with my cuddle bug and took a little nap! 

How could anyone resist that cuddle bug!?!

I woke up feeling refreshed and I'm just sure it was from your prayers and those of so many others.  I awoke to news from a friend in our homeschool group that her mother in law's group of ladies decided to make a whole bunch of homemade pillow cases as their service project this month and give them to us.  What a wonderful thing to be able to tell my kids someone did for them!  They are loved and people care!!  

I felt so energized and like nesting this evening so we accomplished a whole bunch.  You can read more about that HERE on our family blog along with rooming arrangements we are working out.  :) 

Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouragement in so many ways!  The devil lost today, because I am going to bed thankful and bold in God's love and the wonderful Family of God that I am a part of! 

If you have been a part of the giving to our FSP, sharing the waiting children, sharing our story, or donating to the Hidden Treasures Auction that starts Sunday, PLEASE let me know so that I can thank you, add you to our Giveaway, etc.  The details are HERE.

Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Keep praying, because God is going to do big things!

Julianne Trying Out the High Chair

I bought three of the high chairs, because I knew Julianne's wasn't going to make it much longer.  I have had her new one set up now for several days and I LOVE IT!  I can't wait to set the other two up, but I need my other two little ones here to use them first. 

As you can see she really likes it too.  She wasn't really sure what it was or why it was until we put some chocolate chips onto the tray.  :)  Then she KNEW!  lol 

It took less than 5 minutes to put it together.  It easily converts from a high chair into a table and chair.  The harness that is with it is great, but Julianne really doesn't need one.  She loved to stand up in the other one, but in this one she hasn't been able to because the tray sits down lower to her lap.  I LOVE that too!  The harness would be good if she was using it as a table and chairs though because it would keep her in her seat for an activity, so I can see it being very useful for training the little ones to stay in their seats when doing an activity as well as for eating. 

There are several other things that I love about it.  It takes up LESS SPACE!  This is huge when you are going to have 3 of them!  It also is very easy to wipe off.  It has simple lines, less grooves, and even the seat cover is easy to wipe off.  Julianne also has a habit of "rocking" back and forth when she sits.  This one doesn't have a reclining seat, so I'm hopeful that it won't gradually tip backward like the other one that we had. 

I had to show you another.  She really is so adorable and leaned forward for this picture with that little smirk of hers.  :)

For their First Sunday at Church

Ok, so I have to "prepare".  I've been "nesting" for waaaayyyy too long.  I keep expecting things to start to move at lightning speed and I want to be ready.  :) 

I was at Sam's Club and they have started putting out their Spring/Summer clothing.  I have always loved to buy the cute clothes there.  Destiny has outgrown them, since they only go to a size 7, but thankfully Julianne arrived in time to be able to keep me buying all those cute things. 

I looked at those beautiful dresses and wanted so badly to buy them, but I wanted to buy them for all 4 of my beautiful "Chromosomally Enhanced" girls.  I mean, anyone who knows me knows, I will have to have them matching as much as possible.  Ahnja may or may not be able to wear smaller sizes than Destiny, but likely will.  One way or the other, the younger three at the very least MUST have some matching outfits.  :)

I looked at those beautiful dresses and decided that I would buy them for all 4 girls!  I then thought "But what sizes do they wear?".  So I thought and then I felt a frivolous smile creek onto my face.  Yes, I decided to buy a 3T (in case Paula is smaller than Julianne), two size 4's (in case someone is Julianne's own size), a size 5, a size 6, and a size 7!  Surely that will cover all the bases!  They can wear them on their first Sunday at church.  I needed 4, but bought 6.  I figured that the dresses were less than $20 a piece at Sam's and if I bought them else where they would be twice that.  With that mindset, I still got a good deal!

I have to admit that I keep pulling the dressing out and looking at them.  I sit and imagine how pretty each one will look in those pink dresses.  I think of how blessed I will feel to have them all together.  Four chromosomally enhanced sisters all stubborn and BEAUTIFUL!  I can just see each of their little faces above those dresses. 

I haven't picked out clothes for the 2 boys yet.  I have no idea what sizes to buy for Nicholas and Keith.  I am maybe going to wait until Brent actually meets them.  With the girls all so close in age, surely I hit their sizes!  Also whatever they don't wear now they can probably grow into (unless of course the size 3T is too small lol).  Nicholas's info is YEARS old, so we have no idea what to expect.  Keith is so very tiny that I am hoping he has grown some since our last report. 

So here is what the girls will be wearing!

Of course you will need to multiply that times 4!

The question is "Which 4 dresses will fit them?" 

What is not in question is that they will ALL be beautiful!

Feeling a Little More Real

It is 2:30 am and I just finished ordering things to prepare for our soon to arrive children.  Earlier today, I bought and packed some things in a bag for Brent to give to Keith's "Baba" that comes to spend time with him through a ministry there.  I'm hoping that if she uses it, then it will help him now and with the up coming transition.  I also purchased the photo albums that I will be preparing later this week. 

Tonight I ordered two cribs.   Keith and Paula will both need one when they arrive home.  There are twin size beds in the rooms now, but they aren't ready for them.  We are not sure if either one even sits independently, but we know that neither is mobile.  So, even at ages 4 and 5 years old, they will both be in need of cribs. 

I also ordered two of the small pack'n plays.  Keith and Paula will need places to be where they won't get too much attention as they adjust and since they are neither one mobile.  I'm trying to keep reminding my kids here at home that the kids coming aren't use to constant attention and that we will have to be careful not to overstimulate them.  I am however preparing places and ways for them to be a part of the household even if they can't stand any more "touch".  Julianne has had her current pack'n play as a play pen for her entire time home (going on 3 years!), but is in no way willing to give it up.  She gathers everything that she wants up and puts it in there (it is where ALL the combs in the house land!).  She then uses a chair to climb in it, or gets someone to put her in with her ingenius nonverbal bossiness, and plays with everything before she throws it out.  lol

Then I ordered 3 high chairs.  Keith and Paula will be in need of these as well.  Since I don't know if they even sit independently yet, these are especially important.  They are also important bc they will be exploring different textures and foods.  Julianne loves to do that in her high chair.   She also likes to take us there to nonverbally boss us around.  Even the dumbest of people know what she wants if taken to a high chair, so we have no excuse there!  lol  You notice that I said 3 high chairs, even though only 2 kids coming home should be in need of them.  The third one is for Julianne.  She has had her current one since arriving home and it is DONE.  She rocks in it and sits backward in it.  It is nearing its last leg!  A new one is on the way, so I pray it holds out!  These are on the ones on the way.  :)