Our chips are all in

I really wish I had some spectacular news to tell everyone...I don't.  There haven't been any referrals in a few weeks.  Ethiopian courts are shutting down about now (or soon) for rainy season.  Referrals can still come in but not much gets processed until they're fully back open again in about two months or so.  We'll have to see how many referrals actually come in during this time.

Regardless, we are 'all in.'  There's no backing out, slowing down, hesitating for us.  We're in this thing and so ready for it all.  We're committed.

I found this quote today and it's really made me think...maybe it will make you do the same.

 German philosopher, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.  Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:  that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.  All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.  A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.  Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.  Begin it now."

Two Months Waiting

In honor of the MLB All Star Game tonight, our number today was brought to you by a jersey.  Yes, we're officially number 37 on the overall waiting list.  I got confirmation of that today.  We have moved up 17 spots in two months!!  I can't believe it!  I was curious about whether we should still plan on waiting the rest of the 7 months of the 9 month estimate and I was told yes, according to other families with similar preferences who are currently getting their referrals, they're waiting 9 months so that is what we should expect.  I certainly can't imagine waiting seven more months to move 37 spots though.  Also, I think the families who are currently getting referrals had more families ahead of them in line than we did starting out.  Hopefully this will be right and we'll get to see our sweet Coco's face much sooner than we expect!

Two months have gone by smoother than I had imagined...that kind of makes me nervous for the months to come!

Please continue to pray for a speedy process.

Baby Coco

We didn't let anyone know Cooper's name until he entered the world for various reasons.  Right now, I can't help but try to name this child we're waiting and praying for.  I'm having a little bit of a naming issue though. 

Cooper was named after family and because I'd always wanted to name a boy Cooper.  I've always had all of my children's names picked out, first and middle.  I have a whole list stored in my head that no one but Justin will ever know because no, we're not telling anyone before they arrive so why discuss it prior with anyone other than him?

This one's different.  I'm not sure if I can name a child of African descent something that would be considered a very "white" name such as Sarah or Liam or Austin or Jessica.  Yet, I don't really want their teacher to look at the class roster before school starts and assume the child is black (there is nothing wrong with this but I'd rather not anyone have preconceived notions about him/her). 

Is there such thing as a racial neutral name?

Because we didn't publicly name Cooper until he arrived, his name was El Chico...the boy as translated from Spanish.  Some lady heard us refer to him as El Chico while we were shopping once and she said, "Well, I guess Mama likes the Mexican food, huh?" very obnoxiously.  With my pregnant, hormone-induced attitude, I almost let her have it!  I was mad that she assumed I craved Mexican food and named my kid after El Chico, the restaurant.  Didn't everyone know that meant 'the boy'?  And hello!  I never craved anything while pregnant.  Plus, I was so diabetic at the time I couldn't have eaten there anyways.  But whatever.  I'm over it.  :)  Certainly not bitter about it whatsoever!

Back to the baby at hand....what to name it?  I have no idea.  It needs a name though.  I keep dreaming about that sweet, soft, chocolate skin.  Right now, I guess it's a baby cocoa bean in it's mommy's belly....Baby Coco it is.

Any naming suggestions you have will be considered...but don't be surprised if we don't tell the name until he or she is officially ours.

Sweetness

He melts my heart

I could leave it at that...but I won't.  He's a maniac...but denies it.  He loves freedom and independence...yet he's the sweetest snugglebug I've ever known.  I could go on all day...but I won't.

Awhile back, our household was hit by the "Toy Stoy" bug.  We have watched Toy Story and Toy Story 2 countless times in the past month, play with a set of miniature characters, memorized lines from the movies, taken pictures with Buzz Lightyear, and bought Woody PJ's. 

All the while, he never knew how excited I was to go see Toy Story 3!!  I couldn't wait.  Cooper has never been to the movie theater so we figured we'd go all out and see it in 3D at IMAX (he got in free!)......oh, and we got lemonade and popcorn, too.

WHY they didn't have kid-sized glasses is beyond me but oh well.  He kept them on and absolutely loved the movie.  If we could just figure out how to explain why we can't watch it at our house, we'd be doing great.

I thank God for Cooper's sweet, nurturing spirit.   He is always very concerned about the baby blankets I'm knitting for his new baby brother or sister.  He has also been asking a lot lately when the baby is coming and unfortunately, we don't have any answers for him.  We just say, "someday."  We think he understands this just a little.  Well, this weekend he asked for literally HOURS where the baby brother or sister is and when they were coming. 

It's conversations like this that absolutely melt me....
C:  When's baby brudur or sistur comin, Daddy?
J:  Soon, but they're not ready to come here yet.
C:  (Looking up, thinking, you can see his wheels turning)
J:  Do you know who's making the baby?
C:  Jesus!
J:  You're right!
C:  Well, where IS Jesus?
J:  He's in heaven.  Do you know where heaven is?
C:  It's a surprise!

A little while later he was actually boo-hooing in hysterics because he wanted this baby to come here to our house NOW.  We snuggled, talked, calmed down.  I got his beach ball globe and we talked about where we lived and where the baby brother or sister will be and that Mommy and Daddy will have to get it someday.  This seemed to satisfy him (it's not the first time we've done this). 

But then I got to thinking...he loves babies and he really loves this baby doll at my mom's house that she got for the girls.  Maybe Cooper would like to have a baby doll of his own and it would satisfy his anxiety/curiosity of the upcoming sibling.  Boys playing with dolls really isn't a big deal to me.  I think it's good for them to learn to take care of something and show love in that way.  Now, pink, frilly, princess or Barbie-ish is NOT okay.  :)

We went to Toys R Us the next day to pick out a simple, somewhat gender neutral baby doll (preferably not white).  Cooper was super excited and he said it needed baby bottles like the one at Nana's house.  We were on the search...

I found a sweet, soft little brown skinned baby doll and took it to Cooper and asked what he thought of it.  His reply?  "Oh, it's a black baby!!"  I said, "WHAT??  What kind of baby is this?"  "A black baby," he said again.  I had no idea he even knew that term!  He said it as if it were simply an observation and he has absolutely no problem with the baby or even the thought that we would have a black baby.  It was totally innocent.

I'm not sure exactly where he picked that one up but I'm just thankful it wasn't condescending in any way.  He has always been exposed to diverse people, we read Ethiopian adoption blogs of others and look at babies' pictures and we see kids of different races at church and he sees them in class at school as well.  He especially loves his big friend, Eric, who has spent some time at our house recently and he's African American.  I feel that we've done a pretty good job of exposing Cooper to diversity while not necessarily pointing out differences among people.  We see everyone so much the same and try to push away stereotypes.  Now we know he sees the differences among people and for now, it's only an observation.

Well, the baby made it home with us, along with a set of bottles with juice and milk.  He has decided this baby is a boy and it's name is Baby Goo.  Because the baby brother or sister is getting blankets made for it, Baby Goo also needed a blanket and pillow.  I let Cooper pick out some fabric from my stash...errr, wall o' fabric....and he chose the choo choo trains!  I whipped up this little creation in time for them to both lay down for their afternoon nap together.

After his nap we went to eat dinner with Granny and Pa, who had just gotten back from a trip.  He just had to take Baby Goo with him to show off.  I caught them holding hands in the back seat!

And when grandparents come home from a trip, what do they bring?  Souvenirs!  Cooper got a brand new harmonica along with some other lovely goodies.  He's pretty good at it, too!

Oh how I love this boy.  He's so trusting of his father and me.  He's a straightforward and honest little boy.  He has such a sense of wonder about him.  Yet, a nurturer and snugglebug he is.