I got my Christmas wish

As a CHI family, we are a part of a Yahoo group and are able to discuss a wide range of topics with other families who are also using the same agency and adopting from Ethiopia.  Several weeks ago, a sweet lady offered to take pictures of others' children when she and her husband went to ET for their court trip.  I quickly took her up on her offer and sent my authorization letter.

Well, yesterday morning I opened my email to see an inbox full of the most beautiful pictures of Baby Coco!  He's growing!  It made my day and Cooper is so proud of the pictures.  We printed them and took them to church last night for all to see.

It gets even better though!  Today, when we got back from running errands, I checked my email to see a sweet video of him!  He didn't really make any sounds but those expressions and the light in his eyes were fabulous.  I keep watching it over and over and not getting the Christmas stuff done that I need to!

As soon as we get back from our court trip in February, I'll be sure to post pictures of him.

Best Christmas present ever!

Court Date

We finally have a court date!  It's February 15th!

Since there have been so many questions that I haven't been able to answer over the past month, I'll try to put out as much information as I'm allowed at the moment.

Baby info:  Because the Ethiopian government does not recognize him as our child until after court, we aren't allowed to send his picture electronically in any form or put out any type of identifying information.  I can say he's now 6 months old and he has minor special needs but nothing other than that.  Oh, and I think he's absolutely beautiful!  In person, I can tell you all about him, though...except for his personal history which will be his story to tell someday.  As soon as we pass court in February we will have all legal rights to him and will share his picture here!

Tentative plans:  Our court trip is the first one and we have to appear in the Ethiopian court to gain legal custody of him.  We plan on leaving the weekend of February 11, arrive in ET on Sunday the 13th, meet him on Valentine's Day!!! and then go to court on Tuesday the 15th.  We will probably leave that evening and travel all day Wednesday to get back home.  It's a short trip and the jetlag will definitely be a beast when we go back to work on Thursday but SO worth it.

We get to meet our little guy on Valentine's Day...the day of love.

After we get home, we will await an Embassy date.  We will have to do a Visa interview at the Embassy about a month after court (so sometime in March) and by then his visa papers will be filed and his passport will be ready.  Hopefully, we will be able to have a meeting with the birthfamily at this time and tour the country some, etc.  I think the second trip will be so much fun!

Also, there is a family from our agency who is leaving tomorrow to get their little one and they have offered to take more pictures of him!  When they get back home, they will email us pictures and I will have them printed and with me so if you see me anytime after Christmas, I'll have updated pictures!  The two we have right now are outdated, as babies change so quickly.  I can't wait to see how he's growing!

I've been so behind on this blog...I started an 'October' post ummmm back in October?  Yeah, it's not even finished yet.  I think I may catch up by doing a quick photo update on the past few months soon.  I have updates on where we stand with money, etc. but tonight, court is the most important information so that's what got posted.

**Please pray for our baby's little body...pray he grows big and strong.  I will be able to disclose more information about this after court.  He's already gained 4# in the past 6 weeks!  We're so proud of him.

**Please pray for Cooper to be accepting and understanding of the family transition that will be taking place very soon.

**Please pray for birthmom...that she finds comfort.  We pray that she is willing to meet us when that time comes and have an open conversation.  We don't want her to be intimidated, or ashamed.

The Big Brother

One of the common questions I've gotten today is what Cooper thinks about it all.

In the car on the way home from church tonight, I hear, "There's poopoo in that baby's diaper right now!  Shoowee!"  I looked in the back seat and he is holding the picture of Baby Coco and talking to it.
Me:  Did you know that baby gets to come live with us soon?  We get to hold him, and love him, and kiss him and rock him.
C:  Yeah...and swords,  and soldiers...and teach him to run with Toby!  I'm gonna teach him all the stuff!

So far, I'm guessing he has a pretty healthy outlook on it.  One minute he doesn't want anything to do with the thought, the next minute he's jumping with joy.  That's probably the best we can expect from a 3-year-old who really can't comprehend what's going on.  Pretty sweet.

Something Beautiful

I can't believe it!  We got our referral call today for a 5 month old baby BOY!  And he's certainly the something beautiful we have been praying and waiting for.  He's absolutely gorgeous!

I'll have more to say about it when I have a chance to clear my head...for tonight, I think I'll just hang out on Cloud 9.

The dreaded subject...

...of fund raising.

I hate it.  But I love it.

I've said before that here isn't the place to discuss our family's finances...just a fund raiser announcement from time to time.  I will not beg for money from friends and family.  I have a real hard time soliciting my family in that way.  However, because one of my objectives of this blog is to help clear up some misunderstandings of adoption, I feel that this topic needs to be discussed at least once.

It's no secret; adoption isn't cheap.  Whether domestic or international, there's no way around it.  It's just expensive.  In our preliminary adoption research, we found that both routes of adoption are very comparable in cost depending on agency, country, etc.  Adoption through the foster care system is different and, while we would love to look into fostering some day, we don't feel like our young family is ready for that yet.

There are agency fees, homestudy fees, documentation fees, processing fees, courier fees, passports, travel costs, etc., etc., etc.  Because the Ethiopian government passed a new law a few months ago stating both adoptive parents have to make an extra trip to attend the court hearing, this has doubled our travel costs and added an extra $4-5,000 to our original total we were expecting.

Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in a world where adoption costs were covered under health insurance just like maternity/prenatal care is?  I figure they may cost about the same with all the monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly visits, the ultrasounds, the blood draws, the labor and delivery costs, etc.  Sometimes I feel like pulling the 'discrimination card' because it just isn't fair.  I feel like we're being penalized because of the way we have chosen to grow our family.  As if it is a bad thing. 

I start to second guess myself and the decision we have made for our family.  I think of how selfish it is to raise money and ask people for money to support this decision when it was us who made the decision and it's our responsibility...I mean, we don't all have fund raisers to help pay for our mortgage and car payments, right?  Then, I realize it wasn't 100% our decision.  It was God's.  We prayed and asked how to best grow our family and how to go about it.  This was the answer...loud and clear.  If this is truly God's will, how can I second guess that?  How can I doubt?  How can I not get others involved?  How can I not give others an opportunity to be involved in such a lifechanging event for our family?  Who knows, maybe someone else may be inspired to adopt after learning about our journey.  I begin to feel good about it all again but.......

RANT WARNING:::  Unfortunately I don't work for an adoption friendly employer.  We do not get paid maternity leave which is strange for a workforce of mostly women.  We just take our sick days and then use FMLA for the rest and don't get paid.  Most people I know at work lately have been able to take maternity leave using their short term disability policy.  I pay into this every pay period, yet I'm unable to claim it for adoption because I will not have been under a doctor's care.  This is what is totally overwhelming for me:  I have very few precious sick days, after those are gone, I will be docked my per diem rate of pay (higher daily rate of contract pay because I get my pay spread over 12 months rather than 9) which means I'll owe the district money, I will have to pay in my health insurance to the district, and I will have to pay my substitute teacher for every day she's there once my sick days are gone.  I'm seeing red negative signs! 

I figured all of this out right after we found out we had to make two trips and it has stressed me out so much.  It stressed me out until I finally gave it to God.  I recognized the financial mountain in front of us and asked God to simply move that mountain.  He can do it, can't He?  Why don't I believe that?  Why don't I have confidence in that?  Lately I've had more peace about it.

God has afforded our family many opportunities to make and save extra money.  Justin gets up every morning without fail to throw papers.  This extra job with middle-of-the-night hours is exhausting for him but we know this is a wonderful opportunity.  We are able to save part of my paycheck.  We aren't big spenders by nature, but we have found ways to be even more frugal.  The few small fund raisers we have done so far have been successful and we are planning several more very soon.

If you have contributed a Bottle Bank to us...THANK YOU!!!  We now have saved well over $1,300 just in your spare change!  If you want one, please let me know.  I just think it's amazing how God really is providing for us in the 'extras' of life.  Extra job, extra part of my check, extra spare change.  Pretty cool.

Right now, we are sitting at just a little more than 50% of our goal.  Along with what we are able to save, we hope that a few of these fund raisers will really make the difference and get us to our goal.  God is moving this mountain.  We are just $2,000 away from our next installment which is due upon receiving our referral.  I'm praying we have that much more in the bank before our call comes!  After that, it's all travel fees.

Here are some fund raising efforts that we are working on.  Some are ongoing while some are upcoming.  If you want information about any of them, please let me know.  Like I said, I will not openly solicit my family.  I don't feel right about it.

Bottle Banks:  Baby bottles to collect your spare change-HUGE success so far!

Piece By Piece:  We're putting together a puzzle for our baby's room.  Each puzzle piece can be sponsored by friends/family for $10 each, the sponsor's name written on the back of the piece, and it will be a very special keepsake for our child to be able to look at one day and see how many people contributed to them being here, as a part of our family.  We are in the process of sending out flyers with more information about this.

Garage Sales:  We had a huge sale in April with many donated items and were able to raise $900.  The next one will be Nov. 5 & 6.  There will be a bake sale with a lemonade/hot chocolate/coffee stand too!  If you have items to donate, please let us know.  If not, come by and take a gander!  We're hoping this one is even more profitable than the last.

Pictures:  My sister, Amy Kelton, is a photographer and will be doing another photo shoot to benefit us.  This time it will be Santa Pictures!  Order a package of pictures and even put the pics into Christmas cards and get all of the ordering done at once.  Lots more information to come!

On another adoption blog I once read, "God doesn't necessarily call the equipped; he equips the ones He calls."  I agree and I'm praying for more opportunities for Him to show us His providence.

Yay for referrals!

It's been a good week!  There were 5 referrals this week so we're now #20!  I can't imagine how excited those families are.

Five Months Waiting

I got an unexpected email yesterday from Ashley, our adoption consuntant from CHI.  She was just checking to see how the wait was going for us and said we were currently sitting at #25 on the overall waiting list!  WOW!  That's two spots ahead of where I thought we were.  Think we'll have a referral before Christmas?

Family

"They came to realize that family need not be defined merely as those with whom they share blood, but as those whom they would give their blood." -Dickens


"I'd rather regret the things I did, rather than the things I have not done." -Lucille Ball

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in, .....

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,

whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Matthew 25:35,40

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."

Matthew 18:5

"I asked God, 'How much time to I have before I die?'

He replied, 'Enough to make a difference...'" -Unknown

"We may affirm absolutely that nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion." -G.W.F. Hegel

You may not know this but we have kind of inherited a new 'family member' recently.  Nothing legally binding, but he will forever be a part of our family by heart. 

His name is Eric and he's a beautiful young man. 

Out of respect for him and his family, I will not share his business but I can say that Eric has had a rough life.  We have watched him over the past few years as he has come to church on Wednesday nights mostly on his own.  You see, we knew his mother was very sick with cancer and had been for some time.  For a while, he was in Justin's class for teen boys and that's how they got to know each other.  We were always impressed at his politeness, maturity, and the willpower it took to come to church under his circumstances.  Who knows, he may have just come to church to play basketball after class....whatever the reason, we knew deep down that there was something special about this kid.

On May 21, 2010, Eric's mom went to be with Jesus.  Justin attended the funeral and couldn't stop thinking about Eric and what would be next for him.  He wasn't sure if he was going to move away or find somewhere to live here, etc.  I asked if he could come live with us.  (Crazy idea #274, right?)  It looked like it would be a reality and we were so excited!  For whatever reason, it wasn't to be.  However, Eric would still be in town so I was okay with that.

Over the next several months he really became part of the family.  We got him in touch with coaches and got him back on the high school basketball team, he went to summer school, we took him shopping for school clothes, we ate dinner together most nights, played in the back yard with Cooper, and watched movies.  He stayed with us many a night.  I always slept better when he was at our house.  I didn't worry.

Today, Eric moved to another state to live with his birthmother and uncle.  I have cried many, many selfish tears over the past few weeks...even now.  I was angry and hurt and incredibly sad in the days after he first told us he had to leave.  Looking at it now, I realize that, although I cannot understand it now, it's all part of God's perfect plan for not only Eric, but both of our families.  If I fight that, I'm fighting God's will.  I'm still selfishly frustrated that he had to leave everything that he finally had going for him posititvely here, but I have to remind myself that I'm not in control.  Apparently God has bigger and better plans for Eric and if that's the case, I can't wait to find out what it is!

Having Eric as a part of our family has taught us more about acceptance and tolerance.  Cooper has gained a big brother who jokes and tickles relentlessly, yet in a way has prepared him for his new brother- or sister-to-be.  Race has never been an issue in our household but it certainly isn't now.  Cooper has been taught to love regardless of the color of someone's skin and we have all been reminded that God's love is bigger than any so-called 'culture barrier.'

He calls us his "God Family" and I couldn't think of a better term.  God sent him to us to be a part of our family and nothing will ever take that away from us. 

Today, I'm thankful for family...whoever that may include.

Hmmmm......

I just looked over at the "About Me" section of the blog and realized that at the time of starting this blog, I had great intentions of going down this long and winding road with yummy coffee, good books, and lots of yarn.  Well, with school and work and all, I never got around to mcuh of that stuff...until hopefully now.  Since it's getting cooler finally, I'll get the coffee pot going more often.  I'm devouring the Hunger Games series and these blankets for Baby Coco are gathering dust in the corner beside me.  I've really got to get back on track!

There were 3 referrals this week so now we're #27.

I got backed up on counting change from the Bottle Bank fundraiser and counted out $381.40 in change today!  I think we're about halfway to our fundraising goal.  We save everything we can and put it towards the adoption and the few fundraisers we've had have really helped.  I'm just starting to get nervous about whether we'll have it all by the time we get our referral.  We are confident that God will provide but it's human nature that doubts and worries.

Godspeed, little (wo)man.

Cooper's 3rd Birthday

I can't believe he's...

Our cake lady was booked up this weekend so I tried out cake decorating.  Cooper LOVED it but I think I'll make cake plans earlier next year to get on her list! 

Can you tell he's excited? 

Ready to collect goodies from the pinata. 

Pin the Tail on Bullseye 

Bullseye Races:  Relay races on hobby horses! 

Present time! 

That evening, he had so much fun playing with all of his new toys. 

He even made my mom play Play-Doh Ice Cream Shop with him while I cleaned up toys and party 'stuff'. 

Happy Birthday Cooper! 

Four Months Waiting and a Three-Year-Old!

Baskin Robbins is the sensible choice for the number 31 on Cooper's birthday, right?  Yes, we've waited patiently for 4 months so far.  Yes, it's true we're not always so patient.  Yes, when I say 'we' I mean 'me'.  Yes, we've been in the thirties for what seems like for-ev-er!  Things started to pick back up this month and the clinic received their DNA test kits and were able to start processing more kiddos and get them referred to families.  Maybe it will really pick up once rainy season is over...which is soon!

I haven't been in the mood to write lately.  I have felt really disconnected with the whole adoption process.  I know we need to be doing fund raising but I just can't bring myself to solicit my family.  I just don't even want to think about it.  I know we need to be preparing for this baby that will someday be a part of our family but for now, all we've done is get Coop's big boy room ready (oh so fun!!) and pile baby stuff in the soon-to-be nursery.  There are so many thoughts in my head that I've been wanting to write on here and let everyone know what's going through this head of mine but I just can't focus enough to get them in writing.  After working my tail off to get my graduation complete this summer and school starting this past month, my brain feels fried and my body is certainly worn out.  Maybe I'll find the inspiration to write soon but for now, sorry.  It's just not coming.  Believe me, there's more in this head of mine than you can imagine!  :)

Today is Cooper's third birthday!!  He is SO much fun and has changed a lot lately.  I find myself thinking, "OH how I love this kid!," often throughout the day.  He is so incredibly lovable.  You may remember that he's obsessed with Toy Story....well, he had to have a Toy Story birthday party on Saturday.  I'll give it a post of its own within the next few days but until then, here's a teaser!

Three Months Waiting...Bittersweet

No news...none.  At least for the adoption.  Yesterday marked three months of waiting for us and we did not move a single spot on the waiting list.  There were no referrals of families ahead of us.  Although, I believe a precious little girl from the waiting children list was placed with a brand new adoptive family.  I know it's rainy season in Ethiopia and the courts have shut down for two months but referrals are still supposed to come in...so why aren't they??  Well, someone inquired about this on our CHI listserv yesterday and was told that the medical clinic (where the children are brought initially, before they go to an orphanage to be referred to families) was out of HIV test kits and were waiting on more but should receive more this week.  It sounded like there were children waiting to be tested and then sent on to orphanages or transition homes so maybe this rainy season will produce a 'flood' of referrals for so many anxious families.  Please keep this situation in your prayers!

It was so hard to go an entire month without moving up on the list when we had started out our wait moving very quickly.  

You said bittersweet...where's the 'sweetness'? 

Although yesterday was a difficult day in the adoption part of my life, it was also a very joyous day...I have my Master's Degree!!!  Should have happened last December but whatever...at least it's over now.  I haven't even taken a class since the Spring semester and have worked all summer trying to get the correct graduation requirements fulfilled.  SO FRUSTRATING!!  It's over and I just can't believe it!  I wasn't expecting this level of relief-incredible.  I just don't know what I'm going to do with my time.  Wait....yes I do.  I have to get Cooper into a big boy room and move all of his furniture to Baby Coco's room, paint his/her room, start planning bedding, work on major fundraisers such as Piece By Piece, a HUGE garage sale, photography, maybe a benefit dinner, plan Cooper's 3rd birthday party, make a Halloween costume, watch Toy Story for the millionth time........  Oh, and school (work) starts next week too.  I'm thankful that God has lifted this burden and helped me complete this accomplishment of grad school at the perfect time.

I have to continually remind myself that it is difficult to understand God's perfect timing when looking forward to the future.  He is in control and will provide.  When reflecting on the past, it is very clear to see his plan and how he works everything more amazingly than I could ever imagine.

Blog ADD

Ok, so I've had a little blog ADD lately.  I'm having a hard time getting a good format that I like and I keep changing my mind on what I want.  Someday, maybe I'll get comfortable with this space.  Bear with me until then!

Summer Vacation

I'm not one to enjoy being away from my child.  Most places we go, we take him with us.

Justin and I haven't had a vacation since our honeymoon 5 years ago.  Sure, we've taken a weekend to Dallas or Branson every once in a while but I would hardly consider those outings "vacations" and most of the time we have had Cooper with us.

A few weeks ago, we were able to spend an entire week in Destin, FL with some wonderful friends and it was amazing!  The cost was split among all 6 couples who went so it made it very economical...good thing, because I would have felt guilty otherwise since we're trying to save every penny possible for the adoption.  I did feel guilty about a few things though...while we were there I kept thinking about how much fun Cooper would have making a sand castle or digging up sea shells.  I could just see him making funny faces when the yucky salt water got in his mouth.  I'd never been away from him for a week but I think I only cried once for a short moment.  Not bad, huh?

What I didn't feel guilty about was having fun with friends, my honey, reading, knitting, cooking, shopping...just relaxing for the first time in a few years.  I didn't realize how much a career change, new baby/toddler and grad school had brought me down the past 3 years.  Wow.  Three years.

I know we won't ever have a vacation like that again.  It's okay with me.  This will hold me over for a long time.  It's exactly what we needed.  With the change about to occur with our family I know vacation may not even be possible for another five years...who knows.  

Oh, and I don't think Cooper didn't miss us near as much as we missed him!

The sandcastle we made in Cooper's honor...it kinda turned out to be an entire village!

My honey and me on the beach

Cooper...see the smiley face?

 

My Lindsey D and me

Just watch and think

(Scroll to the bottom of the page to pause the music before playing this.)

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.