I-800A

We have finally received our I-800A approval last night. This is what we've been waiting for since February, but got held up because of needed homestudy changes (that took way too long). This past week was spent being the "squeaky wheel" to make sure that a letter requested by the government didn't take a month and a half to write. It worked, the letter was emailed yesterday, and a couple of hours later, we had our approval! I really expected it to take much longer after they received the letter, so I was thrilled.

Now, we officially sign acceptance papers for Mason. Hopefully this will be done before Monday, and then I will be posting almost two years worth of pictures of our sweet boy :) We still have quite a few steps to complete in the process before we can get Mason home, but I feel like there will be progress now. This step took much too long for my taste.

On the homefront: Madeline is finishing up Kindergarten. Monday I get to go into her class for Dinosaur Camp! She is very excited to dig for trilobite and alomite fossils. She and I are making plans for our annual trek to Broadway. They have started "Kid's Night on Broadway" again (thank you, Rosie O'Donnell). There are special events for the kids to attend, and then a kid's ticket is free with the purchase of an adult ticket. We can't decide which shows we want to see. Myles is as sweet as ever. He and Max are still very close, and play together well. Superheroes remain the best thing ever. Max Rup is talking up a storm. We had a brief foray into potty training, but after two weeks, it seemed clear that he was not ready. We'll try again in the fall (sigh). We are enjoying warm(ish) weather, and spending lots of time outside, and in the woods. We can't wait until it's warm enough to be at the lake all the time. And, of course, pictures:

Madeline, Auriana, Austin

10th annual Lop Hop - a gathering of Indian adoptive families from all over New England

Madeline leading Myles on Sunshine

Seriously, how sweet are these two?! I swear this was unprompted.

Madeline in her new Salwar Kameez

Amazing. . .

Our son looks and sounds simply amazing! Colleen picked up her daughter, Lia Riyani, yesterday and spoiled me big time. She delivered a photo album of Dan, me and the kids, and a blankie that I made (yes, you read that correctly, my first attempt at using a sewing machine). At the end of the photo album, each of the kids drew a picture, and we wrote "I love you baby" in Bengali. The only phrase of the language I know other than Namaste. I wish I could post pics, but I can't for a couple more weeks. If you want to see them, give me your email. The pics Colleen and her hubby took are just amazing. Even better is this message that she sent me:

Kristy-
We met Probal just a few hours ago! What a hoot he is! Seriously the boy cracked me up the whole time we were there. He is a VERY smiley and happy boy. The ayahs there said he is always like that talking and laughing (we went upstairs to see the newborns and we could hear him from there! The ayah said 'Ah, there's Probal again!). We were in the room with him for about 20 minutes talking to the ayahs and he wanted us to look at him the whole time! We gave them the book and they went through it with him while we were there taking pics of the other kiddos. They had him kiss the pictures of Mommy and Daddy and the ayahs loved the Bengali at the end!! They were telling him about his sister and brothers. He kept trying to bite the book! The ayahs said 'Oh very nice blanket!'They said he doesn't stand on his own yet (She actually said 'No, not yet.'). The crib he was in was quite small so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it (I don't know if he's in there all the time though or just today). He had his legs sticking out through the crib slats and was kicking them around. We took many pictures of him (and have at least one great one of him smiling and laughing) and a bit of video as well. We'll get it into sendable form asap! He will certainly keep you on your toes but I think you will have a great time with him!
~ Colleen

He's going to fit in perfectly. My kids are known for their infectious laughs :)

chicks

Madeline loves her critters. Doesn't matter what kind, what shape, how slimy or smelly. She loves them. Today she was able to bring our new baby chicks into her classroom. She chose three: a broiler, a laying hen, and a bantam. She did such a nice job telling her classmates about the differences, and she was so proud. I was a little proud too :)






Madeline and Mrs. Poat showing the chicks. Mrs. Poat is also a huge animal lover. Maddie will miss her next year.

Look at all those kids smiling! I love it.

The Pigs

Birthday pics

All set to save thew world!

Mimi was right, being a superhero is serious business!

Spiderman Swim Gear!

The Labonte "Eaters"

(We have no idea how we'll afford to feed them when they are all teenagers)

Happy 4th Birthday, Myles!

All mothers know that time goes by much too quickly. I cannot believe this little boy is 4! He will start PreK in the fall. I remember when he was born - he loves to hear about how he peed on the doctor before they even cut the umbilical cord. He weighed 6lbs 15oz, and they joked that if he had just held it for a minute he would have been 7lbs even.

Some things I want to remember about Myles at age 3:

-the way he says afweep instead of asleep.

-how he is such a sweet big brother to Max Rup.

-him being so proud to pee standing up (and my dismay when he realized he can control the direction of the spray).

-his adamant insistence that superheroes MUST go commando.

-his infectious giggle and irresistible dimples.

-he still likes to go on "dates" with mom (and then falls asleep).

-he is all boy - superheroes, bugs, cars, and motorcycles. But sometimes he surprises us. Like when he came out the other day wearing "eye polish" (mascara).

-his "I wuv you too, Mama."

I love you Myles. You are my sweet, sensitive hero.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS: in the comments leave any cute stuff you remember about Myles this year.

Blogging Therapy

Dillon still hasn't recieved our homestudy with the necessary changes. For the fourth time today I've heard that it would be done "by the end of the day." It's been an entire month. So I'm blogging as a form of therapy.

Two amazing things about today:

~My father-in-law turned 70 today. You would never guess him to look at him. (By the way, I am blessed with the sweetest in-laws ever).

~Two years ago today we saw Max Rup's face for the first time. I remember every second of the call from Tami. For some reason she had my parents' number listed as ours, and we just happen to be down there that night. I even answered the phone. I thought it was a call about our I 171-H since I had just faxed it to her the night before. I couldn't believe it was our referral. It was a Friday and she told us to think about it and review his info with our doctor, but I decided the minute his face popped up on our computer screen. He was (and is) the cutest little guy I'd ever seen. I called my in-laws that night, rambled on about Max Rup, and forgot to with my father-in-law a happy birthday.


We had a busy Easter weekend. Mimi was home which makes everything more special. Mimi cannot believe how much my children eat. She can't believe (and finds exhausting) how much Madeline wiggles - constantly. And I'm pretty sure she needed a vacation from the 5 nieces and nephews by the time she got on the plane ;)


Here's some pics and videos -


Nana and two tired grandbabies
5 Grandchildren (and one far away)

"The Finley Girls"

Jaime, Meagan, Kristy

Coombs Gang Picture

This is nearly the entire Coombs clan. The vast majority of us are together for every holiday and sometimes "just because." We were so thankful to all be together last night. The only ones missing are Cody, Taylor, and Tom. Special thanks to Molly's friend for coming over to snap the pic (none of us know how to use the timer functions on our cameras). :)