Let's see what I can remember (with the help of my day planner) what has gone on in the past 6 months...
September:
My company was sold to another management company so I started September off at a new location (a little closer to home). It seemed OK at first, but as time has gone by, it seems that people are not as nice as they seemed and the processes are quite different than at my old job. I find that I am not enjoying my job as much as I used to at the old company, but I go 3 days a week, do my job and leave the drama behind as best as I can.
We celebrated Labor Day at Roosevelt Lake with our church and enjoyed a yummy dinner at Guayo's on the Trail in Globe.
I had a great time at Retreat in Prescott with the ladies from our church. I was so happy my sister-in-law was able to join me this year!
We celebrated my sister and my dad's birthdays.
Jeremy enjoyed his time at the Men's Retreat in Prescott!
Andrew had his last swim lessons for the year and he did a great job! I'm thinking he may be eligible for Swim Team at the YMCA this summer. We'll see!
I had my 10 year class reunion at Seville Country Club in Gilbert. It wasn't fun at all and we left early to hang out with some of our friends in Queen Creek.
October:
Andrew had Cousins Camp at Josh and Mindy's house. This was the second year they've done it and the kids LOVE it! Andrew keeps trying to convince Josh to do Cousins Camp twice a year.
Jeremy and I spent that weekend up in Las Vegas hanging out with Antwon. We got to see the team he helps coach play (and win!). We got to hang out with the rest of the coaches after the game, we went and saw a couple movies, ate yummy food, and had a good time just hanging out with Twon!
We really got the ball rolling with the adoption process as we now knew that the birth parents of an unborn baby in the Philippines were willing to allow us to try to adopt their baby.
We had our first meeting with our Social Worker that is conducting our Home Study. I spent most of October and November gathering information she needs and Jeremy and I ran around getting things done like our physical exams by our doctor, fingerprinting for a background clearance from the Sheriff, etc.
We had Jeremy's 10 year reunion up in Globe and we had a BLAST both nights (football game Friday and dinner Saturday).
We spent Halloween Eve with our friends at their Pumpkin Carving Party. It was the first year we've been able to make it and it was GREAT! We had a fun time and our pumpkin turned out cute!
We spent Halloween with Jeremy's family, trick-or-treating around Mindi's neighborhood in Gilbert. Andrew got TONS of candy! This was the first year he just wanted to keep going and going! It was fun! The costume theme this year seemed to be Star Wars!
November:
We spent November continuing gathering information for the Home Study and completing 12 hours of online courses on parenting.
I went to the midnight showing of New Moon (Twilight saga) with friends! We saw the movie on a huge screen at the CineCapri in Tempe. We were also able to watch Twilight before New Moon, so that was cool! Especially for my friend that hadn't seen Twilight yet!
We got word on November 18th that the baby girl was born and the mother wanted to know what we wanted to name her. We chose Elizabeth Lynn (aka Lizzy). We were excited she was born because we were leaving in 2 days with Jeremy's dad and Candy to visit them in the Philippines!
We had a great time on our 9 day trip in the Philippines! The flight there was 16 hours and the flight back was 12 hours. We spent 4 days in Barobo with Candy's family and Lizzy. We spent the last 3 days in Manila and got to see Jeremy's grandma and uncle and a lot of Danny's family. We can't wait to go back and take Andrew! Hopefully soon!
Andrew stayed with Kristi most of the time, but spent a couple days with my parents. He missed us terribly, as did we miss him! It was very hard on us all!
December:
Andrew turned 6 years old! We had a Batman themed party for him. It was supposed to be at the park by our house, but it was raining and cold so we moved it to our house. We had a chaotic, packed house, but Andrew had a great time!
Jeremy and I had my office Christmas party at a Hangar in Falcon Field. It was cold, but we had fun with the "casino night" theme. Jeremy and I won a trip to a cabin in Flagstaff with our casino winnings, as well!
We got word from the adoption agency that the Philippines requires much more information than our Home Study agency so we began our work again of gathering more information, taking more classes, becoming CPR and First Aid certified, and scheduling a Psychological Evaluation. There is no rest for the weary!
I was pretty sick mid-December. Luckily a friend of ours had some Penicillin he had brought back from Mexico that cured me right up without me having to visit my doctor. Little did I know what my body had in store for me otherwise... That comes later.
We had a nice Christmas celebrating with my parents in the morning, then we headed out to my Grandparent's house in Sun Lakes, and then we finished off the night by swinging by Kristi and Steve's house. This year we didn't buy gifts for all of the kids. We did a Talent Show, for our gift, but we missed it because we were at my Grandparent's house. It was a bummer not buying gifts for the kids, but I was happy Andrew didn't get a lot more presents since he already received so many for his birthday and from my side of the family for Christmas!
We went to ZooLights this year. We haven't been since Andrew was 1. It was the same as I remember it and COLD! Andrew really enjoyed it though and he loves to hang out with his cousins! I would've enjoyed it more if I didn't have to get up for work the next morning, I think.
We ended 2009 at a Pajama Party with our friends in Chandler. Talk about relaxing! We just hung out, played games and ate a bunch of appetizer foods. We left there around 3:00 am!
January:
The adoption stuff continues. Since I was sick in December, it really slowed me down, but I'm getting back on track.
But wait! Hold UP! What's this?! It appears I am pregnant. My mid-January doctor's appointment confirms that, YES, I am! Hmmm, God is mysterious! I didn't see that coming! My due date is 9/9/10. I question if it was really Penicillin that I took mid-December or if our friend snuck me some fertility medicine from Mexico disguised in a Penicillin bottle... After all, we've tried 5 years to have another baby with no luck until now. =0)
We decide that we are going to continue with the adoption.
Andrew, Jeremy, and I take a trip up to Flagstaff to the cabin that we won at my company's Christmas party. There was still lots of snow and the cabin was very nice! We enjoyed ourselves, although I slept for most of it, waking up just in enough time to proclaim my hunger and I need to eat now or I'll be sick. This is how all of January and February went in regards to the pregnancy. As long as I eat often, I don't feel sick, but if I wait too long, I feel crappy/on the verge of throwing up!
February:
February was fairly uneventful. Work has been going good. We got to hear the heartbeat of the baby on the 26th. That was so nice to hear! It was 160 beats per minute. I'm remembering Andrew's being closer to 120 bpm. Girl maybe?! (Hopefully!) Jeremy thinks it's a boy, I hope it's a girl, and Andrew really wants it to be a boy. We are planning on not finding out again (Andrew was a surprise to us). I remember it was hard to not find out, but it was so awesome to be surprised!
March:
Here we are in the present. Andrew has started t-ball. This is his 2nd season, but his first in Little League (last season it was with the YMCA). His team is Kansas State Wildcats (purple and white). He is playing with his buddy, Brysen. His first game will be at the end of the month.
Jeremy and I have had our initial Psychological Evaluation appointment. We have to take 2 tests each, separately. We will be done by the end of this month.
I informed our adoption agency that I am pregnant and they said that normally they require that our biological children be 6 months in age and older in order for us to adopt, but since our situation is a little different, they are going to allow us to continue now. However, they are going to ask the Philippines what they want us to do. We should hear this week. It sounds like the worst case scenario will have us waiting until this baby is 6 months old (next March). So, we can finish up our Home Study now and we can still use it next March. Home Studies are good for a year or 18 months or so.
The weather is getting beautiful! I love March for the 75-85 degree highs and being able to get out of my winter wardrobe. The pants are getting a bit snug on me and I am looking forward to just wearing summer dresses for the duration of this pregnancy!
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