CCAA updates, lookin' gray, spoons

Well, it seems we are getting closer to baby sis. As of my check on the CCAA website yesterday it looks like they are done matching through 10/13 LIDs (if I am remembering the date correctly. Remember I am an 11/30 LID so I'm thinking I have approx 90 days left. Definitely getting closer, definitely gettting nervous. I read the date and thought "I'M NOT READY!!!!" Which is unbelievable considering I've had almost 15 months to prepare!!! What am I thinking? The agency is still thinking us 11/30 lids will get referrals (pic and med report) sometime in May with China travel in June/July. I can't help but wonder where she will be from, how old she will be etc.

I did re-submit my immigration paperwork last week - that $hurt, but had to be done, my fingerprints were already expired and my clearance expires in May (before I would be traveling) so it was inevitable that I update this - it just stinks that there is no leeway on this for adoptive parents as far as cost goes - If I didn't have a full time job I know what I would be lobbying and advocating for - this system for international adoption in the States stinks to put it nicely.

I was sitting at my computer one night in my office and Chloe was playing around on the floor making noise so I dug out a box of pictures to occupy her so I could check my work email:

She pulled out a very small baby picture:
C: Who's this mommy?
K: That's you when you were a baby!
C: It is? (looking puzzled)
K: yep, that was the first time I saw you (it was one of the referral pics I received).
C: What happened to my hair?
K: They nannies at the orphanage shaved it off so they could take better care of you.
C: EWWWWWWWW

She pulled out another picture of me at about 18 months I think (hate to admit but it was a black & white portrait).
C: Is this me too Mommy?
K: Nope, that is a picture of me when I was a baby.
C: [analyzing the picture with a puzzled look on her face and asked very seriously] - Were you GRAY when you were little???? :-)


I was going through her backpack last night looking for book money that she said she hadn't turned in to her teacher and I found about 15 plastic spoons.

K: Where did all those spoons come from in your back pack
C: [wide eyed but silent]
K: Did you steal spoons from school
C: [shaking her head yes]
K: Why are you stealing spoons?
C: .....Because I wanted to put pens on them [our HyVee tapes long plastic spoons to their pens at the register I think so that people will notice that they aren't theirs instead of sticking them in their purses and inadvertantly stealing them - at least that is all I could think of]
K: Well maybe you should go into the principals office tomorrow and give the spoons back and tell him you are sorry.
C: [shakes her head NO] - Mommy I can't give them back because they have my germs on THEM!

Grounghog says Spring is on it's way.....Come ON!!!!