He tried to tell me 3 times.....

I thought it was about time I posted pictures of Aiden's room.  It's all ready for him. But,  I have to confess something though.  It's been completely  finished for over a year now.  And, Aiden won't be the first baby that's slept in that bed this year (still crossing my fingers A is going to be here this year!)  The bed and chest of drawers were Taylor's, our 9 year old daughter,  when she was a baby.  I tried to sell them about 5 years ago, but they didn't sell, so I decided to keep them.  Now I know why! (God's sign #1)  :)

So last year at this time, I'd heard that Taylor's second grade teacher had a baby and she was looking for a baby sitter.  I'm not sure what possessed me, at that time,  to message her, but I know now. (God's sign #2)   I sent her a Facebook message and asked if she'd found a sitter for when she returned to teaching, and she replied that she had not.  So I offered to babysit her little boy when she returned to work, which was  Jan of this year.  We didn't know each other very well, but she'd had Taylor in her second grade class, so I was hoping Tay's class room etiquette would speak for itself --> and it did (whew!).  That's my girl!

So, Jan of this year I was babysitting her then 5 month old little boy.  I'd never babysat before....never!  In looking back now,  I guess I  was worried on how my skills were in taking care of a baby.  Like I said, Tay was 9 and it had been a while!  I was really nervous at first, but he was such a good baby, it wasn't hard to get use to him at all. And he seemed to get use to me pretty quick too.  I kept him during the day while his mother taught  at school for the spring term at Tay's elementary  school.  Little did I know at that time, how much he would help me in preparing for our little boy.  Thanks PT!  (God's sign #3)

Okay,  so here's the room!  Like I said it's been done for a while, but now it's ready for Aiden and so am I!

Now all we need is Aiden......I'm so glad I finally listened to him, I'm really ready now!

Happy Birthday Ethan....we miss you....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gSysgebL9g&feature=player_embedded


A video tribute to Ethan for what would have been his 10th birthday, Oct 30, 2010.
Ethan touched many lives during his 9 years on this earth and his memory and family continue to inspire us today. We know he is dancing with the angels and one day we will see him again.

It's all there.....

Okay, so we've been waiting..... for 3 years now!!  It's all in good humor though, don't let that (!!) fool you. We're getting down to the last leg of it, and I'm exhausted.  Sounds like I'm running a marathon, nope, just feel like it, maybe more mentally than physically.  The physical exhaustion will come later in trying to keep up with Aiden - something I'll welcome gladly!  And a big part of being exhausted (mentally) is my fault.  I'm a thinker....a planner....an obsessor (is that a word?) !!!  I love it when things go smoothly. And yes I'm the type of person to freak out when things don't go as planned. So I'm trying to cover all bases - (psssst )  like that's ever gonna happen!  I'm also trying to be very realistic too.

I've gotten better in my age with the didn't go as planned thing.  I'm trying to relax more about situations that more or less tense me.  I'm sure when Aiden is here, all planning  will go out the window!

I finished all my shopping for the special people in Korea I had to get gifts for.  I thought I was done last week, but still had an aching to get the doctors something else.  Then, night before last, I had a thought.  I've read/heard that Koreans like tea.  And most of the products I bought were made right here in Tennessee  -- Moon Pies,  Goo Goos, Honey bottled locally from our small town, and Apple Butter.  I searched the internet for local teas made in TN.  There was one that came up - Tennessee tea.  I thought great! Then I read on, it's a recipe:

Tennessee Tea

Scale ingredients toservings

1 partJack Daniel's® Tennessee whiskey
1 parttriple sec
1 partsweet and sour mix
2 partscola

Combine all ingredients and poor over ice in a mason jar.

Read more:Tennessee Tea recipehttp://www.drinksmixer.com/drink2318.html#ixzz13fHGXPIl




Yep you read right!  That's Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey.  Ummm.... that's not what I'm looking for, thanks! Although I've heard liquor is expensive over there, not the kind of impression I want to leave with them!   Moving on,  I searched the internet with just "teas" and this came up http://www.specialteas.com/. The site looks really neat and had all kinds of teas.  So, I ordered a couple and they're on their way now.  Yes, I am officially done.  Now,  how in the world are we going to get all this stuff to Korea?!?!?!

Mike said, " We're going to come back from Korea with an empty suitcase huh?".  So I said with a big smile, "Ummm no we're not!  That's where all the souvenirs are going!" : )  I just hope our bags won't be overweight.  Oh well,  just have to pack less clothes!  I've got it covered!

It was interesting....

I went shopping again on Friday to try and finish up getting gifts for everyone in Korea.  I think I'm about shopped out (I'm not an avid 'shopper'!) and done with gifts now....thank you! I'm not stressing this gift giving thing anymore.  I know they will appreciate all that I've gotten them, I'm just one of those obsessive-over thinker-stressing-kind of gift giver.  Got some gift bags  and tissue today, so I think I'm good with all that now.  (Whew! now I can move onto something else!)

Today was interesting, to say the least.  I went to Babies R Us to register.  My wonderful, sweet, kind, cousins are giving me a baby shower soon, so thought I'd go register today.  Went to the desk to sign up, a young girl walked up and asked if I needed some help.  I said "yes please,  I need to sign up for the baby registry."  She immediately glanced down at my 'not pregnant belly' and then turned to get the paperwork out of a drawer.  That was weird, I thought.  She said, "have a seat and we'll get you set up." She gave me the whole spill about what's involved, how to use the scanner, etc.  She was nice.  But to tell the truth the whole experience was a bit weird.


So I take the scanner and walk around looking at all the baby stuff.  So, I'm not scanning the newborn stuff,  I'm thinking, "okay, he'll be close to 12 months old.  What does a 12 month old need?"  Mike and I have a 9 year old daughter, so I've done this before, just had the big belly to go along with it.  It was fun to look at all the things there, but a little weird.....When I finished, I went back to the desk, and a different girl was at the desk.   She did the same thing, I went to hand her the scanner and she glanced at my 'not pregnant belly'.  I thought,  yeah this is weird.  

After Babies R Us,  I went to Target, love me some Target!  I went to the front desk, told the girl I needed to sign up for the baby registry and she did the exact same thing, glanced at my 'not pregnant belly'  as she turned to go get a scanner.  Okay now, I'm a little self conscience about my 'not pregnant belly'! lol   I guess it really didn't bother me, just felt weird. 

It's been a while since I've done this, so it'll take me a little while to get back into the swing of things, but I'll get there.  I'd better, there's a little boy half way around the world depending on me!  

It helps

No news this week, but that's not a big surprise.  I did call DC and talked to a very nice lady who said our P3  was sent to our agency in Korea on Oct 5th and that it would take about 4 weeks for it to get back to the US Embassy in Seoul.  Well, that's something! She said I could call back next week and check again and that she couldn't wait to see his picture!  What a nice lady!

I can't really remember what exactly the "P3"  consists of this very moment but it has 3 out of about 5-6 approvals we need.  Once I hear it has returned to the US Embassy, I'll post what they are.  This blog is helping me keep all these important things documented and straight, otherwise I'd be a big ball of mess!

Trail to Aiden Lee: Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) By the Dixie Chicks with l...

Trail to Aiden Lee: Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) By the Dixie Chicks with l...

Care package #2......

I was waiting to hear if Aiden got his care package #1.  He did go to Holt Korea for his September WBC, so I'm just going to have to assume he got it, no pictures to confirm.  Oh well,  look out Aiden,  #2 is on it's way!! I did so much better with this package at the Post Office.  Judy you'd be proud of me,  I learned so much from you the first time!  I had the form filled out before I arrived, even packed the box at home first also.  I went to the counter and voila (no picture, forgot the camera! at least I remembered every thing else!) 30 seconds later,  it's sent! Here's a photo of  the contents of the care package:    two new outfits, (these are for winter, long sleeve and long pants), a pair of socks,  Aquaphor, a camera, a bib, the sunshine toy (it plays You Are My Sunshine - cute!), another photo album that has our pictures in it for Aiden to look at, (and hopefully put two and two together when he sees us!), plus 2 boxes of Gerber rice cereal (they were marked 'Donation to Holt').

Still no word about the Emigration Permit.  :(   I know we are getting so close to the cut off.  I've mentioned this before, but I'll mention it again.  Korea only allows a certain number of children out of the country each year. Each child has to have an Emigration Permit to leave Korea.  So they count the EP's and when they get to their quota, guess what?  No more EP's are issued, so the children can't leave till next year around the first of February.  So if we do not get an EP soon, Aiden will not be home for Christmas, nor will he be home for his first birthday, January 3rd.  I would love for Aiden to be home sooner than later, but I'm almost to the point of wishing we'd just hear something.....a yes or no would suffice, thank you very much.  But haven't heard one thing about it......seriously?!?!

The Forum moms are so right in saying the last part of the wait is the hardest......uggggg!  It's the worst part of it.  But I know Aiden will be home with us soon,  we've made it this far, what's another month or two?  Ekkk  this is the hardest time to be patient!

On a brighter note, I did have some good luck today with Honey!  We live in a small town about 20 miles north of Nashville.  When Mary Leigh posted that Foster Families liked vitamins and honey,  I knew I was in it good!  There's this little store in the middle of our small town that sells local Honey.  AWESOME!  This store is about 3 miles  from our house.  Tay and I stopped by there on our way home from school and bought us some honey!   The Foster Family is getting the big one, oh yeah!  The second picture actually shows the honey comb!  I never thought I'd be so excited to buy honey!  I am so weird  now lol!

  Not sure who the lucky ones are going to be to get the small ones,  I may drop by there again and just buy more.  I. Have. Lost. It!  This adoption process has done strange things to this  mamma!  I've almost forgotten what normal is these days.  Another Forum mom said it's mommyitus.  I think I'd have to agree with her.  I'm feeling kind of nuts these days!

Monday in Seoul.....

It's Sunday evening again, but it's Monday in Seoul!   A new week has started there.  It seems now I look forward to Monday's.  OMGoodness, what has happened  to me?!  I'm so consumed by the thought of the US Embassy being 'open for business' on Monday morning this Sunday evening!  I know friends and family think I've lost my mind.  I'm getting to where I'm not focused, seem confused, can't concentrate, and dazed most of the time.  I can't hear straight, my mind races when I wake up first thing in the morning,  and it's hard to go to sleep at night.  What has happened to me?  Isn't there some kind of diagnosis that goes along with this kind of behavior?  No....I'm just an adopted parent.  Do others feel this way?  Probably.... Is it bad when you answer your own questions?  Yes.....

I'm sure nothing of what I just claimed is any different than any other adopted moms.  So why can't I snap out of it?  (at this point, I'm sure you all think I've lost it too right?)  We are so close to finding out if we're going to be bringing Aiden home this year, the quota thing again.  It's that darn Emigration Permit thing again.

If I seem lost, just turn me in the right direction I need to go and push!  I'll get there eventually!

I love this song ...(see earlier post from today)

A Forum friend suggested this song this morning.  I don't think I'd ever heard it.  Now,  I absolutely love it, so fitting!  I googled it and found this great video on youtube.  Hope you like it too!  Thanks Sherelia!   :)

Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) By the Dixie Chicks with lyrics

Babyhawk Oh snap!

No,  that title isn't a comment,  it's my new baby carrier!!!  Tay and I got home early this afternoon and it had been delivered by UPS and was sitting on our front porch. If you're curious about them, here's their website:  http://www.babyhawk.com/Shop/DesignCenter/.  I had heard about them on the Korean Forum.  I had read where lots, if not all the moms had baby carriers when they went to pick up their children.  Actually,  I think it's manditory.  I've read where it's very important for bonding and attachment, and for most children in Korea, they are carried this way.

At babyhawk.com you can pick out your own fabric and trim for it to be made from.  I've read so much about different carriers from all the moms, and this one stood out the most.    I love the colors, it is so unique.  I tried it on, but seems weird without a child in it.  There was no one here to model it for me besides Tay and she's too small for it to look right, so my kitchen chair had to do.

There were soooo many different fabrics to choose from, it was really hard to pick just one!

  This is how it's made, it's all adjustable, everywhere.  I sure hope it's as comfy as it looks!

You can wear it on the  front or on your back.  It'll fit, both Mike and me.  I sure hope Aiden likes it, it may take some getting use to, but I've heard all kids like it after they get use to it.   We'll see.....

Also received  some good news this afternoon.  I checked email and Dr. Plemmons, our IAP doctor at Vanderbilt left an email response to Aiden's Well Baby Check we received a few days ago.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Lemmons,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you with this, I’m playing catch up from vacation. The new growth points on Gim Yeong-Min all look fine. Length and weight are all still within about the 50^th percentile as well as head circumference. No changes from previous tracking on the growth chart. And the developmental milestones reported also seem to be on the right track, no significant delays noted or reported. Keep us posted as new info arrives."

Awesome news!  Nothing new to report, only that he's doing just fine.  Not to mention the new pictures,  he is just a cutie!  Now if only we could hear something about the Emigration Permit. Nope, I haven't forgotten, nor will I till I see or hear the words EP approved!  Then we can start making some plans around here! 

PICTURES!!!

Lately, it seems every time I start a blog post, my title has big letters and all the (!!!!).  Quite a bit of good news coming in huh? YEAH,  now if I can only get the best news of all -- EP!!!!  Emigration Permit is a must right now! Haven't got it yet, so these wonderful pictures will have to do - and oh yes - they're doing fine!!

He has changed so much since the last photo, oh my goodness!  I can't wait to go get him!  Love that blue jean jacket, what a cool kid he is lol!  If you're my friend on Facebook, you've seen them already I guess.  But for those who aren't on FB.....here he is - Aiden Lee,  my sweet boy who is waiting on us in Korea right now.  This makes the wait even harder, but I know we will go get him in time.....God's timing.

Well Baby Check!!!!

I've been stalking my email  for a while now, just waiting for anything.  I worked a long day today, Mike picked Tay up after work, so I could work later this afternoon.  I arrived home around 6 pm, really tired.  Mike and Tay were playing in the back yard.  So what's the first thing I do when I get into the house....checked email, of course!  There was an email from Lisa at Holt.  I held my breath and clicked!  It was a Well Baby Check from Lisa!!!  Aiden went to the Holt office  for a Dr. visit on September 30th.

According to the report,  he is 28 inches tall now and weighs 21 lbs.  Under gross motor development they have him rolling over, creeps and crawls, sits briefly, sitting balance is good, sits up alone without support, pulls to standing position, walks holding on to furniture.  Under fine motor skills, they have him reaching out for and can grasp large objects, transfers objects from hand to hand, rakes at a raisin (yep, that's what it says! lol), picks up raisin with pincer movement of forefinger and thumb.  Under personal, they have that he prefers foster mother, and responds to sound of name. And last under language, they have him saying single syllables, and imitates speech sounds.  He is assessed at the developmental age of nine months!  My baby is right on target!! Yeah Aiden! :)  

This was a great welcome home this evening!  I was so glad to get it!  I'm just so bummed that there wasn't a picture attached. :(   I posted on the Korean Forum that I finally received a WBC, but no picture with his care package.  I asked in the post how I can find out if Aiden's care package made it to Holt in Korea.  The moms answered me right away with the answers I needed - you all are awesome! They told me to track the package using the tracking number on the customs receipt (duh Leah!) So I googled USPS tracking international packages and there it was, don't you just love Google!  There on the screen was each step that package made, from White House PO on Sept 13th, to Miami, FL on Sept 17th,  arriving into Foreign Customs in Korea on Sept 20th, out of Foreign Customs 46 minutes later, then at Foreign delivery unit by 5:35 pm, then delievered to Holt by Sept 28th, 9:46 am.  Okay, so the package made it there on September 28th,  Aiden had his WBC on September 30th.

So where's a picture?  Some of the moms also answered me with this:  Most of the time pictures with care packages usually arrive a few days after the WBC does.  Ohhhhhh, okay,  so I'm .... waiting.... again.... :)

Shopping!! and the US NVC letter!!

Today I went shopping!  WHEW!!   And I did not buy one thing for myself - typical! (that was my conscience chiming in!)   I went to the Mall here with my handy itinerary of what I needed to look for.  I was looking for certain gifts to give to some very special people when we travel to Korea!   Since I'm budgeting,  I had to stop before I completely finished - it's okay,  I'll finish the next go round! (conscience again)   Here's a look at what I've got so far!

I bought two Ambercrombie shirts (on sale of course) for the Foster Girls, ages 17 and 15, and two pair each of the 'stay at home' socks - (they are soooo soft!), a map of the US, and  two lip glosses each.   I'm also going to buy them some candy.  Saw some great things at Cracker Barrel (all made in the USA, some even made in Tennessee!)  That should  finish up their gifts!

For the Foster Mother, I bought her some Centrum vitamins and found a great Clinique gift set at Macy's (also got a different  Clinique gift set  free  for buying the one!)  You know how they throw in another just for buying the one - great deal! For the Foster Father,  I also bought him some Centrum vitamins, and found two really nice ties.  I'd read that  the Foster Father was an 'office worker', hence the reason for the ties.  One is a Van Heusen tie, clearanced for around $7, and the other one was a Calvin Klein clearanced for $15!

When I was researching  what to buy for all these people, I found many suggestions on the Korean Forum - thank goodness!  Most of these items I bought were  suggested as good gifts for the Foster Family.  One thing that was mentioned was to buy things Made In The USA or from our state where  we live.  I'm also going to give out boxes of Goo Goo candies, they are made here in Nashville, Tn.   Do you see the Moon Pies in the picture?  Well, they are made in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Those will be part of the gifts I give our drivers, tour guide, Holt workers, etc. (My budget ran out, so I'll get the rest of theirs later.)   Cracker Barrel has a lot of candy items that were made in the USA and lots were even made in Tennessee!  Gotta get those girls some of our good  Tennessee candy! :-o

I know you're probably thinking,  Vitamins?!?  It was a suggestion for the Foster Parents.   I had heard that  their vitamins are really expensive in Korea.  So giving vitamins as a gift shows that you care about them and their health.  The last thing on the table in the picture is Gerber's rice cereal.  These are going to be donated to  the Holt office when we travel there.  I plan to get more, like I said my budget ran out..... This is the explanation under donations on the Korean Forum why rice cereal is  needed for Korean babies:    There are a lot of premature babies in care. These babies cannot tolerate the multigrain cereal that is available here, and single grain rice cereal is not available.  Also heard that their rice cereal is expensive in Korea.  Really?  Sounds contradictory, but  just goes to show you how different cultures can be.

So.....I still have to buy for the Doctors at the Holt office in Korea, nurses, and  the Social Worker.  I hope that's all.  If I've forgotten someone, Forum ladies, please chime in and tell me!

NOW......for some good news!  I received a letter in the mail today, dated Oct 5 2010,  from the United States Department of State, National Visa Center in New Hampshire!  The letter states that they recently received our approved Form I600 and our petition will be forwarded to the appropriate visa-issuing post where the adoption interview will take place.  This is the beginning of the end process, where there's a hand full of requirements Aiden has to have before we get our Travel Call - TC!!  All these hand full of requirements don't add up to a hill of beans unless he gets his Emigration Permit, the document that says he can leave South Korea this year (see earlier post)!!  I'm on pins and needles waiting for that!!  Till then......still waiting.....

NVC out!!

Called National Visa Center this morning, sat on hold for only 17 minutes this time!  The girl informed me we were logged out on October 4th.  I guess the weekend made for a long turn around, but no matter!  Our file is on it's way to Korea!!!  There's lots of things needed from Korea for him to come home.  Somewhere in their process, we're waiting for the Emigration Permit - very important at this point!  An Emigration Permit says Aiden can leave South Korea.  But,  Korea has a "quota" for how many adopted children can leave their country every year.  Being it's towards the end of the year, that "quota" could be getting close to FULL!  If Aiden doesn't get his Emigration Permit, he can not leave Korea this year!  : (   I am sooooooo nervous about this!  I would love for him to be home for his birthday, which is January 3rd.  So I'm on pins and needles till we hear if he's gotten it or not!  Yeah,  little stressed these days, but what else is new.  So pray, pray, pray for us!  We  want  Aiden  home  this  year!

I'm excited and starting to get nervous.  I have no idea how quickly or slowly this next hurdle will go.  It's all out of my hands and the US.  So back to the 'hurry up and wait'.... again.  

I cleaned up Aiden's room last weekend.  Got some things in order,  taking inventory,  whew!  My sweet cousins have mentioned giving me a baby shower, so maybe I should get  my invite list together.  Seems  weird not having a big belly to go along with the words "baby shower".   But I love baby showers!  Just love all the baby stuff!  : )

I've been stalking my email to see if we'd received a new picture of Aiden the last couple of days.  Nothing!  The last time I saw him was his July Well Baby Check picture at 6 months old.  He's 9 months old right now!  I sent his care package in September hoping to get a new picture soon and some other moms have gotten updated pictures in the last couple of days, so PLEASE Holt, send me something, I'm dying over here!  ((not really, just being my usual melodramatic self))  So, what's the hold up?  Is he just so healthy, they don't feel the need for a check up? Wishful thinking....   Or is it that there's so many others in line it's delayed?  Maybe....  Or some other possibility I haven't a clue of?   Probably....

So I'm asking all who read this....pray, pray, pray for us that we can go get Aiden  and bring him home soon! Hurry up paperwork, please!  (asking nicely of course, my momma taught me well!)

NVC in!!

I just sat on hold with the National Visa Center for 26 minutes!  This is a good thing! :)

After we were I600 approved - YEAH! - on September 24th, our file was then sent to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire, where our approved I600 info was  logged in.  Our official  logged in date was September 29th.   It usually takes 3-4 days, then we'll be  logged out.  And by  logged out, I mean our info will then be sent to the US Embassy in Seoul, Korea, where lots of other things will be taking place - UGGG!  Yes, there's more to be done, but the good news is, we're done on the US side!  Everything else has to come from Korea's side.  Our info has to be sent to Korea so that when all the paperwork is completed on Korea's side, the US can issue the one way travel visa for our son to come home to the US.


Wow,  that actually makes sense to me now!  I knew this blog would come in handy!  All this may sound easy to understand right  now, but when I've  read so much of what is to come, I get overwhelmed!  Thanks to the  Forum ladies  for their posts to the Korean Forum.  I could not have understood this without you! ;)