February Update on Micah

Tonight we received an update on how Micah is doing at the orphanage in Africa. Our agency sent us three pictures! Last month we just got one so three is so great! He is growing so big! He looks like our son but definitely has changed quite a bit! The best part is his full head of hair - I love it! He has tiny curls on the top of his head and his hair is fine, rather than coarse. He looks like a miniature man - LOL I did see a few fat rolls - so momma is pleased :) I just hope he doesn't grow out of all the clothes I have hung up in his closet too soon - I'll just have to change him multiple times a day for the first month so he can sport all the cute outfits.

Of measurements I cannot post details, but he has gained 1.5 pounds in the last month which is GREAT! He is no longer on American formula though since our orphanage ran out of teh donated American formula and has to use Ethiopian formula. We are taking formula donations to the orphanage where he is staying so let us know if you would like to contribute. Hopefully he will continue to gain weight until Momma arrives with Similac and loving arms.

The nannies commented on his personality saying:
he smiles a lot and only cries when he is hungry or has a dirty diaper

His disposition in ALL our photos is content and happy. He seems at peace with the world.

The nurse also said that he can lift his head up when place on his tummy (which I saw in a photo - soooo cute!) and that he is trying to roll over - watch out world! He has a spirited demeanor and looks like he can't wait until he can move and discover the world!

It's hard to explain how it feels to see his picture after a month of no pictures. It is an odd feeling to describe how I look at his photos from the past two months as if he still looks that way and get a photo today of him a month older - obviously thriving very well and growing up into a big 5 month old! He blew me away - he is the cutest baby, our son!

A little over 2 weeks away until our court date - and approximately 4 weeks until our "tentative" travel (traveling IF we pass court - meaning all the paperwork needs to be to the judge's liking with all signatures in place and in order)

Micah, baby, we're coming! We love you!!

Getting ready!

Happy Valentine's Day

Roscoe and Julia: drank a LOT of coffee together before "officially" dating :) - first official date - February 2004

Cloth diapers

Many have gasped when I mention that we are going to use cloth diapers. Many remember the prefolds, leaks, pins, leaks, covers, and blowouts. Let me tell you that cloth diapers have greatly evolved over the years. These are the diapers we will use. They are one size and all-in-one, meaning that there is no outer cover and no stuffing involved. You put them on just like a disposable! It's great! These one-size adjust to fit a baby 7-35 pounds as well.



So why are we doing this? To be honest, I'm not a crazy environmentalist - I do recycle, use reusable shopping bags (when I remember to take them out of the trunk and into the store), and like the fact that Micah's diapers won't be filling up the already overloaded landfills, but I'm not passionate about saving the environment like some may be. I really just want to save money. I love a great bargain. This to me is a no-brainer. So... let's do the math.

oh and do you see how cute these diapers are?!?

18 cloth diapers from Cotton Babies = ~$400.00 (+/- 1.00 to 2.00)
36 flannel wipes from Cotton Babies = $35.85
2 Diaper pail liners = $14.00
TOTAL = $449.85 (plus the cost of laundry)

Disposable diapers(Pampers on sale) 8-10 per day = $47.00/month (9 diapers per day)
$47.00/month X 12 months/year =$564/year
Disposable wipes = $5.00/month (2 tubs per month?) = $60.00/year
TOTAL for two years of disposable use (assuming we have Micah potty trained by 3 years old) = $1368.00

Savings of $918.15

I love to save money! That's almost half of our homestudy for our next adoption :)

Baby Shower

A week ago, my friends and coworkers from Ohio State, held a baby shower for us. Here are some pics! Thanks everyone - it was a great time! I love you all :)

This week...

So this week three families with our agency are picking up their children! Check out their blogs as they will update from Ethiopia. Our baby is at the TH where their children are!

Blackwells
Joners
Whitakers (no blog)

Also this past week, 3 of 4 families passed court on the first try! You can check out their beautiful children: Renos, Chans, and Blacks (in my blog list to the right)

Ethiopia Court uncertainties

So today and this past week, 6 families with our agency were seen in Ethiopia court. I have talked to some about court and the possibility of not passing. Many have said - "oh no that won't happen, how can that happen?" - I have to put my guard up when I hear this because I know it CAN. God knows when these children will come home but Roscoe and I will PLEAD that Micah can come home at the earliest and we pass court the 13th of March.

The Blackwell Family are now
"official" parents of Rahel Scout - she is a doll!
Two other families also passed this week. (do not have their blogs)

I had posted earlier about a miracle that was needed for two famlies, the Kulps and Semlows. Please continue to keep them in your prayers for they are more than weary.

Another family today did not pass court because the judge wanted more paperwork done due to some recent event. Each case is so individual and the court really is putting the child first to ensure a scenario in which the child indeed is eligible for adoption. It is still so hard for adopting families, even though we all know this.

So why do I post this? To reiterate to others that it is NOT just a formality to pass court - we need everything to be in place and ALL the bases covered. So far in 2009, we are about (I say about as these are families I know about from online chat group) 6 out of 11 (with our agency) in passing court (55% pass rate). This is why our travel dates are tentative and not set in stone. Please pray with us as plead with God for this. Our court date is so far away (March 13th) but who cares - we're praying now and until then anyway :)

On another note: Five families have court next week - we will be praying for them as well!