Sweetness

I love that my husband isn't afraid to show affection to our daughter (or myself). It melts my heart! Although, I am going to have to teach her how to sit like a lady!

Home

Always, no matter where we live, I refer to Missouri as home. We spent a week there visiting with family and friends after our TN vacation. It's amazing how short a week is when you have so many people you want to visit with. It was a great visit and I was able to see most everyone that I really, really wanted to see except for my Grandpa and my brother and sister in law. Another trip may be in store soon, so hopefully I will get to see them then. Friday night Miss K got to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa H for the first time ever. I was one nervous Momma! I'm so thankful that she had the opportunity to spend time with them though. Saturday, I went to my mom's quilting shop and started working on a quilt that I've been wanting to get together. While I was there Nick and Miss K went fishing with Grandpa H and our two nephews. Sunday we spent with Nick's side of the family. It was nice to see K play with her cousins. Miss K and I were able to spend one day on the beautiful river that I grew up on. We went with two of my childhood best friends and it was just a very sweet day for me. Spending time with my two of my oldest friends and letting our kids play together. Days like that make me really miss home.K was excited to see Grandpa S and wanted to go feed the cows with him. The last day there we went out to say our good bye's to his dad and then went to my Aunt and Uncle's. It was nice to see everyone again. We stopped off at my mom and dad's to say our see you later's. I always hate that part, and the older I get the harder it is. We will hopefully be seeing them soon, so that makes it a little easier.

K and her cousins!

Grandpa H and K fishing

My two childhood best friends, Pam and Kasie

Our babies!

After our visit to Missouri we high tailed it back to North Carolina. We ended our trip perfectly, well with the exception of having a flat tire on the way home :)

Vacation in TN

We had such an amazing time on our vacation. We went to Pigeon Forge, TN for a few days and did so many wonderful things! It was great to have this special time with Miss K and to make memories that she will remember. When we first got there we walked up to one of my favorite places to eat...

 The following day we walked around and shopped. While we were waiting for Daddy, Miss K and and I were busy taking pictures of ourselves!

On Monday the fun began and it was nonstop until we left! We went to Ripley's Aquarium walked around Gatlinburg and went into a gazillion attractions, went through a mirror maze and then came back to Pigeon Forge and went through a dinosaur boat ride.

At Ripley's Aquarium

Just had to get a picture of my Cooter and the Cooter's sign :)

At Ripley's Mirror Maze

Taking a break from walking.

Silly kids!

Now that's a motorcycle!

On the dinosaur boat ride!

Tuesday wasn't as jam packed but we still did plenty! That day we went to the Titanic Museum, played mini golf, took Miss K rock mining.,and then went back to the hotel to enjoy some pool time!

Titanic Museum

We tried to get a fam photo in front of the Titanic... the sun was brutal!

At Ripley's Old McDonald Mini Golf

Hi five's for my girl!!!

Waaahooo!

Miss K's fav rock... cause it has GREEN!

She takes after her Nana Smith with her love of rocks.

Wednesday was a full day too! We went to a petting zoo, Miss K went on a pony ride, went to Forbidden Caverns, and we enjoyed golf so much decided to go play a couple more games :) What a perfect way to spend my birthday!!!!

I just loved these little guys!

Mini Vacay

Nick and I took a nice, much needed mini vacay this weekend. We left Friday afternoon after my follow up appointment and arrived at our destination that evening, just in time for dinner! Saturday, we got up and drove to Rocky Mount, NC to enjoy the Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center. The museum was pretty neat, and Miss K loved it! Afterwards, I asked Miss K what her favorite part of the museum was and she said, "Mom the upstairs (hands on activities) was so cool, but you know what's even better? Being at home with you and Daddy."

Miss K, the astronaut.

After the museum, we decided to drive back to the hotel and get in some pool time. It was perfect too, well as long as you were in the water! It was over 100 degrees, so it was a bit toasty out of the pool.

We decided to surprise Miss K by taking her to see the movie Brave. She really enjoyed it and was SO GOOD during the movie! The last one we had taken her to (Tangled) she was bored about half way through and wanted to walk around and change seats, so we were a bit nervous about this one.

Sunday we got up and hit the pool for a bit and then packed up and headed home. We are now recuperating from this weekend! It was so great to be away from home for a couple days, but I'm kinda glad we are home!

Back To It

I took quite a break from couponing. The main reason was because we were so stocked up on items and ran out of room, but I also got tired of doing it! Regardless, I should continue because we really do save quite a bit of money, and I always get so excited about getting good deals :) This was my last shopping trip (yesterday). I normally don't use Pantene products, but I really couldn't pass them up this time. Plus, they had a kind I had never seen before, supposedly much better for your hair, free from dyes, parabens, and silicone. We will see!

 I bought:

2 - 12.6 oz Pantene Aqua Shampoo

2 - 12.6 Pantene Aqua Conditioner

3 - 4.4 oz Crest with Scope

1 - 4.6 oz Kid's Crest

7 - 9 oz Dawn dish liquid

Total before coupons and ECB bucks (CVS cash) was $49.78

Total amount I paid: $13.66

and I also received a $10 gas card.

Not bad if I say so myself! 

Eighteen Months

Wow, 18 months ago (plus 1 day, but whose counting?!) we went "live" with IAC.  For "longer than average" waiting family IAC offers different services.

At the one year mark, if you recall, we had the option of going on the LMHL (last minute hospital list). We decided not to at the time and told ourselves that we would re-evaluate come the 18 month mark, (not really thinking we would STILL be waiting :) ) Anyhow, here we are, and as of this moment we are still opting out of that. I would like to say it is mostly all the same reasons (not impulse people) but that's not completely true. Another reason, that we have discussed is how difficult it would be for us to drop everything and go. Nick's work is pretty flexible, as is mine, so that's a non issue. What would arise though, is finding a sitter for Miss K at the drop of a hat. Which, when I think about it, probably wouldn't be that difficult, because our close friends live next door, but it would make us feel awful leaving her like that. We really want her to be involved as much as possible, but her 4 year old attention span is fairly short :) With a little planning (a couple months) I think we would be able to figure out better arrangements for her, and prepare her a little better.

At 18 months you have the option of letting your letter and website go under what is called "Task Force Review". I personally think that sounds a little scary, but I'm sure it's not! The task force,  which includes several letter experts throughout the agency would review our letter and website and make recommendations of what to change, add, etc.

IAC will automatically purchase Google Ads, specifically to our family, at 18 months. 

They also offer what is called the "Top 50 List." IAC keeps a list of the “Top 50” longest waiting families. This list is always changing because as people match, they come off the list, and new people are added to the bottom of the list. There is no set time frame for a family to become eligible for this list. Right now, we aren't close to this list. We are about 80 down, but with a lot of faith and prayers we are hoping to adopt before we would reach the Top 50. :)  

IAC also offers their statistics freely, which I love! 

Average (mean) wait time: 14.8 months
Median wait time: 12 months

50% of families have a placement within 12 months
70% of families have a placement within 18 months
81% of families have a placement within 24 months
90% of families have a placement within 29 months

We didn't make the 70%, but that means our baby just wasn't ready yet! 

Feelin' Fabulous!

I have to admit, after surgery I'm feeling quite good! WAY better than I thought I would. Nick and Miss K have been so incredible. I just don't know what I would do without them! She has been so sweet, caring and my biggest cheerleader! Every day, I've been able to do a little more and she says, "Yay, Momma you just did it! Good job!" I had my post op appointment Friday and received the go ahead on doing some arm exercises (Yeah!). Nick returned to work yesterday, and I think everything caught up with me. I was exhausted! I'm so thankful that Miss K thought it was a good idea for it to be a movie day yesterday, because I just didn't have the energy for much else! Today I went for a walk with my friend while Miss K rode her bike. I was glad just to get out of the house for a bit! I'm ready for the bandages to come off, they seem to be rubbing me the wrong way or getting twisted, but still needed as there as still some seepage going on. A LOT of the swelling has gone down, and I'm liking the results! Nick on the other hand is still adjusting. I'm just so glad to be pain free (as in the prior pain!) and to be able to do activities I wasn't able to before!