Overdue

Well, this week will mark our 40th week since our paperwork was complete and we were added to the waitlist for our adoption from Taiwan. So, I guess you could say we will soon be past our “due” date so to speak. The problem is we don’t know if we’ll be days, weeks or even months “overdue”. The good news, however, is that we found out last night that we’re now #1 on the list! That means we’re next! Can't wait to finally find out who God has picked out to be part of our family. Then the final waiting period can begin.

Shocked!

I had a shocking conversation with Maya as I was putting her to bed last night. There obviously was a little more to it than this, but here are the good parts.
Maya: I kissed a boy at school today.
Me: What?!?!
Maya: I kissed a boy at school today.
Me: On the lips??
Maya: Yes. (Giggle, Giggle.....)
Me: Why?
Maya: I want to marry him.
Me: What's he look like?
Maya: Well, . . . he had on this REALLY cool Spiderman shirt.
A few questions later:
Maya: I don't think he's going to wear it to the wedding though.
Me and Maya: LOL!!!!!!
Yikes! I think we may have our hands full with this one in the coming years.

First Day

In Maya's own words her first day of Kindergarten was "Awesome"! She woke up yesterday to a rainbow in the sky to start out the day. It hadn't rained where we were, but there was a beautiful rainbow outside. I went in late to work so I could take her to school on her first day. I was in the other room and she came in all dressed and ready to go. Usually I am dressing her while she's still half asleep. We had an hour or so to kill before we had to go, so we played Clifford Uno, her favorite thing to do lately. When we got to school we were early so we went to the playground for a little while before the bell rang and everyone dashed for the doors. The teachers lined them up and walked them into their room. She was so excited! Around lunch time I got an email from her teacher saying that Maya was having a great day and that she is a joy to have in class. That was so nice and reassuring. I had a meeting in the afternoon so Maya took the bus home and stayed at the neighbor's house until Jeff got home. I asked the neighbor to text me to let me know she made it home okay. School was out at 2:15 and at 2:45 I hadn't heard anything. I waited and waited and waited. Finally at 3:00 I called and she had made it home okay, but the neighbor had forgotten to call me. I knew she was probably okay, but you never know for sure. When we had a chance to talk she said that her favorite parts of the day were recess and riding the bus. She really enjoyed her day and was excited to go back today!

Kindergarten!

We have a Kindergartener! Yes, Maya is starting Kindergarten tomorrow. A couple of weeks ago we went out to buy her school supplies. I expected something like a Hello Kitty notebook and folder, but when we got to the store she saw a notebook that she just had to have. . . . . Justin Beiber! I don’t know how she even knows who he is, but apparently she does. I tried to change her mind by showing her the Hello Kitty ones, but it was to no avail. I was successful on the choice of folder however, so we ended up with a Justin Beiber notebook and a cute kitten folder. Last night was “Back to School Night”, where we got to go in and meet her teacher, see the classroom and take in all of her school supplies. Her teacher, Ms. Ferguson, seemed really nice. I thought I was fine with the whole Kindergarten thing, thinking it wouldn’t really be that much different than sending her to daycare every day. Then I read the poem that the teacher gave us:

The First Day

I gave you a little wink and smile

As you entered my room today.

For I know how hard it is to leave

And know your child must stay.

You've been with her for five years now

And have been a loving guide,

But now, alas, the time has come

To leave her at my side.

Just know that as you drive away

And tears down your cheeks may flow

I'll love her as I would my own

And help her learn and grow.

So please put your mind at ease

And cry those tears no more

For I will love her and take her in

When you leave her at my door.

Okay, that made my eyes tear up a little. So, this morning I dropped Maya off at Kool Kids Child Care for the last time. She has been there since I went back to work after we brought her back from China nearly 5 years ago. We made a little thank you card and flower for the two teachers she has had for the last two years, Ms. Deb and Ms. Becki. She gave Ms. Becki hers this morning and as they talked the tears started forming in my eyes again. I guess this might be harder than I thought. Maya is super excited though. She keeps saying she can’t believe she’s starting Kindergarten tomorrow! I bet she won't sleep much tonight.

Update - We Are Now:

Adoption Update #3

I know, I know what about update #2 you might ask. Well, as you know we got our first update the first part of February and after one month on the wait list we had already moved up 2 places from #9 to #7. Then update #2 came the first part of March and we hadn't moved at all. We didn't get an update in April, because the Taiwan case manager was in Taiwan and then on vacation. So I finally got our update call the first week of May and I was shocked to find out we are now #3! I had heard different things through the grapevine over the last month or so that made me think we were #5, but I was really surprised to learn that we were already at #3. So, I went home after work and told Jeff that I had gotten the call from Kate. I asked him and Maya to guess what number we were on the wait list. Jeff guessed that we had moved backwards somehow and were now at #9 again?? Then Maya thought about it a little and said #3. I said, "You're right!". Jeff was shocked and excited just like I was. Maya was excited too, although I'm not sure if it was excitement about being #3 or about guessing the right answer! Anyway, this means we have moved up 6 spaces in 4 months time. Let's just pray that this type of progress continues!

Adoption Update #1

Since we are now on the waiting list we were told that we will be getting monthly phone calls from our agency to see how we’re doing and to update us on our place on the list. Since we have been on the list for one month now, I was expecting to get our first update call any day. However, my expectations were not very high. I was fully expecting to hear that we were still #9 on the list. Yesterday Maya’s daycare was closed due to the blizzard we were having, so I was at home with her when Kate from AGCI called with our first update. She informed me that there were two placements last month and we are now #7 on the list! Wow, was I surprised. Maya was the only one there to tell, so I told her, but I didn’t really think she cared or knew what I was really talking about. I decided that when Jeff got home I would ask him if he was expecting us to move up or still be #9 before I told him the news, because I’m pretty sure he thought we would still be #9 as well. So when he got home I told him that Kate had called with our update, but before I could say anything else, Maya blurted out “We’re #7!” Jeff looked at me in surprise and I shook my head yes. I guess Maya did know what I was talking about after all. I’m sure we can’t expect this kind of progress every month, but it was good to start off on a high note. For some reason #7 sounds so much better than #9. It is finally starting to feel real!