Favorite Things

So we really haven't purchased many clothes for Mason simply because we've been blessed by the wonderful donations of our sweet friends with clothes for him which have gone above and beyond in completely meeting so many of our needs. :) So in the excitement of beginning to think of him coming home (I actually looked at David the other morning and said, "Just think! In 2 months he could be here!!!") we decided it would be fun to get him a few things. They've already become some of my favorite things and I can't wait to see him in them! :)

3 teeny tiny pairs of "underwears" - that's what the girls call them. lol! :) I have no idea if he is potty trained or not - so I'm only gonna bring 3 pairs and some pull-ups too. The dino shirt has matching shorts with stars on them. Reminded me of Hayden - he loved the song "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and also of Hollyn who loves the show Dinosaur Train. And the robot PJ's were so cute and colorful and well, they just happened to match the little backpack we bought him. Fun!

Friends gave us a great idea to fill up a little backpack for him with small toys, coloring book, and treats for the airplane rides and hotel room. Found this cute one for him! Can't wait to pack it! :)

LOVE it! It's a little big - I actually wished for it to shrink up in the dryer - lol! I don't think I've every wished that in my life! ha! But, he is so small - I think it might be next summer before this one will fit.

PJ's! Cozy and scrumptiously soft - can't wait to cuddle him in them. :) Two little short outfits - small sizes just in case he is even smaller than we thought. A little shirt for this fall/winter - in Ch*n@ one of the first words they teach children is "Red". Red is a "lucky" color in Ch*n@ and many families decorate their homes with it. In fact, on the medical progress report we've received at referral for both of our children that is one of the milestone check boxes for toddlers... "Recognizes color red." lol!  Plus - it just looks so fun!

So the hat cracks me up! Reminds me so much of my Grandpa Morris - really been missing him a lot lately. and then the shoes...hee. Well, how CUTE are those shoes! :)

All of this cuteness caused another happy moment of "this is really happening!" that occurred last night as I cut off the tags and began to wash everything, drying them, and then folding those little clothes and socks made me smile. :) It's been a long, long while since I've folded little boy clothes. God certainly knew my heart needed lots of time to heal before bringing to us a new son, and now instead of tears over what will never be - there are smiles for what is to come! Just wanted to share, some of the little things that are making my heart smile as we wait for George Mason to come home.

Baby Lullaby Ballet Recital

We ended ballet this year with a wonderful gala performance called "Baby Lullaby". Her class danced to the song Baby Mine from the classic Disney movie Dumbo. Each of the girls brought their own elephant to dance with and of course she chose her special stuffed elephant that she has had since she was a baby called "Winks". We were amazed at her passion and sparkle on the stage. As soon as the curtains went up and the lights went on, she was all smiles and full of life! The song her class performed was one of the more difficult as it has many more steps to memorize, but they all shined and especially our girl! She followed her teacher and did exactly what she was supposed to do so effortlessly. What a beauty she is! We are so blessed to see our children doing what God created them to do and excelling in ways we could never imagine. She was surely made for this!

A little nervous before going backstage...she is shy and slightly distracted before the performance.

The opening number with all the little girls from all the classes - ages 2 to 5.

She was center stage and beautiful!

Imagine the joy of  a hundred little ones twirling and dancing together...well, all except the few who chose to sit this one out. lol! ;)

So precious...

Such sparkle!

Perfectly Purple! Every dance class had their own special dress design, but all were precious in purple!

Her class - Baby Mine

Love her little pointed toe - so elegant

Intently following her teacher's steps

Dancing for her baby elephant - I love you this much!

More of that shine!

Grand finale showstopper - "Like a bright star, I am awesome! Like a mountain I am strong! Like a river, I can go places in this amazing world. Like a bright star, I am awesome. Like a mountain, I am a strong. I've a place here with my friends and helpers in this amazing world is where I belong."

A flower for our little star! :)

Papaw & Mamaw - posing with her biggest fans! :)

3 Seconds

As we get closer and closer to travel, the kiddos have become over the top excited to have "Curious George" come home. It is precious to hear my little sweethearts as they say bedtime prayers for their little brother to be safe, and loved, and to come home very soon. To hear AJ and the girls plan out who will sit where at the family dinner table and in the van to hear them "argue" about who gets to hold him first. I can't wait to see them embrace their brother and welcome him into our family! I think I've said it before, but it bears repeating, he is going to be smothered with mothers! lol! :)

The morning that Fed-Ex dropped of the LOA package, the girls and I were on the look-out so we could take some photos of the big moment. Unfortunately, the Fed-Ex driver was less than excited to be apart of celebrating our adoption. Sadly, it was not meant to be. The girls realized for the first time that not everyone shares our joys and how sad it is when we don't embrace the gift of everyday moments. Maybe I'm weird for having wanted to document the moment, but for those who have not adopted - maybe this will put into perspective what this delivery is to us.

You know that moment in the Dr.'s office where you find out for the very first time that you are truly expecting, and then the moment when you first hear your child's beating heart, and of course the miracle it is to see your child being created - moving and alive on the ultrasound - wrap all of those moments together and realize that an adopted mother has none of them to celebrate and none of them to document in baby books for their child to pour over as a tween when they are searching for answers and wanting so much to know they have always been loved and wanted. For me, photos of what the world thinks are mundane moments like delivering mail - those are my opportunities to capture for my children that have been adopted the excitement and JOY of knowing we were anticipating and longingly waiting for them to come home.

So many good things come from giving up just a little of ourselves, just a little of our time- taking 3 seconds to pose for a photo op alongside two of the most adorable little girls in the world for a mommy that wants nothing more than to capture the moment that the messenger delivered the GREATEST NEWS while handing over the package that says "YES" he is yours! Sadly, those 3 seconds are not recorded and will never be. And yet - I have these photos and maybe that is what is most important - two little sweethearts that are beyond excited and waiting with great expectations to hold their little brother "Curious George".

Stitches of Love

Thank you to everyone who has committed to be a part of Mason's keepsake quilt! We would like to have all the fabrics before we travel, so as not to exclude anyone who wanted to participate - we're extending the deadline for sending us a "fat quarter" of fabric along with your note/photo/verse/poem/prayer for Mason. I'd like to send everything to my niece by August 10th. Hope that gives us all a little more time. ;)

I can't wait to see all the wonderful fabrics and am so blessed to know that when they are all put together to form his quilt - they will be held together by more than just stitches, but by the great love you have shown our family and our son!

Here are some of the adorable fabrics he has been given so far! :)

What I love the best is knowing they represent each one of you who we dearly love! Thank you so much! I know they were chosen from your heart and there are so many stories that we can tell him just by pointing to your fabric. :)

Immigration Process

Two steps closer! 

1) We've been approved by the USCIS for immigration of George Mason to the United States. This means that when we arrive home at the airport and our feet touch US soil that Mason is automatically classified as a citizen of the United States. :)

2) The USCIS forwarded our approved petition to the NVC (National Visa Center) and they've processed our petition and forwarded it to the US Embassy in Guangzhou.

Three more steps to go...

1) Now we are waiting for the Embassy to process the petition for his US Visa which takes 2 weeks. AAC said their representative in Ch*n@ will be picking up the completed paperwork on July 4th (YaY!) and then mailing it to the C C A A in Beijing.

2) Once it has been filed with the C C A A in Beijing - we wait for them to issue our Travel Approval (TA). This wait time varies - anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. We are praying that our TA is issued prior to August 1st (this is the deadline for families wishing to avoid the new rules for additional post-placement visits).  Also, we our praying that God will move mountains and allow us to embrace our son before his 2nd birthday on July 30th! It is in His hands and His timing is always perfect, but oh how our hearts long to hold Mason before he turns two. :)

3) Upon arrival of our TA - we wait for our agency to schedule our appointment with the Consulate (Embassy) - this is the swearing in ceremony where we officially receive Mason's US Visa. It is the last step that we complete in Ch*n@ and our travel dates are scheduled backward from that appointment date. So once we have our CA (consulate appointment), we can plan our trip, purchase airline tickets, and GO BRING MASON HOME!

Foundation of Love

For those of you who have so kindly inquired as to how you may support our adoption financially, first let me say, that David and I are deeply moved and humbled by your loving generosity and so blessed by your support as you feel called to help our family in whatever way He leads, and secondly, we are so thankful for those of you who are praying day and night so fervently for our family and for Mason as we embark on this journey to bring him home.


The Christian Foundation has graciously offered to receive donations on behalf of our family for our adoption travel costs and this will allow each donation to be tax deductible. Donations should include on a separate note:

"This donation is for the Watt Family Adoption" 

and donations may be mailed to the following address:

Christian Foundation
8445 Keystone Crossing Blvd., Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN  46240

Thanks be to God! For His indescribable gift!

We feel incredibly loved by the Christian Foundation as they bless us through this endeavor of accepting donations from others on our behalf. We are also over-joyed at the outpouring of gifts and offerings that the Body of Christ has provided already through donations of adorable clothes, a tricycle, beautiful changing table, winter coats, shoes, a stroller, a gift card, and monetary gifts for related travel expenses. Each time there is a need - God meets it far and above what we thought was even possible.This has been a journey of faith. Trusting Him for every provision. The Body of Christ is so beautifully amazing and we are so very blessed to be called children of God and lavished by His love through yours. Thank you doesn't seem like a big enough sentiment to convey the huge feeling of overflowing joy in our hearts - we cry tears of happiness each time God answers our prayers through the kindness of His children.

Blessed! So blessed! Knowing He will make a way, even when there seems to be no way. Thank you dear family and friends for loving on us so well! May He richly reward you for all you have given in His name!

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! ~ 2 Corinthians 9:12-15

Memorial Day

Today for Memorial Day, we decided to take the kids to see their Uncle Spencer at the fire station. When we first arrived, the truck was gone on a run to the scene of an accident. It had been a full day of runs already and it was only the afternoon. It made us thankful for the men and women who serve our community daily and are available at a moments notice to help us when we have an emergency.  We brought them some chocolate chip cookies to say "thank you" for helping and thank you for being there for us. When Uncle Spencer came back, he was more than excited to take the kids on a tour of the fire station. They were more than excited too!

My little brother - the fireman. So VERY PROUD of him!

Jr. Firefighters in training. :)

Learning all about the hoses and how they hook them up to the truck and the fire hydrants. I had no idea the truck carries water on it to help fight the fire while they are hooking up the hoses to the hydrants. Spencer told us it is like small swimming pool is being carried around on the truck - that idea stuck with the girls - and they talked about it all night. "Fire trucks have swimming pools on them." lol! He made it fun for them by asking them what color of hose it was and where did they think it hooked on too. Everything is color coded so it was easy for them to "help" him figure out where to put them.

Learning about how the firefighters ride in the truck. They always have to wear their seat belts and they have head sets so they can hear each other over the sirens. He also showed them the high-tech stuff like the viewer they have to see through smoke and fires to locate people who may be trapped.

He looks so grown up! :) I remember his very first visit to a fire station when he was in Preschool...

oh my, how the time does fly!

The levers and pressure dials on the top of the truck where the driver stands to operate all the hoses.

 

Also, color coded.

The big "squirt gun" as Spencer called it. :) On the top of the truck.

VROOM! She's ready to go! The steering wheel is HUGE.

The smaller "squirt guns" at the front of the truck. Used to put out car fires.

Explaining how the water shoots out.

Showing them the computer program that allows them to see all the hydrants in the area.

My brother's gear. They leave it setting out like this so they can jump into within 50 seconds and be on the way to the emergency. It is heavy and very hot - especially in the summer.

hee...so funny!

the workout room in the fire-station...

How nice is my brother!!!

He put on his gear for this photo even though it was like 92 degrees outside.

love him! :)

What a fun and educational day! Thank you Spencer!