Tomorrow my husband and I will drive almost two hours to have an in office visit that our home study agency requires. Initially, we were annoyed that we had to do this. This visit is in addition to our actual home visit, and this is the same home study agency that we used for Ella’s adoption, so it seemed ridiculous that we had to be jumping through all these hoops all over again. Then we learned that it’s a state requirement for us to have a certain number of hours with our home study agency for them to complete our home study update. So we really have no choice, and it’s not such... more

One year ago our plane touched down at JFK airport in New York and we were finally on our own turf again. After a quick and easy process at the airport, Ella became a United States Citizen and we were unbelievably about to return to our home as a trio. It was a bit of a shock to return home to the states after spending so much time in Viet Nam. In Hanoi we got tons of attention and Ella was constantly admired and cooed at. In New York, no one gave us a second look. We had quickly become used to the Vietnamese hospitality and the stark contrast was startling to our jet lagged, sleep deprived... more

This time last year we were in a complete whirlwind unlike any my family and I had ever experienced. While moping in our hotel room in Hanoi we received word that Ella’s visa had been issued and we were free to go home! Our scheduled flight to the US was for the next day, but we were so desperate to get home that we went a little crazy to make it happen.

Two of our agency staff members and my husband jumped on their respective phones in different rooms of the hotel and scrambled to try and get our plane tickets switched so we could get on the next flight... more

Well, Miss Ella got her first real taste of Halloween on Tuesday! Our town holds trick or treat on the day before Halloween due to a huge local Halloween parade on Halloween night. Throughout the day I tried to teach her how to say “trick or treat,” and got a few “twick tweet”s in return, but of course she had no idea why we were going to people’s houses and they were giving her sweets :)

We went to three neighbors houses and she actually carried her little pumpkin and everyone was so happy to see her; she was absolutely the cutest little cheerleader ever! At one house she tried... more

Don’t laugh at me…I brought Ella’s Halloween costume to Viet Nam with us last year. There was a possibility of us being home by Halloween, so I spent some glorious time ogling the baby costumes and choosing the perfect little lion costume for the little miss. Of course I didn’t know her size, so chose what I thought would be best. I bought it, took it home and dreamed of the little girl that would be THE cutest little lion on the East Coast that Halloween!

Then our travel date didn’t come as early as we had expected, and we were in sweltering, lovely Hanoi on Halloween.... more

I cut my hair! It has been way too long and I have been way too lazy for a really long time. Since Ella’s come home my hair washing and styling priorities have gone out the window. Who am I kidding…I am about the most low maintenance person ever, so the fact that I spend even less time on myself now is not such a good thing.

Two months ago my grandma surprised me with a gift card to my salon for my birthday. It’s taken that long to decide what to do and finally get excited about cutting my hair off. I’ve been looking at styles online and in magazines like a crazy person. Then... more

We’ve been sufficiently slacking on the home study front. I honestly thought the second time around would be easier, and in some regards it is, but when it comes to our home study update it is most definitely not. Even though we completed Ella’s adoption just a year ago, we are required by our home study agency to re-complete many of the same forms that we did not too long ago. I understand that we need to be fingerprinted again, our financial status may have changed, we need updated police reports and a few other things that don’t bother me in the least. Frankly, I’m annoyed by the fact that... more

Ingredients: 2 large bowls 1 spoon An entire cabinet’s worth of various sized tupperware containers Warm water Dish soap All the towels that you can find within reach

Step 1: Lay out all ingredients on kitchen floor and add one crabby, whiny, inconsolable toddler.

Step 2: Step back to avoid being splashed.

Step 3: After said toddler has completely soaked her pajamas, the towels and the kitchen floor, transfer the now (for the moment) calm toddler... more

There are so many names for such a special day: Family Day, Adoption Day, Gotcha Day, Forever Family Day, and I’m sure there are many more that I’m just not thinking of right now. Regardless of what you may call it in your family, the anniversary of the day that you adopted your child is an important, personal holiday.

As you may know, we celebrated our first Family Day yesterday and what a lovely day it was. It was nice to make a little fuss over the fact that we officially became a family a year ago to the date. We had a special dinner and a gift for Ella, but mostly, it was just nice to reflect and spend some quality time together.

There are many things that your family... more

It’s our first Family Day! One year ago today we met our curious, shocked, trusting and adorable little daughter for the first time. Adopting Ella started us on the most amazing journey and that journey all began that hot and sticky day in Bac Giang, Viet Nam.

We were the only family adopting from her province at the time, so things were pretty calm. When we arrived, her nannies had wet her gorgeous thick head of hair down to try and calm the spikiness. When it started to dry and stick up again, we assured them that we liked it like that and one... more