Waiting and a birthday boy!

We have finished up our home study and are just waiting for our social worker to write up the report and send it to us.  This could take weeks to months, it just depends on how fast the social worker is and how quickly she gets it done.   Obviously, we would prefer weeks, especially with the time frame we are on.  When we got PA for Zachary we were given a 6 month deadline to get all of our paperwork in to China.  This is a very tight deadline and allows for no mistakes or setbacks.  We got our home study visits done smoothly, so I hope that trend continues.  If you would like to pray specifically, please pray that our home study report would be written up in a timely manner and that we would get through the immigration process with ease.  After immigration we can get ready to send our dossier (documents) to China- hopefully that can all be accomplished by our June/July deadline.  Immigration is taking 2-4 months alone, so it could be close.  Thankfully, God's timing is perfect so we trust that our dossier will get to China when it is supposed to!

While we have been waiting we have been busy celebrating Asher's 4th birthday.  He had a fireman themed party and has really enjoyed all the festivities this year.  When we first talked about adopting Zachary, Asher was very upset that he would not be at his 4th birthday party, waiting another year just doesn't make sense to a four year old.  On the way to preschool the other day, Asher said that he wished Zachary could be at his party, but that maybe we could keep the decorations up all year so that Zachary could see them when he gets home, haha.  We decided to take pictures to show him instead :)  I hope Zachary is home by Asher's 5th birthday!

 Zachary is 3 but will be close to turning 4 when we travel to China to get him...sometimes that is just crazy to think about.  Here I am celebrating my sweet Asher's 4th birthday.  It feels like just moments ago Asher was born, but also that we have already created a lifetime of memories together.  I know everything about him.  I know what he likes, how to get him to smile, his first boo boo, the super tickle-y spot under his arm.  I can't imagine not having these first four years.

And yet that is exactly what it will be like with Zachary.  We will have missed his first four years and have no idea who is he and what makes him tick.  It seems so strange sometimes, and makes me overwhelmed with sadness when I think of him spending 4 years, the entirety of Asher's life up to this point, in an orphanage without a family.  We will have a lot to catch up on and I look forward to making every moment count!

Every year is a gift and we're so thankful for the four we've gotten to spend with our first son.  We love Asher to pieces, to the moon and back, more than all the starts in the sky, more than all the galaxies in the universe!!  Here is a birthday Q&A from Asher to help fill the waiting time :)

Q: How old are you?

A: Four

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: Blue

Q: What is your favorite toy?

A: My trike and yeah my fire truck.

Q: What is your favorite stuffed animal?

A: Mamfy (his woolly mammoth)

Q: What is your favorite thing to sleep with?

A: Mamfy and I think with my quilt.

Q: What is your favorite cereal?

A: Chex or all of the cereals.

Q: What is your favorite thing to eat?

A: Mac and Cheese

Q: What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

A: cream cheese 

Q: What is your favorite dessert?

A: ummmm... ice cream!

Q: What is your favorite animal?

A: Elephants, I like to see them at the zoo.

Q: What is your favorite book?

A: Umm, I like all of them.  And my Thomas book.

Q: What book is your favorite to read at night?

A: My Jesus Bible.

Q: What is your favorite song?

A: Jesus loves the little children.

Q: Do you have any other favorite songs?

A: Boys will be kings! (Kings and Queens by Audio Adrenaline)

Q: What is your favorite game?

A: Hiiiide and seeeeek.  And  Thomas on my leap pad.

Q: What is your favorite TV show?

A: My favorite show to watch is FIREMAN SAM

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A:  Fireman Sam.  (we haven't really watched any full length movies I don't think).

Q: What is your favorite thing to do outside?

A: Swing and to teeter totter and everything!

Q: Who is your best friend?

A: Marissa at preschool. Laurel and Mommy and Daddy at home.

Q: Where is your favorite place to go?

A:  To Target.

Q: What makes you happy?

A: When Mommy gives me lots of hugs.

Q: What makes you sad?

A: When Laurel gets fussy.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy and Daddy?

A:  Um, play.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do with Laurel?

A: Play fireman with her and baby dolls.

Q: What do you think about adopting Zachary?

A: That will be fun, he'll play with me when he knows us. 

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A:  A fireman, yes!

Q: Anything else you want to tell me now that you're 4.

A: Nothing else I want to relax (LOL!)