Adoption Update

We have definitely had an exciting 5 months with Jackson! He has brought SOOOOO much JOY to our life! We thank God for such an amazing BLESSING! However, we still have a piece missing from our family..from our hearts...we long to bring home Jackson's Kazak baby brother or sister!

We were hoping to have new information to report in regard to our Kazakhstan adoption but unfortunately that is not the case. As of right now, Kazakhstan adoption is suspended awaiting Hague Convention status. This was slated to occur in March 2011 at the earliest. We are hoping that a positive report will still surface later.

With the agreements that are taking place between Kazakhstan and the United States, the adoption relationship should be stronger than ever when it re-opens.We know that this is a good thing for the adoption program. Regulation and more accountability always bring strength and trust into any relationship. International adoption with all of its fees, paperwork and intercountry communication requires the regulation in order to stay above board. However, this does not make it easy for us. Our hearts long to complete our family...to hold this sweet baby...to watch he/she interact with Jackson. For now we are'Holding to Jesus'; we know that in His PERFECT timing we will complete the journey to Kazakhstan...to adopt...to unite our family!

The following is a press release from The Department of State

"According to the Government of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education (MoE), all pending adoption dossiers that were not matched with children by December 15, 2010, will be returned and will have to be re-filed as Hague Convention cases once the Hague Convention is fully implemented. The Department of State will continue to monitor the developments in Kazakhstan and seek the confirmation of the Government of Kazakhstan when the new Hague Convention adoption process is in place. U.S. prospective adoptive parents whose dossiers are returned may refer to the description of the Hague Convention intercountry adoption process (the Form I-800A/I-800 process)."

This means that almost ALL of our completed paperwork will have to be redone. This will take lots of work, time, and more money. We know that this was ALL a part of His plan! We ask that you continue to pray for our family as we follow Him along this journey!

5 months

Jackson reached his 5 month Birthday on March 14, 2011! The 4th month was certainly exciting! It's so hard to believe that it's already time for our baby boy to be sitting in his high chair eating his veggies! Jackson's personality continues to grow and he is SO curious about everything! He is also quite a HAM! It appears that he is going to have his DADDY'S personality!:)

He continues to exclusively nurse!
He has began to eat cereal with a spoon!
2/19 1st walk to the pond! (Jackson, Daddy, Mommy, Beau, & Bella!)
2/21 finished his 1st bowl of cereal!
2/24 Family Night watching Fox & The Hound! (He loved it!)
2/28 Rolled over!
3/7 Mamaw put Jackson down for bed while Mommy and Daddy went to Johnny's for dinner with friends! This was a BIG Milestone for MOMMY!
3/13 Enjoyed hanging out with cousin Will, Aunt Julie and Uncle Bob!

He loves playing with his horse Trigger!
VEGGIE TALES is his favorite!!! This makes me smile:)
LOVES Bible story time with Daddy!
Music
Favorite story books- "I Will Always Love You" and "How Noah Knew What To Do"

4 months!

Mommy's little Valentine celebrated his 4 month Birthday on February 14th! WOW...where did the past 4 months go?! We have had SOOOO much fun with him! This was def the BEST Valentine's EVER! We had so much fun celebrating with Jackson. He was thrilled to give his VERY 1st Valentine to Miss Sydney Canterbury!:) Sydney was born on Feb 8th so Jackson thought it was only fitting to give her a Valentine! He gave her a onesie with a Valentine seal that said "Be Mine" and had her name monogrammed! Of course, he could not forget his sweet Ms Alverne who takes care of him at daycare! He helped mommy bake her some yummy goodies; cake balls, strawberry/cream cheese cuppy cakes, and brownie dipped oreos!!:) We celebrated as a family at home. Daddy grilled steaks while mommy and Jackson napped on the couch! We ended the night with a visit and goodies from Mamaw and Papaw!


1/28 Played with his Babies 1st Baseball
Cuddles with his Lovey
LOOVES to play with his feet!
1/30 Holds and turns on his Baby Einstein
Exclusively nurses
Likes to giggle
very nosey!:)
Demands Mommy's cell phone! Oh! My!
LOVES music
Likes story time
plays with Beau!


Praise Jesus he has not been sick!! A few scares but NO fever and NO meds! Just a healthy baby boy!