Monday, July 21, 2008

Summer pictures

Bet you expected to see some outdoor summer pictures - Hello! This is Arizona and there is 60% humidity - we are INSIDE baby!

Leo and daddy busted out the train set we got from Miss Elizabeth from Alex's work. It is way cool! Leo played with it for over an hour! I see an engineer in our future! He is deep in thought about how this all works......he even helped daddy build the track!














We've been having such a fun week! We went to the Chinese Cultural Center for lunch today - Leo ate 3, yes 3 gai bau's all by himself. Those are the big stuffed buns you get at Dim Sum - yeah, 3! Then he had soup an egg roll and rice too!


Leo makes alot of soup, pie, ice cream and other favorites - utilizing all of mommy's pans and spoons on a regular basis.....

This is another of Leo's favorite pretend games. He is a whiz at putting shapes in where they go. But this time, he carefully selected shapes to fill with Cheerios. Then we had to clink shapes, say "Cheers" and carefully eat the Cheerios one by one. Everything has it's place, as you can see. He is very orderly!



Update on Leo's swimming lessons: (I promise to post pictures, I always forget the camera!) Leo finished his group swim lessons, and mommy and daddy decided to get him private lessons. His teacher, Miss Erin (who is AMAZING! If you are in Phoenix, her website is laveenswimlessons.com) says Leo is a natural swimmer with a lot of potential. Even though he's only 2, he is back floating and kicking with his feet and arms. She said she thinks she can get him swimming! So......he is doing really well! He looks so cute and ridiculous at the same time in his goggles and flippers!

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Timeline


January 8, 2007 Attend Adoption 101 Information Session in Mesa, AZ
January 22, 2006 - Apply for preapproval from our agencyand Taiwan
January 23, 2007 - Application for USCIS (I-600A) form submitted
January 28, 2007 - 1st Homestudy meeting
January 28, 2007 - Sign adoption contract with our agency
January 29, 2007 - Approved to adopt from Taiwan
February 1, 2007 - Clearance from state of Arizona
February 6, 2007- Maricopa application to adopt is filed
February 13, 2007 - Clearance from state of Michigan, Medical clearances, and Fingerprint invitation arrive from USCIS
February 24, 2007 - Fingerprinted for USCIS
March 11, 2007- Homestudy Complete and Court Certification from Maricopa County received
April 28, 2007 - Homestudy is translated into Mandarin
July 1, 2007 - Finally receive 171-H in the mail
July 6, 2007 - Get new case manager
July 22, 2007 - Sign adendum to contract
August 8, 2007 - Our lucky day! Referral for Lin Kai-Yi, born 6-3-06
August 8, 2007 - accept referral
August 13, 2007 - Sign Child Referral Agreement
August 23, 2007 - Paperwork arrives in Tucson
August 24, 2007 - Paperwork arrives to us
August 26, 2007 - Documents notorized (How many adults does it take to use a stamp?)
August 28, 2007 - Documents certified by AZ Sec. of State
August 29, 2007 Documents sent to TECO to be authenticated
September 4, 2007 - Documents arrive in Tucson from TECO
September 6, 2007 - Documents sent to Taiwan! YEAH!
September 10, 2007 - Update day! We receive 4 pics and a video!
October 2, 2007 - Receive word from TWCA that our hearing date is October 9, 2007 (this happened extreamly fast!)
October 9, 2007 - Keep your fingers crossed for a quick 1st ruling (even better yet, keep your fingers crossed for a final ruling!)
October 11, 2007 - October updates are here!
October 19, 2007 - Receive more pictures and videos from Ray's visit to Taiwan!
November 5, 2007 - November updates are here!
December 2, 2007 - December updates are here! Can't believe there has been no news all month!
December 13, 2007 - FINALLY! Word of our First Ruling! Yippeee! It happened on Dec. 13th in Taiwan (yesterday here)
January 4, 2008 - January updates
February 4, 2008 - February updates
February 28, 2008 - Leaving for Taipei!!!
February 29, 2008 - Arrive in Taipei!
March 4, 2008 - Gotcha Day! Can you even believe it!?!?!?
March 5, 2008 - FINAL RULING FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY! (by the way, our paperwork says the final ruling was issued December 24th!)
March 6, 2008 - First AIT appointment
March 7, 2008 - VISA DAY!
March 10, 2008 - Leave for home!
March 10, 2008 - Arrive home with our boy!!!!!!!!!!!
July 5, 2008 - Find out about Wil's arrival!
March 10, 2009 - Wil Shan-Yi Shaffer is born at 3:38 am 8 lbs. 4 oz. 20 inches long