his parents

We had Noah's birth certificate done today. With our names down as his parents.

=)

We took this for granted with the older two, but we are savoring it this time round.

Because of the paperwork needed for the birth certificate, we had to sort through a whole bunch of papers that we have for Noah. We knew we had this, but we paused again when we saw his birth mother's signature giving up her rights to him.

We had to pause because today my name took the place of her name on Noah's new birth certificate.

It made me wonder (again!) about the questions that Noah will have when he is older - who his birth mother was, and why she gave him up. Such tough questions that we don't have answers to, as much as I want to be able to help him understand.

I think of all that I want him to know even before these questions arise in his mind: that we love him, he is as much our child as his older siblings, that God is good, God's plans are perfect. Perhaps above all, this: our adoption of him was so directed by God.

chinese new year

The kids had a chinese new year party in school.

This is Emma peering at me from her classroom

Both kids had a performance each, but E needed a bit of help with hers. Once she got up in front of everyone with her friends, she was struck with stage fright, and did not want to do anything. Kor-kor had to step in and help her with the actions.


In their new year finery.

Sunday

growing up

Today, this is how I know the kids are growing up...

1. After the kids came back from school, they both wanted to draw, so they got out their own pencils and paper. A couple of minutes later, J came over to show me his paper and he had written the Chinese character for tooth on it!!! I thought that was pretty amazing.

2. With their new chopsticks, designed specially for children, both J and E managed to pick up small pieces of char siew and pop them into their mouths! I'm pretty sure I didn't manage to use chopsticks until I was much older!

Sunday

J asked me one day, quite out of the blue, "Mommy, what is that song we sing in church? You step out on the water?"

Confusion.

But with the help of the worship leader in the family, we finally figured it out.

ponytails

My baby is all grown up.

happy dance

Our lawyers called yesterday. Our adoption order has been pre-approved. Ahead of our court date this Friday.

So even though we still have to wait a bit, for our lawyers to get the paperwork and to make a date to get Noah's birth certificate, WE ARE DONE.

=)

Sunday

Is there any sweeter sound than hearing your kids singing,
all God's children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns!

heartbeat

Noah's court hearing is in a week's time - 9 Jan. If all goes well, he will be legally ours then and we can apply for a birth certificate for him, with our names on it as his parents. We have been told that everything should go smoothly; our lawyers aren't anticipating problems. Still, I think I'll still heave a sigh of relief when it is all done.

Even though he already feels like part of our family. He seems to have attached to us well.

Sometimes when I carry him, he'll rest his head on me. I imagine he can hear my heartbeat. And I wonder if he can tell that it's a different heartbeat, different from one that he listened to for nine months.

the things my firstborn says

I am so CONFUSED, Dad!
As K slows down almost to a stop at a red light, and then picks up speed again because light changes to green.

I am covered all over with fleas!!
After we explain that fleas make cats and dogs itch. (It's a daily battle with eczema since moving back home.)

Emma, that was a big fart!
When they're in separate cubicles in a public restroom. And it wasn't even her!