Here We Grow Again!

It's a BOY!!

And his name is ASHER.


Either you're probably thinking "Well, it's about time they adopted a brother for Ian!" or "Oh my gosh! They're adopting AGAIN?? Seven children? They are crazy!!"

Well, we'll take either. Yes, we're adopting again. And yes, we know we're crazy. But we do know that we have more love to give, and enough room in our hearts and home for one more child. Sure people will look at us like we're crazy, and the house may never ever be clean or organized.. but if we save one little boy and give him a home, family and opportunities to succeed in life.. then it's worth it.

Ian is completely nuts. He has been asking for a brother since we brought Esther home in March, and now that he's going to have a male companion.. he's jumping from the rooftops!

We can't share too much information about Asher until we receive approval from the Chinese government. But what we can say is that he will be turning seven next week and lives in an orphanage in Northern China in Liaoning Province. He was a waiting child and his file was due back to China on December 5th. This would have likely been his last shot at a family and who knows what would have happened to him if we hadn't realized he was ours. Our little boy. We knew he was out there somewhere.. it just took awhile for us to realize he was ours.

The name Asher is Hebrew for "Happy." When we first saw his pictures, we saw an outgoing, obstinent and stubborn looking little boy. In Emma & Esther's mug shot photos they both looked so sad. But in Asher's, he has a big smile on his face, almost as if saying "I'm here..and I need someone to love me." The pictures are about two years old, but he is absolutely adorable. Hopefully we'll be getting some updated pictures in the next few weeks.

Now that we've realized he's ours, the paperchase begins! AGAIN! But, at least we have something to do while we wait. This morning, after calling the agency to tell them he was ours, we called our social worker to get our homestudy update going. Filled out the I600A and plan on sending that to INS sometime this week. Ordered birth certificates for Mom.. and waiting to hear about their marraige license. That's all we can do for now until we get more instructions from the agency.

We're all so excited. A new brother for our family, and a new beginning for a seven year old little boy in China! Hopefully.. he'll be home by next summer!