We are Bill, Paula, and Will Cook. We are embarking on one of our grandest adventures ever - adopting a new baby from Vietnam. We are journaling about all of our family's experiences during this time!
Great pictures. I can't believe how much Will has grown! He looks so mature. David looks so happy and settled. (DoriGrace still can't figure out grass and she comes "unglued" when she comes in contact with it!) You're way ahead of us!
Hi Paula, I'm glad I checked your blog...I do so periodically to see if there are any updates. I was wondering how everything was going and, of course, was hoping to see more photos. The boys are just adorable. And, yes, how fast the time flies by on this side of things. Dylan will be 10 months old on the 23rd...and while it's hard to believe that nearly 3 months have passed, it seems that we've had him for longer. I've been a picture-taking freak, but with our dial-up internet service, I can hardly bear to sit and load photos to our blog. I haven't posted since July! I SO need to get on and post something. :) Dylan is growing; he too has gained 3 pounds (now weighing 13 pounds) and has grown one inch (now 25 inches long). He's just starting in Carter's 6 months clothes. He has quite the head of hair. I'm considering a haircut soon. :) He's a happy boy, but watch out if Momma sets him down and tries to go to the bathroom, get dinner ready, or do something else. He has instant tears and sounds so distressed. As soon as I lift him from the floor or his swing, he's all better...the tears shut off and out comes his "motorboat" spitting noise and big smile. He's going on all fours, but still no movement, and he will now bear weight on his legs if we stand him up. So, he's making progress. I'll be excited to see pictures from David's first birthday. I've already been thinking about Dylan's. I plan to have him dedicated at church that same weekend (so our friends and family can see it all in one trip). I did monkeys for Ryleigh's first birthday because she was born in the year of the monkey. So, keeping with that trend, I'm considering pigs for Dylan. Pigs just don't seem as endearing as monkeys, though. Ha! :) We think of you guys often.
Paula! So great to see you blogging and loving the pictures of your absolutely GORGEOUS sons. You are one lucky mama!
So sorry about David's skin. I know all too well how frustrating that is. My now 10 year old suffers from it from time to time still but it's nowhere near what it was like when he was an infant. His eczema was head to toe and he was one big scab from scratching! NOTHING would take away the incessant itching he experienced. We finally found one miracle oil through a dermatologist called DermaSmoothe FS. No pediatrician or family doctor had ever heard of it so they would have to look it up to see the dosage to prescribe - so I have to tell people about it so they can research it themselves. It is amazing though and the only thing I have found that works. Email me if you need to!!!!
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Many of you non-bloggers have asked how to contact us. You may e-mail us at billpaulaandwill@gmail.com at any time! We will be able to receive e-mail while in Vietnam, although we may not check it daily - we'll just be too busy having the trip of a lifetime! :)
Our Thanks Bank
My loving husband
The Infinite, Undescribable Grace of God
William Samuel Cook
Old Hymns sung with hearts that mean every word they are singing
Men who went to Vietnam 40 years ago (Thanks especially, Uncle Earl & Bob)
Two Sets of Parents who pray for us and our children every day
Laying in the grass looking up at the entire Milky Way
A beautiful sunset
The smell of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies
Bing Cherries in the Summer
Fireworks, Hot Dogs, Baseball, and Hugging my son on the Fourth of July! (Next year I'll be hugging two sons - so much blessing!)
Four--no wait! That's FIVE now--sweet little ones finding families in one week!
No! No! That's NINE (I think) families that have new sweet little ones this week! Wow, is God great or what!!!
The first Giving & Receiving Ceremony at a brand new orphanage in An Giang, Vietnam!
School Supplies from Up Above (and so many caring hearts to help get them to Vietnam)
The blessings of a great job, a great boss, and great co-workers
A heart that keeps beating, lungs that keep breathing, and legs that keep walking!
Air-Conditioning when it's 102 degrees outside!
A New Niece and Nephew!
The paperwork part is done! :)
Four-year-old Soccer
Halloween Fun!
First trip to Disneyworld! Watch out Mickey - here we come! :)
SNOW! No, not real "no school, grab your sled" Colorado kinda stuff, but still! A few flakes make it feel like Christmastime!
A NEW SON!!!!!!!!!
10,000 Blessings as we are near the end of the process! Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gifts!
Our Adoption Timeline
7/3/08 - Arrive in OKC from Hanoi/Tokyo/DFW at 1:00 p.m.
7/2/08 - Leave Vietnam to return home!
6/26/08 - David turns 9 months old!
6/24/08 - Received David's Visa from the U.S. Embassy
6/19/08 - Giving and Receiving Ceremony Date, where David became officially ours forever!
6/17/08 - Met David for the first time!
6/6/08 - Arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam
6/4/08 - Left Oklahoma City! We'll miss you, Will!
5/30/08 - Received Official USCIS I-600 pre-approval for David's visa! :)
5/1/08 - Request #1 for more USCIS documents
4/23/08 - E-mail confirmation received from USCIS that I-600 is submitted
4/18/08 - Notice that we are at Step 11 of 14!
4/17/08 - All Paperwork Submitted to USCIS for I-600 Approval
4/8/08 - David's Weight: 5.7 kg = 12.5 lb
3/26/08 - David turns 6 months old! Can't wait to see you, Little One!
3/24/08 - Notice that we're moving to Step 7! Moving is Good! :)
2/27/08 - Notice that we're officially on Steps 2-6 of 12! Our paperwork is moving!
2/14/08 - David's Weight: 5.4 kg = 11.8 lb; Height: 63 cm = 25 in
1/26/08 - Acceptance papers returned & I-600 submitted
1/17/08 - Referral of our son David!
10/31/07 - Log In Date!
10/9/07 - Dossier Sent to Vietnam
10/1/07 - Dossier Back from Consulate - Officially on the Waiting List!
9/15/07 - Received I-171H
8/14/07 - Fingerprints for I-171H
7/3/07 - Dossier Mailed to Dillon (complete except for I-171H)
6/28/07 - Homestudy Completion
6/9/07 - Second Homestudy Appointment
5/19/07 - First Homestudy Appointment
5/7/07 - Pre-filing I-600A with Immigration
5/2/07 - Formal Application Approved
4/23/07 - Formal Application Submitted
3/17/07 - Decided on Vietnam Program
2/17/07 - Pre-Adoption Workshop
1/28/07 - Preliminary Application
5/1/08 - Request #1 for more USCIS documents
4/23/08 - E-mail confirmation received from USCIS that I-600 is submitted
4/18/08 - Notice that we are at Step 11 of 14!
4/17/08 - All Paperwork Submitted to USCIS for I-600 Approval
Other Adoption Blogs
Below are some of the blogs we visit of other adopting families. Caution: surfing here can be addictive! :)
13 comments:
Well, Hello Stranger!!
Great pictures. I can't believe how much Will has grown! He looks so mature. David looks so happy and settled. (DoriGrace still can't figure out grass and she comes "unglued" when she comes in contact with it!) You're way ahead of us!
Hi Paula,
I'm glad I checked your blog...I do so periodically to see if there are any updates. I was wondering how everything was going and, of course, was hoping to see more photos. The boys are just adorable. And, yes, how fast the time flies by on this side of things. Dylan will be 10 months old on the 23rd...and while it's hard to believe that nearly 3 months have passed, it seems that we've had him for longer. I've been a picture-taking freak, but with our dial-up internet service, I can hardly bear to sit and load photos to our blog. I haven't posted since July! I SO need to get on and post something. :) Dylan is growing; he too has gained 3 pounds (now weighing 13 pounds) and has grown one inch (now 25 inches long). He's just starting in Carter's 6 months clothes. He has quite the head of hair. I'm considering a haircut soon. :) He's a happy boy, but watch out if Momma sets him down and tries to go to the bathroom, get dinner ready, or do something else. He has instant tears and sounds so distressed. As soon as I lift him from the floor or his swing, he's all better...the tears shut off and out comes his "motorboat" spitting noise and big smile. He's going on all fours, but still no movement, and he will now bear weight on his legs if we stand him up. So, he's making progress. I'll be excited to see pictures from David's first birthday. I've already been thinking about Dylan's. I plan to have him dedicated at church that same weekend (so our friends and family can see it all in one trip). I did monkeys for Ryleigh's first birthday because she was born in the year of the monkey. So, keeping with that trend, I'm considering pigs for Dylan. Pigs just don't seem as endearing as monkeys, though. Ha! :) We think of you guys often.
Enjoy your boys!
Heather Bergmann (fellow Vinh Long Mommy)
Paula! So great to see you blogging and loving the pictures of your absolutely GORGEOUS sons. You are one lucky mama!
So sorry about David's skin. I know all too well how frustrating that is. My now 10 year old suffers from it from time to time still but it's nowhere near what it was like when he was an infant. His eczema was head to toe and he was one big scab from scratching! NOTHING would take away the incessant itching he experienced. We finally found one miracle oil through a dermatologist called DermaSmoothe FS. No pediatrician or family doctor had ever heard of it so they would have to look it up to see the dosage to prescribe - so I have to tell people about it so they can research it themselves. It is amazing though and the only thing I have found that works. Email me if you need to!!!!
Happy Birthday paula!!
Happy Birthday Paula!!!
You've been home with that cute little one for 3 months now! Your blogging community will be demanding new cute pics!!! LOL!
Heather M.
Home 3 months with Caleigh
It's been a long time since you have posted. Hope everyone is doing well.
thought felaalrl cookieswe photostatic genet irvine journalistic himachal techno goals frustrations
lolikneri havaqatsu
Post a Comment