Latest IRS form for adoption tax credit

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=235825,00.html

Thought this would be helpful to some of you out there. Have fun gathering all the documents!

With his family 6 months

Yesterday we went to story time at the library. When Calvin first came home, he couldn't sit and look at a book for more than 30 sec. He couldn't watch tv for more than 2 minutes. He walked around the house, closing doors, and going from one activity to another.  I was a bit hesitant to take him to story time, but we have been talking about sending him to preschool next fall. I told him he had to sit crisscross applesauce, listen to the teacher reading the stories and obey. He chose to sit in my lap on the floor, and honestly, he was the best behaved child there. He loved the music time and using the shakers. The story theme was zoo, so I think he understood most of the books. I did notice how he was developmentally behind when we did a craft afterwards. The kids were coloring and cutting themselves. Calvin need my assistance.
He has come so far. I would say language and attachment still need work, but his behavior, and attention span have come so far.  He is doing puzzles now with no crying, he asks to do homework (which is his shapes, colors and finger exercises). He gets a skittle if he gets all his colors and shapes correct so he is motivated.
I am looking forward to his 1 year anniversary to see how much further he will have gone and accomplished.

Swimming lessons and other lessons

This past Saturday was Calvin's first time taking swimming lessons. He got to see the girls go to theirs on Wednesday night, and he said he was excited.  Chris went with him and said he loved it. He blew bubbles in the water,  chased a rubber ducky and let Chris hold his hands to jump in the water. He can't wait to go again. I am so glad it was a good experience because it could have gone either way. He was very scared when we first took him to the swimming pool this summer.
Calvin is playing at longer stretches finally. He will play with playdough and it will actually last longer than 2 minutes. Not 30 min but it is progress. He has also been going to church with us, and over all does well sitting in his chair, or on the floor, reading his books and eating a snack.
I do feel one day is a step forward and the next is a step back though with him, in relation to attachment. He will do great with us at home, but when we go to friends or church he just seems to have no boundaries. I know this will come with time and age. He will talk to complete strangers, touch them and want to interact with them. My friend said I love you to her son, and Calvin responded, 'lub you' to her. It is difficult teaching your child to be polite and respond to strangers when they say hello and not just talking to a stranger in a restaurant or play area. We say don't talk to strangers but then be polite if they talk to you!
Learning: Calvin asks to do homework, because we do this in the afternoons with the girls. So this week at home we worked on his shapes. He knows circle, triangle, diamond and square. He is also learning the colors black, brown and white. He already knows red, green, blue, yellow and orange. I think he is very smart. He still needs to work on his sentences though. He chooses to say just key words to get his point across. This morning was so funny, he saw the moon and said, ' moon broken'. I looked up andhe was right, it wasn't a full moon but half a moon. He is so funny. We love him so much, and praise God for this precious gift.

Another adjustment for Calvin

This morning I was in the shower, so I put Calvin in his crib to read books, listen to music and play with some toys. As I am getting out of the shower, I hear feet land on the floor and run towards the bathroom. Little man comes running in with a big grin on his face. I asked him if he climbed out his crib and he got a guilty look on his face, I told him to give me 5 and what a big boy he is. But I told him he can't do that anymore or he will fall and hurt his head ( I am thinking bleeding while on his blood thinners). Well after talking to hubby we decided we should nip this in the b..t before we do find him bleeding on the floor. So we put up the side railings on his big boy bed (full size bed). He was all excited at bed time, we took photo's of him on his big boy bed, the girls climbed on the bed with him, we read a book together and sang a song. Then it was time to say goodnight. He asked me to sleep with him, so I said 'a little bit'. I lay there for 45 min and he wasn't asleep, so I kissed him and told him I had to go. He seemed alright about it, he is sleeping with his Mickey Mouse.  Curious to see if he stays in bed through the night and nap tomorrow. Maybe I will nap with him!
My little boy is getting big.

Calvin's first Xmas with us

First xmas present, mickey mouse

Bowling the day after Xmas

Calvin loves firemen and trucks, he was happy with his dress up

Matching pj's Christmas evening