PA, DTC, LID, LOA, TA ;)

So many acronyms!  The adoption world is filled with so many letters and stages that it would make your head spin.  Since our last update we have successfully completed our first batch of paperwork and it was sent off to China (DTC).  And so began our journey of waiting.....I have never been so happy to have a smart phone in my life!  I checked my email obsessively and finally we got the email almost 2 weeks later that we had been logged in.  This means that China has started reviewing and translating out entire home study. Typically this takes a month and half to two months.  Once they have finished reviewing and translating they will issue the Letter of Approval (LOA).  This is pretty much our approval from China that they see us fit to adopt Tucker and then they begin setting up appointments for when we travel to China.  So again we are back to waiting...this time for a phone call!  

August is going to be a very emotional month for us.  Not only will we be waiting for this LOA but Kyla starts Kindergarten!!!!!!!!  My first born, the one who made me a momma, who called me mommy first is going to be spending most of her wakeful hours  during the week with someone else.  And I may just start crying while I write this but I know she will LOVE it.  She has been obsessing over school supplies, her backpack and lunch box all summer.  We check the school website daily because she just can't wait to get all these things for school.....reminds me a lot of....well....me!  I still have to walk quickly by all of the back to school aisles and I have not taught school in 5 years!  

So if you see me in public and I am a puddle, no worries...just crying over some pretty big things going on in our family!  

In other news, we just finished our last trip of the summer.  We spent a few days at the beach while Bob had work.  We missed him during the day but we had a great time in the afternoon when he could join us.  I'm pretty sure Kyla could live at the beach, Cooper did better this year about getting in the ocean, and Avery kept chasing the birds saying "touch it?" Next summer is going to be even more fun with one more to join the party! Here are a few of my favorite pics...