Last night we had yet another visit from another social worker, interviewing Tod and I seperately. I'll tell you this...they know just about everything there is to know about us, our childhood, our relationship, our families etc!
We have a busy weekend coming up, Tod has a wedding Friday and Sunday, and Monday we have a party to go to. I'm hoping to get out on the lake, and we will definately go to the pool! The party Monday will be the first time that a bunch of our friends will get to meet Michael. I know there will be lots of kids, food and fireworks! Oh shoot, that reminds me, Michael wanted to do sparklers last night after dinner and I forgot. There is so much to remember being a new Mom!
So currently Michael goes to a day care not far from our house, Mon-Fri. It's the same place he went for after school during the school year. But he told us that he would rather not go to the day care, next school year. So I guess I need to enroll him in the St James Elementary after school program. Also we need to register him to play fall baseball...or as he refers to it "Fall Ball". He is very excited about playing baseball again. Tod thought he should try football, but he said no, he loves baseball. And he's really good at it!
Last night we were unpacking some of his toys, and getting him settled in his room. I reminded him that if he has any toys that he no longer plays with, that we could donate them to Barium Springs Home for Children. He liked that idea!
We are also getting very excited about our upcoming beach trip. I am the crazy organizer, so I told Tod last night "I feel like I need to start packing"...we dont leave until July 9th! Tod thinks I'm insane, but I have never forgot anything!
We hope everyone has a happy and safe July 4th holiday. And remember if you are headed south this summer, we would love to see you!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Continuation
We have upgraded from a blog....to a website, so welcome to our website! This will be the place to go for all things involving the Coles family and our journey in life. Thank you to our friend Pete for getting this up and running for us! We will post pictures and updates on our adoption as we proceed. We are currently in "transition" as they call it. Which means Michael is slowing moving into our home. He stays with us for a few days, then he goes back to John and Marsha's house for a few days. We are hoping that he will be with us permanently by early July. He is such a great kid, and we have so much fun with him.
This past week, Tod got a call from his sister Kelly, saying her family is going to Topsail beach July 9, and she asked if we wanted to join them! Well of course we do...we love the beach!!! Michael is very excited to go to the beach, but also to meet his cousins, Mia, Clay and Laney. A big shout out to the Ross family for the invite! Thank you so much!!!
Last weekend we took Michael shopping. He LOVES the NY Yankee's, I think he gets that from John. So we got him a couple of Yankee paintings for his bedroom. We also got him some new shoes and clothes.
This was a cute conversation...so Miss Melanie (she works for Barium Springs) was telling Michael that when the adoption is complete,that his last name will change to ours! She also told him that he can change his middle name if he wants. So one day in the car he said to Tod "what's your middle name" Tod said Eric, so from the backseat Michael says "Michael Eric Coles"! Too cute. Tod told him that he doesn't have to take his middle name...that he could chose mine...Michael asked what my middle name is and he said "Marie" ...and Michael said "that's too girlie". Really Tod...what were you thinking?
The other day he asked if his name will change when he moves in with us, and we had to explain that he will have to wait until the adoption is complete before his name will change. We also told him that it could be awhile before the adoption is complete. I have been saying next summer...that way if it happens before that we will be pleasantly surprised.
For those of you that have met our crazy dog Zoe, you will be happy to know that she likes Michael! And she doesn't like too many people. But the first time he stayed with us, he just ignored her...and she ignored him. One of his chores is to feed Zoe, so I think that helps! Speaking of chores...I would love to hear from other parents what chores you give your children and how it works out. It has been hard right now, because he is back and forth between our house and John and Marsha's...but we have asked him to help us with things around the house...like remembering to feed Zoe, watering my tomato plants in addition to his personal chores like making his bed and picking up his room. I think we will also give him an allowance...so he has some money of his own! We're not sure how that will work yet.
This past week, Tod got a call from his sister Kelly, saying her family is going to Topsail beach July 9, and she asked if we wanted to join them! Well of course we do...we love the beach!!! Michael is very excited to go to the beach, but also to meet his cousins, Mia, Clay and Laney. A big shout out to the Ross family for the invite! Thank you so much!!!
Last weekend we took Michael shopping. He LOVES the NY Yankee's, I think he gets that from John. So we got him a couple of Yankee paintings for his bedroom. We also got him some new shoes and clothes.
This was a cute conversation...so Miss Melanie (she works for Barium Springs) was telling Michael that when the adoption is complete,that his last name will change to ours! She also told him that he can change his middle name if he wants. So one day in the car he said to Tod "what's your middle name" Tod said Eric, so from the backseat Michael says "Michael Eric Coles"! Too cute. Tod told him that he doesn't have to take his middle name...that he could chose mine...Michael asked what my middle name is and he said "Marie" ...and Michael said "that's too girlie". Really Tod...what were you thinking?
The other day he asked if his name will change when he moves in with us, and we had to explain that he will have to wait until the adoption is complete before his name will change. We also told him that it could be awhile before the adoption is complete. I have been saying next summer...that way if it happens before that we will be pleasantly surprised.
For those of you that have met our crazy dog Zoe, you will be happy to know that she likes Michael! And she doesn't like too many people. But the first time he stayed with us, he just ignored her...and she ignored him. One of his chores is to feed Zoe, so I think that helps! Speaking of chores...I would love to hear from other parents what chores you give your children and how it works out. It has been hard right now, because he is back and forth between our house and John and Marsha's...but we have asked him to help us with things around the house...like remembering to feed Zoe, watering my tomato plants in addition to his personal chores like making his bed and picking up his room. I think we will also give him an allowance...so he has some money of his own! We're not sure how that will work yet.
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Beginning...sort of
Welcome to the Coles Family blog! I have never done this before...so please bear with me. I have a feeling this first entry will be a long one. Where to start?
Tod and I decided a few years ago to look into adoption. We spent a lot of time researching the advantages/disadvantages of international and domestic adoption, along with several other options. We ended up contacting Barium Springs Home for Children in Troutman NC (a huge thanks to your good friend Nikki Bender for the suggestion) in the spring of 2010. We spent hours in classes and then we had TB tests, physicals, home inspections, CPR training, finger prints, background checks, personal interviews about our childhoods, a home inspection by the fire marshall and on and on. You would be amazed at what we have had to go through. We kept reminding ourselves...God is teaching us patience! We finally got approved in March of this year! woohoo!!! So then we wait. We discussed the fact that we were open to siblings, boy or girl, no real age specification etc.
You all know me well enough to know, that I was raised by catholic parents and I have a strong faith, and…I know that God has a plan for us all, and He knows better than we do, what we really need, and when. So we put it in His hands.
On May 2nd we received a phone call from Sara, the social worker at BSHC asking if we would be willing to keep a young boy, who is currently in foster care. His foster parents (John and Marsha) were going to the beach for a week, and they needed someone to watch Michael while they were gone. If you know me well enough, it wont surprise you that...my first comment to Tod was "crap...can we do this?". And if you know Tod well enough, you know the look he gave me, as you have probably seen it before (kinda like why did a marry a crazy woman), he shook his head and called Sara back to say yes of course we would keep Michael for a week. So on May 4 we went to meet John, Marsha and Michael at his baseball game. Michael didnt have much to say, but I'm sure it was because he was excited that they won their game!
So on Sunday May 8 (Mother's Day) John and Marsha dropped Michael off early. I made waffles and sausage for everyone! We took Michael to church, which he enjoyed, and then we went to WalMart. Because we needed some toys! Michael LOVES to play outside, so we bought a wiffle bat and ball (which he called a waffle ball...well...we had just eaten waffles!), a kickball, a football and a golf set. We played in the backyard the whole day! And then we had a low country boil (if your from the south you know what I'm talking about) with Brock and Natalie. That week we took Michael to school, baseball, did homework and played outside, every chance we got. He even got to go to 3 weddings with us that weekend! He had never been to a wedding before, but it is the family business so we took him along. And he was so well behaved! The week ended and he went back to John and Marsha's.
About a week later Marsha called to say that they wanted to go away Memorial Day weekend (to celebrate her birthday), and could we keep him again. Well now we are experts at this, so of course! So I picked him up at after school on Friday, Tod was at a wedding rehearsal, and it was raining outside. We went to the house and watched TV waiting for Tod to come home so we could go to dinner. About one hour passed and he said to me "did you know that I am out for adoption". And "out" is NOT a typo...that's what he said. I looked at him and said "oh really...well how do you feel about that?" he said "good". The next morning we woke up and he said it to me again "did you know I am out for adoption?". I said "yes I remember you mentioned that yesterday". Through the course of the weekend he said it at least once a day to Tod or I. We had another wedding saturday, and after we took him to a hibachi restaurant...which he loved! Of course...who doesnt love a good hibachi restaurant? On Sunday we drove up to the NC mountains (Blowing Rock) because our dear friends the Militello's have a house up there, and they invited us up for the night. We had so much fun with Christiaan, Jen and Lexi. Roasting marshmellows, having picnics, swimming!
So after that weekend we decided that we would like Michael to move in permanently. Michael's parents had Terminated their Parental Rights in March 2011. When the social worker told Michael that he was in fact "out" for adoption, the first thing he said was " what about Tod and Christina" they said "Well that is a possibility we will have to call them" he said " can you call them right now"? He did nt know at that time that we had already inquired about adopting him. So now the transition begins.
Tod and I decided a few years ago to look into adoption. We spent a lot of time researching the advantages/disadvantages of international and domestic adoption, along with several other options. We ended up contacting Barium Springs Home for Children in Troutman NC (a huge thanks to your good friend Nikki Bender for the suggestion) in the spring of 2010. We spent hours in classes and then we had TB tests, physicals, home inspections, CPR training, finger prints, background checks, personal interviews about our childhoods, a home inspection by the fire marshall and on and on. You would be amazed at what we have had to go through. We kept reminding ourselves...God is teaching us patience! We finally got approved in March of this year! woohoo!!! So then we wait. We discussed the fact that we were open to siblings, boy or girl, no real age specification etc.
You all know me well enough to know, that I was raised by catholic parents and I have a strong faith, and…I know that God has a plan for us all, and He knows better than we do, what we really need, and when. So we put it in His hands.
On May 2nd we received a phone call from Sara, the social worker at BSHC asking if we would be willing to keep a young boy, who is currently in foster care. His foster parents (John and Marsha) were going to the beach for a week, and they needed someone to watch Michael while they were gone. If you know me well enough, it wont surprise you that...my first comment to Tod was "crap...can we do this?". And if you know Tod well enough, you know the look he gave me, as you have probably seen it before (kinda like why did a marry a crazy woman), he shook his head and called Sara back to say yes of course we would keep Michael for a week. So on May 4 we went to meet John, Marsha and Michael at his baseball game. Michael didnt have much to say, but I'm sure it was because he was excited that they won their game!
So on Sunday May 8 (Mother's Day) John and Marsha dropped Michael off early. I made waffles and sausage for everyone! We took Michael to church, which he enjoyed, and then we went to WalMart. Because we needed some toys! Michael LOVES to play outside, so we bought a wiffle bat and ball (which he called a waffle ball...well...we had just eaten waffles!), a kickball, a football and a golf set. We played in the backyard the whole day! And then we had a low country boil (if your from the south you know what I'm talking about) with Brock and Natalie. That week we took Michael to school, baseball, did homework and played outside, every chance we got. He even got to go to 3 weddings with us that weekend! He had never been to a wedding before, but it is the family business so we took him along. And he was so well behaved! The week ended and he went back to John and Marsha's.
About a week later Marsha called to say that they wanted to go away Memorial Day weekend (to celebrate her birthday), and could we keep him again. Well now we are experts at this, so of course! So I picked him up at after school on Friday, Tod was at a wedding rehearsal, and it was raining outside. We went to the house and watched TV waiting for Tod to come home so we could go to dinner. About one hour passed and he said to me "did you know that I am out for adoption". And "out" is NOT a typo...that's what he said. I looked at him and said "oh really...well how do you feel about that?" he said "good". The next morning we woke up and he said it to me again "did you know I am out for adoption?". I said "yes I remember you mentioned that yesterday". Through the course of the weekend he said it at least once a day to Tod or I. We had another wedding saturday, and after we took him to a hibachi restaurant...which he loved! Of course...who doesnt love a good hibachi restaurant? On Sunday we drove up to the NC mountains (Blowing Rock) because our dear friends the Militello's have a house up there, and they invited us up for the night. We had so much fun with Christiaan, Jen and Lexi. Roasting marshmellows, having picnics, swimming!
So after that weekend we decided that we would like Michael to move in permanently. Michael's parents had Terminated their Parental Rights in March 2011. When the social worker told Michael that he was in fact "out" for adoption, the first thing he said was " what about Tod and Christina" they said "Well that is a possibility we will have to call them" he said " can you call them right now"? He did nt know at that time that we had already inquired about adopting him. So now the transition begins.
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