Well there certainly isn't much to report on this front! The end of the school year is winding down and so are we! Naia's ballet recital is in two weeks. We're really ready for the end of this! Most of the time she enjoys going to ballet, but sometimes it's a chore to get her motivated to go!
Xavier had karate testing yesterday as well! He passed for his third yellow stripe! One more test to go before getting his yellow belt! We're really glad that he likes karate, because he's leary of most sports. This has really helped build his confidence in his athletic abilities!

Paxton is doing really great as well. Still sleeping through the night every night. (knock on wood!) He is a climber though! He climbs on everything. He's learned to push a bucket up to the couch to get onto it. And he's learned to get down as well! He will climb anything his little legs will let him reach! He also loves to throw things! When he's excited, mad, or just wants to hear a bang, he will throw whatever is handy!

We missed Dillon's day at the zoo in Little Rock and the AR family missions day at the zoo in LR this past month, SO next weekend our plan is to go to the zoo and enjoy a full day there! Hopefully it won't rain! We've seen so much rain here, we could do without for a week or so.

Middle Child

Naia turned 5 this week. 5 years old. She's been telling everyone, I'm five now. It's my birthday. This morning at school, she was sure to tell everyone! So cute. So here are 5 things about Naia that I want to remember (or someday perhaps forget!).

She loves to use big words. She always wants you to think she's "styled" or is telling us that something is "bisgusting" She tells people that she likes taking "balallet.

She is incredibly picky about the clothes/shoes that she wears. She has her own sense of style. She doesn't like itchy clothes. I have to cut out the tags of most everything she wears. Thank goodness for manufacturers that don't use tags. She is even more picky about her shoes. They have to fit just the way she likes or she will not wear them. We have many many battles about what shoes she wears nearly every day.

She is a girly girl. She loves to dress up, wear "make-up", high heels, etc. She wears a princess dress nearly every day.

She adores both of her brothers. She loves getting to tag along with Xavier and his friends. He most of the time willingly lets her tag along. She also loves Paxton. She constantly is trying to teach him things. He can say her name very very clearly and she loves this fact! She plays with him all the time and does pretty much what he wants her to do.

She is really sweet.....when she wants to be. She is caring and compassionate. She is stubborn and unmoving. She is a go getter. She knows what she wants and tries every single way she can think of to make it happen. We love her so much, even when she drives us crazy!

Adoption Tax Credit

Please read the following from a fellow adoptive parents and get involved!

The federal adoption tax credit has helped thousands of families say Yes! to adopting a child. It's vital that this financial support stay in place to help families offset the costs and fees associated with adopting a child. Unfortunately, the tax credit is set to expire in December 2010 unless Congress votes to continue it.

It's time to take action!
The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213 , will keep the adoption tax credit from being repealed, and may make the tax relief measure permanent. It only takes a few minutes to email or call your senators and congressmen. It is important for them to hear from families impacted by the tax credit. Currently, there are 76 State Senators and Representatives cosponsoring H.R. 213. However, there are 16 states that currently have no sponsors of this bill, including ARKANSAS. H.R. 213 is currently in committee, where most bills die. It is imperative that adoptive families, and all friends of children waiting for families, act now. It only takes a few minutes to write, call, or email your representatives. Please do so today!

Email Representative: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Email Senator: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Currently, the following states have no co-sponsors or commitments of support for H.R. 213:
West
Virginia
Delaware
Connecticut
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
Vermont
Massachusetts
Maine
Idaho
Oregon
Nevada
Montana
South Dakota
New Mexico
Arkansas
Hawaii

Pass this on to friends and family, and ask for their help in writing, calling, and posting on blogs and Facebook. To gain momentum, we must have an absolute ground swell of families lifting their voices together for the well-being of children throughout the world.