Another step...

Got our birth certificates back from the Chinese Consulate in New York yesterday - hooray! We've always had to deal with two Consulates, the one in Chicago for most of our documents, and then the one in New York for our birth certificates, since it's New York that serves Rhode Island and Maine. I can't imagine what folks who were born outside the United States have to deal with!

I am often asked if the paperwork is easier the second, third, fourth time around. My reply is usually this: "Knowledge is power, but ignorance is bliss!" Yes, I know what needs to be done and what to do and where to go to get it done. On the other hand, through experience, I know about all the little things that can go wrong that are totally out of my control (notaries with inaccurate stamps, the wrong form on the Chicago Consulate web site, etc.). So yes, it's a lot easier knowing the routine, but I spend a lot of time fretting about the "unknown" problems that could crop up!

Tiny Pull-Ups!

When shopping in the diaper aisle, I have often seen the Pampers training pants that come in size 1T/2T. I often thought (smugly, as my first two girls didn't potty train until they were 3 1/2) that it was ridiculous to try to train a baby that young. Of course, Abbie is already two years old, but she's so petite that - guess what? - she's wearing those tiny "panties" now! She loves them, and is so proud to have panties like her sisters. She is tinkling in the toilet at least once a day. It's still not a complete habit - more of a novelty - but she enjoys it so much that she tries often enough throughout the day and she has success at least once a day. And she refuses to use the potty chair - nothing but the grown-up toilet will do for her! You should see her, this tiny little girl perched on the edge of the toilet seat, usually looking down between her chubby little legs to watch the miracle happen again and again! Yes, there are many photos!

Getting Back On Track!

Now that I'm feeling better, I'm ready to get moving on our paperwork again! I FedExed our birth certificates (from Maine and Rhode Island) to the Chinese Consulate in New York. One more thing checked off the list...

Unbelievable!

I can't believe it - Abbie pooped in the potty tonight! She told Al she had to go, he sat her on the edge of the toilet (not the kiddie potty, the big toilet), and she just "did her thing"! We all gathered in the bathroom, did a little Family Happy Dance and whooped and hoorayed, and yes, I even took pictures (to be used as blackmail when she's a teenager and tempted to break curfew!). Granted, she probably won't do it again for a few weeks, but hey, it's a start! She seems a little bewildered, but pretty proud of herself! Way to go, Abbie-boo!