Official

Rich and Monte FINALLY got their final approval after all of the drama with the Kaz. courts. They still have to come back and wait for some other paperwork stuff, but hopefully they will soon get to bring her home!

Prayers

We have more friends in the process of adoption. This time, our friends Rich & Monte are adopting from Kazakhstan. Let me tell you, it sounds like the Kazak process is just awful! They have been there once and are there now. They are having trouble with the courts. It just seems like the courts are just giving them trouble for the fun of it. I don't really know, but they were supposed to grant them permission this week and are putting it off and now Rich & Monte have to leave again and pray their adoption coordinator can represent them well and get it taken care of. I know they are just heartbroken at this latest news. Please lift them up in your prayers. Their little girl Nina is just a couple months older than Leighton and needs to be home with them! She is adorable. You can check out their story at http://thelockwoodladandlassies.blogspot.com
(**Edit*** Their agency has now asked them to make their blog private.)

Eight Month Old Cutie!

We are on to 8 months! Our very playful and smiley girl is a true blessing. She gets around (not forward!) but backwards and all around. She loves to talk and squeal and laugh as most 8 month olds do. She studies everything very intently. Her favorite sound right now is "Da-da" of course and often sounds like she is repeating us when we say, "Hi!". So cute!

Amusing Sisters

Here is a clip of the girls making Leighton giggle. Sometimes it doesn't take much! :-)

Some Updates!

I have been off for a while. Sorry to those who may have been waiting. . . mostly grandparents. :-)

Ice Skating
We have joined a few families from our church at ice skating lessons for 5 weeks in Cahokia. (Next week is actually the last one.) Adley is really a year too young, but they did let her try the first day. The skates were too big, but she wanted to try anyway. She enjoys roller skating and was imagining that they would have a "little rink" for her. She did alright for a three year old. :-) She tried it and then she was finished and hasn't been upset that she doesn't get to skate during Jaylyn's lesson. She is content playing while the bigger kids are out there. Jaylyn has been doing well. She stays out there the whole time and tries to skate without holding on to the wall. She seems to really like it. Today she actually skated backward.

Adley giving it a try!

Jaylyn's first time out

Gymnastics
Jaylyn has also continued to enjoy gymnastics with Ms. Sheila! Of course, I don't know if part of the enthusiasm is because it is a class with Malaine. :-) She really is flexible and is getting better and better. She is doing things that I remember not being able or willing to do. Now Adley has joined in. Adley is SOOOO excited each week to go. She especially is in love with her leotards. Even though it is freezing in the gym when we get there, she immediately dresses down to her leotard, puts her stuff in the cubbies and she will NOT wear her pants over the leotard.

Adley enjoys doing her back bend.

Jaylyn can do her back bend all by herself now and kick her legs over.

Here is Leighton enjoying her playtime at gymnastics. :-)

Leighton's curl and teeth
Leighton's bottom two teeth have come in. She definitely had some crabbiness right before they popped through, but once they were through, she was back to her very happy self. Everyone has also been asking if her hair is going to be curly or not. (I'm sure they are not really asking me as if I somehow know the future. Hee Hee!) But, now that her hair is finally starting to come in (although still barely there), I now have a guess. . . .

Look closely to see her "curl" ha!

I didn't get a picture of her teeth, but it was a cute smile

She has lots of expressions

Biter Biscuits - a yummy mess. Doesn't she look like she is enjoying those?

You have to REALLY get it good and gooey!

And then suck on it some more while mommy has to keep me from gagging myself.