I know, I look like a linebacker than a cheerleader. Go Bows!
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Check out my cuteness
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Monday, October 27, 2014
My first day of school
I had fun at school today. I ate and slept a lot but also stayed up to play with my new toys. I showed Mommy and Daddy my new kicking moves and told them all about my day by cooing and talking their ears off. By the time 8 p.m. rolled around I was ready to sleep for the night.
Love, Alia
p.s. One of Mom's co-workers made me this cute blanket as a gift for me. How thoughtful of Kathy!
Daycare, daycare, I go to daycare!
Dear Tutu,
Mornings are my favorite time of the day, getting fed, changing my diaper, stretching and dancing to the music, and putting on a new outfit. I like to coo and talk while dancing too.
Today is my first day at school, the Neighborhood Alliance, Linden at Wesleyan. It's the same daycare that all of Mommy and Daddy's other foster children attended; it just has a different name now. Mommy has to work and Daddy has errands to do so I'm going to hang out here with my new friends.
My teachers are Ms. Riquita and Ms. Tammy but other teachers and assistants come in to help when needed. That's Ms. Tiffany with me on the playmat and tummy pillow.
There are a lot of toys to stimulate my senses. Right now I hang out in the bouncy seats and play with mobiles. When I can roll over and sit up I can play with all the other toys on the shelves. I think I'll take a nap now.
Love, Alia
Mornings are my favorite time of the day, getting fed, changing my diaper, stretching and dancing to the music, and putting on a new outfit. I like to coo and talk while dancing too.
I am in the Infant 1 room. I have my own crib that's in the corner.
Love, Alia
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Pink Sunday
Dear Tutu,
I really love moving around now. I like to stretch and kick and roll over (with Mommy's help) and be on my tummy.
Love, Alia
Hello Kitty!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
It's bath time!
I LOVE taking baths! Sometimes it invigorates me and I kick and splash. Other times I just relax and enjoy my rubdown.
Love, Alia
Lazy Saturday
Dear Tutu,
Dad took us for a family walk around the block. The weather was so nice.
Love, Alia
p.s. Photo shoot!!
Dad took us for a family walk around the block. The weather was so nice.
Love, Alia
Friday, October 24, 2014
Hot dogs, hot dogs, everyone loves hot dogs!
Dear Tutu,
We went out to dinner with Mommy's students Eric, Katie and Cheyenne tonight. We intended to have some hot dogs but ended up eating yummy Vietnamese food. We had a great time. Sorry, I don't have a picture of Cheyenne this time.
Love, Alia
p.s. Eric said Mommy is like a mom to him too. Does that mean he is my brother?
We went out to dinner with Mommy's students Eric, Katie and Cheyenne tonight. We intended to have some hot dogs but ended up eating yummy Vietnamese food. We had a great time. Sorry, I don't have a picture of Cheyenne this time.
Love, Alia
Thursday, October 23, 2014
ADOPTION QUEST: Children Services routines
Lisa: As foster parents, Aaron and I still have to follow children services protocol. Their goal is to always reunify the children with their birth family or relatives, before taking permanent custody and allowing foster families to adopt.
One of the requirements are parent visits, which sometimes involve siblings. In Alia's case, her birth parents are offered one 2-hour visit per week. Siblings and relatives are not invited right now. They are instructed to call the day before to confirm the visit otherwise the visit is cancelled, and Alia can go to daycare like normal. And even if they confirm a visit, they must arrive an hour before the scheduled visit otherwise the visit is cancelled. Alia's visits are scheduled on Fridays from 9-11 a.m.
The other big component to this temporary custody is the birth parent case plan. The county gives them time to clean up and get their act together in order to get their children back, depending on the situation. In Alia's case, it looks like the birth parents will need rehab, mental health assessment and treatments, to get jobs, to find and keep a place to live, and to show that they can provide for their family. A tall order if you ask me but certainly no more than is expected of all other parents. As of right now, the case plan has not been put into place.
There should be monthly court hearings to make sure all components of the system are doing their part and moving forward. Perhaps the case plan will be presented during November's hearing. The 90-day hearing is a pretty big court date as the case plan should be in place and worked on by then. If not, the magistrate could motion "abandonment" and move towards permanent custody.
So let's see how this placement goes. Of course we don't want to wish anyone bad but we are also still hoping Alia will be "the placement" for us.
One of the requirements are parent visits, which sometimes involve siblings. In Alia's case, her birth parents are offered one 2-hour visit per week. Siblings and relatives are not invited right now. They are instructed to call the day before to confirm the visit otherwise the visit is cancelled, and Alia can go to daycare like normal. And even if they confirm a visit, they must arrive an hour before the scheduled visit otherwise the visit is cancelled. Alia's visits are scheduled on Fridays from 9-11 a.m.
The other big component to this temporary custody is the birth parent case plan. The county gives them time to clean up and get their act together in order to get their children back, depending on the situation. In Alia's case, it looks like the birth parents will need rehab, mental health assessment and treatments, to get jobs, to find and keep a place to live, and to show that they can provide for their family. A tall order if you ask me but certainly no more than is expected of all other parents. As of right now, the case plan has not been put into place.
There should be monthly court hearings to make sure all components of the system are doing their part and moving forward. Perhaps the case plan will be presented during November's hearing. The 90-day hearing is a pretty big court date as the case plan should be in place and worked on by then. If not, the magistrate could motion "abandonment" and move towards permanent custody.
So let's see how this placement goes. Of course we don't want to wish anyone bad but we are also still hoping Alia will be "the placement" for us.
Meeting Aunt Peggi
I met Aunt Peggi for lunch today. She is Mommy's good friend. Mommy helped her out when she was going through the fostering program and when she was pregnant. Now Aunt Peggi wants to help Mommy in return. I think she's a keeper!
Love, Alia
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
MILESTONES: A nice feeding and sleeping schedule
It took Mommy a week to get me into a good feeding and sleeping schedule. I need to eat every 3 hours and I consume about 3 to 4 oz. per feeding. I usually stay up for about 45 minutes to an hour and sleep about 2 hours.
Mommy's last feeding is around midnight before she goes to sleep, and Daddy's first feeding of the day is around 4-4:30 a.m. soon after he gets up for work. So in their eyes I sleep overnight.
Mommy's last feeding is around midnight before she goes to sleep, and Daddy's first feeding of the day is around 4-4:30 a.m. soon after he gets up for work. So in their eyes I sleep overnight.
A whole lot of Daddy kisses
Dear Tutu,
Daddy loves to give me kisses. It makes me happy. I also love sleeping in his arms because he is really warm and comfy.
Love, Alia
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Tummy troubles
Dear Tutu,
Tonight has been rough because my tummy has been upset all afternoon and night. Mommy has been waiting until we see the pediatrician again to ask to change my formula but she is thinking of buying the sensitive/lactose free formula so I don't suffer so much. What do you think? In the meantime, Mommy and Daddy has been taking turns holding and comforting me to sleep. Good night!
Tonight has been rough because my tummy has been upset all afternoon and night. Mommy has been waiting until we see the pediatrician again to ask to change my formula but she is thinking of buying the sensitive/lactose free formula so I don't suffer so much. What do you think? In the meantime, Mommy and Daddy has been taking turns holding and comforting me to sleep. Good night!
Holding Mommy's finger, Alia
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