Backus/Wilcox Family History

Friday, August 05, 2005

They really like tic tac toe in illinois!

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Well Nate started to walk last week! Of course - when grandpa was present!!! Too funny! he gets to see it all - but good for him - he does deserve it. anyhow - Nate is now the drunken sailor trying to take 4-5 steps every so often. Once I think it was about 8 steps - he's getting there. The bravery is building up - he still finds it easier and faster to just drop to the floor and crawl faster! It gets him what he wants.

He's been really feeling pretty good this week - so hopefully the ear infection is all gone (lets hope). HE'll have another big adventure tomorrow night when we hit the road to Missiouri for the Britt Family Reunion!!! Sure can't wait. Its about a 12 hour trip - so we'll take it slow and start tomorrow night. Get so far and crash. He likes to sleep in the car - so that is good. This trip - he'll have grandpa Doug as his travel partner!!! So that should be fun for all.

Life for everyone else is going well. Marcus' new house is really coming along - its amazing all the hard work that guy has put into this place - its looking great. Haven't been out there in a few weeks - but I hear what he has been doing - can't wait.

Craig and I - going good at our jobs - so can't ask for much more.

Ok - back to work - my lunch is almost over. And a half day tomorrow - yeah!!

oh - my big news - on a new weight loss program being monitored by a doctor. Trying to get the insulin in check! Lost 5 pounds the first week, 4 the next - and we'll see tomorrow what this week brings! i'm really excited and feeling pretty darn good. Trying to find the good starches is not fun - but eating them does make me feel better. And I don't crave icecream as much either! Even better. I'm excited - determined to be healthy and if I can go down a few sizes in clothes - icing on the cake!

Monday, August 01, 2005

Dad - We are getting one of these, aren't we?

Saturday, July 30, 2005

This Is cool

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Mmmmmmmm

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Grandpa Hooked me up with some cheeriOs

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Lasagna! good idea dad ;-)

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

I can sit forward now

Sunday, July 10, 2005

1 Year and 1 day Old

Ok - Nate is officially 1 years old today! His birthday was yesterday and he had a BIG Party. Lots of his friends and aunts and uncles were there to share in the fun. As you can see - he enjoyed his cake too - that picture was taken near the beginning of the "mash" process. Yummy! Nate even fed CRaig and I some cake too - what a sweet little guy he is.

Its been a great year and time of fond memories with more to come. We'll be posting the pictures linked on this blog in the coming days. HOpe you enjoy. Tomorrow Nate goes for his 1 year pictures and then shots. Wish me luck as I take him in.

Today we are hoping to go to the Fowlerville fair with Grandma LIz - she's been here for the birthday festivities. Its been lots of fun.
Enjoy the summer gang
Love,
Gail, Craig, Nate and even little Fudd.

Saturday, July 09, 2005

I Really liked my cake!

Friday, July 08, 2005

I cant fit anymore in my mouth

Thursday, July 07, 2005

1 Year OLD

Ok - I'm 2 days early - but they will be very busy days coming up! Yes - Nate turns 1 on Saturday! He's such a big, active, adorable boy. as you can see by the new pictures Craig's been able to take on his new phone and post to the site. He's having fun. We'll defiantely make sure we post some birthday bash pictures soon too.

We are all very excited about the party - lots of people are coming - it should be fun. We clearly have the new whale pool and a slip in slide for the older kids. And a NICE BIG Catepillar cake! can't wait for Nate to dig into that - he's not a shy eater. He likes his food - and sweets. So far he loves his fruit best though. We hope to keep it that way for a long time.

Grandma Liz is coming into town for the big party too. She's actually already here - probably at the house babysitting Nate right now. Hopefully he's behaving for her. This is her first big time really alone with him - I'm sure they both need the bonding time!

other than that - I'm just looking forward to a long 4 day weekend following the 3 day weekend! We are all finally feeling better - I finally have the right medicine for the sinus infection - so that helps.

hope you all have a good weekend - again - we'll post pictures as soon as possible. AND we'll have another set of Penny's pictures coming in about a month - the big 1 year pictures. Should be interesting.
Love,
Gail-

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

I Like melon!

This pool is fine but i dont go anywhere without my pacifier.

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Our Adoption Time Line

5/5/10- attended Kensington Church Adoption Seminar

6/2010 - attended free informational meeting at Adoption Associates, Inc (AAI)

7/2010 - met one on one with AAI to discuss domestic and international adoption

8/2010 - submitted application for international adoption (undecided on country)

8/2010 - decided on Ethiopia (ET)

8/26/10 - accepted by AAI to adopt internationally

8/30/10 - Home study visit #1 (with 3 more to follow)

10/6/10 - Passed HOME STUDY

11/5/10 - Home study report finalized

11/9/10 - USCIS paperwork mailed

11/16/10- USCIS accepted paperwork

11/24/10 - USCIS accepted application - date for biometrics set! - 12/17

12/17/10 - USCIS Fingerprinting / biometrics completed

12/20/10 - Redford PD paperwork completed

1/8/11- I-171H RECEIVED from USCIS / DHS

1/26/11- FINAL document received - Gail's dr letter

1/28/11 - Great Seal of MI for Authentication of docs

1/28/11 - Dossier MAILED to Assistant Stork to deliver to US Depart of State and then Embassy of Ethiopia

2/1/11 - Dossier arrived at The Assistant Stork

2/2/11 - Dossier being delivered to US DOS and then to Embassy of ET

2/8/11 - Dossier in mail to ET for translations. OFFICIALLY ON WAITING LIST

6/1/11 - moved up to # 9 on waiting list (only one other family willing to adopt a little boy - so may move faster

6/23/11 - THE REFERRAL

6/26/11 - Answer YES and announcement to the world

7/18/11 - LOST referral - voided out

8/2/11 - officially #1 on wait list again

8/11/11 - Referral for Sami - and accepted

10/10/11 - Got the call about Court date - 11/29/11! Leave Thanksgiving weekend!

11/17/11 - Pass 1st Court appointment & MOYA letter is waiting!!!!!

11/25/11 - travel to ET to meet our boy

11/29/11 - Court date for US to appear & LEGALLY OUR SON

12/22/11 - Submitted to USE for approval and VISA

1/10/12 - USE finally acknowledges review of file

1/25/12 - USE sends to USCIS - more frustrations

1/31/12 - USCIS Nairobi receives files - another wait

2/7/12 - CLEARED USCIS NAIROBI

2/8/12 - Tentatively scheduled for Embassy Visa on 3/13/12

3/9/12 - LEAVE for final Trip#2

3/12/12 - GOTCHA DAY

3/13/12 - Embassy appointment

3/15/12 - Leave for home

3/16/12 - Become US Citizen!!!

Fun Facts about Ethoipia

Ethiopia has been around for a very long time. The country's Rift Valley is known as the cradle of humanity - fossils of the oldest known upright hominid (4-million years old) were found here in 2005, surpassing the famous 3.5-million-year-old 'Lucy', which was discovered in the same region back in 1974.

•A thousand years before Christ, the Queen of Sheba, we are told, traveled to Jerusalem where she met King Solomon, married him, and had a son, Menelik. When Menelik reached maturity, it is said he left Jerusalem and took with him the Ark of the Covenant, containing the original 10 commandments, back to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church says it still has the ark in its possession. No one else makes such a claim...

•Ethiopia's official religion is the 1700 year old Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church. The Jews of Ethiopia, Beta Israel, are said to have been there for 3000 years. And its Muslim adherents have practiced Islam for 1300 years. Ethiopia is split religiously, with official statistics of 35% to 40% Ethiopian Orthodox primarily in the north, and 45% to 50% Muslim, primarily in the South.

•Ethiopia is the only country in Africa never to be under colonial rule, other than a brief occupation by Italy during WWII. You can visit many restaurants in Ethiopia today due to the influence of Italy during the occupation.

•Traditional Ethiopian food consists of various vegetable or meat dishes, usually a wat or thick stew, served atop injera, which is a large crepe-like sourdough flatbread made from fermented teff flour. One does not eat with utensils, but instead uses a piece of the injera (always with the right hand) to scoop up the sauces.

•The Ethiopian calendar is very similar to the Egyptian Coptic calendar – each have 13 months, 12 with 30 days each and the 13th month at the end of the year with 5 or 6 days, depending on whether it is a leap year. The year starts on September 11th (12th in a leap year). The Ethiopian calendar is 7 years behind the Gregorian calendar, so Ethiopia recently celebrated their millennium on September 12, 2007.

•Coffee can be traced back to the 9th Century where it is believed a shepherd discovered coffee beans in the highlands of Ethiopia, namely the Kaffa region. The Ethiopian people are very proud of their coffee and they show this in their well known coffee ceremonies. The Coffee Ceremony is a very important part of socializing in Ethiopia and to be invited to a coffee ceremony is always considered a sign of respect and friendship.

•There are multiple tribes with different subcultures and over 80 languages in Ethiopia. The Amharic language is a Semitic language spoken in North Central Ethiopia and is the official working language for Ethiopia.

•Family in Ethiopia includes immediate and extended relatives, neighbors, and friends. Faith and family are the foundation of the Ethiopian culture. Ethiopians are very respectful and loving. The elderly are considered very knowledgeable and as a very important part of the family structure. Children are usually raised in a large community that includes extended family and neighbors, and siblings are expected to help take care of each other.