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Carol and Bill and Molly's China Adoption Journal (Started Paper Chase 5/28/05; Molly's Adoption Day 6/2/08)

Carol Carter

Occupation
Interests
Bill retired from the State as a prosecuting attorney in September 2009 and joined Carol in private practice. We currently work as a team in representing parents, children and others in child custody, child welfare and delinquency matters in the family and juvenile courts of the State of Arizona.

Bill also retired from the Army National Guard in September 2009. He has a combined total of 30 years of active and reservist service, most recently with 221st Armored Cavalry of the Nevada Army National Guard. The men of the Blackhorse are currently in Afghanistan.

Carol is a horsewoman. Both Bill and Carol are licensed private pilots, flying a restored 1958 Beechcraft Bonanza J35, and in the last couple of years, have also taken up sailing (which is harder than they say) . We are absolutely blessed to share our lives with our now 5-year old daughter, Molly, who was adopted from China in June 2008.

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November 07

October 2009

October is birthday month -- for Molly, Mommy, Aunt Maura, and Wil.  We had an early birthday party with family in New England, again on Molly's actual birthday in Arizona, then a third birthday party when Aunt Maura and Wil came out to visit for Halloween weekend.  Molly knows that October is birthday MONTH, and that the end of her birthday season is marked by Halloween.  Molly not only turned 5 on October 22nd, but she lost a baby tooth on the night before Halloween.  Hopefully, this means we'll see some big girl teeth coming in soon. 
 
Halloween was also celebrated for weeks.  We went to New England to visit the Carter clan during fall foliage and apple picking season again this year.  (We hope to keep this as an annual tradition.)  Molly carved her first Jack O'Lantern with cousins Steve and Mike and the lovely Erica.  We spent 10 days, visiting with Nana and aunt Gayle and uncle Tom, Steve, Mike and Erica in Massachusetts, and also spent a couple of days in Bar Harbour, Maine.  Then upon our return to Arizona, aunt Maura and cousin Wil came out to Arizona from North Carolina.  Pictures from both New England and home are posted to the right under "Halloween October 2009."
September 19

September 2009 Update

Haven't updated in a while.  We went back to San Diego for a 4-day weekend last weekend.  We really just played on the beach and slept, and didn't even take any pics.  Molly played in the surf, built sand castles, and took long walks on the boardwalk with Mommy and Daddy.  And we went to a San Diego Padres game.  (Molly loves baseball and football-- really gets into the games and yells at the TV. She was a riot at the game in San Diego, sitting there eating peanuts and yelling at the field.  On next Monday night, she and 35 other kids from her dance studio are "performing" a pregame dance on the field before the Diamondbacks/Padres game in Phoenix.  I'll try to get pictures of that and post them.)
 
BC and our friend and colleague, Sara Priestley, have joined me in private practice, so the last few weeks have been setting up their offices, and me trying to "show then the ropes" in juvenile court.  (It really makes you nervous, having 2 other seasoned attorneys shadowing you and watching everything you do.)  It's going to be fun, though.  And Molly will benefit by our having more "off" time to spend with her. 
 
So, anyway, that's what's going on here.  It's a busy time with lots of transitions, but all is well.   
July 27

Another Preschool

Molly started at a new preschool last Monday. The first week went very well.   We really didn't want her to have to make another transition after only 5 months, but at the former preschool, with the departure to kindergarten of the 2 older girls, all of the remaining children were infants and younger toddlers.  We felt certain her progress would be slowed if she was the only preschool-aged child among primarily babies. 

At the new preschool, she will initially be in the 3 year old room, but the plan is to transition her into one of the older preschool rooms when she is ready, then eventually into pre-K.  We hope to have her in Kindergarten by next Fall.  Hopefully, this will be the school where she will remain for the next 2 years, until she enters 1st grade in Fall 2011.

She will continue to work with Veronica Roman, her tutor, on Saturdays.  This really seems to be helping her to FOCUS.  And she enjoys it. 

We are also in the process of contacting the local public school district to see whether there are special education services for which she can qualify.  But we are not going to send her to their special education preschool, nor are we going to place her in ESL classes.   

 

 

 

 

May 31

Celebrating Our First Year Together

Yesterday was our first day here in San Diego, and it was a rainy day.  We took walks on the boardwalk in the misty rain, ate breakfast at a waterfront restaurant, and tossed a beach ball.  Today we do Sea World. 
April 07

One Year Ago, We First Saw Her Face

This is one of Molly's referral photos which came                  
through on my Blackberry one year ago on the
morning of Friday, April 4, 2008.
I was sitting in Court, in a hearing,                    
sneaking peeks at it as I held it under the desk. 
I sent them to Bill who was in a seminar across town,
but he couldn't open them.  So at lunch  I drove over
to where he was and we sat in a little diner in Mesa,
staring at 3 photos of our beautiful little girl . . . .
 
 
This photo was taken last Saturday, April 4, 2009, while
we were visiting Nana, Uncle Tom, Aunt Gayle, Steve and
Mike in Massachusetts.  Molly has grown 3.5 inches in
height, gained 4 pounds, and gone up 2 shoe sizes since
she came home 10 months ago. 
 
Thanks for visiting!  Let her know we were talking about her. 
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pamelawrote:
Molly, you look like you are growing and thriving!  It's so neat to hear about your adventures with your Mom and Dad!  Thanks for sharing the stories on here! We'll continue to peek in on you.  I can't wait to hear about the potty progress....they grow up so fast!  You are all treasures!  Lots of Love...  :)  Dr. Pam
June 18
No namewrote:
What a beautiful family!  I just saw you in the courtroom, Bill, and came running back to my desk to see your pictures.  Molly is beautiful!  What an amazing gift for all three of you!  After 33 years of adopting my brother from Korea, we still celebrate our adoption day.  Best wishes for all of you!
 
~Traci Wheeler, Div. 3 Court Reporter
Apr. 16
Matt Dantewrote:
Hey Molly, Carol and Bill!!! The three of you are probably preparing for the flight back to AZ (perhaps already en route) as I write this note. Molly-you've got so much to look forward to-your mom and dad are two of the best friends I've ever known. Carol and Bill-I've read the adoption blog and am so enthralled by what you two have accomplished. Incredible!! Best wishes always. Matt.
June 12
Mollywrote:
Hello!  My name is Molly also.  I really like the way you set up your space page.  I'm new to Messenger and was checking out other spaces when I saw yours.  I like the information you listed on various adoption articles/news.  I've been thinking of adopting but I want to research the process more.  I've been a foster mom already.  I'm happy for you that you will have a daughter soon in your household.  Congratulations!
May 29
Mary Annwrote:
Carol,
You have updated photos! Again, she is just beautiful! Can't wait to read about your first meeting. Have a safe trip there to see your girl!
 
Airforcehon 1/13/06
May 23

Congratulations from Spain, Family!
You have a beautiful daughter.
We are with our daughter, Jana Laifujing since September 17, 2007.
It's a girl Laibin (Nanning).
We read your blog with the adventure of this great journey that you are about to make.
Strong kiss from Barcelona (Spain)

Pere in Carme
Http://pereicarme.spaces.live.com/

Apr. 11
Neus .....wrote:
Congratulations for your daugther! She´s beautifoul!!!
Neus.
Apr. 11
Teneis una hija preciosa, muchisimas felicidades
Apr. 9
Hi, We are Steve and Siobhan from SFO.  We also adopted from Yangiang in December of 2006, our daughter was 18 months old.  Our daughter will be 3 in June.  Her name is Olivia Ann Meijian (beautiful America).  I visited the orphanage whilst we were there and it was by far the most pleasant of the 4 I saw during our stay.  Your new daughter is a real beauty.

Many best wishes.
Apr. 8
No namewrote:
Hello ~ congratulations to your new daughter. What a pretty girl!! We adopted our daughter last summer, she was 3 1/2 also, and is doing well! All the best to your family!
Barb
Apr. 7
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