Oct 13
During our stay-cation this past weekend, Fred and I did some just-driving-around; and I decided to take him by the first house I lived in. It’s a little far-flung from our usual stomping grounds which is why he’d never seen it before. In the 9 years we’ve known each other. Ah well.
But anyway, we hit the end of the street and there it was:
Oct 12
It’s still early Fall, but we can tell this is the school year to start the in-depth conversations with the boys about discussing their race with others.
They know about race, have been able to rattle off from the age of three that they’re Latino; that their ancestors and Fred’s and mine came from different places on the globe (even before they really understood what “ancestors” were); and that that’s why our skin and hair and eyes are different colors. As we’ve studied different countries of the world, they’ve learned that people in different regions look different, eat different foods, have different customs, but also have many global similarities.
But how to “explain themselves?” No, we haven’t covered that yet. Read the rest of this entry
Oct 11
Fred and I have a thing about the number 11. Both our birthdays are on the 11ths of their respective months. Our first kiss was on an 11th. The twins’ adoption finalized on an 11th. And then when we asked for a baptism date at our church? Yep, another 11th.
It’s really a little weird.
But amidst all the 11′s flying at us, there was ONE over which we actually had control: our wedding day. (And no, we couldn’t control that first kiss…)
7 years ago today, we officially started our family.
Oct 9
A few good reads from this week. As always, I don’t necessarily agree with all the opinions expressed but do appreciate that they were expressed and provided perspectives worth considering.
“The Painful Truth of ‘Better Off’” by Mei Ling at Shadow Between Two Worlds – a very honest and open expression by an adult who was internationally adopted as a child, what it’s like to juxtapose the common sentiment that she “is better off for having been adopted” with the loyalty and love she also feels for her first family.
“An example of an ethical intl. adoption and other things” on Jane’s Blog – her take, partially via a PBS interview, on the reforms she’d like to see in international adoptions.
“Tangled Web” on My Fascinating Life - a humorous anecdote about trying not to have to explain the adoption of her children to a total stranger… who just won’t drop the conversation… Read the rest of this entry
Oct 8
… would have been that he and Jose are spending it with their Tía Amy and Tío Chris (who, yes, still love us after the pranking), so that Mama and Papa can have a stay-cation for their anniversary.
But then, literally as we were going out the door…
Oct 7
Been spending most evenings this week working on backing up my aforementioned over-loaded hard drive. But I accomplished (well, we accomplished - I had help from Fred) one thing I’ve been wanting to cross off my list for a while: American Mamacita now has email!
A year late, I know.
But at any rate, it’ll start popping up all over the site now. To contact us, write to:
[Seriously, please do write. 'Cause all we have right now are the two welcome messages from Google Apps and one test I sent myself.] 
-Kim
Oct 1
For those tiny few of you who are in the El Salvador adoption process like we are, I got a quick update from our agency that there is a new director at OPA (La Oficina Para Las Adopciones) – where all our files are initially screened in-country.
Fidelina del Rosario Anaya de Barillas was already listed as a Coordinator at OPA on their website (it tends to track a little behind on who’s actually in which position there). But our Salvadoran attorney tells us she has replaced Milton Alexander Portillo. Read the rest of this entry
Oct 1
I can’t imagine HOW this could have happened, but I’ve maxed out the hard drive on my laptop.
Since I don’t foresee myself taking fewer photos in the future, I’m now looking for good storage recommendations. Online? In-home? Anyone have advice they’d like to share?
‘Cause the Mamarazzi is only 4 years into motherhood and 7 years into marriage. And just got a Nikon D-90.
Help!
-Kim
