It has been an amazing journey to be sure. And it's about to start all over again. Now that we've told all the relatives personally we can spill it to all the remaining Mollyholics (and we're constantly shocked to find how many are still out there following her thriving growth) that Molly is going to get a sister. We have sent our application in for a second adoption. We are choosing to go with the 'Child of Promise' program which means that we have requested a girl aged 1 to 2 1/2 with a minor, correctable special need. The list of needs is long and some we have said no to but it could be any number of issues that would keep a child out of the regular pool of adoptable children.
We're doing it for Molly's sake, so she has a sister to bond with and someone to play with when Mom and Dad are too old and tired (which seems closer every day she runs us ragged) and we're doing it for us because our time with Molly has been so rewarding. And we're dong it for another child in China who would otherwise face a lifetime of orphanages and little opportunity. The real winner is, of course, our family. To add another child to share the love and the fun that we have every day and the love and fun we are planning to have for years and years to come is going to benefit us in ways I'm sure we don't even know yet.
The front runner for a name is Gracie. It's what we have always talked about when ever we discussed the possibility of a sibling. We reserve the right change our minds. We're not sure yet how much Molly understands but she has time to get used to the idea. We are constantly asking her which she would rather have, a sister or a pony. The usual response is an enthusiastic "Pony!".
The wait should not be too bad with this program. The normal route for a China adoption has grown to 4 years or more but with this program it could be under 18 months.
Eventually we'll change the name of the blog and all that stuff and then before we know it we'll be back in China, with Molly along for the trip of course. We are facing a new set of challenges and a new set of unknown expectations. We know that whatever happens it can't possibly go as smoothly as it did with Molly. We're hoping that her calm influence will help Gracie make a peaceful transition.
We are excited to have finally made a choice after so much discussion and consternation over what was the right thing for our family. We're also happy to have everyone follow along again as we start from scratch. Surely this time around the wait will be much more bearable with Molly in our lives. And if Gracie arrives and Molly decides she wanted a pony after all - well, kid, it's your own fault, If you weren't such a great little girl we wouldn't want another one. You blew it. The terrible twos have been more like the mildly inconvenient 24-36 months. Finger's crossed that we can get another angel.
