The Little was GREAT. I mean, seriously. There was one point during our lunch stop at an Applebee's that I wondered who's child he was, but considering how long he had been strapped in a car seat, he did GREAT. Daddy kept him entertained while we waited for our lunch to arrive (yeah, side note...when you have a kiddo who can't have dairy or gluten, you pretty much have to dine at a sit down restaurant) with his iPhone and bowling game. They scored a strike and the little stood up, raised his hands over his head and yelled out as loud as he could, "we did it!!! YAY!!!! WOO HOO!!!" So much for wanting to blend in and be wallpaper.
The kicker was the older couple sitting at the table next to us. About 10 minutes into our time there, the little announces he has to go 'Poo poo! It's coming out my booty!!' The poor lady at the table across from us about needed a neck brace her head snapped around so fast.
I Love Three. {Sarcasm}
We have the equivalent of more than one child within one child. Yep. That's us.
We got to the USCIS office...ONE of the officers at the front door had a sense of humor and was laughing with us and having a good time. The other...not so much. He was all business. He didn't crack a smile. Not even when the little announced for everyone within a 10 mile radius that he "just tooted". {Did I mention it was a long day?}
We got in, the ladies inside are all business too. Not a smile to be had. I had our paperwork and the little sitting on my hip. The woman instructs me to take a clip board. Give *him* his paperwork. *Him* take his own clip board. *He* offers to take my clip board and carry it and my paper for me. We are instructed no. We each take and carry our own. And here, take a deli number ticket, and write the number in 'this' spot on the sheet. {I told you...customer service and service with a smile is NOT a requirement for the job}
We take a seat, oh, and we had 'the talk' with the little man in the car before we even set foot on the pavement. We gave him instructions. We asked, do you understand? We assured him these people were not necessarily nice.
We fill out our paperwork...so far so good. The kiddo is standing, sitting, right by us. We hurry. We turn in our paperwork. We sit and wait. We read books. We entertain. Tell the little he has to be quiet. We don't think the guards have kids. Pretty sure they don't. If they do...they are probably at military school. The little goes to one of chairs that is across from us and 'gasp' stands on the chair. Within a split second, we are busted. Busted by the security guard. Yep. Called out on the carpet. Scared the little for a second...but then he sat on daddy's lap. We make a plan. We look at our deli tickets...my number is before Will's....I will go in, get printed, come out, take the little and the keys and go to the vancar and watch a movie.
Then we hear, "Number 135" called out. That's my number! I go in. Give my ID and my deli ticket....the woman tells me "sit in that chair'. I sit. She types on her computer. I thank her for taking us today. I thank her for working with us. She smiles. She softens. She said, "you all must know someone high up. I knew who you were when I saw your paperwork when you first arrived." We chatted and I explained what happened. She said it was no problem...they are happy to help. She finger printed me which took all of 2 minutes. She asked me where we were adopting from. She asked me how old our baby is who is with us. She comments how beautiful he is. We have a really nice conversation. She was sweet, called me sweetheart, wished us good luck and best wishes. I walked away with a really good feeling and got to share a tiny bit about what God is doing and what he has done.
I went out, there was no one in the lobby. No one. No Will...no little man. NO ONE. I was like, oh no. They got kicked out! Mr. Friendly let me know they were in the restroom. {I bet they were after those toots!} I saw the smiling face come running towards me, I swooped him up, grabbed the keys, kissed my husband, and went to the vancar. Not even 5 minutes went by and Will came walking towards the vancar. He was done.
I emailed my BFF at USCIS and let her know we were done. She said she was going to get our prints and send them onto the visa center and onto ET. We should get the letter of confirmation next week. We did snap a photo as we were leaving the parking lot
USCIS visit...take 2.
We were on the road back home. The little was entertaining...sang, "Ice Ice Baby...Beep Beep..Beep Beep" and a few others that I believe he's learned in the truck...on the way to Home Depot or Bass Pro. He slept...most of the way. Will and I got some undivided attention, uninterrupted talk time.
It was a good day.
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