Don't forget to read the PS - big adoption news.

Todd's birthday was Thursday. Unfortunately Mercer still had his "d-condition" and couldn't go to school. Todd met with the social worker that morning for our final post-placement visit and then had to work from home that day b/c I had missed so much work earlier in the week. Honestly, I think it was a nice way to spend his birthday -- at home with his son. We met at a restaurant that night, then came home & sat by the pond. It was a pretty low-key day for the two of them, but they both had a good time.

Friday, we went back to the pediatrician to check out Mercer's condition. The fluid in his ears was gone so the antibiotic did it's job. He got a clean bill of health (his "d" had mostly gone away at that point and the doc thought that it was definitely from the antibiotic.)

Sunday - SUNDAY - Sunday was father's day. Todd's first. Mercer (and I) got a porch swing for the house and a plaque to put on it. (You can click on the picture to enlarge and read it.) Todd put the swing together first thing in the morning, then we went to breakfast with some neighbors, then went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens where they have a kinetic (moving) sculpture exhibit. Most of the sculptures moved in the wind. Some of them were moved by people, but one of them was moved by sound. It was really cool! We hung out there ALL DAY long. Unbeknownst to us, dads got in 1/2 price. The gardens had a festival going (a little train that the kids could ride around on, festival games and prizes, and stuff like cotton candy / popcorn / snow cones... all of this stuff was for free too!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os7hUSmNxoo Here's a quick shot of Mercer not doing too much but looking oh-so-stylish in his bucket hat.

We ran an errand to home depot to get eye-bolts to hang the swing. (Father's day wouldn't be complete w/out a trip there, right?)

Then, we went to a combined birthday party for a 1 year old and a 4 year old. It was at a pool, but we went mainly to socialize & catch up. Mercer & I got nailed by a squirt gun. He wailed (either b/c I squealed or b/c he ended up with a face-full of water). Hate to say it, but it was funny. We were able to calm him down quickly. Todd told me later that the most common thing that father's do on Father's day -- according to the dads that he had talked to at the pool party or at work -- is to take a NAP. We did do a lot Sunday and were exhausted. I think he wishes he could've squeezed in a nap at some point. A friend of his told him that was a "rookie mistake" but he would get his nap next year.

I'm going to run for now. I've been working a lot this week trying to make up for time missed last week and am really tired. Let's see... Mercer's "firsts" were blowing bubbles & raspberries. Is that what it's called when he makes the noise with his mouth and it vibrates his lips? Raspberries? Todd thinks it's because the baby we were with on Sunday most of the day was doing it all day & Mercer picked it up? Another first: we were eating dinner by the pond tonight & a big airplane flew overhead. Mercer heard it, saw it, and followed it 'til it flew out of sight. Very cool!

Good night.

Candice

PS -- We have our adoption finalization date set: September 5th. We go to court that day to make this whole thing official. Mercer's "adoption day." Woo hoo!