Heavy hearts...

We saw it coming, but we were still praying...not for us but for all the waiting families and all the children living in orphanages.

Our hearts are sad today, as we heard the news about Russians finally banning adoptions to Americans...devastating news.

We will pray for those families and we hope that they don’t give up on their dream to expand their families through adoption.

God works in mysterious ways and what at times may seem as the end it may actually mean new beginnings
I & A

Someone was being a good girl!

Yep, that must have been me because I got something for Christmas; something I wanted for a while now…

I got my super cute pink Nikon and How to take cute baby pictures book :0)

Yey, Santa Rocks! Now I get to spend some time getting acquainted with it. 

Can’t wait to take pictures of our baby girl!

I & A

Baby journal...

Yey! We just received the journal we ordered and can’t wait to mail to Ann from Red thread, she will forward it to our baby’s foster home!

The journal was created by an adoptive mom and it has over 60 questions in English and Chinese about baby’s likes/dislikes, daily schedule, sleep patterns, milestones etc. We are just praying that the Foster family will make time to fill it out. We will of course appreciate any information provided (Thank you Krista for the link). We wonder if we will be able to meet the foster family while we are in China? We are still going to have a list of questions for caregivers in China. Hopefully someone will be able to answer them for us (although we understand that there are many unknowns when it comes to international adoptions.

 We just have to pray and hope for the best…)

I & A

Worth it!

For the past three years we have been completing paperwork and updating paperwork but now it’s different… Now we know there is a precious little girl waiting for us in China.

Here's what we are up to lately, we have a long to do list and we have only a few months to go.  Why a few months?

 Because our baby girl’s birthday will be during summer time and we don’t want to miss it.

Here’s what we have done so far:

·        Signed up with new adoption agency

·        Received our referral

·        Were granted a waiver

·        Were granted pa

·        Signed up with New home study agency

·        Updated clearances

·        Gathered documents required to update our home study

Here’s the short version of our to do list

• Update our home study
• Submit 800A application to USCIS
• Compile documentation required for dossier
• Complete and submit dossier
• Get advice from other families who adopted from China
• Get ready for baby
• Make travel arrangements
• Travel to complete our adoption

I & A

Russian adoptions in the news again...

As you already know, we were in the process of adopting from Russia. It was a looooooong process full of drama and heartache.

We decided to stop our Russian adoption for good in October. That’s when we switch to China program. Today our hearts are sad as we just found out that Russian adoptions may be banned for US prospective adoptive parents (Politics of course is the name of the game).

Unfortunately the ones who suffer are the millions of children that currently live in orphanages waiting to be adopted.

Those children will age out of the orphanages and be sent to fend for themselves; Many unfortunately will have to deal with a crime, prostitution or worst.

We will never understand the reason why we had to go through such a roller-coaster adoption ride (and all that money down the drain)but it was just not meant to be. We just thank God for guiding us into the right direction so that we could find out Little Cupcake.

Please keep Russian orphans in your prayers and the politicians who have the last say.

                                        Moscow May 2012

It's beginning to feel a lot like...

No, we are not ready for Christmas just yet, but we have done some shopping and decorated our little Christmas tree :0)

It was such a wonderful feeling when we placed this year’s ornament on our tree! Since we started our adoption process we have been getting baby ornaments for our tree. The first year (2010) says “Expecting a baby girl”  (2011) says “ waiting for Gracie” and this year (2012) says “ Gracie almost home”

We got our Christmas gifts early this year, we received our baby referral, waiver and PA from China~ there’s nothing else we could ask for.

We are so happy and thankful :0)

I & A

Baby update!!!

 As soon as I woke up I checked my email and there it was...

 the update we have been waiting for!

She is so beautiful!!! We received some pictures and her current height and weight.
Oh my goodness. I couldn't wait so I forwarded pictures of our Little Cupcake to my Honey and as soon as he was done with his patient we were on the phone talking about her. So funny because we were going to meet up for lunch but just couldn't wait.

Crazy, a few minutes later I received another email from our adoption agency with updates and same pictures.
Not sure how Ann got a hold of those pictures but I really don't care.
We really appreciate it. We foresee lots of care packages in a near future ;0)

OMG check out the pictures, our baby girl is getting so big, Hope we can still carry her by the time we go get her LOL
What a wonderful way to start our day! 

I & A                                         

        Referral Picture

                                                 October 2012

                                                 December 2012

So much to do!

We have been reading about adoption, attachment/bonding, helping baby deal with loss and grief, multiculturalism etc.

Oh my goodness! There is so much to learn and do! 

Sometimes we wonder if we will ever be prepared…

We thought we were so ready after all, this adoption has been in the making for three years but now it is starting to feel more real. We are very excited and so looking forward to finally meeting our baby girl but we are also kinda freaking out a little, ;0)

I & A

                                                                        

                                                     

First care package!!!

We are so excited; we are sending our baby’s first care package. !!!
Our social worker provided us with the name of various companies that are able to deliver packages to babies in China orphanages and foster care too.
We have decided to use Red Thread. They come highly recommended and Ann returned our emails promptly (which is always nice).

 Can't wait to get baby updates...

OMG we have a baby girl waiting for us in China!!! 

I & A

   

  A few things for our baby girl :0)

Still in the process...

We are still in the process of sharing the news with family and friends.

When we first share the news that we were planning to adopt (three years ago) we encountered a mixture of excitement and indifference;

We were totally caught off guard by some of the reactions, so this time around we are only sharing the news with our closest and dearest.

Here’s the way we announced it:

We gave goody bags with “It’s a girl” tags.

 At first they looked at us with somewhat puzzled faces but they caught up quick. Of course we had to show the pictures!

Finally!!! We are ecstatic about sharing the news with those who truly love and care about us.

Announcements...

We are still in the process of sharing the news with family and friends.

When we first share the news that we were planning to adopt (three years ago) we encountered a mixture of excitement and indifference;

We were totally caught off guard by some of the reactions, so this time around we are only sharing the news with our closest and dearest.

Here’s the way we announced it:

We gave goody bags with “It’s a girl” tags.

 At first they looked at us with somewhat puzzled faces but they caught up quick. Of course we had to show the pictures!

Finally!!! We are ecstatic about sharing the news with those who truly love and care about us.

Time to celebrate...

                                                            

My Honey and I went to the Melting Pot; we were having a grand ole time talking and making plans for the future.  We have been waiting for this day for soooo long we just had to celebrate…

The waitresses comes along and ask if we would like any cocktails, of course we said yes. We placed the order and resume our conversation.

When she came back, after giving us our cocktails she asks: Are you celebrating anything special tonight? Of course we blurted out “we’re having a baby”.

The look of horror on her face as she looked from my face to my Martini and back was just too funny.  We  immediately said we are adopting a baby from China. Her face immediately relaxed and then embarrassment (her face just turned red)She tried to apologize but we just ignored it and continue to enjoy ourselves.

That’s what happens when people assume…

I & A

Officially paper pregnant (again)

We signed up with our new Home Study agency. 

Agh, we are so tired of doing and updating our home study… 

the good thing is that this will be it.

The home study we will finally use in order to complete our adoption. Awww our last home study! Sounds like music to my ears.   

Oh Joy we are paper pregnant... let the madness fun begin! 

I & A

China says...

Yes!!! China officials have granted us a waiver and PA allowing us to pursue the adoption of our Little Cupcake!

We are beyond excited! 

We laughed danced and even shed happy tears. 

We have waited so long for this day. 

We are thrilled and so thankful.
It's kinda crazy right now...

 we are so excited we can't even think straight....

We are going to be parents!!!

I & A