Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!!

I want this Bunny now!!!!

Authenticated :o)

 Getting closer to our baby girl, yeah!

                                             Got our documents authenticated!!!!

 

 Pretty Seals :0)

a little hiccup...

A little hiccup with a notary issue... what could have been a big issue was thankfully easily corrected. Thank you Jesus! 

So now we have been allowed to proceed to the next stage, woohoo!

Which will take us to the authentication of our documents :0)

In a nutshell, we get to go to our State Department  where they will verify the signature of  the  notary we hired and will place pretty seals to show proof to China that our notary is legit (China cannot just take our words for it you know...)

For now, Thinking, dreaming and praying for our little girl…

Favorable determination :o)

We are super excited because we received a favorable determination from USCIS (evening 3/18/13)!

What does that mean?

We are now able to complete and submit our dossier to China!

Yes, they used the biometrics we updated for Russia back in November :o)

We just scanned our documents and emailed them to our social worker for her approval before we take them for Authentication etc. 

Not feeling well but that doesn't stop me from celebrating! 

We are so happy…another step closer to our baby girl :0)

And of course we had to get something  for our Little Cupcake :0)

 for Gracie...

 Wishes from the parents-to-be

 Here’s Ling-Ling 

( My Honey chose a cute Chinese name for this adorable lovey)       

Patience... I need to patience!

The purpose of starting this blog was mainly to record our adoption journey and hopefully share it with our daughter someday.

We want our daughter to know that she was wanted, prayed for, and loved even before we met her. We want her to know that we are honored to be her parents and we are very grateful because we were able to fulfill our dreams of completing our family through adoption.

With that said, I really wanted to write a nice entry in our blog today but I guess I will have to do that some other time. Today, I just feel the need to vent a little…

I consider myself an assertive person but I have been caught off guard a little too many times and I am so upset with myself for not responding accordingly…

I hate how some people (some highly educated people included, although intelligence have nothing to do with sensitivity) that take it upon themselves to ask things such as “why don’t you/can’t you get pregnant? why can't you have "your own kid"? or Why don’t you get a surrogate?  

Really? Are you serious?

Adoption is not something families take lightly, it involves lots of soul searching, lots of prayer, lots of research, lots of questions and many discussions with professionals as well as other families who have been through the process.

I have to admit  with those questions I always get caught off guard and find myself offering explanations as if to justify myself. I am so angry right now I could cry.

Adoption is not second best and adoption was definitely our decision! Why would anyone think it’s OK to ask such personal questions? I would never dare to ask anyone such questions! How would they like if I ask… Why did you get pregnant? or Why would you get pregnant again? And offer an alternative such as… you should adopt- there are so many orphans in need of families in the world. Why would you want to bring another kid into this world?  They probably would think I am crossing the line right? Probably kick my butt for it. I just don’t understand how is it any different?

Am I overly sensitive? This has happened several times but for some strange reason it all hit me at once.  All this time I have been more concerned about not hurting anyone’s feelings or being rude when the offended one is me! Not sure if anyone else has been through this and I wish I knew what the right answer would be. I spoke with my Honey about it and we both agreed to answer with adoption is our choice period. 

I am still upset about it, I will survive I know, but I definitely have to practice for when people start making “comments” or “asking questions” when our baby comes home. I know one thing… Mamma Bear will not be so nice and polite!

This is what I want to ask...

This is what sometimes I pray for...    

Story time...

We just received the book we ordered from Amazon (“When You were born in China”)I wanted to check it out right away but my Honey asked me to please wait so we could read it together.

 This is not the first time we read together so I know how thing usually turn out but I agreed because I still love when he reads to me...

So I waited until he was finally ready for our story…

He starts to read the book...

As usual, my Honey starts making stuff up (including sound effects)

 

 And as usual this is what we end up happening…

He’s such a clown, he always make me laugh… and I love him for that!

I know our baby girl is going to adore her Daddy :o)

By the way- the book is pretty good (for older children) It answers questions and explain reasons why children are abandoned /adopted in China.

Oh my goodness look what just arrived!

Nothing adoption related...but the cutest little bag we ordered from Etsy for our Little Cupcake!

                                                     So darn cute!!

                                                        Love it!!!

Baby gear...

We decided to check one of the few things we still have to get from our “must have” lists… a stroller!

We have done some research and pretty much both agreed that the Maclaren is our favorite choice so it was time to go check them out.

Pretty embarrassing having to ask on how to operate those, ha-ha... 

Not sure if we will bring a stroller with us when we travel 

(not sure how convenient it will be to use a stroller in China but we are pretty sure we will need it for the airport. We think our girl will be too big for carrier by the time we get her but we got the Ergo just in case). 

Guess we have to do a little research on that…

We were asked if we are having a Baby shower, we simply said no but we will be having a little celebration (no baby gifts just monetary donations directly to Love without Boundaries - July 2013 :0)

 We are blessed and we are so excited!!!

 

Can somebody show me how to close this thing?

Biometrics appointment...

We received an appointment for our biometrics (March 19^th) Ugh, we were hoping we would be able to use the fingerprints from USCIS we just updated November 2012.
We wanted to use our updated biometrics in the hopes that it would shorten the wait time to get USCIS approval, but of course not...no such thing :0(

We know there’s no point in trying to “rush” things because when it comes to adoption we have zero control, only God is in Control, We should know better by now…

We just want to finally meet our girl, she is all we talk about :0)we wonder how she is doing and how much she has grown (we know she likes to eat :0)

The Daddy-o has been helping select and buys stuff for our girl (he has good taste I must say!) The funny thing… He loves tutus for little girls, every time he show me something it has a tutu attached (who knew…) We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast (out of all places)and end up buying a cute outfit for our little Cupcake (with a tutu attached of course :0) 

 Anyways, we have another care package ready to send hopefully tomorrow ( we need to get more pictures for baby album to send with care package :0)

We will continue to pray so that the good Lord will guard our hearts from the uncertainties and disappointments that are typical of international adoption, We will continue to hold-fast to his calling, and continue to pray for our child’s safety and well-being. We are thankful because we know God is always working behind the scenes...

                                            A tutu for Daddy’s girl :0)

                                             Bunny for care package

While we wait (to-do-list) in trimesters...

Life is hectic and there's always so much to do!

We need checklists to stay on track and make sure everything is taken care of before we bring our girl home. We hate the "waiting time" throughout the adoption process, we want to have our girl with us now! but the wait time gives us the time that we need to prepare and get things in order before we complete our adoption. We know once our baby girl is home things will drastically change and we will not have as much time as we do have now. We know that once she comes home it's going to be all about her :0) at least until we get the hang of a routine etc. 

We will make sure we take advantage of the "waiting time" to prepare as best as we can, even-though we know that we will never be fully prepared for all the changes that will take place. We understand that there will be times we will do and learn as we go and that's OK...

The wait is very difficult and we still have ways to go, so we will use that time to cross off as many things of our list as we can before we travel to China.

Again we divided our list in "trimesters" not only to make it more manageable but also because it reminds us that this is not just more adoption-related tasks to complete... we are preparing to bring our child home! 

First Trimester

Very important:

Make health and exercise a priority (*working on it)

Take vitamins and supplements (*throughout the process)

Learning is always ongoing but we will take time to learn more about;
 China adoption process

China history, culture and traditions

Child development, attachment/bonding, grief and loss etc.

Books I want to Read:

o   Adopting a daughter from China

o    The Chinese Adoption Handbook

o     A passage to the heart

For Fun…

Do lots of fun dates (on going :0)

Second trimester

Very important…

o   Take a look at our life insurance policy and see if anything needs adjusting, discuss final details and finish living will

o   ask Godparents

o   Start arranging for work coverage (in preparation to travel)

o     Learn about Re-adoption procedure, how to obtain social security card etc.

Preparing for baby…

o    Find out what baby will need (clothes, toys, baby gear etc.)

o   Do research for big baby items such as car seat, crib and strollers and Start making purchases :0)

Health related…

o    Research and interview pediatricians

o   Discuss immunizations /re-immunization for baby

o     Vaccinations before we travel  :0(

o    Contact Early Intervention and learn more about the program

Learn more about…

o   basic Chinese words 

o    baby sign words  

Books I want to Read: 

 o   Toddler adoption: The Weaver’s craft

o   The Connected Child

o   20 things adopted kids wish their adoptive parents knew

For fun… Since I plan to take tons of baby pictures & videos, here some things I want to learn more about…

o   how to use my new camera

o   how to take baby pictures

o    how to organize digital pictures (working on it)

o     how to Video format/edit/captions(working on it)

3rd trimester

Very important

o   Narrow down baby names and make final choice about baby’s name (yeah we know :0)

o   Start baby’s college fund (never too early :0)

  

Preparing for baby…

o   Baby-proof home

o   Get nursery ready (for now just her crib in our bedroom) 

o   Order baby announcements

o    Get car seat 

o   Start Baby’s Life Book

o   Purchase baby “must have”  items for travel

Health related…

o   Enroll baby in health insurance policy

o   Schedule post-adoption checkup

o    Get prescription medication (antibiotics)

For fun…

o    Go on a baby-moon  :0)

Books I want to read:

o   I love you rituals

o   When two become three

o   Stay home, stay happy

o   I also want to read my articles on parenting and traveling with toddlers (Pinterest)(Pinterest :0)

Preparing to travel…

o   Start making purchases for our trip -  toiletries / gifts/"must haves" etc.

o    Start researching travel insurance, air fares etc.

o   Contact bank/credit card to let them know we will be traveling to China and wire money as per agreement with adoption agency

o     Make arrangements (home)

o   Make a list of questions to ask about our baby once we are in China

o   .Ask agency (travel/province related questions)

o   Make a family video/album for baby 

o    Pack suitcases :0)

adoption in trimesters...

 Going through the adoption process is exciting, emotional, and sometimes stressful.

When a woman becomes pregnant she goes through 3 trimesters as she prepares physically and emotionally to welcome her child. There are obvious signs as she anticipates and prepares for her baby: She goes through the morning sickness, growing belly, baby kicks, prenatal visits, ultra-sounds etc.
When parents are going through the process of adoption we don’t have the belly or ultrasounds to announce to the world that we are also expecting…

It can be sometimes difficult to just enjoy the process because the process itself can be so unpredictable, but that doesn't mean we are less excited! We just prepare to welcome our child in a different way.

Of course there’s the never-ending paper chase and the hurry up and wait until the next step we all have to go through but the end result is the same… our precious child.

For those who do not understand how parents can love children who are not biologically related we will say:  “real mother/father” are the ones who love, care, nurture, encourage and support their child even when they do not share the same DNA.

~Our Adoption steps in “trimesters”~

First trimester-

Find adoption agency & Complete formal application

Receive referral, Discuss medical conditions with specialist

Accept referral

Gather documents (birth certificate, marriage certificates etc)           

Complete home study

Pre adoption education

Obtain passports

Second trimester

Complete USCIS process (1800A)

Obtain approval from USCIS

Compile required documents, notarize and authenticate documents

Complete and submit dossier

Third trimester

Obtain Lid (Log in Date)

Obtain Letter to Seeking Confirmation (LOA)

We are pretty sure there are other documents we will need to get…

Receive authorization to travel

Prepare to travel

Travel to China-complete adoption

Oh my goodness, it sure is a crazy process but it's going to be so worth it!!!

Elephant pregnancy...

3 years ago we attended our very first pre-adoption training. We received lot's, LOTS of information related to international adoption and we were thrilled to receive "the binder" with tons of forms (very intimidating by the way) to complete our dossier. Little did we know how many times we had to do and re-do that paperwork...

While we were in our training, our social worker said that “out elephant pregnancy was officially confirmed”. We were told that our adoption would take approximately 18-24 months (from that point to bringing our baby home) Just like female elephant that carry her unborn calf for 18 to 24 months. (Yeah let’s not take offend to that!) Anyway, we remember saying “we hope we don’t have to wait that long”. Ha! I guess the joke was on us...

We got a cute little elephant to commemorate the special occasion.

Since then, our manual has received a mini-make- over   :o)

                                                                                   

           Our first dossier manual...

                               

Our current dossier for China...

We keep hearing that "adoption is not for the faint of heart" and that is very true
We continue to pray for strength and patience as we continue our journey…