We got our court date! It's June 1st, and if all goes well, that will be the day we are officially Baby Sister's family! We should get our travel dates within a few days of the court hearing -- travel usually happens 4-6 weeks after court.
Now if it would just stop raining so I can get her room painted before she comes...
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Good News and Bad News
I always like to get the bad news first, so here it is: turns out our wait to travel is longer than we thought. I talked to the program director at our agency today, and it seems like maybe we got an old set of papers or something, because the wait between referral acceptance and our day in court is more like 3 months. On average, people are traveling 4 months after referral acceptance to bring their children home. That means we would travel in July, not May. I don't know how I'm going to wait that long! (I mean, I know I'll do it; I have no choice. But MAN is it going to be hard!)
On to the good news: we got 2 updated pictures of the baby today! She's even smiling in one of them -- you know that open mouthed smile that babies do? :) I so wish I could share them with you. She's so adorable!
Well, I'm off to stare at my daughter some more.
On to the good news: we got 2 updated pictures of the baby today! She's even smiling in one of them -- you know that open mouthed smile that babies do? :) I so wish I could share them with you. She's so adorable!
Well, I'm off to stare at my daughter some more.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Culture
I've been searching the internet for Amharic language courses, Ethiopian radio stations, videos, travelogues, etc. (Man, I love the World Wide Web!) Thought I'd share this music video I dig. The song is Dire Dawa by Adib Kadir. According to the info with the YouTube video, this is sung in the Harar language.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
What Happens Now?
1. Officially accept the referral. We did this on Wednesday March 11.
2. Send the adoption agency our Referral Acceptance Form, final fees payment, and a photo of our family that will be sent to the baby and shown to her every day. Done Monday March 16.
3. In Ethiopia, our dossier is prepared for court and registered with the Ethiopian government.
4. Our child's paperwork is gathered and registered with the government.
5. A court date is set, usually about 2-6 weeks after referral acceptance. If, after review, additional documents are needed, a new court date will be set to allow for time to get the documents in order. If everything is all set, the court will rule us her legal parents.
6. We get our travel dates. Travel usually occurs about a month after the favorable court ruling.
Meanwhile, back on the homefront, we need to paint, rearrange furniture, buy new furniture, decorate and set up her room, buy her clothes and some baby things we don't have left over from the boys, baby proof, etc., etc., etc. So many cute little baby girl clothes! I just can't wait to see her in them while I'm holding her in my arms!
2. Send the adoption agency our Referral Acceptance Form, final fees payment, and a photo of our family that will be sent to the baby and shown to her every day. Done Monday March 16.
3. In Ethiopia, our dossier is prepared for court and registered with the Ethiopian government.
4. Our child's paperwork is gathered and registered with the government.
5. A court date is set, usually about 2-6 weeks after referral acceptance. If, after review, additional documents are needed, a new court date will be set to allow for time to get the documents in order. If everything is all set, the court will rule us her legal parents.
6. We get our travel dates. Travel usually occurs about a month after the favorable court ruling.
Meanwhile, back on the homefront, we need to paint, rearrange furniture, buy new furniture, decorate and set up her room, buy her clothes and some baby things we don't have left over from the boys, baby proof, etc., etc., etc. So many cute little baby girl clothes! I just can't wait to see her in them while I'm holding her in my arms!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
***** WE GOT OUR REFERRAL!!!!!! *****
She is a beautiful baby girl about 6 months old! I am in complete shock. I was not expecting it to happen so soon. I spent the rest of the day yesterday after the call alternating between grinning and crying.
The agency wasn't able to get ahold of me, so they called John and told him at work, and then he called me. It took me about 5 minutes to believe it was true. Then we sat on the phone together repeatedly hitting the refresh button on our computers waiting for the email with all of her information and that long awaited picture. The first thing I thought when I saw her was, "Oh my God, she's beautiful!" and the second was, "Can I be instantly biased?" :) But my mom thinks she's beautiful, too, so it must be true. LOL
That is one of the most amazing parts of this: my mom was suppose to visit last October, but it had to be postponed, so she's visiting now. I am so, so happy that she got to be here when we got the news.
I wish I could give you all more details and post her picture, but the Ethiopian government prohibits any public posting of a child's image or information until she is legally adopted. If all goes well, the courts should rule us her legal parents in about 2 months. About a month after that we will travel to Ethiopia to meet our daughter and bring her home!
We could not be more excited!
The agency wasn't able to get ahold of me, so they called John and told him at work, and then he called me. It took me about 5 minutes to believe it was true. Then we sat on the phone together repeatedly hitting the refresh button on our computers waiting for the email with all of her information and that long awaited picture. The first thing I thought when I saw her was, "Oh my God, she's beautiful!" and the second was, "Can I be instantly biased?" :) But my mom thinks she's beautiful, too, so it must be true. LOL
That is one of the most amazing parts of this: my mom was suppose to visit last October, but it had to be postponed, so she's visiting now. I am so, so happy that she got to be here when we got the news.
I wish I could give you all more details and post her picture, but the Ethiopian government prohibits any public posting of a child's image or information until she is legally adopted. If all goes well, the courts should rule us her legal parents in about 2 months. About a month after that we will travel to Ethiopia to meet our daughter and bring her home!
We could not be more excited!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Doing the Happy Dance!
I just received notice that our dossier was sent to Ethiopia today! Oh, it has been a long time since I've let myself get this excited!! I am SOOOO doing the Happy Dance right now! :)
According to the email from our agency, we are now "officially waiting to be matched." It's about a 6 month wait for a referral.
My insides feel like all my Irish ancestors are doing a jig with me. :)
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Update: I just tracked the package, and it actually was mailed yesterday. It is now in Leipzig, Germany!
According to the email from our agency, we are now "officially waiting to be matched." It's about a 6 month wait for a referral.
My insides feel like all my Irish ancestors are doing a jig with me. :)
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Update: I just tracked the package, and it actually was mailed yesterday. It is now in Leipzig, Germany!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Waiting to Wait
On Monday (two days ago) we got a postcard from the carrier service in Washington D.C. letting us know that our documents had gone through the authentication process and were being sent back to our agency. So we're another step closer to having our dossier sent overseas and starting The Big Wait for a referral. :)
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