I received Travel Approval! One huge step accomplished. On Monday my agency will request my American Consulate appointment. As soon as I have the date of the appointment confirmed I can book my travel.
Still waiting for my Visa; GW isn't moving fast enough for me on that one.
My fab mommy gang came over today to help with the final baby proofing. Susan's husband Sam even installed a baby gate and moved furniture! So great!
I spent evenings last week scanning, copying, and printing necessary documents for the trip. Still need to figure out using the Cloud, and Skype too.
So little time left yet it feels like it will never get here!
M
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Strange coincidences
People talk in the IA and A communities about how in adoption, the right child finds the right parent. Call it fate, divine intervention, or what you will – it seems there is a greater hand in this process.
I’m a big believer and when I feel that tug of influence or coincidence I take notice. I’ll tell you BB’s future name is influenced by what seemed like weird similarities that happened early on in my adoption journey (I’m not sharing her name until we return from China).
Ever since I started this blog, I’ve referred to her as BeachBaby or BB. I was sitting on the beach when that moment of certainty about motherhood came over me. I love the beach, any beach – the ocean is my place. Heck, I chose that funky picture of me on the beach as my blog photo.
So is it fate that BB comes to me from an orphanage in a coastal community in China? Is it coincidence that she’s spent her entire life about two blocks from the ocean, perhaps able to hear its waves every morning? I think not. I think she really is my BeachBaby.
Sadly, she’s going to leave that warm beach town and end up in Ohio. In March. Brr.
Here is the latest update:
·I am waiting on paperwork – waiting and waiting. Travel Approval, Visa application, and renewed fingerprints are out pending processing. You’d think after 5+ years of waiting I’d be good at this. Nope.
·The nursery is done, save finding new knobs for her vintage dresser.
·All of the wonderful clothes my mommy friends have handed down to me have been sorted and put away. BTW – the child has 9 pairs of jeans. She’d better not grow too fast!
·I’ve bought most of the items I’ll need for the trip and the suitcase is in the staging area (aka the dining room table).
·I’m still looking for the right daycare; she will be just shy of 18 months when I go back to work so that opens up additional childcare centers that only start at toddler age.
·Prepping to interview pediatricians, although she will have a super physical at the IA clinic at Nationwide Children’s right after we return from China.
·I have most of the necessary gear (car seat, stroller, carrier) but I’m still baby-proofing the house.
·According to my mommy gang, I don’t have enough toys. I argue that I’d like to see how she reacts to the ones I take on the trip before I get too many at the house. I’ve been advised to forgo toys with loud sounds and flashing lights at first – they might be too scary.
·I am re-working the care package. I did have a blanket that I unwrapped and slept with for a few days, hoping to trigger some sense-memory on Gotcha Day, but that can’t be sent because it is “used”. I put together a little soft album for her with pictures of her new family and home.
·I’m reading and re-reading my parenting and adoptive parenting books. I’ve gotten the most out of, get this, the Baby Owner’s Manual and Toddler Owner’s Manual by Dr. Borgenicht, et al. The books are short and to the point, with simple diagrams (change a diaper, burp the baby, configure a nursery). Goofy, but actually a great help. They are small enough to take on the trip too.
That's all for today. Keep thinking those good thoughts!
M
I’m a big believer and when I feel that tug of influence or coincidence I take notice. I’ll tell you BB’s future name is influenced by what seemed like weird similarities that happened early on in my adoption journey (I’m not sharing her name until we return from China).
Ever since I started this blog, I’ve referred to her as BeachBaby or BB. I was sitting on the beach when that moment of certainty about motherhood came over me. I love the beach, any beach – the ocean is my place. Heck, I chose that funky picture of me on the beach as my blog photo.
So is it fate that BB comes to me from an orphanage in a coastal community in China? Is it coincidence that she’s spent her entire life about two blocks from the ocean, perhaps able to hear its waves every morning? I think not. I think she really is my BeachBaby.
Sadly, she’s going to leave that warm beach town and end up in Ohio. In March. Brr.
Here is the latest update:
·I am waiting on paperwork – waiting and waiting. Travel Approval, Visa application, and renewed fingerprints are out pending processing. You’d think after 5+ years of waiting I’d be good at this. Nope.
·The nursery is done, save finding new knobs for her vintage dresser.
·All of the wonderful clothes my mommy friends have handed down to me have been sorted and put away. BTW – the child has 9 pairs of jeans. She’d better not grow too fast!
·I’ve bought most of the items I’ll need for the trip and the suitcase is in the staging area (aka the dining room table).
·I’m still looking for the right daycare; she will be just shy of 18 months when I go back to work so that opens up additional childcare centers that only start at toddler age.
·Prepping to interview pediatricians, although she will have a super physical at the IA clinic at Nationwide Children’s right after we return from China.
·I have most of the necessary gear (car seat, stroller, carrier) but I’m still baby-proofing the house.
·According to my mommy gang, I don’t have enough toys. I argue that I’d like to see how she reacts to the ones I take on the trip before I get too many at the house. I’ve been advised to forgo toys with loud sounds and flashing lights at first – they might be too scary.
·I am re-working the care package. I did have a blanket that I unwrapped and slept with for a few days, hoping to trigger some sense-memory on Gotcha Day, but that can’t be sent because it is “used”. I put together a little soft album for her with pictures of her new family and home.
·I’m reading and re-reading my parenting and adoptive parenting books. I’ve gotten the most out of, get this, the Baby Owner’s Manual and Toddler Owner’s Manual by Dr. Borgenicht, et al. The books are short and to the point, with simple diagrams (change a diaper, burp the baby, configure a nursery). Goofy, but actually a great help. They are small enough to take on the trip too.
That's all for today. Keep thinking those good thoughts!
M
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Flurries (of activity)!
It's been an amazing week and a half.
The referral was followed by medical records and more bits of information about the first year of BB's life. Most of that will be kept private, but everything tells a tale of a healthy, alert, and well-cared for little girl.
The next phase was a bit of deja vu, with more forms and paperwork to fill out, phone calls and appointments to make, and emails to exchange. My letter seeking confirmation (LSC) has been sent off - formally acknowledging BB is to be mine.
I met with a pediatrician specializing in international adoption and she gave BB a two thumbs up. I have to compliment Nationwide Children's Hospital IA clinic for their great staff - they have been amazing.
My next step is putting together a care package to send to BB, including a disposable camera so the SWI staff can take pictures of BB and all her wonderful caregivers. Important memories to keep for her.
I can't stop looking at her picture, by my bedside at home and on my desk at work - I just cannot believe how wonderful life has become!
M
The referral was followed by medical records and more bits of information about the first year of BB's life. Most of that will be kept private, but everything tells a tale of a healthy, alert, and well-cared for little girl.
The next phase was a bit of deja vu, with more forms and paperwork to fill out, phone calls and appointments to make, and emails to exchange. My letter seeking confirmation (LSC) has been sent off - formally acknowledging BB is to be mine.
I met with a pediatrician specializing in international adoption and she gave BB a two thumbs up. I have to compliment Nationwide Children's Hospital IA clinic for their great staff - they have been amazing.
My next step is putting together a care package to send to BB, including a disposable camera so the SWI staff can take pictures of BB and all her wonderful caregivers. Important memories to keep for her.
I can't stop looking at her picture, by my bedside at home and on my desk at work - I just cannot believe how wonderful life has become!
M
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Cut off is the 10th!
And that's ME!
Just waiting for THE CALL. It could be today, tomorrow, or anytime over the next week!
I'm hoping for an early Christmas gift!
M
Just waiting for THE CALL. It could be today, tomorrow, or anytime over the next week!
I'm hoping for an early Christmas gift!
M
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Missed it by That Much!
The latest referral batch came through on Monday - they matched through August 7, 2006. 3 days, I missed the cutoff by 3 measly days!
It's going to be a long December.
It's likely the next batch won't make it in time for Christmas - it will be closer to New Year's Eve.
There's no guarantee I'm in this next batch, though the odds makers (and a certain predictive website) say I'm in. Truth be told, only those families with LIDs of August 8, 2006 are guaranteed.
If all goes well, I will be travelling to China sometime in February!
M
It's going to be a long December.
It's likely the next batch won't make it in time for Christmas - it will be closer to New Year's Eve.
There's no guarantee I'm in this next batch, though the odds makers (and a certain predictive website) say I'm in. Truth be told, only those families with LIDs of August 8, 2006 are guaranteed.
If all goes well, I will be travelling to China sometime in February!
M
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
2 months later
I haven't posted in over two months. Bad blogger!
Let me preface my post today with the most recent stats - last month's referrals were through August 2, 2006. This month's referrals are imminent.
So September's referrals were huge; they matched two full weeks worth of LIDs. That was fabulous and very exciting! Since then the anticipation has just ramped up and I've been trying to keep myself busy. Take my mind off these last few bits of waiting. And I thought the last 5 years were tough - I had no idea!
October's referrals were much smaller so I've really no idea what is coming with the next batch. But it is coming. And there are only 8 days of LIDs left between August 2, 2006 and me. My heart is racing!
And you know what I'm most looking forward to, after the obvious - hearing those words, seeing her picture, knowing it's real? Telling the people at work! Weird, right!? Everyone else in my life already knows; but at work it's this huge secret. Every time I'm in a planning meeting, or revising the project schedule, I want to speak up and let someone know about this new factor. I feel guilty. Just an extra element of anxiety.
Everyone hang on - more news will be coming soon!
M
Let me preface my post today with the most recent stats - last month's referrals were through August 2, 2006. This month's referrals are imminent.
So September's referrals were huge; they matched two full weeks worth of LIDs. That was fabulous and very exciting! Since then the anticipation has just ramped up and I've been trying to keep myself busy. Take my mind off these last few bits of waiting. And I thought the last 5 years were tough - I had no idea!
October's referrals were much smaller so I've really no idea what is coming with the next batch. But it is coming. And there are only 8 days of LIDs left between August 2, 2006 and me. My heart is racing!
And you know what I'm most looking forward to, after the obvious - hearing those words, seeing her picture, knowing it's real? Telling the people at work! Weird, right!? Everyone else in my life already knows; but at work it's this huge secret. Every time I'm in a planning meeting, or revising the project schedule, I want to speak up and let someone know about this new factor. I feel guilty. Just an extra element of anxiety.
Everyone hang on - more news will be coming soon!
M
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