Getting Things Together

I love packing. I love putting outfits together. I get all excited to see things progressing. Here are a few photos to show my fun!

Coming Home Outfit!

Seeing if we can actually use the Ergo - YES!

Little outfits - ready to pack!

An assortment of toys and games for travel - with more on the way!

Mommy's having FUN. 

"Boob Job"

I have to share! Don't worry - it's great.

"Boob Job"

Paper Pregnancy

I can tell you a major difference in the past few weeks. The whole paper pregnant thing is for real. Today I went to mass with the school kids. Just about everything made me want to cry. No joke. Not because of sadness, but because of overwhelming joy. I'm just so excited, I can barely contain myself.

Everything is moving in the right direction for the very first time in a very long time.

We hope to get the translated referral this week. We got our USCIS approval last Monday. We got new photos of our precious girl last Tuesday... and she is absolutely gorgeous. I am truly going to have a fun time with that little girl - she looks to love dresses and all things girlie. I see manicures in my future. I have started pulling out the clothes that I will want to take when we travel and I am in heaven. I have been waiting for this for so long - it's surreal. I sent her a small photo album today! EEEK!

As soon as we get her recent measurements, I will have a better size guestimate, but according to the old info we have and if she has followed her curve on the DS growth charts, she is nearly the exact same size as Christopher... about 35-40 inches and 35-40 pounds... which puts her in a 4/4t. All I need now is her little footsie size :)

After the translation comes, it's I-800, Article 5, Visa and TRAVEL....

WE ARE COMING PRECIOUS LOVE!

My Heart Is Bursting!

Yesterday was a very, very busy day. I was running around like a crazy person getting ready for Paul Vincent's birthday celebration. He was having a school party (cookie cake) with his classmates around noon. Then, after school, I would be picking him up with three of his friends from school - movie, pizza and cake. I was in a frenzy of picking up party things and the cookie and such. As normal - I always would have a few thoughts of my daughter as I do my daily tasks. Typical daily stuff...

Then it happened.

I jumped in my car to get the boys from school.

I tapped my mailbox on my phone and tuned the radio and was on my way.

As I made my way, I glanced down at my phone. 

And I had to pull over. 

An email. Titled "Happy Easter". From our agency. I closed my eyes and prayed to God. I asked Him for His will to be done and to guide my ways with this coming information.

And I opened my eyes and read the email.

"Dear Katie and Paul,

Today our office in C*l*mbia received the referral of "Rose" made by the ICBF
region of B*g*tá.
The official referral includes all of the adoption documents for the child,
medical history and social background with a letter from ICBF.

The next steps with approximate time frames are..."

And I couldn't read any more. I was too excited. And I was crying. Boohoo tears. Mixed with "Thank you, Jesus!" and "Praise God!" I frantically tried to reach Paul. I couldn't! Who could I tell?? I couldn't share until Paul knew!! I was a mess. 

I dried my eyes and pulled back onto the road. I made it to the carpool line and managed to contain myself. I was slowly entering the next phase of receiving news of this matter... shock.

The boys got into the car and we made it back to the house - so that I could FINALLY tell Paul. We both shared our excitement, and a little disbelief, that after nearly TWO YEARS OF FIGHTING we will meet our daughter. 

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!!

Waiting for Our Officer

We are waiting for our USCIS officer. I check daily by email. Every day I get a speedy response of "no". Yesterday's email even told me to check back in at the END of next WEEK! No way!! I'm not going give you a break! You will know my name! You will memorize my SIM number! At night, when you sleep, you will see my email address. LOL!

Biometrics!

There are many 'little' things that add up to make big things in the adoption world. One little thing is the biometrics appointment. You get an appointment to an office - an office you can barely even tell is there - for electronic fingerprints. It's quiet, clean and very orderly. It takes *maybe* 5 minutes. To a parent going through international adoption, that 5 minute appointment is HUGE. If you are lucky, your local office that might let you in a few days early. In our case, our appointment was scheduled at just the right time. We had been out of town for Spring Break and would not have been able to get in any earlier. Thanks be to God for the perfect appointment date!

After our appointment, I immediately sent an email to the USCIS office and let them know it was complete and I also asked if we had been assigned an officer. I got a quick email back and was told we do not have an officer, but to check back in as often as I wanted. I had to laugh. In my head I thought... Every two hours?? Ha. I will check tomorrow, but I am praying that we will get our officer today! Please pray with me!! The faster we get our officer, the faster we get approval.

Thank you!