Chicago... our kind of town

Originally written April 7, 2006

Hey all... hope all is well...

We finally received our I-171H last Saturday -- April Fools Day, 2006. Typical! This was the very last document we were waiting on and it was from Immigration. Basically, it tells us that we are cleared to adopt internationally. Jennifer and I took Friday off to go to downtown Chicago to get our Illinois documents certified by the Secretary of State's office. Once we got the 11 documents certified, we then went to the Chinese Consulate's office to drop them off for authentication. We don't understand 100% why that's necessary, but it's part of the process.

We had 14 different documents that needed to be authenticated by the Chinese Consulate's office. This cost us about $300. We should receive those back in overnight mail on Friday or Saturday this next week. Once we receive them... they go to our agency and we will be officially 'paperwork pregnant.'

This was a huge day for us as it's taken six months to get everything completed in order for us to adopt from China.

The Secretary of State's office charged us $22 and it lasted less than ten minutes. The Consulate's office was about 45 minutes by the time Jenn had organized everything. We have five copies of our entire dossier: the originals and four copies. One copy also went to the Consulate's office, another goes to our agency, the originals go to China and two for safe-keeping.

We had to have $300 in cash and a $300 money-order for the Consulate, because it depends on which way the wind blows as to what form of payment they want. And, our money-order was $15 more than what it needed to be and a couple that went last week were given change and we weren't. I told them to keep it. She wasn't happy with us, but we had already endorsed the money order and were, basically, screwed if they didn't accept it. Hopefully, this won't hold the paperwork hostage.

It was extremely weird and difficult handing over six months worth of work and put it in the hands of someone else -- especially for control freaks like us! But we did it and worried the rest of the day. I finally had to say to Jennifer... ENOUGH! As we were both freaking out.

There are a lot of people out there that refuse to adopt because of the stress and hoops the process has you go through. We really haven't been overly stressed this entire time. It's just steps in the process for us. But, again, when you hand over six months worth of work and they give you a hard time for paying $15 more, you can't help but stress out. They are in control and can make it or break it for you! So, I'm hoping they'll keep the $15 and order lunch with it.

While we were there, we met a woman from Aurora who was adopting her second from China. Her first, Reagan, was absolutely beautiful and doing very well in her development and motor skills. Actually, we ran in to her at the SOS office and then at the Consulate. She gave us some tips for travel... only pack three days worth of clothes and use the dry cleaners... don't buy any baby supplies, buy it at the Wal-mart in China (mom, Larry, I'll take pictures for you since you LOVE the Wal-mart), and practice squatting over a hole-in-the-ground for BMs. I'm excited!

It just still amazes me the connection the China adoptive parents have and how they're willing to share, communicate, and encourage each other. It's quite cool!

The entire day Friday, we walked a total of 15 miles and, boy, our legs and feet were telling us to stop. So we did.

This morning, we woke up, went to Fields and then on to Chinatown for shopping and lunch. We found a VERY cool, authentic Gioza basket while we were there. Basically, it's circular, stackable and has five compartments. We're planning on using it as an end table in our living room. It's a part of the Asian culture and we're trying to find out how it was used back in the day. Anyway, it's cool! See the attached photos.

We got home about 2:30 -- a record hour-and-a-half trip home from Chicago with construction! WOO HOO!

Love... us