Four years ago today...
We got in a line for adoption with China. The wait for referral at the time was expected to be six-to-eight months; three years ago it was 17 months; two years ago it was 27 months; last year it was 38 months; and, as of April 2010 it has officially reached 48 months. Boy how time flies.
As we sit here reflecting, our thoughts are much more positive. After all, we should know within one-to-five weeks who will be our child.
In our fourth annual post, we will treat it the same as we have in the past... our top 10 list of what we know now... Without further ado...
This is what we know today
1. We will know who will be our child in a maximum of five weeks.
2. There are only seven days ahead of us in line.
3. The name
4. We will be celebrating Christmas as a family of three.
5. Our fingerprints will not expire until February 2011.
6. Our original file is still somewhere between Chicago and Detroit!
7. If we do not think we will return from China with our child by August 26, 2010, we will have to renew our I-600 for the fourth time, which is a $1500 document.
8. The room is done.
9. We have selected and reserved a child care center.
10. Next summer our child will be toggling along after the others in my neighbors yard.
Early projections anticipate the next cut off being 4/23/06 which is one day before our LID. Which means we will definitely make it in June, if not May.
Stay tuned...
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Getting closer... and closer... and closer...
As you know, our referral is getting closer and closer every day.
There are only 20 days until we THINK we'll get our referral. So, as we mentioned, we're getting prepared.
Last Friday we looked at a daycare facility in Lansing, EC3. We LOVED it. We felt a connection with the director very quickly. We loved their programs, way of teaching, security and, well, we just loved it. Oh, and did I mention, it's located in the school that Magic Johnson attended?
Tomorrow, we're going to look at another center. Next week, the final one. It's been fun and scary at the same time.
Below is a list of blogs that received their referrals this month. Check out the pictures. I'm hopeful that we'll be sharing our baby next month.
* Boutin Adoption
* Waiting 4 Baby Rock
* Polar Bear in China
* Blessed by Aimelyn
* Jersey to China
* ak_teacher
* Journey to Mia
* Our Many Blessings
There are only 20 days until we THINK we'll get our referral. So, as we mentioned, we're getting prepared.
Last Friday we looked at a daycare facility in Lansing, EC3. We LOVED it. We felt a connection with the director very quickly. We loved their programs, way of teaching, security and, well, we just loved it. Oh, and did I mention, it's located in the school that Magic Johnson attended?
Tomorrow, we're going to look at another center. Next week, the final one. It's been fun and scary at the same time.
Below is a list of blogs that received their referrals this month. Check out the pictures. I'm hopeful that we'll be sharing our baby next month.
* Boutin Adoption
* Waiting 4 Baby Rock
* Polar Bear in China
* Blessed by Aimelyn
* Jersey to China
* ak_teacher
* Journey to Mia
* Our Many Blessings
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Holy crap... is it really time?
We started our paper chase in October 2005.
Our official log-in date with CCAA was April 2006.
From 2006 to 2010, we've done nothing but wait and update forms and wait and update
our finger prints and wait and moved to a new state and wait.
It is now April 2010 and we will, hopefully, receive our referral next month. NEXT MONTH! Our assumption will be Monday, May 3, to be exact. Recently, referrals have come out on the first Monday of the new month.
HOLY CRAP!
It's just odd that four years of waiting is about to come to an end. I mean really!!! I look back over the last six months or so and ask "where did the time go?" Am I serious? WHERE DID THE TIME GO? It's been FOUR FREAKING YEARS! How can I even ask that question?
From the beginning, I wondered what I would feel once we were a few short weeks away from our referral. Well, now I know: I feel excited. I feel scared. I feel anxious. I feel responsible. I feel nervous. I feel sick. I feel happiness. I feel fun. I feel [fill in the blank]. Yes, I have a lot of feelings right now.
So, what have we been doing to keep these feelings under control?
We've been researching... What's the best car seat to buy? What's the best stroller to buy? What's the best crib mattress to buy? What's the best high chair to buy? Of course, we've purchased all those things (except for the high chair... back to square one.)
Now we're focused on the best daycare facility. Should we hire a nanny? Should we send our child to a facility? Should we send our child to an in-home daycare? Well, we really don't know that answer yet. BUT, we are interviewing a place later this week. We hear wonderful things about it... so we'll see!!!
In the meantime... we'll probably be posting a bit more often now that it's getting closer. So, stay tuned...
Our official log-in date with CCAA was April 2006.
From 2006 to 2010, we've done nothing but wait and update forms and wait and update
our finger prints and wait and moved to a new state and wait.
It is now April 2010 and we will, hopefully, receive our referral next month. NEXT MONTH! Our assumption will be Monday, May 3, to be exact. Recently, referrals have come out on the first Monday of the new month.
HOLY CRAP!
It's just odd that four years of waiting is about to come to an end. I mean really!!! I look back over the last six months or so and ask "where did the time go?" Am I serious? WHERE DID THE TIME GO? It's been FOUR FREAKING YEARS! How can I even ask that question?
From the beginning, I wondered what I would feel once we were a few short weeks away from our referral. Well, now I know: I feel excited. I feel scared. I feel anxious. I feel responsible. I feel nervous. I feel sick. I feel happiness. I feel fun. I feel [fill in the blank]. Yes, I have a lot of feelings right now.
So, what have we been doing to keep these feelings under control?
We've been researching... What's the best car seat to buy? What's the best stroller to buy? What's the best crib mattress to buy? What's the best high chair to buy? Of course, we've purchased all those things (except for the high chair... back to square one.)
Now we're focused on the best daycare facility. Should we hire a nanny? Should we send our child to a facility? Should we send our child to an in-home daycare? Well, we really don't know that answer yet. BUT, we are interviewing a place later this week. We hear wonderful things about it... so we'll see!!!
In the meantime... we'll probably be posting a bit more often now that it's getting closer. So, stay tuned...
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