Consulate Appointment

Our consulate appt is confirmed for 1/11/10 one week earlier than we thought YEAH!!! Alas our fingerprint clearance may hold us up as we have not yet received notification saying that our fingerprints done on December 3rd have cleared. I have sent an email to homeland security to inquire about their status and if they have not been cleared could they please expedite them Hoping the lovely people in Homeland Seciruty are in the holiday spirit. Keep your fingers crossed Kate.

China Here We Come

We received our TA today Hooray !!!!! The final leg of this uphill journey. Homeland is scheduling our CA as we speak best case scenario because of a week long New Year holiday in China is that we would arrive in China 1/10/10 get Matthew on 1/11/10 or 1/12/10 and have our consulate appt 1/19/10 return home 1/22/10. Hoping we can make that all work out. We are relieved and over the moon that we will be on our way shortly and the next month will be busy with final preparations as we look forward to being a fun family of four All the Best Kate.

Fingerprinted Again

Fingerprinted again as our immigration fingerprints expire on 1/1/10. Way too close for comfort so away we went one more time to our friends at the application support center. The security guard at the door actually remembered us from the last time. Steve and I are pretty sure now we have more fingerprints on file than an inmate on death row. Pretty sure I'm not going out on a limb here to suggest they probably haven't changed but we know at least for sure that this is our last time---- All the Best-- Kate.

Could this be Our Week ????

Well we're praying this is our week. We are beginning the fourth week since our LOSC was sent to China. Our agency's best estimate is three to four weeks for TA so we should be right there. Our house is in anticipation mode and I jump when the phone rings. Please send us all your positive thoughts that this will be our week Kate

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and may you enjoy your families and your blessings this day and always. We are nearing the end of week 3 of an estimated 3-4 week wait for TA.. Keeping our fingers crossed All the Best Kate

Making a List and Checking it Twice

We are in full get ready mode at our house. We have our visas and we are working on packing lists and gathering our documents to bring with us. I am so anxious about all of this you would think this was my first adoption, adopting Olivia seems ages ago. We are in week two of an estimated 3-4 week wait for TA. We are still thinking that there is an outside chance that we can get there and back before Christmas. I am also trying to deal with Christmas shopping so that if we can go before the holiday that will be all ready to go. Nothing gets in the way of Santa not even an adoption trip to China as always I am sure Santa will pull through.I have purchased some clothes for Matthew but am at such a loss because I have no idea of his size. The height and weight we have is a year old. Having an Asian child I know that she always is very true to the American size for her age so the items I have bought are 24 months and some 2T.If we need to we can purchase what we need in China.
This is the time of the year where my thoughts turn to being thankful for all the blessings in our life. It was this time last year that Steve and I thought our adoption dream was ending and here we are one short year later looking forward to going to bring our beautiful boy home. I remind myself when the stress wants to take over that my life with my wonderful husband and beautiful children is full. It doesn't matter if all of Matthew's clothes in China are too big or small.The only thing that matters is that he feels our love and patience during this difficult transition for him. Our cup runneth over---- Kate.

Signed Sealed almost Delivered

All signed and on it's way via overnight mail to agency Keep your fingers crossed for quick travel approval KAte