Saturday, December 29, 2007

Blog Stalking

Ok, so I'm at it again... stalking blogs in search of comfort, info, who-knows-what... I keep reading about other families who are waiting (they have referrals but no travel date yet), like us, that is. They are all about the "i-600" approval. I am SOOOOO clueless, folks. I know next to NOTHING about this process now that I have a baby. I am like on cloud nine and can't STAND the "what ifs", so I have remained blissfully ignorant of the process here on out. However, tonight, while I sit and think about my son turning 6 months old tomorrow, I am STARTING TO GET ANTSY! So, I followed a few posts and came up with this:


The USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Service) and the US Department of State have announced that procedures for submitting the I600 Petition will be changed effective Monday October 29th. The changes will have adoptive parents receive their referral and then mail in their I600 to Viet Nam where is will take approximately sixty days to process the petition.

Details about the change:

~The length of time between referral and travel will likely increase because families will need USCIS approval before they can travel.


This is why we are still waiting, in case you are wondering. We have already turned our new I-600 in (the first or second week in November, actually), so I really expect to hear something soon... I think I'll start a campaign to my agency to get a little more aggressive with finding out where we are in the process, etc. etc. Other people seem to know exactly where they are in the wait, but I remain mercifully, and now obnoxiously, clueless!! Time for me to find out some more info...

It's going to be a glorious day

Wow. Christmas and all is over (I had a v nice one, BTW. Home was everything it should be this year). January is coming right up. January. The best January on record, IMHO. In October we were told we SHOULD travel in January (possibly February), to pick up Minute... And I have never been more ready for anything in my entire life. My holiday was so Minh-centric, the family is SOOOO excited (with one notable exception), we are ready for him (other than I still need a crib...). I have clothes, shoes, toys, a diaper service, a changing table, a dresser FILLED with STUFF... Now all I need is my baby boy.

That said, Y'all will be the third to know when we finally "get the call". My Mom will be #1, Aunty Nikki will be #2... Then, I'll post it LOUD AND CLEAR right here. I imagine it will be followed by many frantic "WTF?" and "Now what the hell do I pack?" posts. And I can not WAIT!!!!

We got more pictures and an update on Minute yesterday, also. I'm not posting pictures yet, but will later, on the other site. They are fuzzy, and not very good, but I don't even care!! They are still cute. My heart breaks seeing him grow up in pictures, but I KNOW, I just KNOW I'll meet him royal chubbiness soon. Until then... I have a nursery to finish!!!!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Misc. Friday

Just some miscellaneous for you on this Friday afternoon (I'm at work, what more can I say?).

Books on my nightstand:
1) Attaching in Adoption (I've started it but haven't gotten very far, should be a GREAT book)
2) Travel Guide to Vietnam - says very little about Minute's City, but has
maps, and is a beautiful book about a beautiful country.
3) Last Child in the Woods - looks like a fantastic read, I plan to read it
soon too!.

I've also just received something WONDERFUL in the mail; a DVD of my son laughing, giggling, and being AMAZINGLY cute. If I figure out how to post it, I will. Some people (Miss Betty!) will get to see it as soon as I get back into town, promise!!

It's been an amazing ride, folks. Last year at this time I was sad b/c we thought we'd have Baby Magic already, and the process had slowed down so much my heart was breaking. I had NO IDEA what this year would bring. 6 months later, my son was born. I didn't "meet" him until October, but I remember the weekend of his birth very well as it was the same time my brother was married! A very special time indeed. This Christmas is going to be a special one, and next Christmas will be even MORE special. Actually, this Valentines' day should be more special, 'cause I do hope to have Minute home by then!!!

So for all of you out there waiting on your precious little ones, know that it DOES HAPPEN, and it WILL happen for you. We don't always know when or how, but sometimes, when you least expect it, miracles just have a way of working their way into our lives. Just like magic.

Happy holidays, y'all. Stick around next month, it's going to be a BEAUTIFUL year!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Checking in

I've been a bad blogger of late. I am so swamped with work, social activities, and life that I haven't been online long enough to post much. So this is a quickie update:

Travel for VN - no news. TRUST ME, y'all will know when we hear something.
China - Latest predictions are us getting a referral 'round about Fall of 2009... It makes me sick to my stomach and I can't even think about it. Forgive me for NOT posting on China recently, but my heart isn't in it right now.
Holidays - I'm traveling Home for X-mas. Looking forward to it this year, but also looking forward to the emotional blackmail that will occur next year. "Want to see your grandson/nephew? You've got to come to us!!" hee hee hee.

Ok, That's about it. Hope everyone is enjoying the season so far. I'm SLOWLY sending out holiday cards, so some of you should be getting them...if I can remember all the steps...some I'd forgotten to address, others had no stamps, today I found a few without return addresses... whatever. They'll get out eventually, right?

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

And I cried

Through a wonderful twist of fate, you know how life comes at you so fast sometimes, I met a wonderful family who was adopting from China...then they changed programs and adopted twin girls from Vn. I've known J for about a year-ish? and just this weekend I was able to spend some quality time with her, her girls, her husband, and some other wonderful ladies also adopting from Vietnam. It was so wonderful to be around other people who understand my story, a story we all share in one way or another, to see their pictures, and to share the burden of the Wait/Weight. Also, through these ladies, I found another person whom they all have in common but wasn't at the gathering. Today I went to her blog, and found out the most wonderful thing: Her daughter and my son are form the same orphanage. Also on her blog was this U-tube clip (see below). I watched it and cried. Minute is living there with those beautiful children. This is his orphanage.

I'm happy, I'm sad, I'm overwhelmed. I miss my son so much I ache, and I have never even met him. But unlike his birth mother, I will meet him soon, and watch him grow up. I am sad for his family in Vn who will not have that opportunity. I am sad for the children I have to leave behind in his orphanage. Anyway, this is me being melancholy today. So check this out, and go hug someone you love.

Saturday, December 08, 2007

OVER SIGHT!

Miss Kelly, forgive me. I loved my Secret Pal gift!! I received it like a week ago and have been totally wrapped up in my life and forgot to thank you (or post pictures). It's wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to watch the DVD either. It look so cute.

Friday, December 07, 2007

We just received new pictures of The Minute. This time we only got 2, but in each batch we've received he's been held by (what I assume are) one of his nannies. It's wonderful to get to see not only my little man growing up (even though I'm sad he's doing it while I'm here and he's there), but it's so nice to see him being loved. And the last nanny was a tiny thing, and well, Minny ISN'T little. The poor woman looked ready to collapse under his weight... (note to self - begin lifting weights IMMEDIATELY).
Anyway, in one of the pictures, I notice he's wearing a bracelet. Does anyone else think this is odd? Or maybe it's very common... Either way, it looks too small to get off his pudgy little wrist...but at the same time, I think it's really cute. I wonder if he'll still have it when we meet.

Well, that's it for the day. Sorry I've been alittle out of touch. I'm working my butt off at work in preparation for leaving for VN (still no word on this), and with the holiday season upon us it makes me even busier... well, stick around, folks, if nothing else, my life is ALWAYS interesting...

Thursday, December 06, 2007

New pictures have come in!!

Tomorrow I hope to put up new pictures of my Minute!! Check the new blog tomorrow. Look out ladies, he is gorgeous!