Another Step

So we are learning through this process to take things one step at a time.  For someone who likes to see all the steps and the end result laid out before beginning anything, this has been an adjustment I've had to make.  Some people refer to that as being anal - I just like to say I'm organized!

More good news though...we can now say we are one more step closer to our daughter!  After receiving her file and reviewing it with some doctors, we wrote a letter stating it is our intent to adopt her.  The letter has been translated and has been submitted to China so now her file is "locked' to our family.  Once China receives the letter and accepts it, they in turn will write and send us a Letter Seeking Confirmation.  Then, at that point, all is official!

In the meantime, we are about to jump into another series of paperwork to get approval for our daughter to immigrate to the United States. Speaking of the United States, there may have been a little reason we chose to wear red, white and blue when we took our pictures to announce our adoption. We are always ready to show our patriotism and can't wait to share that with our daughter.

He can always make me laugh and I absolutely love that!

Progress

We've had a lot of progress around here lately!  We received our email with our little ones file from China!   It's the next  piece of this puzzle we've been waiting on and to say we were elated about this is an understatement.

The day we received it, was my late day at work and I got a call from home telling me the news.  We agreed we wouldn't open up the file until we were both home. The meeting that afternoon at work is a blur as I just couldn't stop thinking about what we were getting ready to learn from that file. Boy, did I ever hurry home that day!  

We sat down at the computer and clicked to open it and...nothing.  The file couldn't be found.!!  WHAT?!?!?! No way!  By now the New York offices were closed and we had to wait another night.  

We agreed that the next morning whenever we got the file, we wouldn't wait to open it together.  I didn't want to risk waiting another night! The next morning around 9:30 I got the file at work and quickly tried to scan through it before heading into a meeting. 

Seeing new pictures of her was my absolute favorite!

 We now have a little more insight into her life so far.  A few more formalities until we are official and can share pictures.  And yes, we have LOTS of precious pictures to share!

It is such a surreal feeling to know our daughter is around the world waiting for us to come and bring her home.  Our hearts are so full already and our love for her grows by the minute.

  

We had dinner the other night with a friend and she surprised us with a gift for our daughter.  Our first gift - and yes, I did tear up.

Lots of snuggles waiting for her and us!

Introducing...

Gracie Wilson!

Well, no big news yet on "our little one" but this little sweetie stole our hearts!  She's a rescue who rescued us.  Sweet,  little, three year old chocolate lab.

Ok,ok,one one more for the night.  Seriously...just precious!

Now all four us are waiting to fill our home up even more!

  Anxiously waiting for our little one from China to join us.