Easter Weekend

We had a great Easter weekend. On Saturday we went to Janelle's house (my sister) for a bonfire and weenie roast. It was great, we all managed to enjoy some hot dogs and s'mores. The fire was huge and ultra-hot, so we roasted some marshmallows over a bucket of coals. Mmmmm it was goo-ood.




Then back home to color Easter eggs. We did 18 eggs and Spencer had a ball, lots of great colors and stickers. . . Now the only hard part is. . . who is going to eat all those eggs?




This morning we had a little Easter egg hunt (in the living room.)



Church was wonderful. The messages were about Easter and the Savior. Spencer's talk went well, once he got going. . . it was a slow start (shy/nervous) but a strong finish.

After church we came home for a lovely Easter dinner. Dave's parents came and we all enjoyed the time to visit. I got to use my china, and that always makes me happy :)

We have an LOA people!

I am still trembling with delight!

I was sitting in my office working on my class when I saw the Fed-ex guy pull up to the house. Hmm, I wondered, what could it be? Something for Dave's work? It couldn't be the I-171H, but what?

I saw that the envelope was from our adoption agency. I was little annoyed that they would use our Fed-Ex account to send us a bill. I had no idea it would be the LOA, I thought they might call us first when it came.

Of course I was overjoyed to see the LOA. . .it only took 3 weeks! I am so super pleased. Now we just wait for the I-171 H. Once that comes it is all downhill.

Spencer's First Talk

Next Sunday, on Easter, Spencer will be giving his first talk in Primary. He has the topic of Easter. Even though it is still a week away we did his talk for Family Night tonight.



Proud mama :)

Baby Annoucements

We have chosen a middle name for Jacob.

Jacob Da Wei Stirling

The name "Da Wei" is the Chinese equivalent of "David." It will be great to give Dave's name to our son. We also looked up the characters and the meaning is "intelligent" and "remarkable or heroic." These are certainly two qualities we hope for Jacob.

I ordered the announcements today. They turned out pretty cute.



When I ordered them they gave me an option to make it into a mug! The image wraps around a white ceramic mug. I couldn't resist. It will either be a gift for Mother's Day or Father's day. I am excited about it.

We also found out that we can mail Jacob a care package. I made a little photobook (shocker, I know) and put in pictures of our family. I also used google translate to label the pictures in Chinese and add some messages. I just hope that his nannies are able to take the time to sit down with him and look at it. At one-year old I am sure it would be more tempting to eat it then look at it. We also want to send a little snugly blanket and toy. Nothing too over the top, I guess at this point in the process is culturally improper to send "lavish" gifts, but something simple is okay.

Making connections

I have been making some connection with other parents who have little ones in Yinchuan right now (or who have recently come home.) It has been great to read their stories and time lines. It helps me envision what our trip will be like. (Thank you Yahoo Groups!)

Here is a photo taken at the orphanage in Feb. 2011. Just a couple of months ago. It is great to see the caregivers and also some of Jacob's playmates. I only wish he was in the photo. I looked but don't think I see him.



Here is a little more detailed map of Ningxia Province, it gives a good idea of where it is. Appaerntly this province is the 3rd poorest in China and almost all the children at the orpahnge are "special needs." Every person who has been there gushed over the love and attention of nannies. They seemed to feel that the kids there are loved very much and are cared for deeply. That is wonderful to hear!

We got the pre-approval

We got the pre-approval email yesterday. Yippy, one step closer


. . .It is hereby advised that with a review of the Rehabilitation and Nurture Plan for the Child made by the family, the China Centre of Adoption Affairs agrees to move this application file into the procedure for adoption of special-need children.

China Centre of Adoption Affairs

I-171 H arrived

Well,

Yesterday we got our updated China homestudy from our agency and sent it Fed-Ex to USCIS with all the required paperwork and this morning at 10:26AM it was delivered. That was the last step for us. Nothing left to do now but wait for the pre-approval email, the LOA, the updated I-171H and travel approval. I think I will add a time line on the side to help me obsess... I mean keep track :)

We are also thinking about a middle name. We liked Shuai Shaui, but have come to find out it is more of a nickname. It would be like naming him "cutie," that would be fun for now. . . but what about when he is 35? hmmm maybe not so much

So we are looking for some middle names. Here are some of our ideas:

Qi
Enlightenment, wonder

Xing
arising

Zìhao
son heroic

Zhong
loyal, steadfast

Ling
compassion or understanding

Jie
outstanding, hero, elite

Yi
firm, resolute

Dà wèi
David

Da: Chinese name, meaning "intelligent," from (達, 达) "to know, to inform."
Wei: high, lofty, or heroic, remarkable. 蘶

I forgot. . . I hate waiting!

Even though we have been "waiting" for 4 years with all sorts of uncertainty and failed adoptions left and right. . . now the really hard waiting begins.

Now we have a boy, a lovely, amazing little boy. He has a name and cute little face. He is living in an orphanage just waiting for us. The love for Jacob started before we even knew he was ours and now he is almost ours. . . the almost is heartbreakingly close.

So I stress and fuss about what I can. . . the paperwork!

Here's the skinny:

We are currently waiting for the pre-approval. This will come in the form of an email to our agency telling us that China has given us the pre-approval to adopt Jacob. This is an informal note to let us know we are still on the radar. We are hoping this will come this week or next.

After we get the email it will be about a month before we receive the LOA (Letter of Approval). This is the official letter from China telling us that we are approved. This needs to be signed and returned and is a very important step in the process.

We also are waiting for our updated visa approval (for Jacob's US citizenship). Our paper work is currently listed for Kazakhstan, so we need to switch it to China Special Needs. This requires a pile of paperwork. We need to include 4 homestudies from 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 along with our forms. This clearance should take 4-5 weeks.

After we have an updated visa approval and our LOA is processed then we can be considered for travel approval. This is done through China. They make sure all our dossier checks out and that Jacob's visa approval is good to go. This step takes about 4-6 weeks.

Once we have our Travel Approval then we are golden! Our agency can schedule an appointment with USCIS in China for Jacob's visa. Then we can buy tickets and make travel arrangements. This will take 2-4 weeks (depending on how soon we can get the appointment with the consulate.)

So... you add all those numbers together and we average a mid-July departure. (Of course it could be sooner or later, that is the magic that is International adoption.)

How I wish it could be tomorrow, but if I waited this long I can hang on until mid-July-ish.

Happy Birthday, Jacob

Yesterday was our son's first birthday. For his first birthday we have given him a name: Jacob

We celebrated! Spencer and I made a birthday cake for him and we celebrated last night. We made a Space Shuttle cake, hopefully to symbolize how fast we want him to come home. It was a lot fun, my sister Tiffani is usually the cake guru, but I found this cake at the Betty Crocker web site. Next year he will be home and I guarantee a good time will he had by all.






Dave got a new camera and we are loving all the great quality photos. Spencer also got something new. . . after earning 60 stickers on his chart for various chores, he has earned Buzz Lightyear. Actually when we were talking about names for his little brother his vote was for Buzz Lightyear Stirling. He was outvoted.