Referral Pictures!

Our agency called this morning and announced we had two referrals! The older, Kistet, (means "something is happening or has happened") is thirteen months. She is such a happy-looking girl and her smile melted our hearts immediately. Such bright, sparkling eyes! The younger, Mesterwot, (means "mirror") is five months old with calm, watchful eyes and is quite plump! They both look so healthy--beyond our expectations. We're still waiting for their medical tests and all the rest of the information, like birthdays, when we can travel, etc., but for now, we just stare at their faces. Other families using our agency are traveling this month so we'll be getting many more pictures. We can't wait! We hope we can travel sooner than later. Hope we hear more soon!

James is 5!

Our oldest turned 5 several days ago. Hard to believe! He can't wait to go to school this fall.

Referral!

We got the e-mail today saying they have a referral for us. The bad thing is, that's all we know. We have to find out all the rest of the information when they send it from Ethiopia next week. Hopefully we will hear Monday! We were all jumping for joy (literally) this evening! We can't wait to see her!

Dossier on its way!

I just opened my e-mail and found a note from the adoption agency that our dossier is on its way to Ethiopia! Finally things are happening! We all yelled for joy and the boys both yelled, "I'm so excited to see our baby!" I heard James telling his little brother in the bath tub "The dossier is going and we'll have our baby soon". It's funny to hear a 4-year-old using the term "dossier". What a relief to have some positive news. I've had so much support from other adoptive families and I don't know what I would have done without them during the past several months. We've had some great friends' support, too. Thanks to all of you!

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back...

Ugh! Our updated dossier paperwork got to our agency this morning, but one of the forms was not done correctly so I have to do another one and send it again overnight mail, if it's possible to have it done today. None of this would be happening if our first agency had done things right or had sent the paperwork from the beginning! The drama continues...

Not Waiting Quietly

It was still snowing a month ago, but I happened to look at the spring clothes that had just come out and I just couldn't resist buying some of them! They're so cute! Of course I have no idea what size to buy, but I got a range of them. I'm not exactly known to wait patiently...

What a week!

After two months of frustration and heartache, we have an agency on our side. Most people adopting from Ethiopia have referrals by now, but our process has taken much longer due to problems with our home study agency. We switched from China program in February. Still, our dossier should have traveled in March. Now we are fully in capable hands with our placement agency and I no longer feel like I'll go insane.

On the up side, I received my shipment of hair stuff from another mom online selling her daughter's things, as she no longer wants beads & snaps in her hair. I think I got a great deal. Maybe during all the waiting I'll get a mannequin head & practice! I found some great teaching videos on YouTube on doing all kinds of braids and hair styles. Let me tell you, I was really afraid that I would ruin our daughter's hair or not be able to do anything with it. After watching some of those videos, I feel empowered. I can do it!

Tommy's 3rd Birthday!

It's hard to believe that our baby boy is already three! He's starting to ask where his sister is. We're all so anxious and we don't even have a referral yet!