8 Months

So I got a little nudge from one of my blogging buds to get blogging! Thanks Robbin - you are right. Its getting to the point where I can allow myself to get excited! The ups and downs of this adoption (like all international adoptions) have made me a little apprehensive. However things are looking good and I feel really positive! The end of this week will be 8 months on the wait-list. I am #4 on the unofficial, yet famous and often stalked by waiting adoptive parents FBI list. Congratulations to those who have recently passed court. Also congratulations to those who have received referrals—especially those who have waited so long. My fellow single adoptive parents. Robbin & Catrina I hope to meet you in Ethiopia when we are bringing are babies home!  

Five Months

Five months has passed since I was placed on the wait list, paperwork and documents complete and in Ethiopia. I am watching single women being approved in court and bringing their babies home which is encouraging. It's hard not to think that if the limitation on singles was not put into place at the end of last year, that I would be bringing home my baby this year—likely in the next 6 months. There has been no word on the laws changing and I continue to be hopeful that singles will not be eliminated all together from adopting in Ethiopia. So, I try not to focus on it, but I try to stay positive and know that what is meant to be, will be. I know that I was meant to be a mom. I know that I have a great deal of passion for adopting a child in need, particularly from Ethiopia. I know I will pray, hope, and think positively about this venture coming to an end with a trip to Ethiopia to pick up my son or daughter next year. The rest, I will leave up to my higher power and trust that he/she/them.... knows, and will do what is best for me. 

Three Months

Today marks three months that i have been officially on the wait-list. This is where i would have been initially entering the window of time where i would be matched with a child. There have now been changes to the policies in ethiopia regarding single parent adoption, restricting, and potentially eliminating single parents from adopting there. There's no need here for any detail, but i know what is meant to be will be and if there is a baby out there than he or she will come to me. I have not lost hope, and still very much feel the desire and drive to bring home a child from ethiopia. It just may take a little more time than expected. The earliest an adoption could now be processed would be in 2010. Until then, i will continue to hold this hope in my heart, not just for me, but for so so many beautiful children in ethiopia in need of loving homes—loving homes with two parents or just one. 

YES WE CAN!

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality...I believe the unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word" — Martin Luther King, Jr.

1 month down

This past saturday, october 25th marked one month on the wait-list. Exciting to be putting some time behind me and know that i am one month closer to being matched with my child. Its strange to know that there is most likely a baby out there today, who is living and breathing in a far away country, that will soon be my son or daughter. Although i am trying very hard to wait until i receive a referral to do much planning and preparing, i did look at cribs this weekend— which was the highlight of my weekend. I also purchased a pair of 12 month old black high-top converse....couldnt help myself! 

Officially on the wait-list!

Last night i received the notice from my adoption agency that i am officially on the wait-list! Very exciting news. What does this mean? This means that my dossier (official paperwork that will be used to match me with a child and will be used in my court case to adopt the child) is complete and has been sent to the secretary of state in D.C. for final authentication. From there it is sent to ethiopia where it will be translated and the process of matching me with a referral (child, age, medical history, background history, etc.) will begin. I have not requested a specific gender, but have requested an infant 0-12 months at the time of referral, and more specifically as young an infant as possible. The wait time to receive a referral is averaging 3-5 months. Once i accept a referral, the average time until the the adoption is completed in an ethiopian court, and i travel to ethiopia to bring home my baby will be 3 months. So rough estimation (hard to do with the uncertainty of any international adoption), i will be bringing home my child in the spring of 2009. So it will be a long quiet winter, without any paperwork, just waiting—to officially "meet" my child—and begin the exciting process of bringing him/her home.

CIS Approval!

Today I broke down and called US Citizenship and Immigration Services to check the status of my adoption file. The adoption officer kindly told my impatient, anxious self, that my petition to adopt an orphan from Ethiopia had been approved! The document showing this approval (the sacred I71H) will be in todays mail—the last document I need to be placed officially on the wait list will be in my mailbox, notarized, and off for authentication by the weeks end!