Visas are here!!!

We are one step closer to getting our son!!! Our passports came back from the Chinese Embassy in DC today with our visas to enter China... as well as a Power of Attorney document (since Bob is not coming) that had to visit the US Dept of State (and a few other offices first) and finally get its authentication from the Chinese Embassy.

It feels like the paperwork is close to being done (do I dare say that???) except for the final stuff that happens in China... Now time for me to educate/prepare CC for our upcoming trip :)

NVC cabled!!!!

If you are familiar with China adoption lingo you'll know exactly what I'm talking about... and for those that aren't the translation is 'yeah! next step down, only a few more to go!' :)

Our file was 'cabled' (emailed) today from the US NVC to the US consulate in China... We also got a wonderful little letter from the NVC via email stating that our file was cabled. This letter now goes, via our agency, to the US consulate to let them know that they have received our file (??? all done harping on this redundancy now - promise!) so that our next step (Article 5) can be initiated. Its supposed to take about 2 weeks for the Article 5 to be issued... and then hopefully about 2 weeks from Article 5-TA, and then 1-2 weeks from TA-China! Of course there is variation in all of that but just so excited that we are one step closer to our son!

We are sending a very small care package to our son tomorrow... Hoping and praying that he is still at MBHOH to receive these small gifts...

Mama is not much of a seamstress so this is definitely not pretty but oh how I loved getting to do this for my son, sewing his sweet name on a little lovey for him!

Jon Jon we think about you all the time, are missing you and praying for you and longing for the day that we can be together... but also heartbroken at all the loss (again) and upheaval that is ahead for you... Oh how I wish that there was a way to somehow make this easier, to prepare you (so that it isn't such a shock, having your whole world turned upside down!), to let you know that we (your forever family) love.you.dearly., that your sisters cant wait to play with you and love on you (and probably dress you up in princess clothes! sorry!), that Daddy and I cant wait to be the ones to hold you and feed you and sing to you and wrestle with you, and read to you and comfort you and make you laugh and help you heal and grow... that this will be forever... We love you our precious son.

I800 approval!!!

So our I800 was approved today!!!! Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh! SO excited!!!

I'm sure it sounds crazy, all the different 'approvals' - the hoops that you are required to jump through in intl adoption are crazy... but basically this approval was from the US Govt, classifying JJ as our son, stating that he will be given US citizenship when he enters the US... woo hoo!!!

This approval is being sent to the NVC (National Visa Center) here in the US who will write us a letter stating that they have forwarded our petition to the US Embassy in Guangzhou. Once we get our letter from the NVC it has to be taken to the US Embassy in Guangzhou (sound kinda redundant? b/c hasn't the embassy already been notified of our case by the NVC when they received it??? anyway... don't ask questions, just do as we're told) who will then issue another document, this one called the Article 5. The Article 5 basically means that all of our ducks are in a row, everything meets the requirements and we are set to finalize the adoption. Our Article 5 then has to be taken to the Chinese Govt body who will then issue our travel approval (yay!) but wait, we can't travel until our US consulate appointment has been scheduled in Guangzhou. Clear as mud? Yah, for me too... and I've been reading about this process for months now!

Right now it is taking an average of 6 weeks from I800 approval to travel approval, with travel being about 2 weeks after TA... All that to say that I could be going to get our son the first week of May!!!!

One step closer!!!

Gettin ready

Its been a busy 1.5 weeks since I last posted (not that I'm countin down the days or anything ;-) ). We've been filling out paperwork (application to classify JJ as our SON for the USCIS, applying for JJs US visa, applying for our China visa's to go get him, getting documents notarized, power of attorneys, cashiers checks drawn etc etc) crib building, started babyproofing the house, and of course a little shopping (as of today).

We are so excited that each day is one day closer to going to get our sweet son. Each completed step gives us a better idea of when we will go (CC & I are the ones going - appreciate prayers for us and for Hubby and the other 2 who will be holding down the fort at home) but we wont have a firm travel date until we get our US Consulate Appointment in Guangzhou, which can't be scheduled until we have our Travel Approval granted by the Chinese Govt, which wont be given until we have our I800 approval from the USCIS (which is what we are waiting on now)... and thats the simplified version of what still has to happen...

So so grateful for your prayers and support!!!

Momma-bear

PS Post isnt complete without a picture so here it is - wish it could be one of JJ :)