So...over the past week, Mike and I have been running around like someone lit a fire under our butts. Between Saturday and Sunday (7/15-16), we looked over our the intake package that the agency sent to us and managed to complete all the forms necessary for CAWLI to begin our file (service agreement and multiple policy and procedure forms, letter of application and committment to China, etc, etc.). We also made copies of lots and lots of forms (3 years of income tax returns, our birth and marriage certificates, copies of our passports, etc). We also put aside any forms which need to be completed by our homestudy agency (Family Focus) for them to forward to CAWLI (adoption agency).
On Monday, we went to Costco and got our passport photos taken (China requires two passport-sized photos of each of us to be sent with the dossier).
OnTuesday morning at 10 am, we had our agency's intake meeting with the social worker over the phone, while sitting on the front stoop of our house. After the meeting, I had to go to work. But after I came home from work that afternoon, we took a walk to the park. Emily learned how to ride a tricycle this week and was practicing her pedaling skills. This was both trying and comical at the same time, as Emily would become easily discouraged, saying "Hmmf...I can't do it. I give up", crossing her arms in the way that only a toddler can. The funniest part is that she would say it as she was successfully moving forward on the tricycle. Mike and I tried to encourage her by saying excitedly "Look, Emily. You did it! Look how far you moved!" And she would say "I didn't do that." So, needless to say, it took a little bit of convincing. :) But she was so darn cute on that tricycle, and we did eventually make it to the park! :) :) When we got there, Emily decided she wanted to go on the swings and the slides. This is when we realized that this was a perfect photo-op (as part of our adoption requirement, we are supposed to send our agency family photos). The only tough thing was that we didn't have anyone to take the pictures of all 3 of us, so Mike set the camera up on the platform above the slide and set the camera on a timer.
On Wednesday, we went to police headquarters to get our new letters of good standing (as the ones we did originally had expired). Emily had a great time, and entertained herself and those around her by playing peekaboo with the clerk and all the people waiting on line. In fact, she was laughing so hard that the rest of the staff came out from behind the desk to see who the giggling little girl was. After we got home, we had our last homestudy visit with Sandra, the social worker from Family Focus. We had lost power for a chunk of the day, due to heavy thunderstorms the night before. Even though we regained power before the homestudy visit..by this point, cooking dinner was not an option. So we ordered Chinese food (which was actually quite appropriate, given our country choice). We joked with Sandra that we were trying to educate ourselves on the Chinese culture through our culinary choices. The meeting went well, Emily was a ham, and Sandra said she was very happy and excited for us.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Today was an exciting day. We had Mike's parents and his younger brother Danny over. We took them all out for a movie and then hung out at our place. It was during this time, over pizza, that we made the grand announcement that we have switched countries to China. They were very excited for us, which just added to our joy. In fact, they were so excited that they called us again just after they arrived home, to tell us again how happy they were for us! :)

Today was an awesome day! Not only did CAWLI (our agency) contact us to say they received our application, but they emailed us the official "intake package". So, we officially are in process!!! Yay!!!!! The agency also scheduled an over-the-phone "intake meeting" with us for Tuesday 7/18 at 10 am (where the social worker will walk us through the paperwork and provide us with a chance to have any initial questions answered). I am so excited! We are offically on our way to becoming new parents again! :)

Hello everyone! For those of you who do not know me, my name is Kate. I have a wonderful husband, Mike, who I married in 1999. Mike and I also have a beautiful 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Emily, who is the light of our lives. The reason why I decided to start this blog is that Mike and I have begun a very special journey. We have begun the adoption process to bring home our baby girl from China (and much-awaited baby sister for Emily!).....hopefully by the end of next year (2007), as the process takes about a year or so.
Originally, it was our plan to adopt from Russia...but, after some serious consideration and research, we decided to switch gears and head to China instead. So, here is where we are.....We officially applied to the adoption agency yesterday (7/11/06)....woohoooo!!!! We have the first draft of our homestudy done, but the social worker needs to visit us at home one more time (as China requires one extra visit vs. Russia). So, the next step is to gather all kinds of documents to be compiled into our dossier (which goes to China). We also have to apply to immigration to get fingerprinted and to gain the U.S. government's approval to adopt.