Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Our application has been approved!


Seriously? In less than 5 business hours??? At this rate we'll have a family by the weekend!

I am figuring if we submitted around 3 pm and they called us around 11am the next day, it only took them 5 business hours to realize we were great candidates....wonderful for our egos, but setting a bad pattern when we know we have a long road ahead :)


Brando spent the day home today, and Sharon from Holt called around 11am to let us know that they have approved our application and will be forwarding on some paperwork that is needed to get started on our home study. Also, she wanted to schedule us in for some adoptive parenting classes coming up.

When Brando called me at work to tell me I squealed and got all teary eyed (this is going to be a long road...). Jenna and Nicole (my co-workers) rushed right over and Jenna even had tears in her eyes. We did the whole girly thing, I called my mom, e-mailed friends, and I was not able to focus on work the remainder of the day.

When I got home that night, Brando had dinner waiting and we crawled in the hot tub with a bottle of wine we have been saving for quite some time.

Another great day! I could get used to this...

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

On our way to becoming an Enat and Abat!


The pic is the two of us outside of our agency, getting ready to submit our application materials! I know, we are dorky, but also just so excited to finally get started on the process. I took the day off work to devote to finalizing the application, notarizing the contract, etc. We submitted it around 3pm.

In case you are wondering (Mom), the application materials included the following:

International Adoption Services Contract, signed and notarized
4x6 Photos of us and our home
Copies of our last 3 years' Federal Income tax Returns
List of 5 non-relative references
The application fee


Later that night, we had dinner at the farm for Megan's birthday. Megan and Kris were so great! The first thing Kris did when I walked into the house was put down what she was working on, walk over, give me a hug and ask if I was "expecting". So sweet! Megan was similarly excited and it made me feel so good to see they were genuinely happy for us.

Today has been a great day!


Sunday, October 21, 2007

Studying hard...

The whole family spent the evening looking over the application materials, reading contracts, etc. Even Zulu!






Saturday, October 20, 2007

Ethiopia here we come!!! (I know!)


YEH! Brando and I decided this morning to submit our application to Holt this Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, October 13, 2007

"Let's talk about adoption"


The first thing Brando said when he crawled in bed with me this morning was "Let's talk about adoption". YEH!!!!! I love this man!

Friday, October 12, 2007

Ethiopia, here we come!!! (I think)


I am winning over the Brando! Early this morning (like 4:30 am) as we were getting ready for work and he said he thinks maybe we should "re-evaluate" before January!!!!!

Why????

Well, Holt's timeline says 12+ months for the entire process and we would really like our child (children) to be close in age to our newest nephew and also my friend Abbey's child (both due end of Jan and Early Feb). Also, we would like our travel to be in the late fall or winter as to try and avoid the wedding season (Brando is a photographer). Finally, we have realized that traveling to Ethiopia prior to starting the adoption process will most likely not work out.

I am so excited!!!!! Now I just need to get a new date from him, so we can send in our application. I am still trying to be cautious and not get to excited, but I think this means yes to adoption and yes to Ethiopia!!!!

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

A yucky day turned bright


I had a bad day at work today, just too much on my plate and a little too much stress while feeling under the weather. I came home and cuddled up in my sweats and surfed around looking at adoption stuff online. For the first time, I think it cheered me up...I truly feel like this is going to happen and for once, I am happy, not fearful that it won't work out. I think the day is looking brighter....