The Handsome Little Man!

You really never know what kind of updated information or photographs you might get as you go through the adoption process. So we were really excited when these arrived in Tim's email in-box today!


He already looks so much older than he did in his referral photos. And a lot less terrified, thank goodness!


I just want to squeeze him! We leave 2 weeks from yesterday. If you haven't yet heard, we're going to call him Moses Daniel. Daniel for my dad and also for a wonderful friend who passed away last year.

We're busily making lists and gathering things. Baby shopping is fun!

We are planning to travel with donations for the care center. Several people have already stepped up and given items to take. (If that includes you- thanks again!) If anyone else is interested, here is what our agency says is needed:

"RE: Donations: The care centers could really use cloth diapers, diaper pins, baby wipes, sanitizers, multivitamins w/iron for infants and toddlers, diaper rash ointments, etc...items like toys and clothing are more easily accessible than some of these other daily personal care supplies."

Ahhh! I'm so excited! =)

-Jen

Patience is Rewarded

"Delay" and "patience" are two words you get familiar with if you are in the adoption process. Our court date was originally scheduled for Monday. But, well....

The Ministry of Women's Affairs in Ethiopia apparently didn't get some necessary paperwork done in time to present to the court. What we were told was that they were doing an internal audit of all adoption agencies in the country. And while they like Holt (our agency) a lot... the paperwork wasn't done, and that was that. Just wait and see.

And then today... a new email message. (Have you noticed my fondness for elipses? They're so... dramatic.) "Congratulations! We received word today that all your cases were heard and approved by the Ethiopian courts." The "all your cases" refers to us and the other families who will be in our travel group- 5 total.

Hooray! And we get to leave in only 3 weeks! Yes, that's right- 3 weeks. Or slightly less! We need to arrive August 28th. So we probably need to leave something like the 26th, I'm guessing. We need to stay until at least Sept. 4th. The visa's for the kids will be issued Sept 4th mid-day. Cutting it close? Yes! That's why changeable tickets are recommended. Yikes!

In the meantime, continue to think good thoughts for us. And knit us some booties. Or something. Isn't that what you're all out there doing? I thought so. =)

-Jen