Finally, some rumors!

Finally yesterday we got some rumors about the next batch of referrals. I looks like they will be matching through March 6, 2006. This is all we hoped for because March 7th is a very big day with many, many families logged in. Hopefully next month they will do more than the 7th as we have never had a one day batch. Right now, only 15 log in days are left until we will finally be matched. SLOWLY but surely we are getting closer! I really hope we are traveling before summer is over!

You might be adopting from China if.....

YOU MIGHT BE ADOPTING FROM CHINA IF......

• you know that I-600 & I-171 aren't highways....
• you've been expecting a baby for over 3 years....
• you understand that it's 2006 in some parts of the world....
• you've "paid for" 3 citizenships, but never brought anyone into the U.S....
• you know that waiting for China has nothing to do with Dillards or dishes...
• your homestudy is followed by a number (i.e. #3 or #4)...
• you never know how many days next month will have...
• you know that babies come in batches...
• you've been fingerprinted four times, but never committed a crime...
• you automatically assume everyone who is expecting is having a girl...
• you own new clothing in 3 little sizes for all 4 seasons (because you don't know when or how big)...
• you look twice when you see a lady bug...
• you're more interested in what will happen in March 2006 than in March 2009...
• you know people who understand when you talk about 2 day months & 5 day months...
• your due date hasn't changed by days, but by years...
• you know who the Rumor Queen is ... AND ... you don't know who she is...
• you know that forecast doesn't have anything to do with the weather...
• you've waited so long, they re-checked your fingerprints to see if they changed...
• trying to understand why they're printing you again, you study your own fingerprints and wonder if fingerprints grow wrinkles....
• You might be adopting from China if you love someone you've never met with all your heart.

Third and final 171H

We just received our third and final 171H! This is a relief as its the US government approval to adopt an orphan from China. We have done this two complete times already as each time you get the approval it expires after 18 months. Each time we applied for this we had to supply a homestudy, birth certificates, marriage license, and get our fingerprints taken and ran through the FBI database. After so long we can atleast feel good that this will get us through the adoption as it does not expire until August 2010 and we are finally close!!

Time to start a blog...

Today is February 10th, in a few more days we will have been waiting for 35 months to receive our referral from China. And that doesn't include the three months we spent getting our paperwork prepared. The last batch of referrals matched March 1&2 of 2006 and we expect another batch of referrals near the end of February. We are logged in March 21, 2006, so right now only 19 LIDs (Log in dates) days stand between us and seeing a photo of our daughter. I doesn't seem real after waiting so long! It takes 4-6 months right now for the line to move by 19 days so we are looking at receiving our long awaited referral in May or June. It sure would be a great birthday present for me so maybe we will get lucky and receive our referral in May.
Right now, we are starting to plan our travel, the packing list alone is quite a project and we don't want to forget anything. Hopefully this site will allow everyone to follow our trip and keep up with us while we are in China.