One Giant Step Closer

When the phone rings and it is the adoption agency.......you answer. The call came at 8:30 this morning. Our adoption agency had received the first letter. All I remember is telling myself "breath, you are not breathing" then a warm wash of relief flooded my body. The adoption agency was calling to give me the good news. That critical milestone letter, had been received. The letter introduced the baby and invited our adoption agency to find a forever family for her. Up to this point there has been no paperwork linking us with the baby. Just a baby on the other side of the world, a baby that has been stealing all of our hearts inch by inch. A baby that we knew a lot about, but had no rights or ties to. Maybe she would be part of our family, maybe she would not. We quickly signed all of the official paperwork to officially apply to Vietnam to adopt her. Now Vietnam will begin arranging the adoption details. The next letter will be the invitation to come to Vietnam to adopt our daughter. When will the adoption happen is the big question....if the stars line up, it will be at the end of this year. Perhaps Santa will have to find Natalie in Vietnam! Now it is officially TIME TO SHOP...a little bit!

A blanket made with love all finished!

Happy 1/2 Birthday

Thinking a lot about our daughter-to-be on the other side of this big blue marble as she turns 6 months old today. Our home is ready for two more little feet. There is a big sister here that is bursting for word that the time has finally come and the wait is over. Today we received 2 precious photos. She looks strong and healthy- but rather serious! she now weighs 7kg; she is 68cm long. 6 months is an important age for babies in Vietnam waiting for their forever families. It is after they turn 6 months that the Vietnam government can begin the adoption paperwork There are many unknowns, this is a game of waiting patiently with little information available. What we know is that the first step is for the Vietnamese government to send our adoption agency a letter with the baby's information asking if they have a family that would be a good match for this baby. This first letter could come as soon as the baby is 6 months old, but we are waiting in a queue. Once the adoption agency receives the first letter, they respond with a letter that says "the Fur family is a good match". Once Vietnam receives this letter, we go into another queue, when our number comes up, they will work on our file to arrange the adoption paperwork and scheduling the giving and receiving ceremony (where we actually adopt the baby and become a family of 4).

Happy 1/2 birthday little Princess- your forever family is sending love.