Be still my heart...nuff said

Can't get enough...

I have a few updates to post on our adoption process. 

First, we have changed her name!!  When we found out that she was in a nice school and they were calling her by an English name I contacted the school.  The teacher said that she will wait to hear from us and start using our name so that our daughter (I love saying that) will be used to hearing it when she comes home (I love saying that too).  I panicked and second guessed the name we had chosen.  The more I read about other BTDT parents and the more I thought about it I felt she should be given an English name first and then and Chinese name for a middle name.  So I researched, I cried, I prayed, and I drove everybody crazy.  I think Devin was very close to strangling me or divorcing me or both.  I made a list...too many common names...crossed them all off.  Started over.  New list.  There was really only one name that stayed constant to me through the entire process so I thought why can't that be her first name.  Ok, first name check.  Again, for the middle name, lists, crossing off, starting over.  So then I had a moment of brilliance.  (those moments don't come too often anymore so I have to grab them while I can).  SWITCH her name around.  Ahaa.  Now we have a name...Elise Meilin.  The school has her name and were supposed to start calling her by it so I won't be changing it.  Wellll, I won't be changing her first name, the middle name is still up for debate.  There is still the chance that we might use her given Chinese name as a middle name. 

Second update.  We are 19 days into our USCIS approval wait.  The average wait time has been about 60 days.  Plus we got our appointment for our fingerprints to be taken on 11/3.  That seems so fast.  I am just thrilled that all is moving along.  But each new step creates more panic that something will go wrong.

Lastly, I sent most of our documents to a courier in Washington DC to be authenticated by the Chinese embassy.  Those are being delivered back to me this afternoon.  Only one more document to go.  Then it all goes to China...then we get to wait again.

When I contacted the teacher at Elise's school and foster home she sent me back more pictures.  I can't believe how big she is, how beautiful she is and how many teeth she has!! I am sad because we are missing these moments, but I am happy that we are at least getting these little glimpses into her life and personality.  It think that she and Wyatt are going to have a lot of fun together.  And the teacher told me that she doesn't really like English class, that she won't participate, but then when they are out of class she will start to mimic them.  She sounds like a stubborn little girl and will fit right into this family.

And because he is the cutest little guy I know, here is Wyatt:



Can it get any better?

So, as a sponsor of our daughter we received this newsletter.  Finally a smile!!! (Click on the link)

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=11It2BIjw5_jp_bo9Bsv7koyVlZ8i43pPIV-vTrvpvryWz3rDp-jYs7y4xBgu&hl=en_US 

Her English name is Sophie.  Hmmmm.

Plus, after telling them that we are adopting this beauty, they sent us some more pictures and have agreed to get some more recent ones for us.

Jackpot!!

Friday was a great day.  I can't even describe how it felt.  Yes, there were tears...of joy, of course.  Once again, I read online about other parents finding pictures of their soon to be children on the web.  For those who know me well, you know that I love to research on the internet and I am slightly obsessive.  I wasn't going to stop until I found something.  At lunch at work, I typed in our little one's chinese name in google images and there she was.  Ok, so that was wonderful, but the best news is where our daughter is living.  She is living at the Bethel China Foundation which is a school and foster home for orphans with visual impairments.  It is located outside of Beijing and it is incredible.  It was created by a young French couple in 2003 and well, I can't say enough good things about it.  It is kind of funny though...her last "update" said she was comfortable around animals such as sheep and chickens.  Now I see why.  The school also has a farm, with sheep, hens, gardens...they grow corn, walnuts, have honey bees.  There are 7 foster homes on the 17 acres, a pool and great playground.  The school is, well, incredible.  The children look happy and well loved.  We have decided to sponsor our little girl and we have contacted the founder (he actually emailed me back this morning...or rather tonight in China time).  Please take a look at the school at http://www.bethelchina.org/.  Also, they have a video at http://www.bethelchina.org/NewsAndActivity/Video.aspx.  Our MeiLin is on the video dated 4/29/2011 at times 2:34, 2:44, 3:03 and 3:47 (she looks like a good eater!)  We feel very blessed that our daughter is here.  And it makes the wait a little more bearable.  Well, not really : )

Anyway, here are some of the beautiful pictures we found on their newsletters.  It is funny to see how often she sucks on her lower lip.  We are so in love.



Homestudy received - I800A

After a little bit of a mistake in the paperwork, we have received our completed homestudy.  That means we are one step closer to MeiLin.  Our immigration application, with homestudy, is in the UPS package ready to be sent out tomorrow.  This process will take close to 60 days, though it looks like averages are going down a bit.  If we don't have any problems with immigration we might see our approval in as little as 50 days.  About midway we will have to go have our fingerprints taken.

Devin and I have been watching several movies and documentaries about China.  The country is so beautiful and the culture is so interesting.  PBS had a great documentary called The Last Train Ride Home....it was about migrant factory workers and their travels back home for the new year.  I can't believe how many people were stuck at the train station.  Anyway, if you get a chance to watch this one it is definitely worth the time.

So....back to waiting....