Waiting for a Referral

Current wait times have again been revised. :( Looks like eight months for a referral now which slides us into the end of September. BUT... everything stops for two months (August 8 - September 25) for the rainy season. So maybe we'll get our referral before Christmas!! :) Within three months after receiving our referral, we should receive notification of our court date and we should travel about 12 weeks later. By May of 2010, we'll have four smiling faces in the house!

Update on Wait Times

On a call with our adoption agency today, the wait times have been revised. It now looks like we will be waiting about 6 1/2 months for a referral, then 2-3 months to be assigned a court date and another 10 weeks for that court date to arrive. Travel to Ethiopia usually takes place within a month after that court date. Now, that takes us into the rainy season in Ethiopia (mid-June to mid-September) when everything stops for three months. So, it is possible that we may not travel to Ethiopia until late this year or early next year. It's okay, it just gives us that much more time to enjoy the smallness of our family.

Big Brother Training!

Today we received our approved I-171H from CIS. Tomorrow Tolido and I will get it authenticated at the Secretary of State, come back home, PDF it and then burn it and all other dossier documents to a CD. We'll then FedEx everything to the adoption agency and sit back and wait. From this point, we estimate a referral might take anywhere from five to seven months. Then our dossier will make its way through the Ethiopian courts and if all goes well, we hope to see another little smiling face in the house five to eight weeks later. In the mean time, we're going to teach Tolido to talk and snow ski and swim and stand on one foot and kick a ball and all the other good things big brothers ought to know how to do! :)

Love and Logic

I just read a book about parenting styles, Helicopters, Drill Sergeants and Consultants. I have identified myself as more of a drill sergeant and less of a consultant than I'd like. There is not a shred of helicopter here! Anyway, I also got a copy of Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood which I am thoroughly enjoying. Love and Logic is the kind of parenting to which I aspire. And I have a perfect guinea pig - an almost two year old. :) I'm about half way through the book and will begin applying the things I learn today. Stay tuned and I'll let you know how it goes. I have high hopes!

Approved!

We got our FedEx today with our certificate of Adoption Approval from Gladney! So exciting to be one step closer. As before it all seems a little unreal. I think this time will be like last where the wait, looking back, just seems like a blur with a sudden stop at the end when a small child is placed in your arms. The responsibility of parenthood settles about your shoulders and it is then that all the reading and learning and thinking and dreaming coalesces into a quiet confidence. This is where I should be at this moment and this is the child I was intended to raise with all love that I have to give. When I look at my son and think about how we came to share a family, I find it impossible not to think about the ancient Chinese belief that says, "An invisible red thread connects us to those we are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break." It is truly amazing that we have been so gifted. I am grateful for all that I have and for all that is still to come.

A Weekend of Parties....

This past weekend we celebrated Tolido's first Halloween! We dressed him up in a pumpkin costume - the cutest pumpkin I've ever seen - and trotted him off to a neighborhood hayride. He and Daddy got off at every stop and gathered more loot and he never stopped. He absolutely LOVED running around with the big kids. Next morning we were off to see a horse show for Mommy's birthday. Tolido could get right up next to the chain link fence of the arena. There were two jumps close to the fence and each time a giant horse would land off the jump just feet from him his eyes would light up and he'd giggle. He seemed to love the sound of a horse neighing and would try to mimic each time he heard it. He didn't seem to understand that a horse could run him over as he chafed at having his hand held... Then it was off to Wurstfest that night for some sausage eating and polka dancing. Uncharacteristically, he wasn't having much luck with the little ladies but he never stopped trying! He settled for dancing with Mommy and Daddy. He loves music but he really loves LIVE music... thus, he was in his element. Early the next morning it was time to get suited up in his tuxedo for a wedding. He was a quiet little angel during the ceremony and found a jukebox at the reception. ...but he wouldn't kiss the bride and wasn't too interested in a hug either. Guess he was fed up with girls! :)

Growing up...

It's been two months since I have posted anything on this blog. Life just seems to pass so quickly. Tolido continues to grow and learn. He gains more confidence and independence almost by the hour, it seems. He's coming into that phase where not getting what he wants leads to lots of whining and collapsing to the ground. Lovely behavior... On the whole though, he is a great kid. We couldn't have asked for a more darling child. Last night we went to my mom's 50th high school reunion and Tolido captured the heart of a sweet little 5-year-old girl. She dragged him to the dance floor and he danced (and ran amok on the dance floor) for the better part of an hour. Before the evening was out, he lifted her skirt. Boys... surely we don't need to have *that* discussion yet?!