B&A Blog

So heartwarming to look @ B&A's blog and to see their new son. Funny there was no caption by the photos, I think there were no words to describe the moment even for B who calls herself wordy. I am so thrilled for them and excited, too, for our journey as well. Their son M will have an amazing life with the most caring and fun-loving parents. The adventure begins!

Dossier is in Ethiopia

Just found out that our authenticated dossier landed in Ethiopia yesterday or the 23rd depending on where you are in the world! Woo hoo! So now we wait for referral of Baby FitzGerald and then court date and then embassy date and then travel date. So we crossed one more hurdle but several more to go.

There is No Me Without You

So grateful for the gift of Melissa Fay Greene's "There is no Me Without You." IAG sent it along with our adoption notebook. Greene tells the true story of Haregewoin Teferra, a middle class Ethiopian woman who finds herself at the heart of a global health crisis and mother to countless Ethiopian children, some HIV positive and some not. It is something everyone should read. As one of the critics said best - its part infuriating and part inspiring.

Beth and Aly Khalifa have landed in Ethiopia and I am living vicariously through their blog. Its going to be great to watch their journey as we look forward to our own.

Off to bed.

Thank you Janet Ball

A saddened Janet Ball phoned me this week to say she was leaving International Adoption Guides to spend more time with her own daughters. I can't say enough about her friendship over the past 2 years and we are indebted to her for traveling the path with us. We are excited that Temple Post will be helping us to complete our journey and we know we are in great hands. So Janet if you are out there, thank you! You have not heard the last from us. We will send photos and bring the little person to see you as soon as possible.

Ordered a rug for the nursery today. I'm just going for it. I've spent the last two years being tentative and cautious. I think its time to be optimistic and hopeful!

Dossier is on its Way

Wow, things move fast! Dossier is on its way to Ethiopia on Wednesday. We could have a referral anytime now but there are currently no little girls in the Care Center so we'll have to wait and see. Exciting!

The Dossier is out of Here

After completing 3 Kazakhstan dossiers, I was beyond thrilled to fedex our Ethiopia dossier to IAG yesterday. We are more than anxious to move along! The Ethiopia dossier is a breeze when compared to Kaz which is three times the size and much more complex. Everyone has been so supportive - the folks @ IAG, our home study agency Frank Adoption and of course, our friends and family. Its Team FitzGerald and we are grateful. I really feel good about everything - like we have made the right decision for us. Now we just wait for the referral of our little girl. I am preparing the nursery, thinking of names, etc.

We are also very excited that our friends A&B are headed to Ethiopia soon for their little boy and we have other friends who are adopting a 1 and 2 year old boy and girl. So our little girl will have friends somewhat close in age and from her birth country. I think this will be helpful for us all!

More waiting, ughhhhhhhhhhh!

To Ethiopia

We officially began our journey to our daughter and joining International Adoption's Guides' Ethiopia program. After almost two years in pursuit of a child in Kazakhstan, we paused and had to make a decision. After much angst, we decided to switch directions. It felt so right, like a heavy weight had been lifted. I am in no way slighting Kazakhstan and the beautiful children and the forever families. There is the right journey for everyone and this felt right for us.

Of course, I told myself I would not obsess over the blogs or constantly look up info on the web looking for something to frightened me and I have already done that. Someone told me that adoptive parents constantly look for what is wrong. I need to make that shift to looking for what is right and being positive.

I am hoping we can have our daughter home with us by this summer. I am excited to decorate her room, work with Pat on a name and prepare myself for the ups and downs of being a mother. So many people have been so kind to us on this journey and I hope I can be a resource for others well. Maybe even pay it forward.