Valentine's Day in Kaz?

So we don't have our letter of invitation yet BUT we do have tentative dates of arriving on Feb 17th . It seems so far away and like it will never get her. 5 weeks - can we handle it?

2010 is the Year

This has been the longest break ever. I wish I would have allowed myself to enjoy it a bit more. Hard to have so much unstructured time when you are anxiously awaiting your child. Had dinner with Cuales' tonight which cheered me up tremendously. They gave us baby and travel stuff and some reassurance as well. Feeling better and much more optimistic. I hope that we might be in Karaganda by February? At least I have some things to do to keep me busy - update dossier, get our money in order, etc.

Patience is a Virtue

Geez, the adoption process is the best yoga one can do! Talk about practice in non-attachment, not being in control, patience, etc. This is the most discipline I've ever had to have. More than ever, I appreciate the support of family and friends and our extended adoptive families support. I know they have made it to the other side and understand the struggles. I hope that I can one day return the favor of an ear to listen and good counsel and support.

On the good front, we continue to hear such awesome reports on the babyhouse in Karaganda and from folks who have adopted toddlers which we may find ourselves doing. So these positive nuggets of info help me to move on with a positive attitude or as much as possible.

Christmas Time is Here

We're spending Christmas week @ Figure Eight Island with my family. Although we are having a great time, I must confess I had hoped we would be in Kaz at this time. Hopefully in January! It has been over two years since we began this process - feels like an eternity! I am ever grateful to the WPA families who offer words of encouragement and good advice for us. I hope I can be as helpful one day when we are on the otherside of the fence!

Little Bed

Found a toddler bed on Craig's list and picked it up tonight. Its so tiny - looks like a doll bed on steroids. But it feels less strange than when the crib came along. That must be a good sign!

Asheville GetAway

Pat and I are doing our bi-annual Asheville thing. Funny to think that next time we come, we'll have a little person and our regular to-dos will change a bit. I am actually looking so forward to that. But for now, its fun for the two of us!

We did find out that we will be adopting from Karaganda and are very excited about that! We've heard so many good things, its a larger city so more to do in all that time we are not with the baby - all the feedback has been terrific. Now, we just wait for the invite. I hope its soon. My patience is wearing thin. Pat is handling differently but he too is a bit stressed.

Thinking of names and looking at a Toddler Bed off Craig's list on Sunday. I am anxious to know more about our little one so that I can really sort the room out, get out stuff in order, etc.

People @ World Partners / International Adoption Guides adoption have been amazing. And the "alumni" family have been such a support. I really did not think the waiting would be so hard and that I would be asking for so much advice, but I know now that I will continue to do so.

Still Waiting

Okay. Today was hard. Feeling anxious and unsettled. Hard to do anything - study, read, etc. I officially have no finger nails and have eaten everything I can find in our house. As someone who rarely has a drink, I had 3 whiskey drink concoctions at Judy Murray's house warming last night. Geesh. Not the way to go. Upstairs to meditate and do something positive for myself.

I hope we get our invitation soon! The family ahead of us at World Parnters/International Adoption Guides left November 12th for Astana. They got the call and left 2 weeks later. I hope ours comes soon!

On a positive note - our immigration paperwork is updated and good through 2011. Seem like everytime we got it back as of late, it had a mistake. Wrong dates, wrong country, etc. We have a few gaps in our dossier but nothing that will not be taken care of in a timely fashion. And importantly, we have really warm coats for our trips. Went ahead and made the investment as it will be in the negatives there - nothing like good old NC winter.