Love More, Laugh Often (formerly "Tiger & Kar are Adopting!"): October 2010

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Interviewing the Pumpkin of the Week

Each classroom in Cubby's school has a mascot, and the kids take turns caring for the mascot a week at a time. The student caring for the mascot is referred to as the "Pumpkin of the Week" and the ~~kids~~ parents are responsible for journaling everything the mascot did that week.

Cubby is in charge of the mascot this week, which happens to be a stuffed Bunny. Not any ol' stuffed Bunny. Nope - this one is wearing a special PINK DRESS. Awesome for a little boy to carry around all week! Just ask his daddy! :-)

(She's so smart, she already learned how to spell Ilya in Russian!)

It's been fun having Bunny around, and I'll share the journal as soon as Bunny moves on to her/his next house. For now, though, I thought I'd entertain you with Cubby's "Pumpkin of the Week Interview Answers"...

Q: What is your favorite letter?
A: "U"
Q: Why is this your favorite letter?
A: Cuz "u" and me are family!

Q: What is your favorite number?
A: 4!
Q: Why is this your favorite number?
A: Cuz mommy and daddy and Ilya and Bailey make 4!

Q: Who do you enjoy playing with the most?
A: GOD!!!

Mommy's side note - my heart melted with all of the answers above. However, he really got Norm with this next one:

Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Just Me and My Dad!

Please tell me he'll stay this sweet and innocent forever! PLEASE!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

YEEHAW!!

Guess who took their first pony ride this weekend?

Now....guess what a certain little boy wants for his 4th Birthday
(which, according to him, is going to take place in October instead of March!)

OOOHHHH - - and check out his brand new cowboy boots.
He's one handsome dude - dontcha agree?!

Our Timeline

5/27/08 - GOTCHA DAY!
5/15/08 - Court!!
5/10-5/31/08 - Trip 2
4/30/08 - Recv'd Trip 2 Visa's from Consulate
4/25/08 - Travel arrangements made for Trip 2, May 10-31 2008
4/23/08 - Recv'd news of our court date, 5/15/08!
4/4/08 - I-171H and FBI fingerprints notarized, apostilled and FedEx'd to Susan in TX to hand carry to Moscow for us on Wed. 4/9/08!!
4/3/08 - Recv'd approved 171H & finally removed countdown ticker (last reading on it was waiting 2 months, 2 weeks & 6 days!)
3/21/08 - Ilya's 1st Birthday
3/15-3/22/08 - Trip 1
3/6/08 - Recv'd Visa back from Consulate
3/3/08 - FedEx'd Visa app to NY Consulate
2/23/08 - recv'd confirmation of 1st travel dates 3/15/08 - 3/22/08!!
2/19/08 - recv'd confirmation from USCIS, fingerprints cleared sometime last week
2/8/08 - USCIS Fingerprint Appt
2/1/08 - Received FBI fingerprint clearances (4 days earlier than requested!)
1/23/08 - FedEx'd fingerprints to FBI (needed for Moscow region), asked for expedited service to be returned 2/5/08
1/19/08 - Turned in dossier to C , spoke about regions, decided on Moscow :-) ; unable to meet Ana & Russ due to weather :-(
1/18-1/20/08 - Trip to Asheville to meet C, Ana & Russ
1/15/08 - Dossier Apostilled!
1/14/08 - I600A submitted; dossier notarized
1/11/08 - Fingerpint drama is OVER! Received 5 copies of our HS
1/10/08 - FPL rejects Judy's fingerprints
12/19/07 - Judy's HS fingerprints resubmitted - will they be "expedited"?!
11/27/07 - SW had us review first draft of HS - still waiting on CPS and Fingerprints to come back...hopefully will have them the 1st week of December
11/16/07 - Final interview w/ SW!
11/15/07 - Request Judy's criminal history from VSP (again!)
11/7/07 - Norm's HS Interview
11/5/07 - Kar's HS Interview
11/1/07 - Autobiographies (for both of us!) DONE!!!
11/1/07 - Karyn & Chef Judy physicals completed!
10/31/07 - Mailed Child Protective Services Release of Info - for home study
10/31/07 - Visited Sheriff's Office for National Fingerprint Backround Check - for home study
10/31/07 - Received our Criminal Histories from the VA State Police - to be forwarded to CSS
10/30/07 - Purchased money orders for: National Background Check (3) and Child Prot. Svc. Release (3)
10/29/07 - Joint interview with SW
10/25/07: Receive Dossier requirements from CSS and begin the Paper Chase!
10/23/07: First meeting with SW to get home study papers
10/07: We realize "Agency A" isn't the agency for us. We apply to and are accepted by CSS (Catholic Social Services in NC)
09/07: Decide to adopt from Russia and apply to "Agency A".
08/07: Begin researching IA again.
2006: We're pregnant again but it's another ectopic. This time, surgery is required.
12/05: We begin researching international adoption.
2001: We're pregnant! Sadly, it's ectopic..
08/95: Our wedding day!
10/12/94: We meet while both stationed at Andrews Air Force Base

Acronyms & Definitions

AACK!!! - Kar stressing out!! :-)
IA - International Adoption
Paper Chase - Collecting documents needed for the HS, Dossier, I600A and I171H
HS - Home Study
SW - Social Worker (person doing our HS)
Dossier - Legal documents requested by Russia (birth certs, marriage lic, financial statement, photos, and MUCH more!)
Apostille - Legalization of a document for international use
USCIS - US Citizenship & Immigration Services
I600A - Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition
I171H - Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

Prayers for our Children

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Interviewing the Pumpkin of the Week

Saturday, October 9, 2010

YEEHAW!!

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