I have not officially posted it here yet, but in January I began the process to adopt again. This time I am adopting a baby boy from Vietnam. I loved the month I spent in Kazakhstan adopting Abby and would have returned there in a heartbeat if I could. Unfortunately, though, the trip to adopt from Kazakhstan has gotten longer and longer and families are now typically there from 7-8 weeks or they need to make 2 trips. So I began to research other countries and when I found out Vietnam had just opened back up again for adoption, I instantly knew it was where we were meant to go.
For those who don't know, adoption is not for the faint of heart. It is the most incredible experience in the world. The actual process is also one of the most difficult. Very little is in your control and you have to put a lot of faith in others you probably don't even know. But it is hands down the best thing I have ever done. Because of adoption, I am mom to the most incredible little girl in the world.
One of the first major steps required to adopt is the home study. I am working with the same home study agency I worked with for Abby's adoption. I met with the social worker the required 3 times, took all the required training, and completed the first very detailed round of paperwork which included items such as police clearance, medical reports, financial background. This is just a tiny part of the paperwork required for the home study. Once all this first round of paperwork is completed, it makes up the home study. I also had to be fingerprinted by the FBI. Then the home study and the fingerprint results are sent to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) for approval. For Abby, this approval took about a month but for #2, it took 6 days short of 3 months. The Atlanta CIS office recently moved and replaced 2 officers and were months behind. The wait was a difficult one because up until March, cases had been approved in Atlanta in about 2 weeks.
I finally received approval on June 23!!! When I opened my mailbox and saw that very important envelope from Homeland Security, I was so excited it had arrived! It is a little piece of paper, but a very important piece of paper. This means I am offically on the waiting list for the referral of a baby boy. When my agency (Children's Hope International) tells me, I will have to begin the next round of paperwork which is called my dossier. This is the part of the paperwork that will go directly to Vietnam. I will begin this when I am closer to receiving my referral.
Abby is so incredibly excited about becoming a big sister. She tells everyone that she has a baby brother and that he is in Vietnam right now. She can't wait until we can bring him home. But for now, we have to celebrate the milestones so last Friday night we went to the Vietnamese restaurant near us called Saigon Cafe. We have eaten there before and the food is just delicious!!!
Eating an egg roll at Saigon Cafe. You can see the happy face stickers on her shirt. She decorated her shirt while we waited!
Cheese!!!
So excited to be a big sister!!
