Paperwork uPdate

This lovely post brought to you from our new iPad, which we are getting fine tuned for our trip. Our article 5 should be picked up this week (wed) and then we wait on TA. Thats travel approval!!! We are still hoping to go the first two weeks of december. Tessa's room is coming along beautifully, and I promise to share some pics once it's finished. No other news here, we are just crazy busy!

I800 and cable!

Our I800 approval came in the mail last Friday! I was so happy to see that piece of paper! I emailed the NVC (National Visa Center) on Monday, and got an email back on Tuesday saying we'd been cabled. Woo Hoo! That means they've sent the info for Tessa's US visa to the consulate in China. It is yet another big step! Now we are waiting on our Article 5, which takes exactly two weeks from drop off to pick up. We are hoping and anticipating getting our travel approval in mid November. We are hoping and anticipating traveling the first two weeks of December. We are getting even more excited, if that's possible.

I had a dream about her a few nights ago, that I was holding her. Oh my, my heart is just aching to hold her now. The dream was SO real. Eric and I were just talking a couple of nights ago, about how sad I'll be if she only attaches to him at first, and not let me hold her or touch her.

Her room is painted, and the furniture is delivered. We are working on the decorations now. I dropped her linens at the monogram store yesterday, and hope to get those back by the weekend.

Travel is approaching very quickly, and my to do list is quite long. I've become a professional delegator! I'm giving people jobs left and right. Before we know it, we'll be home and celebrating Christmas as a family of five. We can't wait!!!

I800

Our I800 application was approved, according to our officer on the phone. I spoke with her on Monday, and was thrilled to hear that news. Hopefully we'll get the paper notice of approval soon. Now, we wait on that approval to be sent to the National Visa Center, who then cables the info to China after putting in into the computer system. I hope to have that done by the middle of October. There's not really anything for us to do, but just try and keep track of it all:-)

After that gets cabled to China, we wait on Article 5, which takes exactly two weeks. I hope we have that done by the end of October.

Then? We wait on TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!!! Woo- Hoo!!!! We hope to have travel approval by the middle of November, and be gone to China December 1-15. I guess we'll see soon enough what God's timing is. I can't wait to see it revealed! Eric and I still aren't sure what the best timing will be for us to travel. I hope it's the beginning of December, but we'll see! In other news, Tessa's room is starting to come together, and I love it!

Say it with me: L---O---A!!!!!!!!!!t

Yesterday was a phenomenal day. Our Fedex package with our LOA came! And to top it off, so did a package of hairbows for sweet Tessa, from her cousins McCall and Baylor! This Mommy had a lot of fun opening packages yesterday. So last night I got to work in the office, having Eric sign everything, and me triple checking every document. This is the last big round of paperwork. Now all the work revolves around getting her room ready and preparing for travel in a few months. THEN, the real work begins. We have the honor and privilege of parenting this sweet child.

A little inspiration in the office:

See this folks? This is the long awaiting LOA! This means China has reviewed everything we've sent and we have been officially approved by their government to be Tessa's forever family! BIG news!

Sweet girls passport sized pics to go along with her US visa application. This was her original photo in her referral file.

Did I tell you we finally decided on her full name?

Tessa Ilene Qiaohui Kirsch

Ilene is my maternal grandma's name, and we are so excited for Tessa to share her name. She died when I was in 9th grade, and we were extremely close. I know she's smiling down from heaven as we walk on this journey. We are keeping Tessa's Chinese name as a second middle name. We feel that she should always have that part of her heritage. (I know all you southerners are freaking out about how we'll monogram. It'll just be the first two names. Tessa Ilene.)
This is also being mailed today. It head to the US government to officially approve our family for Tessa. It's kinda like step two to something we did back in April and May.

Another shout out for our agency!
All of the above is being overnighted today. Next: Mine and Eric's visa applications to travel to China. This actually has nothing to do with the adoption, it's something all visitors to China need.
So, What's next?

The I800 takes around 3 weeks to get approved. They then cable the info to the NVC (National Visa Center), and our Article 5 can be dropped off in China. That takes two weeks, and we'll then begin the wait for our TA. (Travel Approval) Once we get that, we can make our consulate appointment and book flights! We are still looking at December or January:-)

You HAVE to read this. Now.

Trust me on this one. Click here, and read this.

Jen Hatmaker is my new favorite person. I want to go buy her book now. I love her blog, and I especially love this particular post. So honest, so real, so transparent. This should be required reading for every adoptive parent.

LOA!!!LOA!!!LOA!!!

Wouldn't you know that less than 3 hours after my last post, I got an email from our coordinator Xiaoqing.....and our LOA is on it's way!!! That's amazing news, and it's coming earlier than expected. We now have our official Letter of Acceptance from China, to be Tessa's forever family. I can't wait to have our baby girl in my arms. Now onto more paperwork. Lots of it. Immigration applications, our Chinese visa applications, her US visa application. The list goes on. The good news it that it all has to end eventually:-)

We're coming Tessa!

In other news, I'm freaking out a little. The boys aren't moved in together yet, and Tessa's room isn't started. I hardly have anything for her. I'm sure once I unpack all these bags and boxes, I'll discover that I do indeed have plenty for her!!!

Waiting...

Still waiting on LOA. About 45 days in. Some get it around now, some wait 120 days. AVerage is around 60. I'll just keep trusting the God's timing is the perfect timing.