Referral

We finally received our referral on March 6, 2006! Lola is an adorable ten month old and we are delighted to say the least. Her referral paperwork states that she is healthy, quiet, ready with a smile and crawls well on hands and knees.
Our travel meeting is on March 17th. We will meet the thirteen other families who will travel with us to Guangdong, China. There are also thirteen families traveling to JiangXi, so hopefully we will meet up with them in Guangzhou, where the U.S. Consulate is located. We are anticipating travel sometime in late April or early May. Hopefully, we will be with our baby to celebrate her first birthday on April 30th.

the paperwork redo begins....

So here we are, the much talked about paperwork-redo. Thought we were done with all of this BS one year ago. Who'd have known an autobiography and fingerprints could "expire". Well, that's our government for us. All moaning and groaning aside, the Homestudy redo paperwork is done and will get sent to our social worker today. Then, we will redo the immigrations paperwork.
The last set of referrals were issued to families yesterday through August 25, 2005. As a reminder, we were "logged in" on October 14, 2005. So, how many days of families till it is our turn? (smells like smoke, oh it is my brain trying to do math) 49 days ahead of us. No telling how long it will take to get through them. This may make no sense so someone who isnt/hasnt adopted from China. The word on the cyber street is that we could expect to see our referral, ie.picture and info about our baby, as early as January. Now that would be a pretty nice birhday gift!

one year plus...and still waiting.....

October 14th marked the one year anniversary of being logged in at the China Center of Adoption Affairs in Beijing. We "celebrated" the occasion by having a nice vegetarian dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Kaya's with a couple of our favorite people, Mike and Christine.
So, what have we been doing to keep ourselves busy during this long wait? Well, Summer has come and gone, and the wait continues. It is almost Halloween, and the wait continues. Why? I dont know. Reasons beyond our control. We have put off many things during this wait. We didnt attend Mike and Cristines wedding in the Bahamas cause we thought we would travel this year. We have not taken any vacations since we began this journey. The wait can really get us down. We decided to get our minds of the wait and focus on something else-the house. Finally, the hard wood floors, which are throughout the house, are refinished. Moving EVERYTHING out was a pain in the ass. Moving all of the stuff out of Lola's room was a total bummer. Hey, at least we spent a few nights at Bob and Regi's B&B. I suppose that could count as a mini get away? (yeah, i am really reaching) After the floors were finished and we were all moved back in, we got a brand new sofa! It is a mammouth sectional and I love it! Oh, and the best part, Matt put in a fire place! It is awesome! Now we just need a good chilly night...(did I just wish for cold weather??).
So, besides the make over at home, some other very exiting news have come our way while we wait for Lola. Matt's sister Leigh and her husband Rich are expecting their first babyf! Yes, Lola will have a cousin right around the same age! I am so exited to be an Aunt and Matt will be a terrific Uncle. And, they bought a house less than five minutes away! I always wanted a close family! Lola is one lucky lady.

Newman Family Adoption Timeline

August 1, 2004:
Adoptions from the Heart International Adoption Informational meeting at the library in Point Pleasant

January 12, 2005:
Application sent to Adoptions from the Heart, Hazlet, NJ

January 28, 2005:
First meeting with our social worker Karen at AFTH, Hazlet

February 2, 2005:
Second meeting with Karen

February 28, 2005:
Home Study group class about international adoption

February 30, 2005:
International adoption educational meeting

May 10, 2005:
Home visit by Karen for Home Study

June 3, 2005:
I-600A sent to USCIS with completed Home Study

June 25, 2005:
Fingerprints at USCIS in Philadelphia

August 4, 2005:
I-600A Approved

August 17, 2005:
Meet Karen at AFTH for final paperwork review before sending for State approval.

September 10, 2005:
Dossier sent to Gracewood

October 5, 2005:
Dossier recieved by CCAA

August 2006:
Fingerprints redone at USCIS in Philadelphia

November 3, 2006:
Completed paperwork for Homestudy Update sent to AFTH, Hazlet, NJ

December 2006:
Homestudy update completed and new I 171 approval received from USCIS

March 6, 2007:
Referral for Lola received at 11:30 am!!!!!!!!!

March 17, 2007:
Travel meeting at AFTH in Wynnewood, Pa.

Baby Shower

This was the best Memorial Day weekend ever! On Sunday May 28th, my Mom and Regi (mother in law) hosted a baby shower for Matt, Lola and me! It was held at Basil T's in Toms River and it was wonderful. The favors were great, consisting of a small Chinese silk coin purse and a traditional red Chinese envelope (the kind used to give money, especially at Chinese New Year) with a crisp new one dollar bill and a sweet description of the tradition of the red envelope. Aunt Lily came up with the idea and helped out tremendously with those wonderful favors. So many people attended! The gifts were all so beautiful and thoughtful...the number of gifts was overwhelming. We especially treasure the hand made items like Aunt Karen's Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and Aunt Jennifer's precious La-La-La-Lola sweater and blankie. Leigh was a huge help with unwrapping gifts and making sure my wine glass remained full. I am thrilled that Lola will be surrounded by so many loving people in her life.