Thursday, May 7, 2009

Gotcha Day!


Today is Ephraim's Gotcha Day. One year ago was Ephraim's G & R ceremony, and he became officially ours. Actually, I think we became official his. Here's a link to my blog from last year.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

New Bathroom!







We finally redecorated the bathroom that adjoins my office!  My oldest daughter, Brooke, was my interior decorator because she's much better at that sort of thing than I am.  Ben was my laborer. Didn't it turn out well?  It's very girly!  I wish I had taken "before" pictures, but I always forget. Anyway, the bathroom was last decorated twelve years ago for my now-twenty-three-year-old son, so you can imagine.  It had beige walls, American flag floor mats, a denim shower curtain, and the matching towels long ago went off to college with my son.  In case you are wondering, I took a close-up picture of the switch plate to show the wonders of the new metallic spray paints. We've painted quite a few of our switch plates at home and at the lake with various metallic colors, and they've turned out great!  It's a huge savings to spray a plain, plastic switch plate too, rather than buying new ones for several dollars a piece.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

First Anniversary


One year ago today we met Ephraim for the first time.  What amazing year this has been and what an amazing little boy we have.  We are so blessed! I can't imagine our life without him. Here is a link to our first meeting.  

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Referral Picture

Referral Picture

Adoption Timeline

  • 2006
  • November 8 - Application Mailed
  • November 22 - Accepted
  • November 24 - I-600A Mailed
  • November 27 - Delivery Confirmed
  • November 28 - Receipt of I-600A
  • November 30 - Fingerprint Notice
  • December 15 - Home Study Update
  • December 21 - Stacey Fingerprinted
  • December 28 - Added to List (#116)
  • 2007
  • January 24 - Home Study Mailed
  • January 25 - Ben Fingerprinted
  • February 8 - Waiting List (#111)
  • February 20 - Waiting List (#109)
  • February 27 - Waiting List (#105)
  • March 8 - Waiting List (#101)
  • March 22 - Waiting List (#99)
  • April 19 - Waiting List (#98)
  • April 25 - Dossier Authentication
  • May 2 - Delivery Confirmed
  • May 2 - Added to SN Wait List
  • May 3 - Waiting List (#97)
  • June 7 - Waiting List (#86)
  • June 25 - Dossier Translated
  • June 28 - On Waiting List Six months
  • July 9 - Waiting List (#81)
  • August 6 - Waiting List (#4 SN)
  • August 8 - Waiting List (#76)
  • September 7 - Waiting List (#70)
  • October 8 - Waiting List (#67)
  • October 22 - Waiting child -- OURS!!
  • October 23 - Official Referral Date
  • October 25 - Letter #1 Submitted
  • October 29 - Referral Receipt - CHI
  • 2008
  • February 5 - Fingerprint Request
  • February 7 - Proof of Delivery
  • March 1 - All Fingerprinted
  • March 3 - I-600 Application Mailed
  • March 5 - I-600 Acknowledgement
  • April 17 - I-600 Approval!
  • May 2 - Original G & R Date
  • May 3 - Fly to Ho Chi Minh City
  • May 5 - MEET EPHRAIM!
  • May 6 - Drive to Kien Giang
  • May 7 - G & R Ceremony
  • May 8 - Medical, Apply for Passport
  • May 12 - Fly to Hanoi
  • May 13 - Visa appointment at USCIS
  • May 14 - Pick Up Visa, Fly Home
  • May 15 - Arrive in Nashville!
  • May 23 - Certificate of Citizenship
  • June 12 - Re-Adoption Filed by Court
  • July 3 - Tennessee Birth Certificate

G & R Day

G & R Day