WE'RE IN THE HOMESTRETCH!

Since my last post we have completed two more steps!!!! Next up the Visa Interview. After that happens we will probably stare at the phone, anticipating a call to arrive at any moment, telling us to pack our bags. This could happen as soon as 2 weeks from now!!! I think I'm in disbelief at this point. It's been a LONG road. It's really hard to believe it's coming to an end (or actually a new beginning).
I'm not quite sure what a Visa Interview is. I picture a room of Korean babies in business suits sitting in a waiting room holding their tiny briefcases, waiting for their number to be called.
In reality I doubt it's an actual interview.
I hope it's soon though. In the meantime I'm washing clothes, setting up the nursery, and buying baby bottles. So much to do and HOPEFULLY so little time!

CHECK!!

If you look to the right under Adoption Milestones, you will see that we have checked yet another step off the list. As of yesterday (9/17/09) we are logged into the NVC (National Visa Center)!!!
Luckily every time you call the NVC to check up on your status, you speak with someone new. This way we can (and have) call every day of the week. Finally we got some good news. We are well on our way to our boy!!!

ADOPTION IN THE NEWS

Katherine Heigl of Grey's Anatomy, has adopted a beautiful little girl from South Korea. I heard she was making the announcement on Ellen. I of course watched and have been waiting for news that her little girl made it home. Well here she is!! She is breathtaking. The new mom was positively glowing during her interview. This family picture brought butterflies to my stomach and tears to my eyes. I love stories of families being united through adoption. Congrats to the new family.

I600 APPROVAL!

This was a big one. Many people in the adoption journey complain about dealing with the USCIS. It's a little annoying, since you can only call the NJ office for updates or questions on Wednesdays between the hours of 1 and 4. About 50% of the time you will call during the directed timeframe and STILL get a recorded voice asking you to "Please call back on Wednesdays between the hours of 1 and 4". So you wait another week and HOPE to talk to a person. It is frustrating. HOWEVER once we finally reached a person, he said he had our paperwork and was giving it to the reviewer. Then we were to wait for the letter of approval the following week. This same kind person personally called us to inform us of our approval (which is unheard of) on a SATURDAY. He was catching up on some work and decided to call us and tell us himself. This was the beginning to an exciting Labor Day weekend.

I didn't post our approval right away, because I thought the next 3 steps would happen immediately following our I600. I couldn't wait to post about the three completed steps. Yeah, that didn't happen and here we are 11 days later. STILL waiting. I'm done. I'm frustrated. I'm sad, and I miss my son. I am currently obsessively checking e-mails hoping for an updated picture. I need that to get through the last leg. At this point I haven't seen a picture since he was four months old. He is now almost 8 months old. There is no guarantee we'll get one, but I'm hopeful. I guess that's a good sign. I might be down this week, but I'm hopeful. That's the best I can do.