It's Been one Year

Today is officially one year since the day we were logged into China. Thankfully, we have great news to share. Yesterday we received notice that we could download our Travel Packet II. This is a big milestone in the adoption process. It means that we have been through the review room in China and that our dossier was all in order. It also gives us the okay to begin applying for visas.

The Travel Packet II is followed by the official "Letter of Acceptance." This is the last document China needs before they can issue us a Travel Approval. It basically states that yes they are allowing us to adopt Addison and yes we are accepting her as our daughter. The big surprise is that we received ours today!! ONE DAY after TPII. The LOA usually doesn't arrive until later, so we are very fortunate to receive ours so quickly.

The downside is that we probably won't be traveling before the very end of Oct./ beginning of Nov. even though we will have the required documents. The whole month of Oct. if basically out because of government holidays and trade fairs which increase travel costs.

This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions for us. When we first started the process we were told that referrals were coming 8-10 months after LID for babies with no known health issues. Then the wait started to increase. Bob and I became more and more discouraged....we were so anxious to be parents for another child. Now we are so thankful that wait increase caused us to do some soul searching regarding a waiting child. It was there that our little girl was waiting for us all along. We can't wait until the day both of us are able to hold Addison in our arms. We have so much love to share with her.