AHH The Joy of Retail Therapy

Well what fun I have had in the last 2 days. My cousin, her mom, her kids, my sister and I hit the road on Tuesday and headed for Bangor, ME. This is about 4 hrs away and is the place to be for Retail Therapy.
RETAIL THERAPY...for those of you who have not yet experienced it...you will and let me tell you it is soooo great!
So I actually did go with a mission...to find things for the walls of Nathaniel's room. And I actually did find some things. I found a wall hanging of blue stars and moons at Mardens for the low low price of 4.97 and I found a set of wall hangings (square soft pillow like hangings with Nursery Rhymes on them) and a valance to match at Burlington Coat factory....This store is renamed by yours truely as "New Mom Heaven on Earth". For those of you not familiar this store is the greatest store ever. It has about 50 aisles of baby/kid/decor stuff, clothing, equipment, toys and books. It is amazing and 100 times more fun than toys r us because it is all so super cheap and discounted. I got a outfit that came with pants, shirt and a jacket for 11.97 (how can you beat that).
We also went to Targets...oh oh...bad store. So Okay I got Nathaniel a Halloween Costume. I think we will be home by Halloween and if not we will have Halloween either in Ethiopia or when we get back (thats right I will move the date of Halloween....not...but the kids in our extended family will do Halloween over when Nathaniel arrives). It is a dragon costume, it is made out of this really nice warm fuzzy/furry material that is sooo cute. I am attaching pics of all my goodies.
Once folded it really doesn't look like a lot..but check out the pics of it all laid out on the bed.
Fun was had by all!!!

Week 10 of Waiting is Done! How much longer???

That is the million dollar question. Who knows! Its getting harder and harder each day to bear this wait for Nathaniel to come home. In the meantime...I have more work to do on his room..although it is certainly slowly coming together which is exciting!
Hopefully just a few more weeks..but its still hard to predict when I will get my travel date. Hopefully Soon!!!!
Louise

Update

I still can't post Nathaniel's photo so here is another sneek peek....look at the chubby fingers!




Well yesterday I got an update on Nathaniel. Holy Cow my boy is 21 lbs already! Whatever they are feeding him there must be doing him well...he has gained almost 6 lbs since March. Growing like a weed was the description used in this update. His hair is growing as well and he has a full head of soft curls!
The update is sooo nice to get...but I wish he was here marking those milestones at home and growing up at home..but soon! He will be here in not time at all!
No word if the medical was done yet...I assume not quite yet but will find out tommor
row if the medical paperwork arrived yet in Addis Ababa.
Louise

Lisa, Pierre, Marika and Karelle arrive home.

These are some of my favourite pictures from Lisa and Pierre's arrival home. I am sooo happy I was able to be at the airport to see them arrive home from airport. Something that I will remember for a long time!
Welcome home Goguen Family!!!!
Louise

July 31st...Logged into Immigration

So on July 31st the immigration department stated on their website that my file was in progress!!! YAY. Apparently most families wait between 2-6 weeks after this for their medical forms to arrive. Once the medical is done it is sent back to Nairobi. From that point it is 4 weeks till travel date!!! So really that means I could potentially (baring any snags) travel in 6-10 weeks...WOW!!!
I am still waiting for a current update on Nathaniel...an agency person just returned from Ethiopia this week...so hopefully an update will be here soon! I can't wait to seen new pics and see how much he has grown again in a month!
August 8th already..hard to believe the summer will be over soon and September will be here. Bring on the fall I say :) I can't wait!
Louise

7 WEEKS WAITING TO BRING YOU HOME

It's been 7 weeks of waiting for Nathaniel to come home. A lot has happened already. The acceptance papers have gone over to Ethiopia, the court date has been requested, given and approved...Nathaniel became my legal child...and the Immigration process has been started. So everyone asks...when will you travel???That is the million dollar question. I will travel 4 weeks after the medical is done. Most people have been travelling in 5 months...I am hoping it will be 4 months...because we are going to Disney end of November and I want Nathaniel home for a while before that so he can be settled in.
I am hopeful that I will be travelling in the middle of October..but only time will tell!
But beyond that...it is soo very exciting to be almost 2 months into this wait!
Louise

Lisa, Pierre, Marika and Karelle....You are coming HOME!!!!

Its hard to believe that you will be home in less than 2 days. After all the tears, laughter, screams in frustration, shrieks of joy and kisses sent to our babies over the thousands of miles...it is time for Marika and Karelle to come home!
Tommorrow I am leaving for Moncton to welcome home this family who have become very near and dear to me over the last 2 years. Lisa and Pierre and I were starting the process together at around the same time. We did not know each other until we ended on the CAFAC message board. We were both beyond delighted that there was another family in the Maritimes who were starting the process. Many phone calls and emails ensued and thus started this friendship! I am so grateful and thankful to have met Lisa and her family and cannot wait to have our kids play together on the playground or in the sandbox.
Welcome Home Lisa, Pierre, Marika and Karelle! I cannot wait to see you come in that door at the airport!! It is going to be such a great memory! And I can't wait to finally be able to take a photo of the entire family together!!!!
Louise

Almost 6 weeks of Waiting

Well this Wednesday will mark the 6th week since I saw my son for the very first time. I have the feeling this weekend of relief...of "I have finally made it". From here on in, its just a matter of waiting for Canadian Immigration to finish their part of the process. It seems that most people receive their medical paperwork for their children at teh 12 week mark after referral (Although unfortunately some have waited longer than that). So if Nathaniel does get his medical done by the 12 week mark, that would be the first week of September. Very exciting!!!
It feels like I am half way there....because after the medical you pretty much know when you are going to travel. I know those 4 weeks will fly by sooo fast I will most likely just be spinning! Its hard to believe that in as little as 2 1/2 months I could be travelling...and bringing my son back home finally!!! I can't be happier about the court date being done...I keep thinking wow I don't have to stress about getting it done before court closures! That stress is GONE. But ofcourse there is still the stress and worry about immigration not being done quickly, files being lost,etc,etc. "POSITIVE THINKING" :) :)
Louise

Officially Nathaniel's Mom!!!

Well I finally got news about my court date!!! My petition to adopt Nathaniel was approved!!!!!!!! So that means that I am legally and in all meaning of the word Nathaniel's mommy!!!
It is such a relief to have this happen before court closes for the summer. I can't imagine having to wait two months for a court date. It feels so good to know that he is mine and nothing can change that! I can't wait to see more pictures and to hear how the process with Nairobi and immigration is going. I should get some more updated news at the beginning of August. I imagine I won't be travelling until the middle of October. Maybe beginning of Novermber. It all really depends when the medical papers get to Addis, done and is sent back to Nairobi. Once that is done it will be 4 weeks till travel date.

Louise

Waiting waiting waiting

Well as everyone knows in the process of adoption there is a huge amount of hurry up and wait going on. You wait on paperwork, meetings, appointments, then you wait on government officials, approvals, canada post, and fedex. You wait for your dossier to arrive in Ethiopia, wait for it to be picked up....and then the big wait for referral. After you get that amazing news you go back into hurry up and wait mode once again. Although this part of the wait is like a double edged sword...on one hand you have this beautiful baby to think about, focus on, shop for, prepare for and love....but then you also have no way to touch, feel, smell, hug or kiss this little one. You bond through pictures and each picture is a precious glimpse into who your little one is.
So now what is the wait....well I need to wait to hear how court went on Monday..no news yet...expecting to hear something this week...I am so anxious to hear if it went smoothly!
Then I have to wait on Immigration...how long with that take? That is the million dollar question. It seems most people have gotten their medicals done 12-13 weeks after referral....that puts me the first week of September to have medical completed. After that is done then I should be able to travel 4 weeks after that....so that would be first week of October. Ofcourse there is no timeline written in stone..things can be delayed or it might be quicker....hard to really know when that call will come!

Well in other happenings....I finally installed a gate at the top of my stairs.....what a pain in the rear end!!! It was awful to install but it looks good now.
I got some things at children's place today...all 297 or 397...can't beat that price!

Louise

4 weeks into the wait!!!!!

Well I am already at 4 weeks into the wait to travel to get my sweet boy! I cannot believe a month has passed by sooo quickly. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my son, about what he is doing, how he is, if he has grown. A mother at the unit in which I work was really upset yesterday because she was being discharged but the baby wasn't yet. And she said something that really spoke to my heart. She was so worried that she wouldn't be there to comfort him if he was upset or crying. Yes she knew that there would be someone there to hold and comfort him...but it wouldn't be her.
I cannot wait to see my sweet boy and hold him in my arms...kiss and hug him. That day...the first meeting is something I think of a lot. Just to finally hold him and really be able to touch and smell him. My son. Its incredible to think that this part of the journey will be over in just a few months and that I will be starting a new journey with my son.

Louise

Baby Shower Fun

Well what a day, really a weekend I have had. First the Burkes came and spent the weekend with me at my house....yes 6 kids in my house this weekend...what fun we had. They ofcourse were excellently behaved, and so the weekend went well. It was so nice to have Dawn and Gerald up to visit.
Today my family had a baby shower for me...it was sooo nice to have family and friends celebrate Nathaniel and we had a great time playing some very funny shower games. My sister Hillary and Cousin Toni did all the hard work of arranging this shower and it was so beautiful...lots of nice touches noticed. They made the theme nautical...made sugar cookies into the shape of sail boats with Nathaniel's name on it..and a beautiful cake that my aunt made....pics don't do it justice!
Thank you again for all the beautiful gifts..can't wait to use them all with Nathaniel.
Louise

Rest of the week in PEI

Well I stayed in PEI for another few days after the gathering to extend my vacation there. I had my sister, and friends come up to camp. WE had a great time except for the last night there when the winds really picked up and made the tent trailer very noisy! The winds were really gusty and were pushing at the tent part of the trailer.
Well I had to post what I bought...ofcourse for Nathaniel...don't think I bought one thing there for me Hahaha.
I got a pair of fake crocks at Gateway Village that were bright yellow in size 5...they are so small and cute.
I also got the cutest onesie. It will go great with the hat that I got at Giant tiger which says Canadian cutie.

PEI Camping Gathering

Wow
What a weekend this was. There were so many families either camping or there to visit it was hard to keep up. It was my first time out with the camper and so this was too much fun. Kristin and Nathan came along and stayed with me in the camper...it was great having some company in the camper.

I won't talk about getting lost too much...apparently I need to take more time to read the directions that I am given before jotting them down on a piece of paper...but lets just say getting lost down a narrow dirt road with a ten foot trailer behind you is not what I would call "fun"....anyways I survived and had a great week in PEI.

Kerry you still owe me a tim hortons...that was tooo funny us four trying to put down your awning with Susan and the wind just lifing up the awning dumping the ice cold rain water on us....shower was quickly had by all to warm up and awning was saved.

The late night campfires were sooo much fun and I for one am glad we mastered the art of smores even if it did result in some burnt fingers ( :) Lisa...hope your fingers have recovered). Lets just say it doesn't take much to make a bunch of girls who love chocolate busy trying to master the art of smores. Especially when the alternative was joining the Brad Paisley Debate of 2007.

August will be here before we know it and then another gathering...can't wait for the next one..these have been such a great time for all that come!

Louise

Godspeed - Dixie Chicks

This song means sooo much to me...I have loved it for a long time but it means so much more to me today.
I may not be near my dear son...but I send my love to you every second of the day and think of you always. I cannot wait to sing and dance around with you in my arms!
Mommy

Acceptance Papers are Officially in Ethiopia

They landed this morning just after midnight. This is step one to completing the adoption. The papers go to Ethiopia, are picked up by the POA there in Addis Ababa. Then she can start the process to obtain a court date and start the immigration paperwork. It has been just over 2 weeks since I saw Nathaniel and I miss him terribly. I wish I was there to rock him to sleep, give him his bottles and cover him with a blanket at night. I am still trying to remain hopeful about the possibility about a court date....fingers crossed but realize it will be a long shot to get this done. Trying to remain positive as its all I can do.
Can't wait for the maritime gathering this weekend. Its going to be one big celebrations, with referrals, travel dates, homestudies and dossiers completed. Our group has a lot to celebrate..what a great weekend to do it at.
Louise

I Would Die For That

I know many of us have had many of bumpy roads to get to this point...the point where we are finally moms! This video again is a tear jerker!
Louise

Shoes are bought, stroller is ready

Well all I need is Nathaniel home. But the preparations are on and things are getting organized and ready. We went to the states yesterday. I got the cutest photo frames for the wall...it holds 4 4*6 photos, black frame...its an individual frame for each photo hooked together..they are at walmart here for 15 but I got it in the states for 2 dollars a peice. Can't beat that price.
I also went to payless shoes and got the cutest size 4 shoes for him. Not sure if they will fit but Presque Isle is soooo close that I kept the receipt and will return them on our way to Disney when the time comes if they are too small.
So I got the shoes, the stroller, the crib and the clothes :) Now I just need Nathaniel home. 2 weeks and counting!

More for Nathaniel

I have to say I think I am going to pass this wait in shopping for my son :) Oooohhhh I might have to watch out...and Children's Place better watch out if they put a sale on.
But seriously I love getting things for him....even better are the gifts that have come for him!





Check these out...thanks to Nelleke (my aunt), Toni and Jamie, Hannah and Jacob, Kristin and Nathan and last but not least Sheri and Lyle, Mikiyas.
Your gifts are just lovely and Nathaniel is going to look too cute in each and every thing!
Louise

It's my Birthday!!!

Well today is my birthday...and I think I got my present a little early. 11 days ago to be exact. I don't want anything for my birthday but a court date in July..thats all I want :) :) :)
I am having family over today for a bbq. My cousin, her husband and her children as well as my Aunt are coming over. We are going to have a big celebration...they haven't seen the updated pics of Nathaniel yet..so I am anxious to show them. His pics are hanging on my wall right now...so I know they will see them when they walk through the door.
I am off on Vacation for 12 days after 2 more night shifts. I am soooo looking forward to my vacation. I am spending 6 days on the island and then 3 days in Mataquac with the Burke's. I am looking forward to spending some time with the group of families in PEI...we are having another gathering. Can't wait to see some new faces.

Louise