Waiting

7:05 Check email for note.

7:35 Check email for word from agency.

7:47 Check email again in case I glanced too quickly.

8:12 Look just one more time just to be sure.

8:38 Surf other adoption sites, look at baby pictures.

8:46 Consider writing email to adoption rep.

9:14 Google for baby gear

9:22 Congratulate self for not checking email.

9:23 Check email.

Baby Gear'd

The great stroller decision has been made. The crib has been ordered. The nursery has been painted. Diaper bag has been bought.

*whew*

Now we're just waiting for junior. It's strange how you have to make all these decisions without quite knowing how you are going to use them or what will be needed. Like a diaper bag, how the hell do I know how big of a bag I'm going to need? We shall see, young Skywalker.

The baby lists are growing. There are strollers, carseats, cribs.... it's like a foreign language and I've yet to learn all the codes. I'm picking products but I fear I'm not investing enough time and my boy will get this unsafe firetrap that explodes upon the first use.

Visa

We've received our visa clearance. We are officially approved for the kid by the US gov. I'm getting more nervous and excited. Still don't quite know the timeframe for all of this but we shall see. Need to call agency to make sure they got all of my documents.

paper fly

The documents should be sent today. I'm so excited. Can you feel the tension? Update soon.

We finally received our last document for the bambino. Now, we authenticate and then certify. It is actually coming to a close soon. Of course this just means that we'll get on a waiting list but at least our part will be over.

Wish us luck.

Changes

The finalized homestudy has finally arrived! Now there's just one more doc to arrive at our little door and I can complete the authentication stage. This weekend we'll get fingerprinted by INS and hand in the homestudy so that the INS countdown will begin. Also next week I'll need to get the police clearance redone as I made an error on the address.

Why?

As my partner and I have begun the adoption process it has felt like we were entering this new world, where two dads don't exist. This new reality came into view when we first walked into a baby goods store and the salesclerk completely ignored us turning to the woman behind us with a happy greeting. Also when I went check out the daycare center at my work I discovered that they had no other adopted children there.

I had been kicking around the blog idea for a while and when I came across that story on a buddhist site (gee I should probably credit that after I refind the link) it seemed a natural fit. There may be a very big ocean out there full of fish but if you walk a bit you'll find a great pond all for your exploring.

One day the turtle went for a walk on dry land. He was away from the lake for a few weeks. When he returned he met some of the fish. The fish asked him, "Mister turtle, hello! How are you? We have not seen you for a few weeks. Where have you been? The turtle said, "I was up on the land, I have been spending some time on dry land." The fish were a little puzzled and they said, "Up on dry land? What are you talking about? What is this dry land? Is it wet?" The turtle said "No, it is not," "Is it cool and refreshing?" "No it is not", "Does it have waves and ripples?" "No, it does not have waves and ripples." "Can you swim in it?" "No you can't" So the fish said, "it is not wet, it is not cool there are no waves, you cant swim in it. So this dry land of yours must be completely non-existent, just an imaginary thing, nothing real at all." The turtle said that "Well may be so" and he left the fish and went for another walk on dry land.