No I-171H yet..BUT...

I did get 3 new pair of shoes at Steinmart for only $16.84!!!! Can you believe that? Not like I need anymore shoes, especially cute sandals, but, they were $5.84 per pair, and they were CUTE! I have to say, this job at Steinmart totally rocks. I get to help people shop, and find great deals for me. Too bad it's too cold in Kaz in December to wear these, as I heard all the Kaz women wear FANCY SHMANCY high heeled shoes and dress to the nines. Well, I will be bringing only ugly clothes to Kaz with me and I will be wearing the same thing OVER and OVER. That is going to kill me, but then once we get home, I can show Baby Kaz what's it's really like to be a fashion diva. Those Kaz women don't have nothin on this STEINMART BOU LADY! NO SIREE BOB!!

One of my BFF'S Jill, picked up my son from school for me and dropped him off for at Steinmart on the way home. They all came in, and the boys decided to play "dress up" in the purse and hat department. I'm so glad I carry my camera wherever I go, as I got some excellent black mail photo's of these boys. This will be included in my son's video at his wedding. I cannot wait. Sean is the foxy lady on the left.





AND....THE PYRAMID SHOT!! The two 9 year olds are the base, while the lithe 7 year old is the top gal. (Sean is the gal on the far right)


Maybe Sean can teach Baby Kaz to do the splits...

Going "Crazy" for my Kaz Baby!!

Today was my son's first day of 4th grade!!! Even though he was acting like he didn't want to go, I could tell he was excited to go see his buddies again, and even though I totally enjoyed my first summer of not working full time and hanging with him, I was excited to meet my BFF Karen, and her baby Ryan, at Babies R Us to go SHOPPING after I dropped him off at school.
I found a crib I really liked, and looked at strollers. I said I was NOT buying any more toys, but I found the cutest lil baby camera that I couldn't resist. I bought my first outfits, and socks. I got some neutral and some girly stuff too since I know we're not guaranteed that Baby Kaz will be a girl.
I got home and decided to lay out ALL the stuff that this baby has already.
It's not TOO bad. I still have a couple things coming though from Target.com-that includes a cute fish bag (copying off Sarah and Andy who had one for their kids and it was so cute), as well as a couple more books. I am crazy for books. I really think I am done with stuff for the baby. Now, I must get on OUR stuff, like, clothes for freezing cold weather. I guess i can't wear my new "fit flops" unless I want my toes to fall off from frostbite, but HEY, that would save me money on pedicures, right?

Oh, and so not to feel left out, Here is a picture of my son, on his debut of 4th grade. His new phrase is "Mom, CHILL!!".

I think I'm nesting-and Pics of Baby Kaz's room (Before)

No new news to report--every day I tell my son, Let's practice "The Secret" and imagine my I-171H IN OUR MAILBOX TODAY! But, we didn't get it yet. I started freaking out last night worrying about the weather in Kaz in the winter and how we have no winter clothes and what we're going to pack and how will i be able to exercise and what about Sean's school work and ARRRRRRRGHH!! So, I had just take a deep breath and chill out and I vowed to make some lists out.

I am, however, finding some incredibly cute baby books and some really fun baby toys.I keep saying I will not buy ANYMORE, but then I find something I cannot resist. It doesn't help that I work at Steinmart and they have the CUTEST baby toys and blankets and books. But, hey, at least I am not buying clothes for me. I justify my purchases in that it's for Baby Kaz. You can NEVER have too many books, right?
But, I am just throwing them in the sofa and in the corner of the baby's room (which is currently my office). I need to start working on the nursery. I want to do Kaz colors and have asked my most awesome Aunt Jane, who is a professional quilter and incredible artist if she will please make a quilt for Baby Kaz and I sent her a picture of the flag. I also have to figure out what to do with the computer furniture that is currently taking up this room, and also the closet is currently storing a ton of junk. There is no room for cute Baby Kaz clothes.

The rest of our apostilled documents (Minus the Elusive I-171H) were received last Friday, 8/17 for translation into Russian.

So, in the meantime, I will try to not freak out, work on the nursery, work on our Russian, make my lists, and imagine my I-171H showing up in my mail box this week.

God Speed.

The "Baby Whisperer" and Sore Biceps

One of my best friends had her annual "Back to School Mom and Kids party" yesterday and it was so much fun, as usual. She lives in this killer house on a lake, complete with jet boat, jet ski's, swimming pool, and tons of great food and fun friends. It was especially fun this year as I have 4 friends who have had babies since the last back to school party last August. I was in BABY HEAVEN! I got to hug and kiss babies the entire afternoon. They were so adorable!! I did feel like the "baby whisperer" as I just never wanted to be without one of them. The mommies were happy to share so they could chat.
I have included a precious picture of Brody, who found me so relaxing he just crashed out and let me snuggle and kiss his sweet head. Isn't he the cutest? I am sorry that I didn't get my camera out sooner as I only got pictures of me with one baby. However, it became very apparent to me this morning, that I need to lift weights before getting BAby Kaz. MY BICEPS ARE SO SORE!! I am clearly not used to holding babies, now that my son is 9. :)
I tried to use my friends "Hot slings" but that resulted in crying babies and me trying to cram their legs into this pouch that didn't seem to fit. I am NO good at those things. I then tried to put a 10 lb baby in the hot sling, and have his legs hang out, but he did NOT like it one bit. I am going to keep practicing using differnet carriers so I can decide what to get for Kaz. My son never liked any of them, even the baby Bjorn type. So, we'll see. I'm so uncoordinated so ease of use is hilarious.

As I am holding and kissing these sweet babies (all boys, by the way, ranging in age from 3 1/2 months to 10 1/2 months), I am reminded of a comment that a lady said to me recently. She said, "Wow, you must have a really big heart, I could never love a baby that wasn't mine", when I was telling her about our adoption. I suppose I can understand that some people may feel that way, but I am CERTAINLY not one of those people. I can tell you with 100% certainty that I love ALL my freinds precious babies, and I also am attached to my 4 year old Sunday school students. I could take them all home (well, most of them anyway) and love them like my own. I guess that is why we're very happy with our adoption decision.

My documents are APOSTILLED!!

The courier just called me, all my documents are apostilled, and will arrive back to me tomorrow morning at 10:30 am. :) That makes me so happy!!

Now, just need ONE MORE FORM and we can submit that dossier!! There is one woman in Tampa who processes all the I-171H. I would like to call and bring her lunch or something and see if she needs any help. The USCIS office received our homestudy last Thursday, and they already have our fingerprints (since 7/28) and our application and check (on 6/5). So, I am sure hoping it's a slow summer so she can just get going on my approval. It's really all about me!! :)

It's our last full week of summer vacation as Sean starts school next Wed 8/21. We know his teacher-I hope she is cool and flexible as I have to explain we'll be taking Sean out for 2 months to go meet his baby sister (or brother) in Kaz!

It's actually starting starting to seem real.
I want to hurry up and get our dossier in though before someone changes a rule on us or something-as that's been known to happen.

SO EXCITING! :)

Off to Apostille land!!!

I just got home from Fed Ex-sending off 24 documents to be apostilled! I wanted to kiss them goodbye and pray for them a safe journey to the courier. I have everything I need now, EXCEPT for my approval from Immigration-the COVETED I-171H. It's so funny that a few months ago I had no idea WHAT apostille meant or what an I-171H was, and now I'm rattling them off like a pro.

My passport came last Saturday morning by my friendly Fed Ex Driver. I was so happy to see it! It's SO cool looking! The pages are so pretty-all different pictures. Mine is way cooler than Joe's-as his is a few years old. We still don't have Sean's, but I will not worry about that until October-as he needs it for November for my sister Noelle's big WEDDING in CAbo San Lucas. That will be our last fun trip before our wild adventures in Kaz.

I met with Firyuza today (my case worker) to have her to review all my documents to make sure they were correct before they're all apostilled. She gave me the thumbs up. She is the calmest person I have ever met. It was SO quiet in the office. Sean kept telling me to please use my inside voice. I was using my inside voice, but I am just a loud person I guess.

After being up past midnight a couple nights this week getting all my paperwork organized and taking pictures and getting those printed, and making my 3 copies of each one, and labeling them all, I have to say, I am exhausted. :) USCIS received my homestudy at 9 am this morning. They have my fingerprints, so I think they should just turn it around like, next week for me. That would be so grand. :)

It was really nerve wracking sending off that paperwork.
For the first time, I am starting to think about the actual baby that I'm doing this for. Joe's cousin is due in October, and we were talking about how our babies could be close to the same age. She is a stay at home mom who lives only 5 minutes away from me. It's really starting to seem real. I guess I am really "pregnant on paper" now. I will feel more pregnant though when my dossier is DONE and off. I have been eating chocolate like I'm pregnant. :)
I started looking at Sean's old baby pictures-it seems like so long ago he was so little and sweet. Man, they get sassy quick. But, I have to admit, Sean is a lot of fun to have around. He really makes me laugh. He will be a character in Kazakhstan.

Bureaucracy and V(BS)

I thought I'd post an update on what's been goin on in our adventures to bring home Baby Kaz in the last couple of weeks.
The GOOD NEWS is I got a letter from a mortgage company that is required for our dossier!! YAY!!! I was beyond frustrated, after calling our mortgage company twice and writing them 5 times. It was kind of funny, as a friend of ours graciously agreed to write it,then I get a letter from our mortgage company today. It was close to what I needed, but not quite. So, that is one hurdle OUT OF THE WAY! I also spoke and emailed the passport office. It's now been 16 weeks since Sean and I applied for our passports. We applied April 18th (for Noelle's (my sister's) wedding in Cabo San Lucas in November), not even KNOWING our destiny to bring home Baby Kaz. Anyway, I kept checking the status and it says "Processing". It's been 16 weeks, and they tell you if it's been longer than 10 or 12 weeks, to call or email. I did both. Well, I get an email back saying to give them a chance to research it. I finally get a response today, and I'm SO EXCITED-thinking-OH WOW, MY MORTGAGE COMPANY LETTER AND MY PASSPORT, no way! But, alas, the email informed me that my passport was being processed. THAT WAS SURE HELPFUL!
However, all week I have been a preschool VBS teacher (Vacation Bible School) at our church. I was in charge of "Wild Bible Adventures" at Avalanche Ranch. I taught my 60 kiddo's that GOD IS REAL, GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US, GOD IS STRONG, AND GOD IS IN CHARGE. Here I am getting all FRUSTRATED with my mortgage people, frustrated with my passport, when my I-171h isn't even here. It will all come. I have time, and I cannot belabor things that I can't control. After all, God is in charge, and we will get it done when it's meant to be done. I just want to meet my goal of having our dossier completed by the end of August. It's only August 3rd, so I will remain positive and remember that GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME. Too bad I can't sing my songs for you.
So, when I get fed up from BUREACRATIC BS, I will take heart to remember what I taught my munchkins in VBS--and Let God be REALLY STRONG AND REALLY WITH ME AND REALLY IN CHARGE, and help me get my FREAKIN PASSPORT.

I have been obssessivly reading blogs, and staying up way too late. I'm falling in love with everyone ELSE'S Kaz babies. :) I have also "met" (online) 4 families from Florida (that live nearby) that are adopting from Kaz or have already adopted. SO, that is very cool. We can get our Kaz babies together!! Sean and I are also busy learning Russian. We are getting pretty good. We listen in the car. I didn't think I was retaining a thing, but then I just start spouting things off. It's kind of cool, and we've only been doing it for a week, in the short 5 minute drives to VBS.

The next update I post will hopefully bring exciting news of our I-171H, and our passport, which are both requirements of Kaz to submit all our paperwork to bring home the babe.