Bring on 2013...Bring on a Travel Call

So I was rereading my post from last New Year's Eve and we sure have come a long way from pulling together a first care package for a child we didn't even have yet. I do recall it was a therapeutic step to finally go out shopping as well as prepare our pictures and such for accepting a referral. And then the wait continued...funny to read how at that time I thought we'd have a referral by March. Surprise! Who knew you'd be waiting until May to receive your son's picture. What a great day that was indeed and soooooo worth the wait, agony, and frustration. 

Though there is still a chunk of waiting to be done in 2013, I'm sure to also include more agony and frustration, it almost seems more bearable to know that we are at least entering into the same calendar year that we will be traveling to bring our little guy home.  I know there is no magic switch that will be flipped on January 1 or that things will ever get any faster than last year's slow as molasses timelines, but I just have to keep repeating to myself...

http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-and-fly-to-seoul-2013

During the last 7 months, which is part of the 2nd of a 3 part wait, I have thoroughly enjoyed writing letters to Benjamin's Foster Mother and little notes to him to stuff in our care packages.  These packages along with monthly updates from his agency are a big contributor to my sanity during this wait for travel. Many of you ask me why we must wait to pick him up and then proceed to say how awful it is that the kiddos must wait to be united with their families and do they not understand the importance of a child's development at this age. Well I totally agree and mirror your sentiments, but it is what it is and when governments are involved there is no telling what will and can happen (look at Russia closing down Jan 1....horrible they are not honoring referrals that are in process!). 

I am just thankful at this point that the Korean program is still running, and look forward to them figuring out this whole new family court step that must be built into what seems the never ending process. The light at the end of this tunnel is that Benjamin will be in our arms in 2013 and this will all be ancient history!

The first picture we ever saw of our sweet little boy
will forever be burned on my brain.

This Little Piggy Take 3

As you may recall, this little piggy bank was a Christmas gift last year to my mom.  So for 5 months (Jan-May) the piggy sat and collected change until Benjamin entered our lives. The piggy was emptied out and the first deposit was made into Benjamin's college fund.  Now again after 7 months of filling the piggy with nickles, dimes, and quarters, Grandma and Grandpa Schubert added $168.65 to Benjamin's college fund.  Thanks!

We think we'll get one more nice deposit in before he comes home.

Christmas Cards

Really enjoyed all the new christmas cards this year!  

Merry Christmas Benjamin

Dear Benjamin

We knew you wouldn't be home to celebrate Christmas with us this year, but we hope you still had a wonderful day with your foster family.  Not sure how you celebrated, but we sent a care package that hopefully you received earlier this month if you went in for a check-up.  We do know that you've had  snow in Korea, so maybe you went sledding, built a snowman, or just stayed inside nice and snuggle warm.  We didn't get much snow over here, just a light dusting so not much outdoor fun had here.  

Your Daddy worked Christmas Eve and Christmas Day while I went up to your grandparent's house to celebrate Christmas Eve with Grandpa Schubert's family and then had Christmas Day with your Aunt Katie. We were excited to find that Santa stopped by to leave some very special gifts for you in your stocking including a magical key.  Next year, we'll place the key out for Santa so he can come in to leave your gifts under the tree. And of course we'll also put out some milk and cookies to thank him for stopping by. 

Though you weren't physically here, we still celebrated with you in spirit both on Christmas Day and last weekend with Grammy and Pops.  

There is so much love for you in this family, and we can't wait till you're here next year to celebrate with us!  

Love Mommy

Happy Holidays

Had some fun this year for our Christmas card with a little family photo shoot. I scoured Pinterest and the Internet for ideas of pictures for an adoptive family pre coming home.  Not much out there, but the ones I did find sparked some great ideas.  So I prepared my list, grabbed some props from around the house, and we headed out to the country to brave one of the windiest days this year to get these great shots.  Our card turned out beautifully, and we were even able to slip a few prints into Benjamin's January care package!!

A few of the pictures that didn't make the card but still great mementos!

Level Setting

So I figured out last night that I've been living in my own little fantasy world of thinking we'd travel in 12 months.  Have to be honest that no one ever told me that number and actually now that I think about it our agency has never given us an expected travel timeline!?!  Silly me, I think I was just using wishful thinking that this year's traveling families waited anywhere from 12-15 months with the 12 coming at the end of the year as things started to speed up to come to a close.  Guess I figured they'd pick up right were they left off since they got into a good groove.  But seems they're still working to iron out the implementation of the new adoption laws that were passed in August 2012.  Enough already....figure out the darn laws and start chipping away at this travel time!!!

Well news to everyone and please level set your expectations, we should be anticipating a 15 month wait.  Through my wonderful network of online groups, I was recently informed by a fellow mom from our agency that this has been the anticipated wait period for a while now.  How did I miss that little nugget of information and why does our agency not communicate anything to us on any level of consistency???  Anyway, another mom shared that her agency just informed all waiting families to expect a 14 month wait Referral to Exit Permit (then of course add on a couple months till travel).  Things don't sound to be moving in the right direction to bring kiddos home to their families any sooner.  Really hoping the new year brings even just a smidgen of good news as they start issuing Exit Permits again.

So feel free to continue asking us when we'll travel to bring Benjamin home, but the answer will now be and will remain August 2013 until further notice.

The Night Before Christmas

The final book buy of the year was a no brainer....every kid's library needs a classic Christmas tale.  How much fun to introduce Benjamin to this book next year and wait for a visit from Santa.

Santa has already put in his cookie and drink order for next year : )

14 Month Update

Very excited to receive word that Benjamin was in for a 14 month update during November and pictures were en route via snail mail.  Well the pictures finally arrived today...better late than never!!  I've heard conflicting information from different people about updates especially once the kiddos turn one years old.  Some say kids only go in every other month while others say they go in every month.  So I had pretty well set myself up for an every other month update with pictures from here on out.  But how fortunate we've been in him having a check-up every month and us receiving pictures since we've been matched.  Really hoping for a new developmental update sometime soon!

November 12, 2012
Weight: 22.49 lbs
Height: 30.71 inches
Teeth: 7 top & 6 bottom

Care Package #11

We've been very fortunate to send so many wonderful items over to our little guy and his Foster Family.  Seems like it should be getting harder to find things, but not the case.  I continue to look high and low for small items, squishy items, flat items, and things with wheels : )  Getting ready to send over the first care package for 2013 and hopefully the wind down to bringing him home!!!  Everything fit in comfortably and may be one of my lighter packing jobs.

• 2 shirts
• Sweatshirt
• 3 pair pants
• 4 pair socks
• Sock monkey
• Oball rattle
• Book - Snowy Day (Korean edition)
• Little People fire truck, police car, and train
• Little People soccer player, dog, and ball
• Candy
• Picutres

ReFingerprinting

Wow has it really been 15 months since we were originally fingerprinted?!?  Well we had to make the trek back to Indy to be refingerprinted for the US Government.  None the less for an 8 am EST appointment that lasted maybe 15 minutes with the wait!  Why you ask did we refingerprint since they never change?  Well according to one inquisitive mom in our adoption forum who has now been fingerprinted 3 times...the government only has so much storage space so they purge all non-essential prints after 15 months.  Phew, so now we at least know we're not on a watch list or anything because we feel into the non-essential bucket.

Hopefully one step closer to bringing our little guy home!

Jungle Gym Complete

5 months later and Fred just finished up with the final of 10 truckloads of mulch to complete Benjamin's  jungle gym.  Lots of sweat, love, and tears (not always good) went into this play structure for our special little guy.  Also lots of scotch and beer to celebrate every step of the way...well deserved for the work Fred put into this!! 

A couple of kids swings and the adult swing are stored away for winter.  Add a little sand to the sandbox and we'll be all set to go next Spring!

Entering the Second Half

We're Half Way There!

Six Month of Pictures, Updates, and Waiting...Hopefully a Few More Pictures and Updates to Come and Then Travel Call!!

Here's Hoping We'll Be on Our Way to Korea in Six Months or Less : ) 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

This months book buy was another Eric Carle illustrated favorite.  Benjamin's Grandparents bought him this book translated into Korean (Hangul) which will soon be on its way over to Korea as part of his Christmas gifts.  Now when he comes home next year, we can continue to read him this book and enjoy the great  pictures.  

Care Package #10

Our first Christmas presents are purchased, packaged and soon to be on their way to our little guy!!  A special thanks goes out to Benjamin's grandparents for adding to the lovelies, to make this a super special and bulky package. Sweats and fleece are not the most easy items to stuff into a gallon (and a half) bag!!  Again thankful for the seal saver and duct tape.  This 10th package, WOW, includes both items for Benjamin and for his foster family to enjoy...though we don't know if or how they celebrate Christmas/winter holidays?  Well regardless, soon they'll have a bit of Christmas spirit coming their way.  Hope they enjoy : )

• Bears sweat suit
• Fleece top and pants
• Khakis, shirt, and sweater vest
• Holiday pajamas
• Robeez shoes
• Book - Brown Bear (Korean edition)
• Soft frisbee
• Fisher Price Holiday CD
• Rudolph stuffed toy and musical book
• Peppermint bark candy bar
• Christmas tree finger puppet
• Stocking cap soap
• Shrunken wash cloths
• 2012 ornament
• Gel window decals

Care Package #9

More good stuff headed to South Korea...including a winter coat and an introduction to Ollie.  We have held off on sharing anything about Ollie since our agency said it's not typical to have pets in Korea. They advised against us handing in pictures at referral with pets in them, but now it seems like we're leaving out part of lives as I write letters to the Foster Mother.  Asking around with other families, it seems they've shared information and pics of their pets, so here we go, it's officially out there, Benjamin will now know he's coming home to pet puppy.  We included a collage of Ollie pics, a brief introduction in our letter, and of course a stuffed puppy for Benjamin to snuggle and care for in the time being.

• 2 long sleeve shirts
• pair navy sweat pants
• winter coat
• hat & mittens
• stuffed puppy
• monkey teether toy
• trucks book
• yogurt snacks
• candy
• bath gel and lotion
• bracelet
• pictures  

Look at that winter coat vacuum sealed down...amazing!!

Ollie being so curious.

A little extra duct tape never hurts on those corners that may poke through.

Care Package #8

Benjamin received this Mickey Mouse sweatshirt for his birthday from Grandma and Grandpa, so I went with it and purchased a couple Mickey outfits to stay with the theme.  We also had a vest that I purchase last fall in anticipation of care packages...what do you know, just the right size!!! 

• Mickey Mouse sweatshirt
• 2 tops
• 2 pants
• 1 vest
• 2 wheeled animal toys
• 2 plush toys
• Baby Einstein octopus (teaches colors)
• Frog bath towel
• Three Little Pigs recordable book
• Tea
• Lindt chocolates
• Fizzies grape drink tablets
• Bath gel & lotion
• Scarf

Boy the Seal 'n Saver came in handy on this one!
Poor octopus : ( 

A little fancy packing on this one as I borrowed a suggestion from another mommy...tape your recordable book to the outside of the care package so as not to take up precious cargo room inside the gallon bag.  Really hope no one minds the space this package is going to take up!!