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