Hero of the Rails

To follow along the Thomas the Train theme we had going for the care package we put together this month, figured we should get Benjamin his first Thomas book. And who doesn't like a Little Golden Book : )  I think this one will be lots of fun to enjoy with him!!!

Care Package #19 - Birthday Prep

Well it's hard to believe it's Birthday prep time again!  He's going to be 2 in 45 days and again we'll miss the celebration. But we'll be there in spirit as we rounded up some party decorations and goodies to send over for an Aug pick up.  I asked in our letter that his Foster Mother keep these items tucked away as a surprise for his birthday. Thank goodness for Etsy as we were able to order 2 very cute birthday shirts that maybe he'll be able to bring home with him and wear with us some day : ) 

• Thomas the Train plates, napkins, table cloth, candle, cookies, dangling swirls, balloons, streamers, crayons, paper pad, and stickers 
• Long sleeve "Seung Joon" shirt
• Short sleeve "Benjamin" shirt

Well we couldn't just sent over stuff he couldn't have right now, so I created a secondary bag of goodies with a bath time theme.  This kid still does not like water : (  So lots of fun toys and such to temp him into the wonderful world of water playtime!!!

• Water cups and strainers
• Floating star fountain that lights up
• Frog bath mitt
• Lavender wash and lotion
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Colored bath fizzes
• Fish scooper 
• Thomas and Percy squirt toy
• Squishy fingered ball for Big Brother 
• Chocolate bars for Foster Parents
• (Desitin did not make it)

Oooooppps, our care package was a little big (2-1 gallon bags), but I'll take my chances that they'll accept it and find room to store it for a couple weeks at Eastern.  I'll be a better mommy next time : ) 

Our File is in Good Hands

Wow, that was super speedy fast!

Now onto the good stuff!!

Let's get that file translated and submitted to the Ministry before his 2nd Birthday!!!

Our File Was Requested!!!

So SUPER excited to learn last Thursday that ESWS (our Korean adoption agency) has requested our file!!!  WOOOO HOOO!!! I feel as if a 1,000 lb weight has been lifted off my chest,  I can smile, I can  really start to enjoy this journey again!!  There are still many months to go and the need for re-relinquishment by his birth mother....BUT just so darn happy right now : ) 

This is a HUGE step and really gets us into the flow of this whole finalization process.  Our Social Worker informed us on Friday afternoon that she had gone through all of our paperwork and it looked good...so she sent it up to our agency's main office for the final prep : )  Soooo hoping it will then be en route to S. Korea next Tuesday or Wednesday.  Please, please, please turn it around quickly!

Once in S. Korea, there are many more steps to move through so I'll try my best to outline them here with my guesstimates of timing.  Since much of this process is so new yet and we're going to be hitting holidays both US and Korean in the coming months it's really going to be a crap shoot.

1. Paperwork requested & prepped by agencies:  6-8 weeks
2. EP submitted & approved by Ministry:  6-8 weeks   
3. Paperwork transferred from Ministry to Court:  2 days
4. Court schedules and announces your appearance date:   2-3 weeks
5. Appearance date:  5-7 weeks out
6. Preliminary court approval to final approval:  2-3 weeks
7. Travel back to S. Korea, Visa issuance & bring kiddo home:  5-7 days

TOTAL EST TIME:  22 weeks - 30 weeks & 2 days 

Holy moly that means possibly anywhere from Dec - Feb we could be bringing Benjamin home.  But then again you always have to be ready for a S. Korean bombshell that slows things down even more for no good reason.  For my own sanity, I just hope the process keeps moving and bringing us and others waiting good news along the way.  Oh and I HOPE our court appearance is yet this year....that we're able to meet/hold/hug/kiss our little guy before the end of the year : ) 

22 Month Update

Received some beautiful pictures and a developmental update!!!  Can't wait to get my hands on this little guy : )

July 9, 2013
Height: 33.27 inches
Weight: 24.47 lbs