Shower: Under the Sea

Today I had the most amazing shower hosted by my good friend and college roommate.  She sure does know me as the theme was just perfect!! Good times catching up, playing games, unwrapping treasures, and enjoying tasty treats.  I will always be thankful to her for this special memory. To my friends and mom for attending, thank you.  And to those that could not make it but where here in thought, thank you.  

Picture from our many dive adventures and
our next adventure...bringing our little guy home : ) 

Super yummy moist chocolate cake with the most beautiful icing. 

With or without a pineapple rum kick, this punch was fabulous and cute. 

Thank you to those that joined in the celebration! Looking forward to using the many
treasures you shared with us during our trips and once home.

Second Birthday Pictures

To our surprise we received a number of pictures in the mail today from Benjamin's second birthday.  Not just 2...not just 3...but 5 beautiful pictures!!!  Just one more look at his sweet face before we get to meet him in person in just 2 weeks. His Foster Mother is the best...she has him in his "Benjamin" birthday shirt we pre-sent in August.

Don't knock the headpiece, all the kids are wearing this for their pics. Little does the agency know these will come in very handy when he's a teenager!! Such a cutie : ) 

Five Silly Turkeys

November's monthly book buy is a cute little tale of 5 silly turkeys. 

Thanks to Grandma for help got pick this one out! 

Care Package #23

This Christmas care package has become our LAST care package to head over to Benajamin.  It has safely made it to Seoul with another traveling family from our agency (thank you Kelly!!) and will be delivered to Eastern Social Welfare Society on Monday. The very cool thing is that he will receive this package at our meeting on Dec 10.  So we will get to see him open it and share in the joy of playing with toys.  So super surreal but makes my heart so happy we will get to experience this : )  

We Have a Court Date

We have a court date! We are headed to Korea! We are meeting our little guy after 19 months of waiting, 23 care packages, and 16 updates! Oh my goodness this has happened a bit sooner than we had expected and caught us by surprise on Monday morning (Nov 11). Most families have waited 4-6 weeks to hear of their court date and ours came through in just 2 weeks!!!

It's been a crazy few days trying to look at flights and accommodations, seek out dog sitters, and run the budgetary numbers.  We wavered between one long trip (5 weeks) or two shorter trips. Back and forth and back again. In the end we've decided to take 2 trips since nothing in this process has been guaranteed and if the judge is having a bad day we could end up over there longer than 5 weeks!! Also, we would not know when we could take custody so not even sure we'd have him on Christmas. The safest and most logical bet became 2 trips.

TRIP 1

• Leave Chicago Sun, 12/8 
• Arrive Seoul Mon, 12/9
• 1st Meeting Benjamin and Foster Family Tue, 12/10 9:30 am; will last about an hour
• 2nd Meeting TBD; will last about an hour
• Court Appearance Tue, 12/17 3:00 pm; will last about 10-15 minutes
• Leave Seoul Thur, 12/19 
• Arrive Chicago Thur, 12/19 

Wait to hear of preliminary approval from judge.

TRIP 2

• Leave Chicago Fri, 1/3 
• Arrive Seoul Sat, 1/4
• Take custody of Benjamin some time that week 
• Wait to hear of final approval from judge (on average 18 days from prelim approval) 
• Visa interview with US Embassy TBD
• Leave Seoul With Benjamin Wed, 1/15 
• Arrive Chicago With Benjamin Wed, 1/15 

Second trip has the potential to change (push back) if again the judge is taking his/her sweet time. Overall though we're feeling good about these plans and super excited that we'll be meeting our little guy yet this year!! 

26 Month Update

Finally after two known months without pictures and a bum October we received pictures plus a developmental update. Can't wait to meet this adorable little guy!!

November 11, 2013

Height: 34.49 inches

Weight: 27.12 lbs

Teeth: 10 top / 10 bottom

Tic Toc...Court Date Wait

I've enjoyed hearing stories from a few of my fellow adoptive moms who are currently in Korea. Two of them had court dates the last week in Oct and received preliminary approval. YAY!!  One took custody this last Friday and the other will take custody this coming Friday. So very exciting to hear about and learn from their meetings with kiddos, court appointments, and chosen accommodations. Gathering lots of intel and trying to finish up lists of our own for when the time comes. 

Hoping we're close to half way through our wait to get a court date.  A number of families right before us have received early Dec court dates this past week. YAY! YAY!  They waited 25-29 days to hear...so a bit more to go for us.