Does He Know Yet?

Today we received an updated picture of Jordan.  He looks so happy.  I can't help but think... can you believe that he is our son?  Then the next question that comes to mind is... does he know yet, that he is adopted and that we are his family.  I am not sure if he has received our package yet.  With the National Holiday I am not sure what is going through and if packages are being delayed.  I know that we are approaching several days off.  The package is not the only thing that could be held up but every day that the government has off, that is one day longer until our Travel Notice !  Grrrr.

But here is our son... our beautiful son.

Hurry Up and Wait!!

Well I have made it through another round of mayhem and madness while we get our Visa's for China and work on Jordan's Immigration paperwork.. the infamous I-800, and get our Travel documentation for CCAI.  We have received confirmation that USCIS received our paperwork (I-800) but are still awaiting their approval.  At the same time we are still waiting for China's Notice to travel.  Our Visa applications should be submitted to the Chicago's Chinese Consulate tomorrow, however we will have to wait an additional week due to a Chinese National Holiday.  I was curious as to what was the holiday and it turns out that October 1st is National Day of the Peoples Republic of China.  I read that there is a lot of travel domestically and internationally during the time around this holiday and it is not advisable to travel to China at this time.  I still have a feeling like October is our month but since they are insistent that November and even December is more likely we have been making plans for October like business as usual.

I am getting more anxious about getting ready for our China trip and for Jordan's arrival.  We have sent our first care package to the Yuoyang Orphanage which includes our Letter of Acceptance and a photo album for Jordan to see his new family!  It also included toys, candy, and other fun things for him.  It is very exciting to think that he will know of us soon.  We have no idea when he will receive it from Customs.  Hopefully it will be soon so he will know that his "Forever Family" is waiting from him.  We are so lucky to have to wonderful opportunity bestowed on us.  I am going to try to send a package a week to him so he knows we are thinking of him.  I have had so much fun thinking of things for him.  I hope he enjoys them.

We are Approved!

Well today is the day!!!   We got our phone call from CCAI that our Letter of Approval from China (LOA) was received and we were asked to come down to sign it.  Here we are signing the very official Chinese/English Letter of Approval for Dang Hao Long.

We forgot a camera but at least we had a phone!  That completes that part for China and officially accepts Dang Hao Long!  So after 20 minutes and a very long I-800 form, not to be mistaken with the first I-800A we previously filled, we are on our way to continue the Immigration process with Dang Hao Long's specific information.  Then we will get another form with his information on it.  We also now need to work on his Visa, yes the Immigration piece is just  a letter allowing us to adopt and now we have to fill out the paperwork to get his Visa to accept him into the States!  Oh what fun it is to fill out paperwork.

In the meantime I am working on a little scrapbook to send to him with a few toys and a couple of t-shirts.  I also have a few gifts for his adoptive parents and family.  It looks like we will be traveling 9-12 weeks from now so that is early November.  The good news is that we will have him here for Christmas.  What a Christmas gift that will be!

The even more exciting part is now that we have the Letter of Acceptance we can do this:

This is Dang Hao Long!  We are now permitted to post a picture of this little guy that has taken our heart.  We will not meet him until we are in China but we love him already. It is getting closer and more exciting.  Soon he will be here in our home.  And by the way... the "Peace Sign" in the picture is a typical "What is going on" or "Hi" sign in Asia... the things you learn!