Goodbye Snow. . .

Warmer weather is finally here. It is amazing how warm the mid 40's feel when you have been blasted with cold weather for awhile! It is exciting to see the small patches of our lawn beginning to show again.

No word yet from China. The wait coupled with our long winter is finally starting to get to us. Our agency is trying to see if they can find any information on the status of our file since we are at a crossroads of decision for renewing our I-171H (the US immigration approval to bring an adopted child home). It expires mid-May. Ming, the China program coordinator for our agency has not been able to contact anyone at the CCAA yet. We will probably wait another day or so to see if she gets any information. If she doesn't, we will go ahead and send in the application and the check as we don't want to risk delaying our travel.

Since January, China has added a new step to the process. They now send you a Letter of Acceptance that you must sign and send back to them. This generates your Travel Approval which can come 2-4 weeks after sending back the letter. Of course we would get into this when they add something new! The first TA's came back about a week after the letters were sent back, but the most recent ones came about 3 weeks after if you don't count the week of Chinese New Year.

There is a trade fair in Guangzhou the last 2 weeks of April. I am not sure if our agency still allows families to travel during that time or not. It is more expensive to get flights and hotels during that time, but if they let us go, we'll be there. If not, then it would probably put us into May for travel. I was really wanting to have Emma home before Easter, but it is not looking like that will happen. At this point, I will be very glad to get that letter (LOA), so we will know that our TA is coming soon.

On a much brighter note, we had lunch at some friends' house today and they gave us two of the Signing Time dvds--specifically Baby Signing Time Vol. 1 & 2! Thank you B&K!!!! I am so excited, because we really want to teach signs to Emma to help her communicate more easily. We already watched them this evening, and Katelyn and I have been practicing them. Now to get Josh to learn them all! Hint, hint!! I have read how many adoptive parents who have done this have had great results. The key to it, as far as I can tell, is consistency and using the signs every time you say that word. I already know many signs from signing for the worship at church in the past, but most of those are religious signs. The dvds are really helping me brush up on the practical signs, especially ones a baby would need to know. Those are definitely going to be going to China with us!! I will write that attachment post that I promised soon.

Comment posted by Sara
at 3/12/2007 10:32:00 PM

That's really cool about the signing dvds. I was also talking to Ashley, and she suggested buying some Chinese videos and tapes when you're there, to help with the transition. You have probably already thought of it, but that's my tip of the day! :-)

Comment posted by Sara
at 3/12/2007 10:32:00 AM

That's really cool about the signing dvds. I was also talking to Ashley, and she suggested buying some Chinese videos and tapes when you're there, to help with the transition. You have probably already thought of it, but that's my tip of the day! :-)