I-600 at last!

Finally! We recieved permission from the US Government to adopt Parker (or Sang Tae, as he is currently called) This form will be sent by way of DC to the US Embassy in Seoul. The final process involves Parker having a "Visa Interview" at the embassy. I am not exactly sure how a 9 month old has an interview but that is the term...

Then we get "the call" basically you have 5 days to arrange your travel to Seoul!!! I am trying to gauge our current time line and my best guess is TC could come at the end of next week or in 4 weeks. I would say this is by far the most agonizing part of the process. Jim and I were commenting how quickly we were able to adopt, which unusual. We joked that the first had to go smooth or we would never do it again.

The Christmas Holiday was wonderful! We were able to make it to my parents for dinner Christmas eve. I will spare the pictures from Christmas morning, but they involved me threatening Jim with an Uggs shoe box (he got the slippers I wanted!) The Christmas dinner was at my parents home. In true Persic fashion, the dinner involved more food than imaginable.

Also, Parker's bugaboo bee arrived, that is the picture of the stroller :)

Holiday Dinner Party

Jim and I are fortunate to have some wonderful friends! Bill and Paul got a group of us together for cocktails and Japanese food. It is nice to spend time with friends as we have let most people know we will have some serious bonding to do when Parker arrives. I have two more days of work until we travel!

No Parker news...I just want a new picture for Christmas!

Jim and Bestie Bill

Kara, Chris, and Bill

Billie and Paulie :)

More Holiday Fun

Many, Many Children...

More and More Moet!

We were fortunate to host the Howell Christmas this weekend. We had NINE children at the party...include Parker next year and wow! I told Jim that I do love a crazy, big party. I put up a few pictures. Even though Parker was not there, he got presents from everyone. Which made it somewhat hard to take his presents up to his room. Hopefully news about the I-600 soon!

Getting ready for one more week of work and then off to Munster for Christmas.

Holiday Fun

Cousin Colleen, Clay, Steve

Mom and Dad

Pretty Megan

Steve, Nicole, Chevy and Bailey....

This weekend we were thrilled to have my parents and Steve and Nicole visit. We celebrated my Mom's birthday (Steve and Jim reluctantly made a trip to buy gourmet cupcakes...) and had dinner at one of our favorite breweries, Brugge. We also celebrated the holiday with the Persic family in Fishers. In the gift exchange I acquired some new Crate and Barrel glassware...thanks Colleen! I truly enjoyed visiting with family and spending time with cousin's, many who have children close in age to Parker.



Back to work today, Sunday always arrives too quickly!

Work Shower

Lucky Parker! Today at work I had a wonderful shower, my co-workers were so generous and thoughtful. Not only did he get some amazing presents, they went out of their way to decorate and got a cake from Taylors Bakery! My boss even blocked out my schedule so I had the afternoon free.

Tomorrow is the Fairbanks Hospital party and then my family will be in town. Getting ready for a fun weekend.

EP

Today we received great news that on 12/7/2009 Parker's emigration permit (EP) was submitted. This gives him the permission to leave South Korea, and not return. This will allow his passport to be generated. This is a HUGE step, as there are only so many EP's given out per year. We were slightly worried that a quota had been met and we may be waiting until the new year.

If you look on the time line there are a few more steps but we are getting there. I keep checking the mail for I-600!

Not much to say...

No I-600, No EP news...this journey is really tough on a Type-A with control issues.


On a positive note..it is Monday in Korea!

November News

I feel like there is lots to catch up on, the flu set me back in November! On November 14th I had my first shower for Parker! It was thrown my my Mom and Sister in Law, Nicole. Parker is so lucky, he received some wonderful gifts. let's just say we would be ready for him to arrive now! I have to take some pictures of his room, besides the glider, his room is ready.

Both of my Aunt Kathy's gave me gifts that were particularly special. Aunt Kathy Stemnock gave me a Korean zen bracelet with a prayer written in Hangul. It means so much to me when people address his Korean culture, in addition, I can use all of the zen I can get!

Aunt Kathy Persic gave me a Wedgewood baby set, that compliments the same pattern my Grandmother (Dad's mom) gave me. She passed away when I was three years old. My parents had just gotten the set out for me that weekend!

The shower was so memorable. I have a few pictures below, one that details the sweets table. Many of you know about my candy obsession.....

We had a great Thanksgiving with Jim's family! His parents had just gotten new hardwood floors, so there was a lack of furniture...but we had our Stella's, what more do you need. The beer and pie was well deserved, as Jim and I ran the Drumstick dash that morning. The race was 4.5 miles, through broadripple. I beat my time from last year by 10 mins! Our friends Jen and Brad ran with us and we all finished around the same time.

We got both Christmas trees put together so the house is almost ready! We have the Persic family Christmas the following weekend. Which means we will have a full house with my parents and Steve and Nicole, cannot wait! I will get some pictures of the trees and Parker's room.

Tomorrow ends my seven day work week (I was not thinking)...Jim and I have a date to Scholars Inn :) This may be one of our last evenings out for some time....I'll eat Thai food at home if we can have our guy! No news on the paperwork front...I run for the mail after work looking for our immigration approval.

Sweets Table

Mom and I at the shower

Jen and I at the Dash

Jim and I on Thanksgiving