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

Waiting

I spent some time comparing recent time lines of referral to travel (based on those waiting from our agency) and it is 4 months to 4.5 months....that would mean early to mid February!

This gives me nothing to do but stress about money, being off work, not staying home from work, Parker, etc.

I know there are things Jim and I can do as we wait and we fully intend to go places that we will not be able to when Parker gets home.

I just want to hear some progress...the letter from USCIS made me think our I-600 had arrived!

Hopefully news soon.

FLU :(

So after a wonderful weekend, that included an amazing baby shower, I woke up with the flu. Apparently, my brother and his wife are affected as well. I sat at the doctor for two hours waiting to be seen. i just wanted to make sure I did not have the H1N1, but nope just the stomach flu.

I will be off tomorrow too and possibly Wednesday. Jim went to inspect our new car, so we may get it tomorrow or Wednesday. How exciting!

I will post pictures from the shower soon, we are ready for Parker! he got all kinds of great things at his shower.

Still waiting....

I keep looking at the ticker when I open the blog, yes, I know it has only been a month! We are waiting for news from the US on our I-600 and news from Korea on our EP. I think this journey will teach me some patience....

Also...our SAAB was supposed to arrive last week and it is still not here. I guess there is no hurry.

Last week my parents visited and bought Parker's bedroom furniture, so generous! So once that arrives, I would say we are ready! Well, still waiting on the bugaboo :)

Many of you know about my love of shopping, so I have cut myself off from Parker shopping. Who know if the clothes will even fit, and I have a family shower this weekend so he may get a few things. He has his first pair of Uggs, and some darling outfits to wear!

Last night, got to have dinner with Amy and Brian. Met Amy in my second master's program, and miss her! Also, got to talk to another grad school friend tonight. She sent Parker his first "laptop", since he may not be ready for an APA style manual :)

Excited to go to my home town this weekend, my Mom and Nicole have put so much effort into planning a great shower. Parker's picture was included in the invite, so cute.

New Picture

When I checked my email this morning our social worker had sent on this new picture of Parker! He is with his foster mother and they had opened the care package we sent him.

Doesn't he have lots of hair for a 7 month old?