So over the past year we submitted our application to adopt, attended a few valuable adoptive parent training sessions, went through a homestudy, went through several background checks, finger printing sessions and had to get at minimum of 13 documents notarized, certified by the state they originated from, certified the same documents by the United States Secretary of State and Authenticated by the Chinese Consulate located in the United States. In November we were matched with Zoe and now our paperwork is in China and we are waiting for their approval. I think we both appreciate and understand the need for everything we have gone through. We have tried very hard not to be a burden on our adoption agent, Holt International as they are very busy with a number of prosepective adoptive families. However, with all that said, I am beginning to realize the most difficult part of the adoption process so far has been the wait and our impatience. If I beat Sonja home from work I can certainly expect a phonecall from her asking if I went to the mailbox and what e-mails we received. As you can expect, those have been the primary ways we have received updates from Holt International regarding the prograss of our adoption. This weekend was the first time she had verbally shared that she was growing impatient and is ready to go pick Zoe up. Needless to say, we both understand we still have several months yet to wait. Until now, we had some control over each stage, meaning we had responsibility to go do something which got us closer however we are in a waiting period to hear back from the officials from China. So...the wait is continues! So you might be asking what we are doing to fill our time...that has never been an issue since we have Nathaniel (our 13 year old son) who is Mr. Activity. Between wrestling for his club and school, year round baseball practice, his babseball line drive leagues and his school band it is hard to keep track of where he needs to be. Furthermore, during the wait, Sonja has begun her nesting period...by buying gifts only a young girl would like (frilly dresses, 'Tangled the Movie" toys, etc.) which is new territory for me. I was so used to buying green plastic army men, dinosaurs and baseball cards that this will be a new experience and know I am going to make some mistakes along the way. Sonja also already has visions of what Zoe's room might look like including her room wall colors (pink & brown) as well as what the bedding might look like. While she is captivated by shopping for Zoe, I am more focused on making the home child proof and what we might need when we travel to China. I have been in more awkward positions screwing in child locks on our cabinets and drawers. Gosh, I cannot believe how long ago it was when I was doing the same thing for Nathaniel. Although I have traveled internationally the last few years for business...I am somewhat at a loss for what we are going to need when we travel to pick up Zoe. So far my main focus is the electronics. I am sure that is a guy thing... Phone, ipad, ipod and camera. It is all about priorities right. Anyhow...so we do not have a good feel for our travel dates yet and I think we are both becoming somewhat impatient!! We are definitely finding things we need to do in order to get us prepared for travel and when we bring Zoe home. I am surprised our neighbors have not complained to the police about the Teitler mailbox drag races on our neigborhood streets...because...in all honesty I have been like Sonja ...racing to the mailbox as well....so our neighbors are best advised to stay off the streets from 5:00 to 5:30 pm. central time when we leave work.
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