It was on this weekend, one year ago, that I made the decision to adopt a baby. I always knew I would adopt, but I had never really considered doing it as a single woman. But last year, at my family's huge three-day Christmas extravaganza in Maine, I literally had an epiphany and KNEW that I was to adopt now.
And now, one year later, here I am, in the long stretch of the waiting phase, awaiting my region assignment, which is still about 3 months away. I am much more educated now on the process, on Kazakhstan, and on raising adopted children. I am more confident than ever that this is the right time. I am thrilled with my choice of agency and adoptive country.
I have avoided getting the baby's room ready, as there has been great uncertainty in Kazakh adoption this year. I now feel really confident that things will continue to move smoothly and I am ready to now make the guest room into Lily's room. I will be doing this over the 2.5 weeks I have off for Christmas. Before I get to Lily's room, I have to paint the office downstairs to become the guest room. So, the jury is still out on how much I will actually get done over Christmas, but I know I will get started! I'll post pics as progress is made.
This afternoon I will be going to the same 3 day party where I made the decision to adopt last year. My heart is heavy that I don't have my baby with me yet, but it's also pounding with excitement because I truly believe that the next time I attend this party, it will be as a mama.
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This is the story of how a single 30-something year old woman and a 6.5 month old angel from Kazakhstan found each other and became a family. A journey which started as a dream, became reality in August 2009 when two hearts found one home... together.
Anelya Porter Caesar
On September 3, 2009 at 11:22 in Semey, Kazakhstan, Elemecova Aneliya Ahatovna became Anelya Porter Caesar and I became her mother. This is our love story of how we became a family.
Semey Baby House Window Project - See How You Can Help Improve the Condition of Lily's Baby House
Anelya's Blog Followers
Posts
Adoption Timeline
- 11/06/09 (???) Anelya Becomes U.S. Citizen
- 10/31/09 Gotcha Day
- 10/28/09 Back to Kazakhstan
- 09/05/09 End of Trip 1
- 09/03/09 Court Date
- 08/10/09 "Meetcha Day"
- 08/08/09 Off to Kazakhstan
- 07/31/09 Receive Letter of Invitation (LOI)
- 1/12/09 Region Assignment
- 12/04/08 (more or less) Dossier at Ministries
- 10/13/08 Dossier at NY Consulate
- 10/03/08 (maybe earlier) Dossier Out of Translation
- 08/27/08 Home Study Received by LMI (4-6 weeks until Consulate)
- 08/26/08 Sent Revised Home Study to LMI
- 08/26/08 Got Revised Home Study Apostilled
- 08/26/08 Received New Home Study
- 08/15/08 Request to pull homestudy from translation to provide updated one with no gender preference
- 08/14/08 Dossier in Translation
- 08/05/08 Dossier sent to LMI
- 08/04/08 Apostilled docs received
- 07/31/08 NH dossier docs sent for apostilles
- 07/30/08 Dossier Approved for Apostille Process
- 07/24/08 Faxed Dossier to LMI for approval
- 07/17/08 Received Fingerprints
- 07/08/08 Sent Fingerprints to FBI
- 07/07/08 Fingerprinting
- 06/26/08 I-71H RECEIVED!!!
- 06/25/08 Applied for two grants
- 06/25/08 Sent Homestudy to USCIS
- 06/19/08 Homestudy final copy received
- 06/02/08 Homestudy draft submitted to LMI
- 05/02/08 Biometrics/Fingerprints at USCIS
- 04/25/08 Medical Exam Complete
- 04/20/08 Homestudy Begins
- 04/19/08 Received Background Check Back from CPS
- 04/18/08 Completed Adoptive Parenting Course
- 04/17/08 Received Application Received Notification from USCIS
- 04/17/08 Social Worker Contacts Me
- 04/13/08 Started Adoptive Parent Education Requirement
- 04/10/08 Filed I600A with US Citizenship and Immigration Services
- 04/09/08 Assigned a social work for home study
- 04/05/08 Contracts received by Agencies
- 04/04/08 Sent Background Check Request to CPS
- 04/02/08 Sent Agency Contracts and Home Study Request
- 2/01/08 - 04/01/08 Slacked and went to Sweden
- 1/30/08 Application ACCEPTED!!!
- 1/25/08 Notification that LMI received application
- 1/25/08 Joined International Adopt NH yahoo group
- 1/22/08 Sent application to LMI
- 1/17/08 Life insurance physical
- 1/16/08 Filled in application
- 01/06/08 Decision to use Little Miracles International (LMI)
- 01/06/08 Joined Adoption Agency Research on Yahoo Group
- 1/02/08 Joined single Kaz moms yahoo group
- 12/29/07 Joined Kazakhsan Adoption on Yahoo Groups
- 12/29/07 Started Adoption fundraising on Amazon
- 12/24/07 Started Adoption Blog
- 12/24/07 Decision to adopt from Kazakhstan
- 12/15/07 Decision to adopt
Kazakhstan Articles
FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed
Where in the World are Lily's Blog Viewers?
Appropriate Adoption Communication Cheat Sheet
- Instead of A) try using B)
- A) Do you have your own children? B)Do you have a biological child?
- A) She has an adopted daughter. B) She has a daughter.
- A) They have a Kazakh son. B) They have a son.
- A) She is a single adoptive mother. B) She is a mother. (Unless he is single, interested and decent. Then y all means, mention the single part ;-) )
- A) She is adopted. B) She was adopted. (Adoption is a one time event)
- A) His real parents B) His biological parents
- A) She was abandoned. B) She was placed for adoption.
- A) His birth mother gave him up. B) His birth mother was unable to to parent him.
- A) How much did she cost? B) How much did the adoption process cost?
Links I have found helpful
Map of Kazakhstan
I'm a Peacemaker
1 comment:
I am so happy that your are moving so smoothly through now, it could be very soon! Have fun decorating Lily's room! I can relate to your feelings about Christmas, on Christmas Day of 2006 I told my parents that I was going to adopt as a single and they have supported me 100% of the way, its just taken a lot longer than I would have ever guessed! Good luck and happy holidays!
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