Zuri Pics!!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Meeting Zuri

Make a Smilebox greeting

Packed Up and Ready To Go!

I am all packed up and ready to go! I feel nervous, anxious, excited, happy, and scared at the same time. Well, I guess it's normal to feel this way. Anyway, I am SO ready to hold Zuri, hear her cry, learn her personality, and just be with her. I'll keep you updated...

Introducing Zuri Yodahe

Make a Smilebox slideshow

After 503 days, 19 hours, and 12 minutes, I am a Mother!

Baby Shower # 1

Court Date!!!

I got the call for my court date, which is in July! Please pray that I pass court before the courts close in Ethiopia.

So Thankful & Waiting for a Court Date

It's been a while since the last post. Just when I thought my head was coming out of the clouds, I received new pics of Z yesterday. I sent a care package to her by a couple whose in Ethiopia right now picking up their little one. They sent me several pics of Z wearing the outfit that I sent her! She is soooo beautiful and she's growing a lot. She has been described as being a very happy baby, loves to smile, and she also loves being held. I love her! I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL SHE'S IN MY ARMS! But until then, I'm in need of a court date! I think I will get the call any day now, so I'm feeling very anxious! Anyway, while I wait, I have the most beautiful person to stare at......Baby Z!

Dear God,
I present this child to you. She's already yours and you're making her mine. Thank you for blessing my life with another life. I ask that you cover her with the anointing of your sweet spirit and I ask that you continue to show your divine favor upon our lives. I thank you in advance for what's about to happen and we will forever give you the glory. In Jesus name I pray......
Amen

Close To You

I just can't stop looking at Z. She is healthy and beautiful. She looks so peaceful on her sleeping picture too. I can't wait to kiss her chubby cheeks (she's 9.5 lbs at 6 weeks old)! I just want to thank all of my adoption aunties for support, especially Robbin. She has been there for me through this tough waiting period and she kept me on track on referral day (I was bananas on that day). Better yet, she is still keeping me on track with everything! Lol! Love ya chica. As I stare at this perfect person, a song comes to mind by Bebe and Cece Winans....Close to you:



i just want to be close to you

sunshine, moonlight, delight, just a couple words descrbing who you are
lovely, so lovely, want everyone to know why i'm in love with you

patient and strong, always, no matter what i face, you've been there to bring me through
just right (right on) on time, it took a while to see that your love was true

now no one can (undo)
i belong (to you)
until the end (of time)
good to know (good to know you're mine)
and all i want (to say)
until my dying (...ing day)
i just want to be close to you


honest and sweet
heaven is where i want to be
where i am when i'm with you
perfect, yes perfect
it's what you gave for all the world to see

now no one can (undo)
i belong (to you)
until the end (of time)
good to know (you're mine)
and all i want (all i want to say 'til my dying day)
i just want to be close to you

come on Cece, following me ...
say dah dah, u say (dah dah)
dah dah
dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah
dah dah (mmm,mmm) dah dah
took a while to see, but now we know the truth

now no one can (undo)
i belong (to you)
until the end (of time)
good to know (know you're mine)
and all i want (all i want to do is say until my dying day)
i just want to be close to you
yeah yeah yeah yeah (how long will you stay)
i just want to be close to you

The "Call"

We all think we know just how our reactions will be whenever we get the "call" but my response was nothing like I thought it would be. The call came on Wednesday, May 13, 2009. When I first arrived at work, my co-worker (who never really showed too much interest in the adoption) told me that she had a dream the night before that I received my referal. At that point in time, I was tired of wondering about when I would get the referral and didn't want to talk about the adoption at all, so I responded by rolling my eyes! I know I was rude, but I was the chic that stalked the FBI and numerous blogs maybe about 20 times a day! I had it bad! Lol! I was very weiry at that moment.

4:00pm: I was at work (last day of the Spring semester) and I was finalizing and submitting all of my students' grades. While doing so, I grumbled to myself, "it sure would be nice to get my referral today." After completing the grades, I sat down in my office and then at......

4:12pm: My cell phone vibrated, I looked down, and recognized the "Gladney area code". I started screaming, calmed down and then answered. Of course, it was Mary. Hearing Mary's voice was soothing to my soul! I asked Mary if this was my referral and she said yes. She asked me if I was near my computer and if I had time for the referral call at that moment. Well, of course I did! I quickly told her to call my direct line at work (my cell phone has a bad connection in my office). While waiting on her to call me back (took about a minute), I yelled referral to all of my co-workers. They came running, but I kindly shut my door. (I always wanted this moment to be private) This is such a special moment adoption buddies.

4:15pm: Mary called my work phone and I answered. She said Catrina, we feel like ______ is a perfect match for you. When I heard her name, the tears started to come. Mary confirmed with me that she sent the email with _______'s pics and info to me. Immediatley I opened it and instantly my tears turned into a scream. Yes guys, a scream! Lol! I put Mary on hold and I started laughing, screaming, making all kinds of noises..... histerically! I was totally blown away at this Angel that was before my eyes. Did I mention that I was laughing? Anyway, I could not believe that God chose ME to be this perfect child's mother. Me? Wow God! Ok, I think Mary got a kick out of my response. She asked me was I ok! Lol! Guys, this blog post can never describe to you what I felt at that time. I called my Mother from my cell phone and she listened to the rest of the call with Mary. Mary went on to describe her health and background and boy oh boy, while she was doing that I started texting and emailing my adoption aunties, family, and friends.

This Angel of mine was born in my heart back in February 2008. On May 13, 2009, God placed her photos right before my eyes....just perfect in every way! Thank you Jesus!

Now I will wait on a court date, which I hope will come before the courts close.

I'm getting ready to go to the McG family's (on Gladney FBI) baby shower, but I still have more to share about my wild adventure on referral day................

Referral!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes everyone, I received my referral today of a 1.5 month old baby girl! She is so beautiful! More to come.........

Week 35

Knowing that I could get a call at any given time is not good for me. I am constantly checking my phone throughout the day and stalking the FBI. Everyone says I will receive "the call" when I least expect it, but I can't concentrate on anything else for long without thinking of seeing my sweet precious angel for the first time. First, I think I'm gonna scream (wake up the neighborhood), and then pray for peace and more patience. Then sleep will follow.

This is week 35 for me and Mother's Day is also coming up. I just want to express to everyone how much I love my Mother. She is so perfect to me and such a strong woman and I love her dearly. Happy Mother's Day!

Week 34

It's been pretty quiet on the adoption boards and there's not much activity on the FBI list, but I'm still waiting....:)

Ethiopian Weddings (Random)

Ethiopian Vocalist-Tilahun Gessesse-Passed Away

The renowned and veteran Ethiopian vocalist, Tilahun Gessesse, passed away late on Sunday. Tilahun, before he came back home few days ago for Easter holiday, was receiving medical treatment abroad. Tilahun, 68, passed away when he was being taken to hospital after he felt sick on Sunday April 19, 2009.
The legendary Ethiopian great received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Addis Ababa University, in appreciation of his contribution to Ethiopian music.
He has also received an award for his lifetime achievements from the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust.
Funeral procession program for Tilahun Gesesse has been issued. A requiem service would be held overnight at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The remains of the departed is to be taken home. Then it is to be carried to Meskel Square on a carriage at 11:00 am.
Until 2:00 at Meskel Square, his obituary would be read out and messages from Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and President Girma Woldegiorgis is to be delivered.
Between 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm. the funeral is to be conducted at the cemetery of the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Week 33

I'm still anticipating Z's referral very soon, even though there are families ahead of me that are waiting also. Ethiopia, as well as other countries have many issues that need to be resolved. However the media portrays Ethiopia to only be an extremely poor country and that's it. My recent and future posts will pertain to "Ethiopia" that we don't see too often. I want to be able to tell my child about the positive aspects of this wonderful country as well as the bad. I urge all of my Ethiopian families to go beyond what information is given to you about your child's native country. Do research and seek out the beauty of Ethiopia...

Ethiopian Wedding Dress Designer-Amsale Aberra

Amsale Aberra came to America from Ethiopia at age 19 to study art, but her direction in life took a sudden and unexpected turn. When Amsale was planning her wedding she had a hard time finding a dress she liked. Instead of compromising, she stitched her own gown—and before she knew it, she was creating gowns for others.

In 1986, Amsale started her own custom wedding dress company, and over the next two decades, business skyrocketed. Now, Amsale—whose company had $25 million in sales in 2006—is one of the top couture wedding dress designers in the world!

Amsale creates gowns that are simple and elegant because that’s what she wanted to wear to her own wedding. “Around 1985, things were just overdone—tons of beading on it. That was not something I wanted to wear. I was looking for something very simple,” Amsale says.

Amsale's daughter, Rachel, a freshman at Harvard University, says she loves her mom’s gowns. “I think they’re amazing,” she says.

Amsale says she was raising Rachel at the time that her business was expanding. Now, she is looking forward to the day when Rachel will wear one of her wedding gowns. “I imagine one day my daughter walking down the aisle with her dad. That is the moment I’m really waiting for,” Amsale says.

It’s heart warming to see an Ethiopian woman do so well. I’m sure most of you have never heard of her and that’s what’s amazing about it. How low key a person she is.

Below is a Collection of Amsale’s Work as shown on Oprah:

Ethiopian Pop Star Teddy Afro in Jail

The young and highly talented vocalist, songwriter and producer, Tewodros Kassahun, alias Teddy Afro, who was accused of a hit- run in November 2006, and later released on bail, has now been sent to jail until Monday April 21, 2008 to battle for his bail.
The Federal First Instance Court, on November 2006 had released Teddy Afro on 50,000 birr bail.

Teddy Afro’s alleged crime is of killing a person while speeding, near the Sheraton Hotel, and then driving away in his BMW late in the evening of Thursday, November 2, 2006.
The Federal High Court Eighth Criminal Bench on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 ordered for Teddy Afro to be jailed.

If found guilty, Teddy would face up to 15 years in jail.
“It is very sad that some members of the media reported as if they are certain that I committed a crime,” Teddy was quoted as saying when he appeared before court then and added, “I might consider taking legal action for defamation.”


On Friday, November 3, 2006 Teddy pleaded not guilty to the allegations in court. The court was re-adjourned to give police time for further investigation.
After being in custody for about 24 hours, Teddy was released on 50,000 birr bail.
Teddy Afro conquered the hearts of the youth of Ethiopia in his very first album, Abugida.
In fact, his second album was recorded first but it was very badly done, upsetting Teddy since the recording company sat on it for years and put in the market after his Abugida’s success. Yasteseryal; his third album, set a huge leap forward for the talented singer.
Some of the songs in his Yasteseryal album, which preaches of unity, political reconciliations and love between Ethiopian and Eritrean brothers and sisters were banned from radio and ETV.

In his message printed and distributed on his album cover, Teddy Afro said that even if to be sincere seems a foolish idea, it is the last option Ethiopia has to get out of the problems it is facing.

Despite the fact that his ‘Gize Lekulu’, aims at celebrating the Ethiopian millennium and the release of the prisoners with a national spirit of unity being a hit, Teddy Afro once again was not in the list of artists at Millennium Hall, as he missed last year’s New Year celebration at Sheraton Addis. Even if he was not at Millennium hall, he does entertain many thousands at National Stadium for free.

On Feb. 19, 2009, Teddy Afro has had his prison sentence for manslaughter reduced on appeal from six years to two years, the BBC reported Thursday.

Afro was convicted after a car that belonged to him struck and killed a young homeless man in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. Although he was convicted of failing to stop and offer assistance to the victim, Afro has always insisted he was not the one driving the vehicle at the time of the fatal collision.

The appeal judge upheld the guilty verdict in the case, but lowered the sentence, noting the victim had been seen lying drunk in the road prior to the incident and police had failed to get him to safety.

The BBC said the performer has already spent almost a year in prison and, with an allowance for good behavior, should be released in less than a year.

Week 32

Currently, Gladney's wait time for a referral of an infant girl is around 8 months. As of today, I have been waiting for 32 weeks and May will be around 8 months! I can't believe that time has passed by so quickly. I say quickly because I wasn't expecting a referral this early at all, but time is winding down. Ok, I'm bored and I've been stalking all Ethiopian adoption blogs and the FBI every freaking hour of the day and some nights! I'm still at home in South Carolina with my mother for Easter break and I have NOTHING to do. As you can see, I am desperatly trying to make up something to post about. Anyway, I'm expecting a referral within the next few weeks.

Yay!

Yay! Today is a wonderful day in the world of Gladney, Ethiopian Adoptions, and Singles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok...it's not me, but I am happy for my friend.......I'm still holding on.......

God Has a Plan!!!

I can't express to everyone how much God is totally in control of everything...even your adoption process! There's more to this adoption thing than just learning about a new culture, getting the baby, and loving this child to the extreme. Some of you already know your divine purpose for your adoption, some don't. Ask God to show you what He wants you to do during and after the adoption process period. I dare you! I give thanks to my Father for a beautiful and happy day! I'm ecstatic!

A Walk to Beautiful

I'm pretty sure that most PAP's adopting from Ethiopia are familiar with the documentary "A Walk to Beautiful". If not, I highly recommend that you watch it. This documentary tells the stories of five Ethiopian women who suffer from devastating childbirth injuries and embark on a journey to reclaim their lost dignity. Rejected by their husbands and ostracized by their communities, these women are left to spend the rest of their lives in loneliness and shame. They make the choice to take the long and arduous journey to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in search of a cure and a new life. As I watched this documentary about these women from the country side of Ethiopia, I couldn't help but think that my baby girl could come from some of the same areas in which this documentary was filmed. If you don't have this video, you can purchase it from Ebay or Amazon. To the AP's that have already watched it, tell me what you think of the film.

Speechless

Nobel Peace Prize

Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.

In 1954, Martin Luther King accepted the pastorale of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.

In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.

2009...A Great Year Ahead!

I want to thank all of my adoption aunties for encouraging me throughout this process in 2008, and even though it's not over yet, I am so looking forward to how God is going to work in our lives in 2009. It's wonderful to have support from others that are going through the same ups and downs of international adoption. Thanks Robbin! It's been a couple of weeks since I blogged, so here's an update on my life:

1. December 30, 2008 made 17 weeks that I've been on the waitlist.
2. All of my students passed my classes and will be able to progress in the program.
3. My cousin had a baby boy on December 23, 2008. Gorgeous!
4. I was off for 3 weeks for the Christmas holidays....
5. I shopped a little but was very lazy most of the time!
6. Read multiple adoption blogs.
7. Started my "diet" on January 1. I really need to lose AT LEAST 50 lbs! I want
to be physically fit before I go to Ethiopia and get my baby!

Not really much going on. LOL! I actually look forward to going back to work on Monday. I have a lot to do (paperwork) before my junior students are able to go into the clinical sites with real patients. I am just so excited about 2009.....Jesus is my savior, I'm blessed to have a great career that I love in such bad economic hardship, I have supportive friends and family that love me, I'm going to lose weight, and I'm going to be a mom to a baby girl from Ethiopia named Zuri! Happy New Year!

Week 15

Today makes 15 weeks since I've been on the waitlist for my baby girl. I haven't been doing too many baby preparations lately, but I have been cleaning my house, reading blogs, wrapping the semester up with my students, wrapping up the classes that I am taking, going to Christmas and bridal parties, and shopping for Christmas! I will be spending Christmas in South Carolina with my family. Oh, by the way, my birthday is Christmas Eve. Can't wait.....as usual, we will have a good time!

Week 14

Even though my adoption won't be processed until after September 2009, I'm going to still keep up with the number of weeks. Today makes 14 weeks that I've been waiting for a referral.

Can't Stop Shopping!

Ok.....I have tried to stay away from blogging, but I just can't! My adoption has been delayed but I still have BABY FEVER and I can't stop shopping. I picked out a stroller for Zuri. It's by Britax (same company as car seat) and I think this stroller will work out just fine. Because it has a reversible seat and Zuri will probably be at least 6 months old when I get her, I won't have to buy an infant carseat travel system. Hopefully she will be big enough for this stroller and carseat! Oh...I love the plum color! Tell me what you think. By the way, I've been on the waitlist for 13 weeks.

Feeling Better Now

I'm not going to complain anymore. I am blessed just to be able to adopt from Ethiopia, even though it won't be until the 2009-2010 court season. It's just around the corner!

Sad Day But Still Hopeful

I guess everybody knows about the limit that was put on singles adopting from Ethiopia. I was informed by my agency on today that my case won't be processed until the 2009-2010 season. Basically, I will be waiting at least another year! I cried like a baby, but God's timing is always best. He knows better. Actually, this extra time will give me the opportunity to prepare to be a better mom. I won't give up!

Zuri's Car Seat!

Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat - Cowmooflage
I ordered Zuri's car seat today. I've been wanting this carseat for its outstanding reviews on safety and I absolutely love this design. I should get it in the mail one day this week. I'm so excited, plus I got a real deal on it! I got this baby for $59.99 from Target online (their mistake)! What a deal!!! I should have ordered 2 or 3!

Pics of Zuri's Nursery!

I'm not completely done, but here's what I've done so far.

OMG!!! This is my baby's crib!


This is where I will rock her to sleep! Can't wait!


Changing table... I still need to add changing pad and storage baskets.


Oh yes, I couldn't resist buying her first doll from Pottery Barn!


Another view of the crib!


Check out the butterflies! I have green butterflies on the other wall. Oh, I painted them myself!

Week 10

It's been 10 weeks since I was placed on the waitlist for the referral of my baby girl. I was informed by my adoption agency that the wait time for a referral could be up to 7 months for an infant girl. Since I was placed on the waitlist on September 2, I'm thinking that I should get a referral in late March or early April. I'm just fine with the wait because it gives me more time to prepare for her. I've been bored since the end of the election. It seems like I don't have anything to watch on tv now! Lol! I need to finish painting butterflies on the wall in the nursery and I will be completely done with it!. I also need to finish my Hague training and start getting my vaccines. What are you guys doing while you wait for your little ones?

Video!!!!!

What a Handsome President!

The First Family....How Beautiful!

Barack Obama... OUR new President!

imikimi - Customize Your World

Tagged!

I knew that it was coming....I've been tagged by Christine to tell seven random things about myself.


1. I instruct radiation therapy students, which means that I teach people how to treat and cure cancer on a daily basis! Some people ask if it's hard to deal with cancer patients all the time. Actually, most of the patients are very cheerful and don't want to talk about their disease all the time....only when necessary. The therapists really look forward to seeing these patients everyday and love providing care to someone during a very difficult time in life. The patient's love the therapists and bring lots of gifts! Not bad at all!



2. I love Christian Rock Music! I listen to New Life 91.9 everyday! I know every song that is played on this station. Check it out!




3. I have a dog named Bailey. He is a three year old Maltipoo (maltese and poodle mix). He is my first baby! He and Zuri will have a great time together!


4. I want to adopt a boy from Ethiopia also....maybe when Zuri is 2 or 3, but I want him to be the same age as Zuri. Hopefully, Ethiopian adoptions will still be open to singles then, or maybe I'll have a husband by that time and then WE will be able to adopt a boy from Ethiopia. Right now, I really don't have the desire to birth a child. Does anyone else feel this way? Please comment!

5. Things that I like to do: Shopping, playing with kids, visiting family back in SC, dating, going to comedy shows and concerts, entertaining friends, and attending church.

6. Foods that I enjoy eating: New York style pizza, spaghetti, all Italian foods, Japanese, scattered hash browns with onions, bell pepper, ham and cheese, yellow cake (butter recipe) with chocolate icing, Biscoff cookies, and oh...I love salads with catalina or sweet vidalia onion dressing. Not too healthy, huh?

7. Things that I look forward to doing with Zuri: Taking her to church, dressing her up in a traditional Ethiopian dress, taking tons of pictures and videos-Christmas, Easter, first meeting, sleeping, crying, walking. I can't wait to hug her, kiss her, stay up with her all night, take her to the park, pumpkin patch, indoor water park, out to play with other Ethiopian families, take her to her first MD appointment, watch her sleep in her crib, watch her eat, for her to suck her bottle, for her to call me mama, show her off at work and to the whole world! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Now I will pass the torch to the following 3 people:
Char
Sweet Patience
Chad & Susan


Once again here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random facts about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post
5. Let each person know they have been tagged.
6. Let the taggers know when your entry is up.

ZURI is her name!

It's only been 6 weeks since I was officailly placed on Gladney's waitlist for my baby girl's referral. I'm thinking that I will get a referral in February. I'm done with her nursery and I even bought her first doll....so cute. (I will post pics next week) So, what have I been doing in my spare time lately? I've been saving money, completing another degree online, reading other Ethiopian adoption blogs, completing Hague training, scheduling shots, and eyeballing every baby that I see! Anyway, let's talk about Zuri. I decided on her name back in February, which was before I decided on an adoption agency. She was truly born in my heart. I've decided to keep a part of her original Ethiopian name, but Zuri will be her first name, which means "beautiful" in Swahili.

WAITLIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am officially on the waitlist for a baby girl from Ethiopia! I haven't been blogging because I have been so busy with work , shopping for baby stuff, and making sure my dossier was complete. Now, I will wait for baby Z's referral.......3-5 months! I hope that it doesn't take too long, but who cares? I'm going to be a mommy!!!

Gladney Approved!!!!!!!!

On May 29, I was officially approved by Gladney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am currently waiting on my CIS approval and FBI clearance form and I will be finished with my dossier. Then I will be on the waitlist. I am so excited about Baby Z. I'm so ready for my referral day. In the meantime, I think I will go ahead and start buying baby items. I can't help it. I'm also going to start preparing Baby Z's nursery...pinks, yellows, and greens. Preparing the nursery will take a while, but I will post pics when I'm done. This is the crib bedding set that I plan on getting for Baby Z. Isn't it beautiful?

Just for Tami!!!!

There's this lady named Tami. She is so like me. She is single and smack in the middle of adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia. Sounds just like me. You think? I like to stalk her blog, usually on a daily basis, because she is a few steps ahead of me in the adoption process, plus we are also with the same adoption agency. I'm so glad that there are others like me. What have I been up to lately? Where do I begin?

1. On May 6-USCIS Appointment (Fingerprinted):

I actually lost the appointment slip a week prior to the appointment! It was at the end of the semester and I had so much going on: New students trying to get accepted into my program, Preparing old students for graduation, Registering about 150 potential students for classes, Getting grades completed before the end of the semester, and Still trying to juggle the adoption process. I was so in an uproar about losing the appointment slip that I took a whole day searching my home and I took another day turning my office upside down, with the help of my students. I never found it. However I called the local USCIS office and of course I could not get a real person. I eventually emailed the local office and they replied 3 days later, telling me to bring my receipt and government ID. The funny thing is that I remembered the day but I could not remember the time of the appointment! I knew that it was after 12pm. There was no way that I was going to miss this appointment, so I showed up around 10:30am! The appointment was not until 2pm. I didn't care. I waited until my time. Fingerprints are done!!!

2. On May 9-My Students Graduated:

By the way, I am a college instructor. I teach radiation therapy(administering radiation treatments to cancer patients). It's a two year program. We only had 6 students to graduate. We originally started out with 10, but only the best remained. I am so proud of them. They will be taking their national boards soon, which will qualify them to work anywhere in the US!

3. On May 10-Homestudy Update:

My social worker emailed me a draft of my homestudy. She wanted to make sure that everything was correct on it before she sent it to Gladney (adoption agency) for review. At the end of the report, she stated that: "Catrina Pee is approved to adopt one female child under the age of twelve months from Ethiopia." I am assuming that the homestudy is approved. It is currently under review by the adoption agency. I should hear from the agency within a week regarding the homestudy. I hope everything works out!

4. May 12 thru 16-Enjoying My Week Off!

I love working out in my yard, so I've been planting flowers, putting down new mulch and mowing the lawn! If I must say, my yard is gorgeous! I haven't cleaned the inside like I want, but it is still sort of clean from the homestudy! I'm also finishing my dossier paperwork this week(hopefully). Besides that good stuff, I finally have a chance to relax or better yet.....be lazy, and I'm enjoying it!

Moving Along!

My home study visit was this past Saturday. Glad it's over with. I spent basically 8 hours of cleaning my house. The social worker toured my house for 5 minutes! She was more concerned about who I am as a person, which is what really matters. I also received my finger-printing appointment today! Yay....moving along!

African-American Disney Princess!!!

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – The Walt Disney Studios will continue its fairy tale legacy in animation by taking moviegoers on an all-new "once upon a time" musical adventure with its 2009 release of "The Frog Princess," it was announced by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. A musical set in the legendary birthplace of jazz – New Orleans -- "The Frog Princess" will introduce the newest Disney princess, Maddy, a young African-American girl living amid the charming elegance and grandeur of the fabled French Quarter. From the heart of Louisiana's mystical bayous and the banks of the mighty Mississippi comes an unforgettable tale of love, enchantment and discovery with a soulful singing crocodile, voodoo spells and Cajun charm at every turn!

Quiz - How Baby Safe is Your Home?

My homestudy is coming up and I've been doing some research online. I came across this quiz that tells you if your home is safe enough for a baby. I took the quiz and according to the results, I am currently not ready. I have a lot of preparation to do! Take the quiz for yourself and let me know if your house is ready for your little ones!

I Can See the Light!!!

It seems like the paperwork is finally coming together. I'm waiting for the social worker from the adoption agency to call and schedule my homestudy. I also have my doctor's appointment next week. I received a confirmation letter from CIS stating that my application was received and they will notify me by mail for my fingerprinting appointment. Oh, two out of four of my references mailed their letters! Everyday, I complete some of my paperwork, which is a relief. To other PAP....a lot of preparation takes place on our behalf to get our bundles of joy! Can't wait!

Questions From Others

Whenever I tell people about my decision to adopt as a single woman, most people ask me why can't I just wait until after I get married to have my own? They don't understand that I already made the decision. I'm not telling them about my decision for them to change my mind. My mind is made up. Better yet, my heart is made up! I always follow my heart and that's where GOD is. So I can't go wrong. Check out my music and tell me what you think.

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork!!!!

The paperwork chase is on! I never knew that so much paperwork was involved. I'm not complaining because this is the most important paperwork of my life! I got my criminal background history on this past Tuesday, and today I attempted to get my passport, but my old, crumbled birth certificate was not acceptable. I immediately ordered two copies of my birth certificate online. I should receive those copies within a week. Then I will have to go back to the post office and submit my birth certificate. That's just the beginning of this paperwork chase, but well worth the cause!

Submitted Application Fee

I submitted my application fee today and I am officially scared!!! I have no doubts about my decision to adopt, but I can't believe that I am on my way to becoming a mother. I am so eager to move on to the next step in the process. If all goes well, I should have my little girl in December 2008 or January 2009! Wow!!!

Decision Finally Made!!!

I chose Gladney as my adoption agency. After talking to numerous people that actually used them and after a lot of research, I feel like this agency is the best for me! I am really excited because this agency allows first time parents to choose the sex of their child. So excited!!! Pray for me!

Choosing an Adoption Agency

I am currently trying to decide on an adoption agency to use for the adoption of my child. I've been comparing agencies by the packets that was sent to me via mail and I am a member of two online adoption groups, which allows me to communicate with people like myself about their adoption experience with various agencies.