Adoption Update

Can you believe it? I finally have an update. No, it's not "the news", but it is an update on when we may expect to hear the news, which is great! The adoption referrals have finally started to pick up at our adoption agency, which is so exciting since very few referrals have occurred since we have been on "the list" for the past 3 1/2 months.

As of last week there were approximately ten families ahead of us who were requesting a child in a similar age/gender range as we are requesting. I know that three of those families, who have been waiting for approximately 6-7 months, each received a referral this past week. This means there are approximately seven families ahead of us now. So we're making it our way up the list! I was really hoping we would receive a referral before the end of the year, but after speaking with our Case Manager this week, she estimates that we will likely not receive our referral until after the first of the year. That is OK though. I would rather know it will be longer than I was hoping, than sit around waiting and being disappointed.

I will leave you with some recent photos of the girls I took before our walk the other day.

Isn't this typical sister stuff?

Nice Smiles!!!

Buddy Artists?

Here are some pictures which were colored by our budding artists!

Can you believe this was colored by a two year old? This is NOT a joke. Emma colors every day, and if we would let her, would color ALL day every day. She loves it! Every evening when I get home from work she says, "Mommy, you color with me?" Nice work Emma! You're a pro!

This is a picture she colored at day care today. That might be a better job of staying within the lines than I can do. Although I have been practicing my coloring every day too lately!

This is likely more typical coloring for a two year old -by Abigail. Happy Halloween!

This was colored by Abigail also.

Grandpa Wilson

Today, once again I had the conversation with the girls regarding what baby sister's name should be. Abigail responded first with "Adey" (which is the name of our great friend's daughter whom they recently adopted from Ethiopia). After explaining that we should probably chose a different name, she responded with "Grandpa Wilson". Without missing a beat Emma responded, "We can do THAT!" It was cute. Sorry Dad, the name Grandpa Wilson is for sure not on the list of possible names!

Yesterday we celebrated our 9 month anniversary of us being officially called to adopt, and we completed all our paperwork and have been officially waiting for our referral for just over 3 months. We still don't have any news to share. The Ethiopian courts have reopened after closing for their rainy season, but the referrals are still pretty slow, so we haven't noticed any movement in our placing on "the list".

Will keep you posted.