How much longer on that paperwork...

This is the only other picture of Gabriella we currently have. We are sooooo close to having the last bit of our paper work completed. You know, I've looked at this picture a zillion times yet tonight, when I realize we are sooo close to being DTC and I'm thinking to myself "just a little more paper work and were there" I realized that she is sitting on paper ~ now it may be toilet paper or paper towels but it's paper:)

The USCIS requested a little more information. Daniel had just turned 18 and he needed to be asked some "big boy" questions and needed to receive an invitation to get fingerprinted. He will go tomorrow for his appointment. We met with the social worker, who we LOVE, so she could ask him the additional questions late last week. I should have the revised homestudy tomorrow. We will then overnight the updated info to the USCIS. Hopefully they will be able to process our last little bit of info quickly (can I tell you we have a great USCIS officer who has been so kind and helpful:) and we will then have our I 800 approval ~ it may be called something different but it's our approval:)

We will then take our approval and documents to the secretary of state for authentication (I can spell it, just have trouble saying it:) and they will process it while we wait:) Then, we will take a little journey to the China Consulate in Chicago where they will put their seal of approval on it as well. After that our documents will be sent to our agency who will review them and put any finishing touches on it and we will be DTC!!!! My hope is we can have all this accomplished and be DTC by mid July:)

Once we are DTC we will ask for our one and only update on Gabriella. This means we will receive updated photographs, info on what she likes, her schedule, favorite foods, items she enjoys playing with etc. We're still hoping we can have her home by Christmas:)

We are in the process of putting together a care package/birthday presents for her as she will turn 2 on July 10th. It's been fun putting everything together and we are anxious to send it to her ~ however, we are looking even more forward to celebrating her 3rd birthday at home with us next year...can you imagine a pink birthday party in our house of boys??