I Wish For You A Beautiful Life....

As each day brings us closer to our sweet Jae-min I have found myself thinking of his birthmom (and dad) alot lately. I keep thinking of the courage and strength it took for them to make such a difficult decision and create an adoption plan for Jae-min. I keep thinking of the heartbreak they felt and probably still feel. I feel almost guilty that in my purest joy was someone else's biggest hearbreak. Adoption is funny that way. There has to be immense sadness to give another immense joy. As adoptive parents, we think it's important to always remember this and to feel some of the birth families pain. We need to convey this message on to Jae-min, that he was so loved and wanted by everyone. It bothers us when people say that Jae-min's birthfamily "gave him up". On the contrary, they choose life and sought out a beautiful life for him. Never did they give up. They worked hard and probably wonder and worry everyday about him.
If we could say anything to them we would want them to know how very much we longed for this child and thank you. Thank you for being brave and loving OUR son so much. That's right, Jae-min will forever belong to his birthfamily just as much as he belongs to us, his adoptive family. Without them, there would be no us.
I just finished reading a book entitled I wish for you a beautiful life. It's a compilation of letters from birthmoms to their children after making an adoption plan. It was so moving and insightful to hear these woman's perspective. The decision was never easy and they feel heartbroken for always.
I also wish for Jae-min to have a beautiful life. I wish for him to know how much his birthmom loved him and how much I loved him too before we all even knew him. I wish I could tell her he'll be so loved from Korea and the USA. She will always hold a special place in my heart. Because without her, my dreams could not come true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We've Been Having Lots Of Fun.....

Waiting for our travel call!!!!!! This weekend we celebrated our last childless vacation by taking a short weekend trip to a Bed and Breakfast. We had a relaxing time and really enjoyed the atmosphere of quiet and romantic. Happy Valentines Day!!!! It was perfect as I got to spend it with the one I love and stare at the pictures of my other love.
We've been busy around here preparing for Jae-min's arrival. We've done a few loads of little itty bitty laundry and of course lost our first itty bitty little sock. Have no fear, Joe retrieved it and came upstairs with both socks affixed to his ears. Never a dull moment!!!
We've done alittle shopping here and there and Joe found this baseball hat which he just had to buy for Jae-min. I think we're going to have a mini me on our hands!!!

We also tried our hand at making Bulgogi last week in the crockpot. It is marinated beef which we served with rice and veggies. It was very good and very easy. Yummo!!!

So, we'll continue to enjoy our time together as we prepare for our little bundle of joy. Who knew folding little laundry could be so much fun? Every little piece I had to hold up to Joe and squeal over. We can't wait to enjoy all these mundane activities with little Jae-min!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, soon, very very soon.

8 Months Old!!!!

Today Jae-min turns 8 months old!!!! We found ourselves thinking of him often today (as we do most everyday). 8 months isn't a long time in the grand scheme of things but it's a long time when you're talking about your baby and all of the new things he's doing. I actually see twins on my caseload who are the same age as Jae-min and were also preemies so it's so fun to visit and work with them. It's fun to get the practice Haha
Tonight we made silly heart cookies to celebrate Jae-min. The faces on the cookies made us smile!!!! We'll go to bed tonight thinking of our little one half a world away and know he's safe, happy, and getting ready to join his forever family. Happy 8 months little buddy. We'll see you soon.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elusive No More!!!!!

Yesterday we had said we received P3 but were still waiting for the EP which can take awhile to get. Guess what????? We got an email tonight and EP was issued on 1/30/09!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, we are so happy. Ask, wish, and you shall receive!!!! Now Jae-min will get a passport, a visa medical exam, and an entrance visa will be issued so that we can bring that little bundle into the good old USA. These are referred to as VI. Our agency will not be notified when this is happening so the next news they'll receive is TRAVEL CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How close do you think we are? We really still have no idea, but boy do we feel it's pretty close. It still can take awhile but I feel so much better about the news of EP.
We're really going to be his parents? We're really going to fly to Korea and have the experience of a lifetime? We're really going to welcome this adorable boy home as OUR SON? Oh, I'm crying here. One more tiny step thats between us and sweet Jae-min!!! After all this time, heartbreak, and worry it boils down to one tiny step. Truly amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Inching Our Way Closer.....

to our sweet Jae-min!!!!! Today I called a number in DC to check on our adoption case status. It appears that the embassy sent our packet 3 (P3) to Holt (our adoption agency in Korea). This is another step needed to happen before Jae-min is ready to travel. Now our agency in Korea will get all his necessary documents together and send them back to the embassy. They will then schedule a visa interview (VI) and make sure Jae-min is healthy to travel and then issue his visa.
We are still waiting for the elusive EP (emmigration permit) which we don't think we have yet. These are issued in Korea in batches every few weeks to a month. We're hoping this one little step doesn't hold anything up as everything is moving along so nicely so far. It's all planned out and we know we have no control. It's just nice to see movement and it feels encouraging when we know things are getting done. Oh, and it feels good to know that someone in Korea knows about our paperwork and is working on it.
So, good thoughts that the last two steps VI and EP come quickly, because we're waiting for the best one of all TC (TRAVEL CALL)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We're coming Jae-min.

Progress Report

When we got home from work today we had an email from our agency with a progress report for Jae-min. This is similar to a well baby check, just alittle more in depth. Let me just tell you, everything we read made us so so excited. He's doing so wonderfully!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It gave us info on his sleep schedule, his feeding schedule, and more on his development.
I'll admit to something that had me alittle worried before. As I'm sure you've noticed Jae-min was never smiling in his pictures. With my background I pick every picture apart as well as every well baby check. I was secretly worried about his serious face for awhile now. But, no more. Numerous times throughout his progress report it says "HUGE SMILE, LOOKS HAPPY, GIVES HUGE BEAUTIFUL SMILES" Yahoo. It goes on to say he is very interactive with his foster family, likes to play with them as well as plays independently. They also say he is EASYGOING Yes, yes, yes. I always thought we would have to put a little silly into him, but I guess he's just waiting to show us that toothless grin until we meet him!!!!!!
This report was so awesome. He is certainly perfect and my fears and worries are melted away. Oh and it says he's shy around strangers and stares at them. Uh oh
Please pray that Jae-min continues to do well. Pray that his heart is preparing to leave his foster mom (which he vocalizes omma it says) and pray that his heart will know us when we arrive. Please pray that our paperwork continues to move along without a hitch. Lastly please pray that we are the best mom and dad to this little guy. He sure sounds pretty special. We are completely and totally in love.

Keeping It Warm.....

until Jae-min comes home!!! This weekend Joe and I put Jae-min's crib together and put all the rest of the furniture in his room. Yikes, so at our house we have a room dedicated to a baby!!!! It was so surreal as we put the crib in place, then the dresser, the chair and ottoman, and lastly the rug. On Friday night we put up the border.....dogs. The room looks absolutely adorable and peaceful. I have found myself in there often just looking around and soaking it all in. We have registered for all the other stuff like bedding, curtains, decorations, and everything else baby so we'll wait and finish the room then. This room has been empty for so long and it's truly unbelievable that a little person will soon be living in it. We added the finishing touch to the picture.... a framed picture of Jae-min and his Omma. Fitting, don't you think?
Of course we had to try Martin out in the crib. We have found him in there laying on the rug and keeping it warm. We can't wait for our little one to come home and begin the new chapter of our lives together. Crib up, room together, check check. Baby.......well we're still waiting!!!!! Hope you like it Jae-min......

Martin will keep it warm until you come home!!!!!!!!!!!!