Double WOOT!!

Great news on the adoption front! Yesterday we learned that we made it through approval #1!! DCFS in IL approved our home study so it is now on its way to USCIS!! That means (hopefully) in 4-6 weeks, we will have our 171H!!! And shortly after that our dossier will be on its way to Kaz!!

Joyous news indeed:) I love progress!!!

WOOT!!!!

HOLY COW!!! MY BOYS JUST WON THE SUPERBOWL!!!!

CONGRATS TO MY G-MEN!!! GREAT GAME AND GREAT WIN!!!!!

I love the sound of it - NY Giants, Superbowl Champs:)

SBP and Odds & Ends

I just have to say (again) that my SBP rocks!!! My SBP sent me and Jamie some very yummy cookies and brownies from the Dancing Deer Company:) Just what we needed for the end of the week! We are so grateful for everything that our SBP has given us!! We can't wait to being Vaughn his gifts from SBP:)

This weekend was absolutely fantastic. We made some progress on the last bit of dossier docs, which makes me happy. Then, on Saturday night we got to meet two of the coolest couples who have adopted from Kaz and their kids: Muriel, Jerry & Sophie and Debbie, Jay & Sean. Sophie and Sean are two of the most adorable kids ever! They just followed each other around and Sean kept giving Sophie kiss after kiss (which Miss Sophie did not seem to mind). Too cute:) We had a great time, laughed a ton, and got great info on adopting from Kaz! Jamie and I hope we get to see them all again soon!! They are awesome!!!

This morning we met two of our really good friends for brunch at one of our favorite places, M Henry's and had a great time! So, all in all, a great weekend:) Next weekend is going to be a great one as well because we are going to IA to see our friends Jess & Bry and their daughter (who is our Goddaughter). We haven't gotten to see them in a while, so we are definitely looking forward to it!! And the weekend after that, we pick up the baby's furniture and we get to put that together, which we are looking forward to:) Lots of good stuff coming up!!!

We are hoping this week is going to bring some good news from DCFS, but we shall see:) IL is not known for getting anything done quickly!! If we get approval from DCFS this week, then that means it is off to CIS to get the big kahuna, our I-171H, which means the US Gov't. approves us for our adoption:) And then from there it is all forward to Kaz...

I guess that is enough jabbering for tonight;) Plus I have to go watch my NY Giants play some football!!! And hopefully win:) GO G-MEN!!!!! I have to put my jersey on - I hope it doesn't jinx them!!! Uh Oh. Looks like the Pats are about to score...not good...

I've Been Tagged!!!

Alright, I'm it! I have been tagged by Susan (FL), Kelly, Amanda and Jennifer M. Sorry girls for the late reply to the tag - I have been a bit behind on my blogging!!

So, here are the the rules:

• link the person who sent this to you and leave a comment on their blog so their readers can visit yours.
• Post the rules on your blog
• Share 7 strange/weird facts about yourself

Here goes:

1. I have a pretty decent sized tattoo on my lower back (yes, a tramp stamp) that I got this past summer. Better late than never:) And I plan to get another one for Vaughn when we get home.

2. Two of my favorite odd things (not at the same time) to eat are Peanut Butter & Fluff, and Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix right out of the envelope (easy low calorie way to get my chocolate fix in a pinch!!)

3. I have sensory issues - teeth scraping on a fork is like nails on a chalkboard to me (oddly enough nails on a chalkboard doesn't bother me - it's a metal thing)

4. I am OCD when it comes to Lotion. I put in on every morning and every night (all over), and if I do not have any in my purse - it's a crisis!!!

5. I studied for 6 months in France my junior year of college and let me tell you, there was not much studying going on but somehow I managed great grades! Word of advice, never drink French beer, it gives you a killer hangover!!

6. I am deathly afraid of sharks to the point where I will not go on a cruise because I have this insane fear of the boat sinking and being surround by sharks (I saw Jaws way,way too young!!).

7. I have long legs and my pants have to touch the ground whether I am wearing heels, or flats.

8. I eat M&Ms in twos or fours, and greens are always the last ones eaten...

There you go - 8 weird and strange facts about yours truly. And now I am off to tag some people and I promise not to tag you if you have already been tagged!!

PS - We bought a great book for Little Vaughn called "Borya and the Burps" and I love it. It is about Eastern European adoptions, but it translates to all adoptions. It is from a kid's perspective which I thought was fantastic. I highly recommend it:)

Hope everyone is doing well!!

Holla!! Great Friends, Great Times

I am finally back in the blogging arena:) Work and life have been hectic and I have not had time in the past week to post or catch up yet on others' blogs.

This weekend was absolutely fantastic!! Every year around this time, Jamie and I, along with many of our close friends, go to Galena and rent a house in Eagle Ridge Resort. This was the 8th year we have been doing it and every year it just gets better. It is a way for all of us to take a weekend out (sans kids) and just reconnect. While some of us live close to each another, others do not and this is our one traditional weekend a year to get together, have some fun, and relax. I will say, after the past six months of crazy adoption "stuff" we were looking forward to this weekend more than ever. And it did not disappoint...I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Unfortunately this year, we were missing some key players who could not make it and we missed them incredibly!! We are looking forward to next year already and having everyone there!! Needless to say, it was a much needed weekend away:) Not to mention getting to spend quality time with people we love and hold dear to our hearts.

And then to top it off, Jamie and I went to Dubuque, IA to see Jen, one of my closest and oldest friends (we go back to junior high), and her boyfriend Bryan. Even though it was a short visit, I was glad we were able to go and spend some time with them. Jen got us the cutest baby gifts. She gave us a little photo album that will be put to great use, and a really cool teething toy for the Little Man! I can't wait to give it to him in Kaz:) All in all, a great weekend!!

On the adoption front, things are status quo. We are waiting for DCFS approval and expect to hear from them hopefully next week!!! Although it would be great if we got approval this week, but no expectations at all;) Jamie and I are working hard on making sure all else for the dossier is in good working order so we can send everything in for translation (minus the 171H) next month. March is looking like dossier submittal month, which is very exciting indeed!!!

On another adoption front, I cannot reiterate enough how happy we are that we switched agencies. There have been some additional pieces of information learned about our old agency that have really worked to reinforce why we switched. We are just so incredibly happy with our new agency!!

Also, I wanted to give a special shout out to our friends Ethan and Jill, who are having a baby in June and just found whether they are having a boy or girl:) I am not going to publicly divulge, but we are super excited for them and can't wait for our little ones to meet. And I can't wait for Jill and I to do some damage in the baby shopping department:)

Hope everyone has had a fabulous weekend and has a fantastic week!!! I for one, plan on having a great week, and I am already looking forward to next weekend for two reasons: 1. We have plans on Saturday meet up with two couples who have adopted from Kaz, and 2. My G-Men are in the Superbowl!!! I cannot wait to watch the game complete in my old school Joe Morris jersey (#20 and the running back on the 1986 Superbowl Champion Giants).

Good luck to all of those in country, travelling to Kaz, waiting for LOIs, paper chasing, etc. May good things come quickly to all:)

Progress At Last!!!

After 6 very LONG months, and a switch of agencies, our Home Study is finally out the door to DCFS here in Illinois!! Whoo hoo!! Now we just have to wait 3 more weeks for approval from DCFS and then it is on to CIS:) At long last we finally feel like we are moving forward with our adoption and we are so excited about it!!! One step closer to Kaz and our Kazman!

On another note, I think my SBP has ESP. I was having another rough day (we are on deadline at work) and when I came home, another package with loads of goodies for Vaughn. The cutest pacifier and fire truck I have ever seen! Plus, a baseball and football to hang on the car seat or stroller, and two adorable tops for him! I love my SBP!!! Thanks for making me smile again today!

Also, I wanted to share one of my favorite websites just in case adoptive moms/parents out there have not come across it while web surfing: http://notshowing.com/store/Scripts/default.asp
I think my top two are "Pregnant On Paper" and "Adopting: Bump Not Required" (I will have to get one of these for my baby shower). Plus there is cute stuff for your little ones:)

Hope everyone is doing well and hearing all sorts of great news!!

Thank you...

To my Secret Blog Pal (SBP) for making my week, not once, but twice! It has been a rough week with regards to work, and my SBP made this week much brighter.

Early in the week, I came home to a package from Godiva and inside was the cutest bear with reindeer antlers holding a box of divine chocolate:) The bear of course, is for Vaughn, and the chocolate was gone in short order (with my hubby's help). The bear however, is extremely special. Not just because it was from my SBP and is for our son, but as I was looking through the invoice sent with the bear, I learned his name is Rudy. My SBP could not have known this, but Rudy is the name of my late Grandfather, who was very, very special to me. So this bear will have a very special place for Vaughn.

Now, if that wasn't enough to make me cry already, I came home later this week to another package from my SBP. In it was a pair of very comfy slippers for the baby house that pack down really small so great for travel; the cutest soft baseball rattle for Vaughn that says All-Star on the front, has a mirror on the back & a teething handle; some more chocolate (which in my opinion one can never have enough of); and last but not least (which incidentally is what put me over the edge in the crying department) the most adorable photo album that says Little Champ on the front of it (this will be the album we bring to the baby house when we meet Vaughn). Seeing all of these together made this adoption feel that much more real for me, and just warmed my heart. It was just what I needed this week:)

So, SBP, you hit the nail on the head and everything is so incredibly perfect!! We cannot thank you enough!!! I can't wait to put everything to good use!! I will post pics of the gifts when our computer issues are resolved (yes, they still exist!!!). I am ready to just buy a new one.

In other good news, we finally bought our furniture yesterday!!! I am so, so excited:) Jamie and I both really love it and it suits our personality, the baby's room, and our home!! I can't wait to get it and put it together. I am so excited for the room to be done furniture, pictures and all!! I could post pictures of the furniture now, but I think I will wait until the room is complete:)

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!! I also hope those who are waiting to hear about travel dates, or their dossiers, get good news this week with the Kaz government returning to operation!!!