Post It Notes: It's really 2012 already?!

So I think I blinked and 2011 was over. It went by so fast! With the moving of houses and going back to work full time it just made the days literally fly right by. All in all though, it was a great year full of love and laughter for us as a family.

Obviously ringing in 2012 means Eli is no longer a baby anymore, I think I realized this when he could tell us what he wants and needs every second of the day. I am feeling older and older with every little "milestone" he reaches, but it is such a joy to watch all the same.

I can't believe it, but this month we are celebrating Eli's entrance into the "terrible 2's" on January 10th. But you know what? I honestly don't think they are going to be so "terrible". I think I've realized that I am a better Mom at this stage of life because he tells me what he needs and wants rather than me trying to somewhat "guess at it" like I had to when he was a baby. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean I don't love the baby stages too, I just love that our child can understand the power and consequences of the thousands of choices he makes each day.

So what are we looking forward to in 2012? Well, probably lots of rides on the pony at Meijer, lots of time in his new downstairs play area, and of course a vacation for Mommy and Daddy so we can get away from it all and focus on our marriage for a bit. Speaking of which... I love vacations.... A LOT.

So I think I should mention the "future" of our family in 2012. I almost hesitate to post this because I hate to disappoint family and some friends who are itching for a baby soon, but.... the reality is that 2012 probably won't bring any more children to our family. (That is unless God decides to intervene on our plans, which is always possible of course!) Here's the bottom line right now: We just simply don't feel like we are ready to add to our family right now. Reason being we are still going back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth (and back and forth again) about just how we plan to grow our family next. (Meaning another adoption vs. trying for a biological child) And to be honest, we haven't felt led definitively in either direction yet. So, we are just going to be still, pray about it and wait on God's perfect timing for our family's future. But don't worry, Eli will keep us plenty busy while we figure it out, that's for sure!

So, that's it I suppose! I don't know if many people even read this blog anymore, but for those of you who still do, I hope you have a very blessed and wonderful 2012!

Timelines

Adoption #2

6/20/12: Announced we will be adopting again!

7/5/12: Faxed in preliminary application to Adoption Associates.

7/31/12: Finished formal application

8/13/12: Homestudy update

9/13/12: Sent I600A

10/17/12: Fingerprinting Appointment

10/23/12: Received I-171H!!!

11/16/12: Dossier to Ethiopia, officially "waiting". Informed we are #41 on the waiting list.

3/28/12 #29 on the waiting list

6/1/13 #19 on the waiting list

7/1/13 #17 on the waiting list

Adoption #1 - Eli Akram Post

Late 2008/early 2009: Researched agencies, talked with agencies.

4/19/2009 Decided we are adopting from Ethiopia!

4/23/2009 Faxed preliminary application

5/15-5/21/2009 Home Study Meetings

7/25/2009 Agency Approved

7/27/2009 I-600A Sent (USCIS Approval Request)

8/15/2009 Fingerprinting appointment

9/12/2009 I-171H arrives!

9/24/2009 Dossier to Ethiopia! OFFICIALLY "WAITING" #24 on the list

10/22/2009 WAITING #12 on the list

11/18/2009 WAITING #9 on the list

12/17/2009 WAITING #4 on the list

1/15/2010 Still WAITING #2 on the list

3/15/2010 Still WAITING, still #2.

3/31/2010 REFERRAL DAY!!!

4/20/2010 Notified that our court date is 5/6/2010

5/6/2010 WE PASSED COURT!

6/16/2010 FOREVER FAMILY!

New here?

Please visit the blog archive below, find the first post (in the month of April, 2009) and read from the beginning if you like!

Important Words To Remember:

*Dossier* The set of documents that we send to Ethiopia to be put on the waiting list.

*Referral* The photo and information on our child that we will receive several months after we've been on the waiting list. This is when we find out who our little one is!

*Court date* After we receive our referral, a court date will be set up about 6 weeks later. We will travel to Ethiopia for this hearing.

*First Trip* The trip both of us will take to attend the court hearing and meet our child.

*Second Trip* The second trip when one of us will travel to pick up the child from Ethiopia and bring them home!

Most commonly asked question:

"Why?"

Answer: Mark and I don't really know, we believe there is a reason God put it on our hearts to adopt first rather than trying to have biological children. This does not mean we will never try for a biological child, it's just not where we are being led to build our family right now. We ask that you please respect our decision and join us in celebrating our amazing family!