An adoption update!

I would be lying if I said this process was easy! We received the referral for Madden back in November & we received photos of him when he was 5 months old at that time. The rest of the winter passed and we heard nothing about our baby waiting for us in South Korea. There were some days that I was all consumed by the wait & spent my days researching online & trying to figure out any way to “connect” with my baby and his culture. We were blessed to have a few people I’ve met online deliver some care packages for Madden when they went to pick up their little ones. Shopping for the care packages definitely helped. It allowed me to feel like I was doing something special for my little guy. Finally, after 5 months of waiting, we received an update on our beautiful baby! First, we received a progress report about a week and a half ago. Getting an email from my social worker that said “update” was like a big Christmas present! It said that at his 10 month appointment, he was almost 22 pounds, has 6 teeth, says a few words, cruises along furniture, likes to eat, sleeps about 10 hours at night, and that he’s healthy & is developmentally on target. They also noted that he’s a cute baby. I was on cloud nine! It’s so funny to have a kid that hits milestones on time or even early. Mason & Millie hit everything late since they were preemies!

Monday, I was talking to Tyler on the phone & stepped outside to check the mail. I flipped through the bills and ads, and saw a brown envelope from our agency. I squealed and told Tyler, “I think we have pictures!!!!!” I opened the envelope faster than I’ve ever opened and envelope before! In that envelope were two of the cutest photos I’ve ever seen! Madden was grinning in one photo & it looks like he’s laughing in the other. He looks like he has the world’s sweetest disposition! He was wearing a shirt that we sent him, and he was holding photos of Mason and Millie in his lap. My heart was so full it was about to burst! It was crazy to see how much he has changed since his referral photo. His hair is no longer sticking up, he has the chubbiest fingers, and the most kissable cheeks in the whole world. I love this kid and can’t wait until he’s home with our family! We aren’t posting his photos publicly until he’s home with us, but if you see me out and about, feel free to ask to see them! I love showing him off!

We are a November referral with an early December acceptance to Korea. Currently, the May & half of June babies with our partnering agency in Korea are coming home. The rest of June & July babies just received their emigration permissions and should start traveling home in a few weeks. I know another batch was just submitted for emigration permissions this week, but am unsure how many babies that it covers. I’m hoping it was a big batch! We are still probably a few batches out. I’m still guessing somewhere between September and November for him to come home. I keep saying November because I really don’t want to get my hopes up! He’ll be 18 months in November. I’d love to have him home well before then! I hate it that I’m missing so many moments with him, but I know he is very loved by his foster family in Korea!

Please keep our family in your prayers. There are days when we are very weary in this process. We just long to hold him & snuggle with him…and have him forever home with us!

Earlier in the post, I mentioned about the care packages that we sent to Madden. We can’t just mail him packages whenever we’d like to send him a gift. Packages have to go over with someone traveling to pick up their child, and everything has to fit into a gallon ziploc bag! It can be quite a challenge! We also try to include a little something for the foster mom as well.

Here’s a couple of the care packages that we’ve sent! He’ll receive some of these either Friday or Monday when he goes in for his 11 month check up! We sent a little extra because these are for his birthday! He should get his next package during his 13 month visit.

We hope and pray that he’ll be here before we know it!