12 days

To my son

It has been 12 days since we have seen your face and it has been busy. I wanted to share with you some of the great things that have happened since you have come into our lives, without even being here.

I don't know if I put this in the post where we announced we had your referral, but I am putting it here anyway. As the phone was ringing, with B on the other side, your Dad said, "I can't take this anymore today." So glad we answered the phone instead of letting the machine pick up. Here Joey is seeing your picture for the first time. He sat with us throughout our call with B. I think he knew something important was happening. 

Once we got off the phone with B we started contacting our family. We first tried Grammie and Papa, they didn't answer their home phone or cells. Crazy. So we called Grandma Kathy, we got her at home and invited her over to see your picture. After getting off the phone with Grandma, we tried Grammie and Papa again. This time we got them on Grammie's cell phone. They were on the bridge coming back from Iowa. They were having a hard time hearing us, due to being in the mustang with the top down, so we waited until they got off the bridge to tell them the awesome news. From there I called your Aunt Meg and Uncle Spence, while your Dad texted his Dadd and siblings. I continued to call, while your Dad replied to texts, Marcia (who invited herself over) and Courtney (who I asked if she wanted to come over to see a picture of my son).

Your first "visitors" were Courtney, Marcia, and Grandma Kathy, in that order. 

On Tuesday your Aunt Kristi and P came over to help us celebrate. They brought with them P's Pack N Play and highchair for you to use. P instantly claimed one of your pictures as her's and wanted to "hold the baby." P is very excited to meet you and is looking forward to holding you, hugging you, kissing you, and sharing her nightgowns. Sorry about the nightgowns, but it is what P wants. :) You should also know, if you ask P, you live in Antarctica. In addition to Aunt Kristi and P, your Aunt Meg, Uncle Alex (not to be confused with Uncle Al), and L came to see your pics. L also claimed a picture of you right away, unfortunately she likes to carry your picture under her arm. L and P were here for a bit and had a bit of an argument that sounded like "My cousin, K." "No, my cousin, K." (Neither can say your K name, but their versions are cute.) L also brought you a gift. She made it for you in April of 2010 because she knew you would be watching hockey with your Dad. (I was with L and your Aunt Meg when they got this for you. L was only 7 months, but we kinda got her to kiss the heart placed inside of your hockey playing monkey.)

You should also know, L carries your picture around A LOT. She hugs it and kisses it and says your are "Uncle Wuc's baby." When I ask if you are my baby, I am told no. I am thinking L is scare she is getting replaced. Uncle Spence has already told L, "you're old news," when he first saw your picture.

Also on Tuesday, we got a package from Jennie and Craig. (They sent it before A was born.) Your Aunt Jennie thought they would be great to wear when we got "the call." She was right. They would have been great to wear, but they will have to be worn for other things besides "the call." Your Dad and I also completed your transition plan on Tuesday. (When I told my department mates about it on Wednesday, they found it funny I was writing a transition plan for you, when I do the same for students at school. My director of special education laughed when I told her about it.) Another great package arrived the following day, all of your placement paperwork. When I got home from school I saw it wasn't here yet, so I grabbed the camera to sit on the steps going into the sunroom, since that is where the UPS man usually leaves packages. I was talking on the phone and looked up to see the UPS man driving away from the house. He had come to the front door. Luckily he stopped right away on the next block so I could chase him down to take his picture. I had to promise the picture wouldn't go in your blog, but it can go into your Lifebook.

Your Dad and I both didn't go to work on Tuesday. Part of my day was already planned for this, but we knew we would have a lot to do and we needed to talk with your international pediatrician. When your Dad went back to work on Wednesday, his co-workers had a cake for him. It said, "Welcome Lando!" and was decorated in Ohio State colors. 

On Friday, you got your first piece of mail with your name on it. It contained. . .

Within the box, there was. . .

Grammie and Papa sent you clothes! (Be prepared for socks in your Christmas stocking) You have in your closet a Columbia fleece with a hood, an outfit that says "Daddy's Hero," and one that says "Mommy is my greatest fan." I think you are going to look super cute in them.

On Saturday we finished notarizing the paperwork and sent it all off to AGCI. On Monday, B called to say we forgot to initial a page within all of the pages we initialed and signed. So your Dad and I went back to the bank this Tuesday to re-notarize "Exhibit A" and sent it to AGCI. B called us on Wednesday to say she had it and on Thursday we spoke to her about our "Next Steps." We know we can be waiting 4 to 7 months before we have you home. We know it is going to be a long wait. We so pray we are closer to the 4 month end of the wait.

So while we wait, we continue to prepare for you. This weekend we plan on registering at Target for a bunch of cool stuff for you. In addition, I have purchased your first pair of shoes. The "Count" I found while shopping for your shoes. He is going to be joining his friends that are already home waiting for you.

{jqueenan from Etsy}

So, I have to share with you what I have loved the best since seeing your picture. When showing your picture getting to say, "This is my son." How can I not LOVE telling people I have a son. As I have been told multiple times, I do this with a HUGE smile on my face. I can't wait to actually introduce you this way in person. Another great thing I have been able to do is switch out my necklaces. I have been wearing one since I got it in February that says "Ethiopia" in Amharic. Now I am wearing this one that says "Mom" in Amharic. My plan is to save the "Ethiopia" one to give to your wife someday far, far, far in the future. My prayer for her is to help you continue all of the dreams we have for you and your future, together while wearing it as a remind of all our prays, hopes, and dreams for you while we wait to bring you home.

 Love,
 Mom

*I have failed to mention, your Uncle Alex won the cake pops for guessing your referral date. He guessed August 23, so he was the closest to August 22. He has 40 cake pops awaiting him.*