Moving right along.

We're moving right along with our paperwork and it's so much easier this time.  We've been there done that and there's a little less paperwork for the region we're going to. Hoping to wrap it up next week, get it apostilled and off to our agency. Then we wait for a referral. We've been told it will be very fast and we've seen how fast it happens with our new agency and other families. With that being said, it's Russia and anything can happen. And really we are OK with a little wait. Of course we have a name picked out, the room is already decorated in my head and there is a Red Sox jersey hanging in the closet, but we are fine with the wait. It will give us time to get organized, enjoy MG (I love 3) and save money.

Ahhh the money part of adoption. Lately I'm feeling like I should educate people on the money part as I'm finding many people don't understand the fees associated with adoption ... some think we "buy a child." There is no price tag on a child, you don't pay extra for blue eyes, you don't go in and pick one and ask how much. Yes the money part can be frustrating when many people add to their families for a few co-pays.  Health insurance doesn't cover home study fees, agency fees, apostilling documents, drivers,  plane tickets, visas, hotel stays, translators, immigration, etc.   The agency that does our home study needs to paid, the agency that takes care of a million details to bring our child home needs to be paid, our driver that drives us around Russia needs to be paid,  delta needs to be paid for our numerous plane tickets, the embassy needs to be paid for Visas, hotel bills need to be paid ... just like the doctors and nurses who deliver babies get paid, just like you get paid for doing your job. I guess you could say it's like having a baby without health insurance and then some. I hope this helps people better understand where the money in adoption comes into play.

Now back to our newest addition. Chances are he, and I say he because it will most likely be a boy, will be around 10 months when we meet him and will come home around his first birthday. If all goes it should be late winter/early Spring. Grace was 17 months when she came home so we are excited to have him home earlier. We will do three trips this time. :(  Our new region never waives the 10-day wait after court so we don't get to pick him up right away and it's too expensive to stay in-country and too long to be away from MG. In fact I may do the first trip with a friend or a family member so we aren't both away. We both need to be there for court,,but only one of us for the pick-up trip. Just got a little stomach and laughed at the same time thinking about doing a pick-up trip alone. We need to figure that one out.

Going back to Russia.

It's true we are going back to Russia. We were going to keep it a secret for awhile but if all goes as planned it could be very, very fast.  It could be a boy or girl but most likely will be a boy.  A name has been picked and the room is underway. We're all very excited to meet the newest addition to our family.

The Girl in Charge of the Petals.

And the best part about 3 ... Bribes.

Three.

MG is 3 years old, 3 feet tall and almost 30 pounds ... 28.5 to be exact. She is so 3 and can do everything herself! Getting in the car, "I can do it myself." Getting dressed, "I can do it myself." She is always so proud of herself with a big smile and her pants on backwards and inside out.

Not sure how this kid only weighs 28.5 pounds when she eats like a truck driver. Here she is after a turkey dinner, her 3rd cupcake of the day and a BIG bowl of ice cream.

"Ahhh ... told you I could eat all that mommy"