Today we got a new picture of Pala delivered to my inbox. We haven't had a new once since late August... funny thing... she is wearing the same outfit. :) She is 17 lbs and 26" tall and walking... yes, walking!!!
Little update on the passport situation: According to Ms. Roy (Orphanage Director) the passport office computers are down and they will not issue passports until it back up and running. She is hopeful that Pala's passport will be issued next week. There are 5 other families that are waiting in limbo like we are. Please pray that this issue will be resolved quickly!! Our plans are to leave for India on November 8th and visit our Compassion child on the 10th. We had to make arrangements well in advance so I really don't want to cancel. Dilshad (and Shad & I) will be very disappointed if we can't make this happen.
Just thought I'd throw a thought out there for any future travelers. I was really worried about what to pack for Shad and found some great pants and shirts at TJ Maxx. The pants are very light weight and a khaki color by Calvin Klein ($25) and the shirts are light weight ones that wick away sweat (starting at $9). There are many different brands. BonTon had Columbia ones on clearance but not in Shad's size. Glad I picked a couple up last month when I was in there. I found some Body Glove water sandals at Olympia for $25. Crocs were NOT an option for him... I tried!! Everything is already packed neatly in our suitcase otherwise I would post pictures. Sorry... I thought about it afterwards. :) Summer clothes are now on clearance so plan ahead!!
I WILL be blogging during our trip as much as I can. Internet and electricity can be a bit sketchy in India. Right now the plan is to fly to Delhi, visit our Compassion child and prefile our paperwork, then fly to Kerala and spend time with my niece, then hopefully make it to Chennai to meet up with my high school friend Sarah (she's a teacher there... how cool is that?!), then up to Kolkata to vistit "R" and of course to pick up Miss PEA, then back to Delhi for Embassy Day and a day trip to the Taj in Agra, then home home home!!! A lot to cram in, I know! A couple of things are still in the air and they depend entirely on when Pala's passport comes through. We plan to throw a little local site seeing in there depending on how Pala is doing and airport delays, etc. Yes, we are waiting to see the Taj AFTER getting Pala. This has been discussed at length and we feel this is an opportunity we don't want to miss. After all... if we can handle driving to Iowa and Myrtle Beach with our 3 BOYS then the trip to Agra with PEA will be a piece of cake...I think it's me that Shad is more worried about... I get car sick!! Ha... he'll have his work cut out for him! :) I may be a little "green" in the pictures but it'll all be worth it!! Sheba (our inspiration to adopt from India) will be in the states at the end of October so that is why we will not be including Hydrabad to our list of stops while in India. Both Shad and I were both a little disappointed that it wasn't going to work out but are hoping to see her before we leave. I wish you all could meet this remarkable woman!!
Well, I still have some planning to do, notes to write to the school, copies to make, plus all of my daily chores....
Today we found out that we have ICPC approval!!! This is just Oklahoma and New York giving us the formal approval to have Pala placed in our home. OK-because that's where Dillon International is and NY-well because... that's where we live! :) I know, I know... all these little technicalities. ICPC was that last thing on our side that needed to happen before we can travel to India. So... now we really ARE only waiting for Miss PEA's passport!!! I have a few more things to pack for Shad and I, but Pala is all packed!! We are going to be spending 1 day with our Compassion child so if anyone has any ideas of something special to take to him I'm all ears. He is 12.
My friend Cheryl's little girl "R" is in a different orphanage in Kolkata and we plan to visit her right before going to pick Pala up. There are a few more stops planned but we are still trying to work out the kinks. We have a lot to do in our 10 days in India! :) More details when they are finalized!! We are going to be whipped, but it will be a VERY rewarding trip for us!!!
So here's a little peek at what Pala's room is like. We still have to find a bedroom set such as a dresser and headboard/footboard set because as you know the original set won't fit up the stairs. Boohoo... I really liked it! But we are still using the crib until she decides she wants to be in the twin. So, her crib is ready to go, her clothes are in the closet and boxes for now, and the comforter set for the twin bed is ordered. Yes, I finally found it!! It should be here next week and then I can finish up her room. The crib set is Lambs & Ivy Vintage Baby... a dear friend gave it to us when we first started our journey to Pala. The letters are traced and cut out of scrapbooking paper, then I taped sheer ribbon to the back, and then stuck the bow to the wall with a glue dot. I know, a glue dot? I promised not to put any holes in the walls so I improvised! AND... if Pala pulls on them it won't hurt anything. They were so cute when Amy did them for Simeon's room that I couldn't just put the white wooden letters uplike I had originally planned! Our VISAs are here, so now we are waiting on our ICPC and Pala's passport. The passport office is closed for Durga Puja so that bides me a little time to get things finished up. I plan to have everything done by October 1st so that I'm ready to go whenever our caseworker calls. If she calls before I'm done then I guess the rest will have to wait...
I'm so glad that Cooper decided to get up early this morning! My gosh, the poor boy tried on 5 pairs of jeans this morning and they were all too short... the 6th pair finally fit! So... I'm begging all of you who insist on giving my boys "a pinch to grow an inch" on their birthdays to please just leave it at 1 instead of 2 or 3... this poor mama can't keep up!! :)
Candi, that means I have another bag of clothes ready for Ethan and at this rate there will be another one tomorrow :)
On another note... we are in the market for a different bedroom set for Pala. I know, I know the one we bought off Craigslist last year IS beautiful... we love it! but the armour will not fit up the stairs to get it into her bedroom. We tried everything yesterday... believe me... there was a lot of "gripes", a few words that should not have been said, a lot of pinched fingers and taking things apart and it still wasn't going!!! This baby is big AND heavy!! We are still going to use the crib but have decided to invest in a twin bedroom set so that she can transition from the crib right into a single bed when she's ready. I was hoping to have the room done yesterday so I could post pictures this morning but I didn't anticipated this dilema. Sorry, guys! :( Right now I have Pala's crib up in her pink room with her pretty tea rose bedding and a few stuffed animals and white curtains. Very simple for now. Back to Craigslist to see if I can find a bargain!! However, it's not a priority right now for me as I'm still finishing up some education requirements and trying to pack so that I'm ready when our caseworker calls.
Not much excitement going on here, just a little sillyness... :)
We are officially Pala's legal guardians!!! This judge is not messing around!!! Can't wait to get our "legals" and see all the stamps and signatures for myself, especially that NOC that took so stinking long!!! :) Come on passport office.... get us through fast! Well, we actually need it to take at least a week... our paperwork was just sent in for mine and Shad's tourist VISA's and they take 3-5 days from arrival! lol
That was super super quick!! We weren't expecting to pass court before the end of the month when they close for the Durga Puja holiday! I am still in shock!!
Now the judge will sign our case next week and then ISRC will apply for her passport! Wow!! In about 4-5 weeks I will finally be holding my angel!!!!
A family traveling to bring their daughter home took these pics and had this to say...
Pala was the most curious of the older children at Anju's office location. She was standing in her crib and watching EVERYTHING.... very happily. I am sorry I didn't have them put Pala's oufit on (the one Maggie sent for her) but they had just finished dressing the kids and I couldn't bear to ask them to change her! I hope Maggie enjoy's the pics! :)
Yesterday, we celebrated with family at camp. As always, when we host a BBQ there is too much good food!! BBQ chicken, roasted corn, etc. We started a video diary for Pala's keepsake box to let her know how much everyone loves and misses her on her birthday... and every day that she's not with us!
We each had special t-shirts on for the day and of course I had to be a kid and lick the cake like she would have done. :)
and just when I thought I was really crazy.... we got a puppy for Pala !! (well, actually for mommy but Pala's birthday was an excuse)
This is Molly!!
I'm hoping to get a video around of the party later this week. We are still waiting for Scrutiny so no more new news. The Nix Family traveled last week and took this small gift to our little princess, so we are hoping to have some new pictures soon. We sent this outfit and photo album of our family for her. Let's hope it fits! :)
Hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend!! God bless!!
Today we got a new picture of Pala delivered to my inbox. We haven't had a new once since late August... funny thing... she is wearing the same outfit. :) She is 17 lbs and 26" tall and walking... yes, walking!!!
