New pictures and we are getting closer!

On March 11, 2014 we received our Consulate Appointment (CA) date.  That is usually a huge day because it comes a day or two after getting the exciting news that you have Travel Approval (TA), and it is the day that you really start to scramble to get tickets booked and plans made.  For us it was a little bit anti-climactic.  We had already booked tickets because we knew we had the 3 week delay (based on our scheduled commitments that we could not cancel) and felt comfortable that we wouldn't need to change the tickets.  Plus the excitement of the TA had worn off because it had been about 5 days since we had received it. 

Our caseworker was actually in China when we got our TA visiting the SWI (orphanage) that Katie is living in, and so she was not in town to process the CA's and other random alphabet soup items that we are so obsessed with in the adoption world.  We knew she would be horribly backed up in her emails and work and so we told her that since ours was the least pressing that she should feel free to take care of the others' kids first.  Having said it, it wouldn't have been very nice to pester her :) and so we waited.  The good news is that we did get the date that we wanted and we will be able to use all of the hotel and air fares that we booked, yea! 

On March 12, Tim and I celebrated 26 years of marriage by taking care of a sick boy.  As usual, he was a very happy sick and so that certainly helped.  All of this said not to whine but to just say that I was ready for some exciting news.  This morning at 2:30 am, our caseworker sent 11 new pictures and a new video of Katie!  She is just so gorgeous.  The video is a little sad for me in that she is really still not smiling at all even when our caseworker and her helper are trying to tickle or peek-a-boo her.  I posted a picture of her on one of my FB adoption groups and got many comforting comments from mommas who had the same worries with little ones that had never smiled while in the SWI but are always grinning now.  It certainly gave me comfort.  I wish I knew what was going on in that little mind of hers, and I wish there was a way to let her now that we are coming for her. 

 

She looks physically healthy and although she is in many layers, she doesn't look as tiny as they have said that she is.  We'll see.   In looking for the one picture that I have of her smiling, the day of her hand surgery in 2013, Tim and I made a cool discovery.  She had her hand surgery in 2013 on the same date that will be her Gotcha Date ... April 14.  She will have only had two April 14ths so far in her life and both will have been life changing for her. 

They called her "the smiley baby" in the blog.  :)  Notice she is already sporting her OSU colors!

I wish I could leave for her today and start filling her heart with love.  I think she needs to relearn how to smile, and I think we are just the family to teach her.  She has sooo many people in Okmulgee ready to give her love and kisses.  Come on home baby girl.  As Jaden would say, "We miss you."