MY VOTE

Turkey Day Diapers!

A good online friend of mine is hosting a raffle for Mattea! Anyone who uses cloth diapers should check it out at http://hyenacart.com/onestore.php?vid=1761&category=6 . These are beautiful bamboo handmade cloth diapers in a "Thanksgiving" theme, and chances are only $1! Check it out! And THANKS Melissa!!!

Fedex says...

Sep 10, 2008
8:42 AM
Int'l shipment release
####,## (Eastern Europe!)
We made it to the destination!

Mattea's Heart Quilt

Okay, I am not the best photographer...Here is a full-length photo of Mattea's Heart Quilt. Hiding behind it is my 6 foot 2 inch husband, so it's about that long, I think about 52X72 inches, substantial enough for a nice warm snuggle in your recliner, or perfect for a toddler bed.
Here is the back of the quilt, baby blue "minkee." If you have never felt "minkee" you are in for a treat. It is one of the softest, cuddliest fabrics known to man, kind of a cross between velvet and satin and a cloud.
Here is a close-up of the fabrics I chose. They are a Debbie Mumm print with hearts and flowers, perfect for the theme of "Mattea's Heart Quilt," and a perfect gift for someone you love. I chose the theme of hearts because of the tremendous love we have for this little girl who waits so far away, and also for Mattea's heart that is needing care as soon as we can get her home.
Here is a photo of Mattea's Heart Quilt on my son Estuardo's toddler bed. It is plenty big and also lined with cotton batting, so it is extra warm!
The "chip-in" widget for this quilt is on the right side of the blog. It will be there for two weeks. I am hoping to raise enough money to fund the translation of her dossier. For each $5 donation, your name will be entered into a drawing and one name will be randomly chosen to receive this special quilt of my heart, "Mattea's Heart Quilt."

Stay tuned...Mattea's Heart Quilt

I am putting the finishing touches on a pretty blue and yellow Irish chain lap quilt and should have photos up today or tomorrow, with hopes to raise some funds for Mattea's dossier translation and other adoption costs. Details to come...it's really turning out nice!

PARIS!!!!!!

We may not be in Paris right now, but Mattea's dossier is!!! Yay!!!

Tennessee

Our dossier is en route to --Eastern Europe--, last check in Tennessee...

YIKES

DOSSIER SHOULD BE HEADING TO EASTERN EUROPE TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ON IT'S WAY

Our dossier is officially en route to the adoption agency. It will soon be on its way to Eastern Europe for translation and submission. One very big step closer to Mattea Olena!

APOSTILLE!!!

Yay, the dossier is in Santa Fe getting apostilled this morning!!! It will Fedex overnight to our adoption agency and be there tomorrow morning! Wahoo! Mattea Olena, baby girl we are one step closer to you! Hang in there and know we love you!
Many thanks also to the mystery donor...we are very grateful for the donation we received into our Reece's Rainbow grant fund. (The button on the top right of the blog with beautiful Mattea's picture on it.)

Saturday afternoon at the library...

HOPING AND PRAYING

Our dossier should be heading to our agency in the next couple of days. I am now praying for yet another miracle as the time approaches to travel. We need to raise a very lot of money in a really short time. I am having the faith that the way will come and exploring all possibilities. Anyone who has gone before me, please "comment" with ideas for fundraising, grants, any inspiration. It is a daunting thought. I want to be sure I am doing all I can.

Self-training but...

My little man is using his potty chair all on his own very consistently during the day! BUT he refuses to wear anything on his bottom. No undies, no pull-ups. Has a major tantrum if I try to put some on. How do I get him to wear bottoms?

That infamous piece of paper

All the rushing around this past week has paid off. Yesterday we were a little shaken when we found out we would have to submit a new I-600A, that they would be unable to change the country on our "half-used" I-171H, because the visa had already been issued in Guatemala. I thought we would have another 6 week wait. But... the USCIS adoptions officer in Albuquerque has a heart for international adoption. New I-600A submitted 8/29/2008, new I-171H received 8/29/2008!!!!!!!! I am amazed. As soon as our paperwork has been proofread by our agency, and I have the word, we are heading to Santa Fe for apostille. The following day our completed dossier will be in the hands of our agency! I am SO GRATEFUL to our social worker Cindi Rose for whipping out an awesome homestudy for us in record time, and to our fantastic USCIS adoption officer for expediting our paperwork...

Look at the dates...

Potty Training part 2

As soon as I took Estuardo's diaper off this morning, he ran in and sat down on his potty and went! Wow! I let him choose between diaper, pants, pull-up or nothing and he chose nothing. THEN, about an hour later, he ran in and went AGAIN! Mom is happy! Even SITTING on the potty is progress. Yay!!! GO BUBS!!!

Potty Training?

Well, for the first time, BOTH Estuardo and Onnolee sat on their potty chairs for a good 5 minutes together and looked at books after they had their baths. Yay!!! Up until now Estuardo has loudly refused to sit on his. He has been using his bowl as a cowboy hat! But finally, success.

On the FAST TRACK

Wow, things seem to be coming together amazingly fast! Our USCIS adoption officer is working with us to expedite our country change, and gave us an on the spot fingerprint appointment today, so our fingerprints are updated. And she is doing what she can to process our paperwork with the possibility of having our new I-171H this coming week!

September 1st is starting to look like a do-able goal for our dossier completion!!

I guess we need to step up our fundraising efforts a notch. Yikes.

I am working on a quilt to raffle, so stay tuned...

Hang in there little girl. We will be there soon.

The important things...

Kory got to meet his new teacher last night, and also to see his classroom and who he would be sitting by. Later on, at home, he headed to the bathroom, got his anti-perspirant and packed it in a pocket in his backpack. He said, "Mom, if I am going to be sitting in between 2 girls, I don't want to stink..."

Home Visit

We had our homestudy home visit this morning for several hours. Our social worker is the same one who has worked with us for our Guatemalan adoptions and our stepparent adoptions so she is very familiar with our family. I think it went well. We are still waiting for police clearances and have a few more final docs to get to her, but hope to have our homestudy in 2 weeks.
I hope to hear about fingerprint appointments this week for USCIS. Tomorrow is our appointment for re-doing our physicals.
I am eagerly looking forward to the day we take our packet down to the Fedex office and send it on its way. Finishing paperwork is an occasion to celebrate.

Books on eBay

I posted some books on eBay to raise money for Mattea's adoption. My eBay name is stews_lou if anyone wants to take a look!
Also please check out our magazine fundraiser to the right...almost 1000 magazines to choose from at great prices!