November Update from GLA -Merry Christmas

As I have said before, each month (usually the last day of the month) I get a update from GLA updating me about Kimberlie.

Here is part of Kimberlie's November Update:

This month we took hand and foot prints of all the kids at the Main House.  I do my best to have this done about every three months so you have an extra treasure to take home with you when you come and pick up Kimberlie.   Each child reacts a differently to having their hands and feet painted and then pressed against the paper.  Most of them are intrigued by the different feel and will closely examine it while others will want to eat it.  Kimberlie was not pleased about having the paint spread in her hands at first but she was content to allow her feet to be painted and stamped. 

Developmentally Kimberlie is advancing well.  She is still not walking completely on her own but she is more steady when holding herself up on furniture and she is able to walk behind a push toy without any problem.  She is starting to take a few shaky steps on her own but she still prefers to get from place to place by crawling but we are confident that she will be walking on her own within the next month.  She just needs a little more confidence in the ability that she does have.  She still takes her time to observe what the other kids around her are doing before she will join in with whatever they are doing. 


I am praying that she will be start walking when my mom and I are there next week... We arrive at GLA on Tuesday, Dec. 11th and return home Friday, Dec. 14th.  I will write more about the trip later! 

Out of IBESR !!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving 2012. Gobble, Gobble!


I have A LOT to be thankful today because yesterday was a VERY good day !!   I found out I exited IBESR  !!!!  The average wait time in this 1st step is 3-6 months and I got out in 2 1/2 months.  That's what I am talkin' about for a time frame!!!  Let's keep it up..

The best, I mean BEST part of exiting IBESR is I get to travel to HAITI and MEET KIMBERLIE!!!!! This is getting real =)

On my first trip to Haiti, I will meet Kimberlie =) =), meet with two different judges and file some papers at the US Embassy to continue in the process.  I will be in Haiti for 4-5 days.  I am hoping to travel in December.

God continues to be faithful through this whole process!!!!! 

Typical Day for MY BEAUTIFUL Kimberlie

Each month GLA sends a monthly update with information about what and how Kimberlie has been doing the last month. This was my first "official" update =) and Susie wrote about how Kimberlie spends her days at GLA. I feel so blessed to receive the updates each month- adoptive parents who adopt from GLA are pretty spoiled!!!  The VERY best part of the updates are the pictures!!!  TRULY PRICELESS!!! 

Here is a day in the life of Kimberlie.......

Kimberlie’s day starts between 6:30 and 7 am when the majority of the kids in URG B (the room she is currently in) start to rise.  From 7:30-8am is breakfast time.  The kids will have anything from cereal or scrambled eggs to spaghetti, depending on the day.  After breakfast they get changed and bathed for the day.  The rest of the morning is filled with playtime on the balcony either in the nursery with their nannies or on the third floor balcony for one on one time with their volunteer. They get a snack with juice around 9 am and then they will have a naptime.  Lunch is served at noon and after that they are changed and around 1 pm starts the main naptime for everyone.  If they are not napping they will go to the volunteer balcony for an hour in the afternoon. By 3pm most of them are awake and they get a snack and juice.  More play time on the nursery balcony before supper is served at 5pm.  After supper they are bathed and dressed for bed.  This process will often last until 7:30 pm and after that they will wind down and visit with each other from their cribs until the nannies tell them they must lie down and be silent at 8:30 pm.

(FYI......Kimberlie is not in any of the pictures of the areas of GLA- they are the rooms where she most likely spends your day =) 

Adoption Update

I wish I had some really good news to report about my adoption... but I really don't, everything is going how it is suppose to be going.  I am still in the IBESR step and have been since Sept. 6th, I am praying like crazy that I exit by November and I travel to Haiti before the end of the 2012. The picture above is the IBESR building- this is where our file is now.  Not really what I expected- but that goes for this whole adoption journey =)

What to do while I wait.....well, for the time being, I have decided to start knitting  Kimberlie sweaters to wear in the cold MN winters.... BRRRR!!!!!   Knitting for an adorable Haitian girl presents itself with it's own unique challenges...... I  don't know what size Kimberlie will be when she gets home, so I am knitting big sweaters !!

Here is my first one.... I envision her wearing this vest with some super cute leggings or jeans. =)

Kimberlie's 1st Birthday Party Haitian Style

GLA is truly an AMAZING place!   

 Each month they have a birthday party for all the children who have birthdays that month.. so Kimberlie got to celebrate her 1st birthday with all her September friends.  Here are some photos from the party (I know, she is adorable)!

Also, each month adoptive parents get a update of their child written by Susie from GLA- she does an amazing job of keeping families connected to their child. 

This is Kimberlie's update from September:

"As I am sure you know this month was Kimberlie's 1st birthday!! We had a little birthday celebration for the kids who had birthdays this month.  Kimberlie had just woken up from a nap so she was a bit groggy but she enjoyed the attention she received.  She tasted the cake and frosting but was not overly impressed.  She preferred drinking the juice in her cup to tasting the cake.  I gave her the gifts you sent on the day we took photos." 
 

This Time I Want Something OLD.....

School is full swing and now I have more time to miss Kimberlie and wonder (keeping it positive) when my little sweety pies will be home with me.

Here is an update on my adoption.... 

Last week, Haiti’s adoption authority, Institut du Bien-Être Sociale et de Recherches (IBESR), announced new administrative adoption procedures, which will take effect on October 1, 2012. 

This, I knew would be coming sooner or later-because Haiti has signed and ratified The Hague Convention. Big words, but basically, the adopting process will be changing. The changes, eventually, will be good for children and families, but, could also present a real big bump for Kimberlie and I. The challenge is no one really knows what the "changes" are going to be in the process.

Here's more pieces to the puzzle.....
IBESR has informed the U.S. government that it will process adoption cases submitted prior to May 7, 2012 under pre-existing adoption procedures.  IBESR has also informed the U.S. government that they will review new cases submitted up to and including September 15, 2012 to determine if they can be processed under the old procedures.

Mine dossier (aka case) was submitted to IBESR on Sept. 6, 2012...so PLEASE pray with me that my dossier case will be able to processed under the old "pre-existing" adoption procedures.

This time I want something old......

One more thing I would appreciate prayer for is to be able to stay with my agency, Bethany Christian Services, through the duration of my adoption.  Haiti will be only working with certain agencies and agencies need to apply to be one of the certain agencies.  Please pray Bethany will be chosen !!  

 Thanks sooo much for your prayers, last time we prayed together I got my referral in four days!! Prayer is powerful....and God continues to be GOOD!!!!!!

Our First Haugh Family Picture

 

I will never get tired of looking at this picture--

Kimberlie- I love you sooooooo much  !!  

Mwen renmen ou anpil !