Our cruise

Here are a few photos from our cruise. It was a month ago today that we left. Where does the time go?? It now seems like forever ago so I thought that I would post a few photos to remind me of our great vacation. Here they are. It is crazy to think that our next time on plane will be on our trip to the Philippines!!!!

I have 2 fruit skewers here that I dipped in the chocolate fountain. Of course all you can see is all the chocolate but there really is something healthy underneath!!

There were lots of ships in when we visited Nassau Bahamas. That's where we found out about Rafael!!

South Beach, Miami. It was pretty chilly in Miami but at least there was sun.

Cococay Beach, Bahamas

13 months old today!!!

Our little guy turns 13 months old today. We were also lucky enough today to receive 5 new photos of him including one of him with his 1st birthday cake and one of him in his birthday hat. Just adorable he is!!!!! It is wonderful to get these new photos and to see how he's changed. We were also told by our sw that ICAB said his medical would soon be scheduled. I don't know exactly what they mean by soon but I hope it means ASAP!!!!!!! It is still so hard to believe that things are moving along so fast. After all the waiting, it is finally good to see things going smoothly. Happy 13 month birthday Rafael!!!!

It's amazing!!

We just found out that Deborah's daughters are also at the same orphanage as Rafael!!! This just keeps getting better and better. She is hoping to travel in February or March to pick them up which is around the same time we are hoping to travel. She is from Canada as well. You gotta love it!!

A gift for us!!

Today we received the precious gift of some new photos of Rafael!!! Jenifer, a lady in the Philippine adoption Yahoo group, told me that she had just picked up her daughter at the same orphanage as Rafael just 7 weeks ago. This is so amazing!!! She had taken a few photos of Rafael and she sent them to me today. She said that she stood next to him for a few minutes and he waved and smiled at her and her husband!! What a sweet little boy!! It is also great because Jenifer can pass on all the information about his orphanage as well as hotel information. What a wonderful connection we have made!!

gifts for Rafael

Today would have been 30 months since ICAB approval. Thank goodness we didn't reach that mark!!!! Today we sent Rafael a care package with several little summer outfits, toys, books and a disposable camera for the orphanage staff to take some pictures of him. I hope that he likes all of his little gifts and I hope that he receives his package before Christmas.

We were told by our social worker that we should have a travel date in 2 - 3 months. I really hope that this is the case. It is hard to imagine that we could possibly travel by mid January. This would be the best case scenario however so most likely we won't travel until February or March. I then get almost 9 months off which will allow lots of time for bonding with Rafael.

We've already requested an update on Rafael because I'm sure that he has changed alot since the photo that was taken the end of July. It would be wonderful to see what he looks like now and to hear what he is doing.

The next job is to start his room. We haven't even started it yet so we have alot to do!!!! We'd better soon get started.

It's a boy!!!!!!

It's official. After 29.5 months of waiting, we are now the proud parents of a 12.5 month old little boy named Rafael!!!!!!!!!!! We are on cloud nine and a half!!!! We actually got the e-mail while we were on our cruise in the Bahamas. It was quite surreal at the time as you can imagine!!! We just got home 1:05 am yesterday morning and we met with our social worker at 8:30 that morning. We had his file reviewed by a pediatrician and then today we signed the acceptance papers. Hopefully everything will be forwarded to ICAB by the end of the week and then it's onto the next part of the wait.
We recieved one photo of him and he is just adorable!!!!!!!!! His birthday is October 25th, 2009 and our social worker e-mailed us on the 29th of October. I'm really hoping that it will only be a 3-4 month wait from here. My fingers and toes are crossed!!!!! I still can't believe that it finally happened to us. I'm really hoping an praying for all you who are still waiting. IT WILL HAPPEN!!!!!

Renee
Mom to Rafael