Timeline added...

If you would like to follow along as we check steps off of the list to bring home Max, I started the timeline on the side.  As we get things completed ( if we know they have been completed we will mark the dates they were done)  Once all of the steps are done, We will get our travel call, which means Max is ready to come home and we have 7-10 days to get to Korea and bring home our son!  We will be there 5 to 7 days depending on the timeframe we have and will bring him home.  We only have to go to Korea once and we will come home with him then.  We have been told that it will take about 4 to 5 months for all of the paperwork to be complete, we expect to travel sometime in February.  But it could be sooner...or it could be later.  There is no "due date" with adoption.

"You're not supposed to buy baby clothes...you'll get gifts!"

I have heard this from several people, and practically scolded.  The first time, I was like, yes but I have been WAITING to be able to finally buy clothes for MY baby for years!  It is not as if we will spend a ton of money or that we need alot.  We got 17 garbage bags FULL of clothes from my sister that my nephew has grown out of.  Some were too small, but there are still lots and lots (thanks A) Max will get a ton of use out of.  I am totally grateful for these clothes my nephew wore and any gifts we will get...but what is wrong with wanting to buy a few things that we I like and picked out ourselves myself?

Am I completely out of line here? The way I see it is, this is the fun part!  Why should only other people get to do the fun part?!?

Coincidence? I think not.

There are several reasons why we believe Max was matched with our family.  So many reasons in fact, one might think it was meant to be...

• Max was born on March 31, 2010.  Mark's brother and his late Grandmother also share a March 31st Birthday!
• Months ago, I told several family members that I was going to predict when our child had been born, I stood in my Kitchen and told my Mother in Law, Mark's Aunt and Mark that I was "calling it" that our child was born on the day my Grandmother died....I was really close, he was being born in Korea when we were at my Grandmothers funeral.  I would like to think she told him he would like us!
• Mark's birthday is February 20th, mine is May 9th.  March 31st is exactly 39 days after Mark's Birthday and 39 days before mine! (except when it is a leap year!) 

I think it was fate that we were chosen to be our little boy's parents.  I hope he has a few grandma angels in heaven watching over him and helping him and us on the rest of this journey to become a family.  

The rest of the story...

Of course, the call we have been waiting years for, I missed it.  After making sure my social worker has all of my numbers correct and letting her know she can call me at work, and checking my cell phone all of the time...I missed the call. 

The morning of "the call"  I was working in the office, I had started to work from home, though Mondays are my in the office day.  At 9:15 the power went out and they thought it would take until noon to come back up.  Mark and I had car pooled that day and we have a 40 minute commute one way.  I could not reach him on his cell or at work.  Some of my coworkers suggested that we go for brunch somewhere, so we all left the office and went to a nearby place.  After we got our orders and we were done, excused myself to go to the bathroom.  I checked my phone, there was a text from the office manager that the power was back on and a missed call from our Social Worker...20 minutes before, I apparently had not heard my phone ring.  I ran outside and called her back.  She was on the phone with someone else, I asked to be put on hold, the person who answered said...I will see how long she will be...I blurted out my name and said "tell her it's me!"  She said "excuse me?"  I was worried I sounded rude, and just said I am returning her call she is expecting me to call back...I wasn't sure I didnt even bother to listen to the voice mail she left!

I waited on hold for what seemed like 20 minutes...it was more like 2.  I paced and paced and paced she came on the line and said..."you've been matched!"  I almost passed out...immediately started to cry and I am not sure what I said, she told me she should have asked if I was sitting down.  I said "But I wasn't!!" 

I called Mark right away, he was shocked to say the least. 

A call you wait years for and we were both surprised...at some point your mind doesn't let you beleive it will actually happen.  I am so glad it did!  It is slowly sinking in that this is real and we cannot wait to bring Max home to his forever family.

It's a Boy!!!

We are thrilled to announce that on Monday we received our long awaited phone call.  We had been matched with a beautiful baby boy.  He was born on Wednesday March 31st.  We plan to name him Max.  We signed the acceptance paperwork this afternoon, we are on our way to bringing home our son.  We should be able to travel to Korea by some time in February.