All we need is Max to make the nursery complete

We have finished the nursery a few weeks ago.  I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  We just need to install the new light fixture and I may hang the comforter on the wall, just not sure how to go about it.

On the changing table I put the wall decals that I bought, they were meant for the wall...but they didn't stick, so I put them on the changing table, they were too cute not to use.

Some of my favorite things in the room....

I know there is carpet in the room...but the rug was too cute to pass up, and it makes a little reading area in front of the bookcase.

This does not go with the theme...but I found this cute Pororo table at H-Mart when I went to Atlanta in January... we made it fit in my suitcase so I could bring it home.  For those who don't know, Pororo is a really popular cartoon in Korea,  Maybe like D*ra is here...I had to get this in particular, since Mark is such an ice fisherman.  I hope it helps to make Max more comfortable in our home.  I can just picture my little guy having a snack with his buddy Pororo...soon, very soon.

Visa Physical Scheduled

Max will have his Visa Physical on March 23rd.  Next week Wednesday!  We could get our travel call anytime after that day!

We know for sure we won't get the call until he has  this appointment.  We can relax and take a break for a few days.  The previous batch of physicals were on March 3rd, many of those families got their travel calls yesterday.  So if you apply the same timeline...we would get our travel call on April 4th!

I feel like I did a few weeks before our wedding...you know the time when you just want to run away to Vegas and just get married already...Only this time I want to run to Korea and get Max already!

Hang on Max...we will be there soon!

Close...but no Cigar...YET! (EP Approved!)

We were approved for Max's Emmigration Permit (EP) this was the last major thing we needed.  This is the Korean Governments go ahead that Max may leave Korea and become a permanent resident of the US.  There are a few "housekeeping" items that need to be finished up on the Korea side.

* Visa physical (VP) this is to say Max is healthy enough to fly.
* Visa Interview: Apparently this is where they interview the immigrant as to why they want to leave the country...I wonder what he will say?  In all reality, they need to check to make sure there is a live human attached to all of the paperwork.
*Embassy Appearance:  Fancy way of saying passport photo and issuance of one way passport.
* TRAVEL CALL: This is when they call and say all of the above ducks are finally in a row...and we hop a plane to Korea.

Our best guess and what our agency is predicting is travel call in about 3 weeks!  Whatever information we get we will certainly share.


We are nearing the end of this marathon...we reached mile 25...this is the point that you will make it on adrenaline alone, you can crawl the rest if you must, limping and gimping...we can nearly see the finish line. And we are so ready to go and get our little boy and be a family of 3...that is when the real race starts....especially since Max is walking 100% independently!

Nothing. Nada. No News.

We have fielded many, many questions about Max and his pending arrival:  I will answer them here and summarize at the end.  WARNING: The theme here is...we know nothing. 

When do you go? Don't know yet
What is going on? No news
Have you heard anything yet? Nope
When will he be home? This is the Million Dollar Question
Will he be home by his Birthday? Hope so...no gaurantees
Did you book your tickets yet? Cant until we get "the call"
How much notice do you get? None...we have 10 days to get there one we get "the call"
What is taking so long? I have no idea
How long will you be there? 5-7 days total...we will get him on day 3 or 4 and stay a bit, then come home
Are they speaking English to him? Probably not...though we sent him a book with a recording of us reading the story.

Those are all the questions I can think of right now.  If you have questions, leave a comment or email us.

WHERE ARE WE AT?

Basically, there are 3 big pieces remaining.

Emmigration Permit (EP): We were submitted for the EP on 1-31.  It takes several weeks to be approved...so far we have waited 3 weeks and 3 days. 
Visa Physical (VP): This can be scheduled once we have our EP.  They typically have been taking place about 2-3 weeks after EP approval. 
Travel Call (TC): This is "The Call" that says Max is ready...get on a plane! This takes place about a week after the VP. 

As of right now, once our EP is approved it will take about another month.  Max will turn 1 in 5 weeks.  Please pray, think good thoughts, send good vibes, for us.  Trying to be optimistic but realistic at the same time.

What we have been waiting for...EP was submitted on 1-31

The item that has been holding us up was submitted for Max on 1-31.  His Emigration Permit application was sent to the Korean Ministry yesterday.  So...what does this mean?

* Once it is approved the final steps can take place for us to get Max. 
* It has been taking approximately 2 weeks to be approved.
* Our best guess at this point is being able to go to Korea some time in the first 3 weeks of March...BEFORE his first birthday!

Once we are approved we will likely get our travel call 2-4 weeks later.  Once we get the travel call we will immediately book tickets and get there within a week. 

If our approval comes in 2 weeks and we get our travel call 2 weeks later we could be on our way by the first week in March!

We are so super excited about this...we have to do our final projects so we are ready!

Every day is a day closer...

I have been a crazy analytical lady for the last few weeks...stalking others' timelines and crossing off who has been submitted for their Emmigration Permit.  Last week, on the 19th the 3rd batch of EP's were submitted for Holt, we may or may not have been in that batch...sometimes our agency is a few days behind in notifying familes they were submitted.  We were right at the cut off.  The end of the families that were notified were referrals at the end of September, we got our referral on 10-4-10.  The other people at the top of the list are also with our agency...there is a margin of error here.  So I think I will give it a 50/50 chance we got in the last batch...if not, I am calling it...we are in the next batch!

The next would be submitted after the Lunar New Year which is most of next week.  So, I think the next batch will be the first full week in February.  And I really think we will be in it! Travel timelines once approved have not yet been established...However, people have been quoted 4-6 weeks.  We will likely travel within the next 8 to 10 weeks.  Which is much better than we initially thought.  Please keep us in your prayers...Max needs to be united with his forever family...and we all need to get on with our life as a family. 

Hobbies...some went great! Some not so much!

After I took my blogging break, prior to seeing Max's photo for the first time, I decided I needed a hobby or three.  I signed up for a knitting class, I drafted a fantasy football team and bought a sewing machine. 

KNITTING:

My knitting class took place in October, we got our referral for Max on October 4th, I was so scatterbrained I missed the first class.  I got behind, never really caught up and hated it.  The class was fun, wine was involved but knitting stressed me out! Our project was to make a dishcloth...here is the finished product. 

I know it is terrible...but we do use it.  Mark actually told me I should make more! Well if it gets him to do the dishes,  I may have to think about it?!?

FANTASY FOOTBALL:

I did have some help from Mark but I made all of the final decisions regarding my team.  I did pretty good for a Rookie.  I made it to the playoffs, but lost in the first round.  It at least kept me distracted every Sunday for the last few months!  That was the goal.

SEWING:

This was by far my greatest success!  I actually enjoyed it and made a few things I am really proud of.  I had made some Mittens for Max, that I sent in his care package.  I made myself some flannel PJ pants. And I liked it so much I decided to make all of the Nieces and Nephews pillows for Christmas with their first initial on it.  I got many compliments and was pretty pleased with myself! I plan to make a pillow for Max too with his name on it.

My nephew Connor, who is 5 years old, opened his pillow he excitedly asked me "How did you know my name starts with a C!"...I told him I was really smart ;) 

It was nice to have a few distractions while we wait for Max to come home.  We still have lots of things to do, but progress is being made.