Baby T has a passport! His photo is above. How darling is it?
I have a small and yet important update for our adoption journey 🙂 If you recall, last Friday I posted that I was leaving this Tuesday, July 30th for Ethiopia to stay with our son until we clear embassy. As July 30th is getting closer and closer, the nerves are getting stronger and stronger and I’m trying to figure out just what I’ve gotten myself into! Never before have I booked a one way ticket to travel and stay in a 3rd world country by myself! I’m excited though and part of me is just anxious to fast forward time so that I can be in Ethiopia and fast forward through these nerves and stress eating 😉 I plan on taking Baby T out of the orphanage for good on Friday August 2nd.
Update wise, we are excited because two days ago, on Monday, July 22nd, we were officially submitted to embassy. That means that the US Embassy in Ethiopia finally has Baby T’s file on their desk and they will very soon begin going through the paperwork and doing their investigations. Some families clear embassy as quickly as 2-3 weeks.. others 5-6 weeks and yet others in 3 months or more. While I don’t like not having a time-frame, I am excited because we have officially begun this last step that we have to go through to bring Baby T home. I will stay in Ethiopia and have Baby T living with me until we clear embassy. Once we clear, I’ll book another one-way ticket for me and Baby T (hubby may or may not fly out to come back with us – we won’t decide this until I’ve been in Ethiopia for a while) and we will return home and begin the next phase of our lives!
Thanks for coming to Addicted to Saving! Here’s a little bit about me so you can know who’s behind all these posts!
My name is Liza and I began my money-saving journey in the Spring of 2009 as a way to stretch a limited household income. I had lost my job and my hubby was self-employed. I launched Addicted to Saving in November of 2009 and it has grown by leaps and bounds. Since then, my hubby and I have struggled with the ups and downs of two failed adoptions and are now LOVING being parents to our little man Asher who we brought home from Ethiopia in August of 2013. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to help you save money. My goal is that you will have FUN and become empowered to save more and more money each week..
I am so happy to hear this!! I am praying that everything goes smoothly for you and for safe travels 🙂
SO excited for you guys! please keep us posted with pictures in the mean time while ya’ll wait to come back. best wishes that this goes smoothly and QUICK! 🙂
Carmen
I’m so excited for you! I’ll be praying for all of you : )
How exciting! May everything go smoothly and you he able to bring your baby home soon!
Wishing you the vedry best and praying for you and baby T’s safe return!
What an exciting and nerve racking time for you and your family. It will be worth it in the end – keep the faith. All our best to you!!
Been there, done all that 20 yrs ago through Paraguay. My boy is now 22 and the best blessing we ever received ! It is a struggle well worth it. Best wishes and prayers!!
Liza & Hubby…It is happening! I am so excited for you guys. What an exciting adventure. Baby-T is adorable and such a handsome little man. His eyes are so expressive and huge. I can’t even imagine what he is thinking, and the life you guys are going to offer him is a blessing. I tried to post a note when I first read your post this afternoon, but could not get the captcha to work on my phone. Know that my prayers and good thoughts are with you as you set out physically “alone” to enter into this unknown world in order to bring baby-T home….but spiritually surrounded by love and blessings. Never alone when you walk in God’s love. Way to go Mama!!!!
I thought of you and baby T several times Monday and prayed that you would be submitted to Embassy. I was so excited to hear that it happened! Baby T is so adorable and is very lucky to be getting you both for parents. How many months is baby T? Where will you stay? I am praying that this last hurdle will proceed quickly and you won’t have to be there long! Stay strong and have a safe trip!
Thank you so much for the prayers Connie! Baby T is almost 10 months old. I will be staying at a guest house in Addis. Guest houses are not quite as fancy as the hotels there but instead is much more affordable and feels like a “home”. I will have a room (I was able to reserve a room with a private bathroom- woohoo) for me and Baby T and there will be a kitchen I can use as well as many common areas we can hang out. I have never been in this guest house so I’m not 100% sure how nice it is but I have received recommendations for this guest house from other families who have stayed there. I will do my best to post pictures of my living arrangements once we get there 🙂
Wonderful news!!!! Once the embassy clears you, can you essentially leave the next day? This is so exciting.
Hi Kathy! Essentially yes 🙂 Once we clear I have to go to embassy. I don’t know if I can do that within the same day as when I clear but I promise you that I will do my best to get in there asap 😉
congratulations to you and your family on getting through this next step!