Iris' first photo ever taken

I am so happy I could cry!  I finally have an actual baby picture of Iris.  This is from her finding add.  It is the first picture ever taken of her that we know about.  Now I won't have to tell her I only have pictures of you from age 2 and older.  I have her BABY picture.  Now if only I could find her 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 1 year.  She will have all the same pictures as the rest of my kids.  Who knows maybe they will have these pictues in her baby book.  A  mom can hope.
Joel's first response to the baby picture was "she looks so tiny, angry, and beautiful".  I think she looks like Elliot's baby picture.   I can't wait to get the translated info.

                                                                    Iris at 2 months

                                                                     Elliot at 2 days

                                                                  Ansley at 2 days

So What comes next?

I know many of you are wondering what  comes next and when we can go get Iris.  So here in a nut shell is what all we still have to do:

We fill out an I-800 and an I-864, attach our I-800A, LSC, and Hague verification and send them to the USCIS.   (DONE)
We fill out a DS-230 and send copies of our LOI, LSC, and I-797C to Holt. (DONE)
We also apply for our Visas with the Chinese Consulate.  (STARTED)
After our papers spend four days in a "Lock-Box" with the USCIS, they will process them and send them to the US Consulate in Guangzhou. Holt sends our DS-230 to the American Consulate in Guangzhou where it will meet with the I-800 & I-864 approvals. Once all of this is in place, the Consulate issues an "Article 5" that then is picked up and delivered to the CCAA in Beijing. The CCAA processes the paperwork and issues TA (Travel Approval). After that, we schedule appointments with the American Consulate in Guangzhou, and we are ready to book our tickets.

All of this will happen in the next 8-12 weeks. . . . . It really is that simple!

So really for now, we just do more of the same, WAIT!

Today's post is brought to you by the letters L, O and A!!!!

At exactly 1313 (1:13 in the afternnon) I received a phone call from Holt saying they have our LOA and are sending it Fedex. We should have it tomorrow. The LOA is a letter from China saying we can offically adopt Iris. I think I may stalk the Fedex office. I hope that is not against the law.   After 81 days wait you get a little crazy about these things.

Here are some pictures of Iris and her friends playing outside in their new clothes.  Aren't they just the cutes little things.  I could take them all home. 

Let Them Eat Cake

While the wait for our LOA (letter of Acceptance) is killing me, 70 days and counting. I do have more pictures to share. We sent Iris a cake for the Chinese New Year. It looks like it was good, very good if you go by Iris.
While I love getting new pictures, I would really like to just go get her.