So much for posting "later this week." It has been several weeks since my last post, and yet there isn't too much to tell from the paperwork standpoint. Holt is waiting to "hear back from Korea" before they can send the official referral. With the holidays, things are slow both here and in Korea, so we'll be patient. In addition, the USCIS office finally responded to our email with a general comment that because the office is so large, it takes time to ensure all mail is sent to the appropriate office. (This means that as soon as they match up the homestudy sent over 2 weeks ago with our application, they will contact us for fingerprints.) We were warned that the slow processing times would be difficult, so we're hanging in there! But we have some good news! As soon as we receive the official referral, we can begin sending Rai things directly to Korea! Holt gave us the address, so we'll be sending clothes, a photobook of our family, and a DVD. Speaking of which, I should finish editing our family DVD next week so that we're just waiting on the referral.
Progress on Rai's Room
There has been progress here at the house, however! My dear friend Heather (who is pregnant with twins!) and I went shopping at Babies R Us the Monday before Christmas, and I managed to get several things for Rai's room. I picked a little sofa bed that I thought would be fun and convenient and several red baskets for toys. The most exciting purchase that day was the black toddler bed on sale. I had been eyeing it for some time, and between the sale and my persuasive friend and husband it was a no-brainer. Shortly after our shopping trip, the bookcase arrived that we plan to use for his toys and books (red baskets in a black bookcase), so Aaron and I finally got started on his room. After putting together the bookcase and bed, we picked out a dresser which arrived on Tuesday. Yay!I hope everyone had a wonderful holidays! We enjoyed visiting everyone, but there are not enough days in the holiday season to spend time with everyone. I have a feeling, we will be traveling quite a bit before Rai gets here. From what I have been told, we will need to lay low once we get him home until everyone (including us) is adjusted.
Passing the Time
Speaking of traveling, we'll be headed down to Austin tomorrow for Aaron's alumni soccer game! It's too bad Rai will miss it, but you know I'll have the entire game on video! It will also be a busy weekend since Aaron's mom thinks we can finish Rai's quilt. Although the wait will seem long before we can travel, each step we take toward preparing for his arrival will help us pass the time!
A New Year's Tradition
In Japanese culture, families clean the house from top to bottom immediately before the new year. Clealiness is considered to be part of religious (specifically Shinto) tradition in terms of the self as well as the house. Although we didn't have the house spotless by time to ball dropped in Dallas this morning, we started working on a decluttering project in the house that has brought us peace and yet helped us prepare for the baby!
Aaron wanted to move his office so that the "Child's Retreat" would actually become a child's retreat - a room for Rai to play in since his room is a bit small. After a week of "pondering" this major change in our home, Aaron decided that we could share an office. This was no easy task mind you. Aaron is like his father in many ways, but this was a classic Mark process. We took everything out of our desks and bookshelves (as I cleaned the furniture which would make my mom proud), and then Aaron sat and stared at the furniture. I don't know why I thought this would only take half a day because we nearly missed lunch when we hadn't even begun putting our books and computers back. Now, the room looks wonderful, and this "sharing" bit may just work afterall. :-)
Today, we decluttered the kitchen and actually made room for Rai's kitchen cabinet. My friend Jennifer got us a Toddler Workbook that has great ideas for activities. One of the tips includes making a cabinet, generally in the kitchen where it is close by, dedicated to toddler activities. Once again, this was a day-long process with Aaron carefully "pondering" each cabinet's contents and how to best utilize the space we have. The kitchen doesn't look as nice as the office yet, but a short trip to Home Depot after we get back should help. I have a feeling we will be decluttering every room in the house until Rai gets here!
Well, it is well past our bedtime and there is still packing to do. Have a wonderful 2009 and keep us posted as well!
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