Ode To My Meepy

No news on the adoption front...just getting ready, and waiting for that final ruling.

Hsin-Hua turned 11 months old this past Saturday...so Happy Birthday Peanut.

Since there is no news to report...I thought I would share some of my more recent, favorite pics of Mr. Peepers (aka Meepy). He is a glorious sight to behold!!!

Somebody needs a hair cut. Look at that dirty belly.

I want to motor boat that hairy chest!

Sometimes the light is TOO much for Meepy to handle!

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Passed out against the front window. How that is comfortable, I DO NOT KNOW!

Hanging with Daddy!

Giving some love to Daddy. (Meepy can't sit with Daddy without hugging him like this).

Big boy takes up the WHOLE chair. We thought this was Daddy's chair...but we were wrong.

I don't know WHAT this was about...but I'm pretty sure a cat isn't supposed to sit like that.

Trying to get in the suitcase to go to Taiwan with Daddy. Meepy wants his Mei Mei home!

Passed out with Daddy again. Don't miss that dirty, furry foot hanging over Daddy's leg.

Look at that face! I could just eat him!

Just after Meepy's haricut...love the pompom tail! Meepy also will only drink water out of a bowl in the tub.

Do you see that belly! Seriously! It is SO fat...and this picture does not do the rolls justice!

Tired! From what? Cleaning himself for about 5 minutes. 22 pounds of glorious MEEPY!Is there a cuter man (furry man) on earth? I think not!

A VERY Productive Weekend!!!

Well, the organized Heather is back. All I needed was some good news to get my motivation back.

We had taken a 4 day weekend to go to the beach...but since the NE is basically the equivilant of the Pacific Northwest these days with rain 24 hours a day and 7 days a week...we decided to stay home and get some things accomplished.

Saturday morning we headed over to Babies R Us to buy us some baby gates. Now our play room is able to be completely closed in. This will allow us to cook dinner and do some other things, knowing that Hsin-Hua can't get out :-) It looks a little bit like a baby prison if you ask me.

Saturday night we had a fun date night. We drove to NJ for dinner and a movie. We wanted to eat at Joe's Crab Shack...but the wait was over an hour and a half. So we went to a diner and got breakfast for dinner, YUM! Then we saw "The Hangover". FUNNY AS HECK! We figure that sleeping late, and date nights with no babysitter really are a luxary we won't have for much longer, so we better enjoy it while we can!

Sunday after doing some laundry and organizing we went to IKEA to get two chairs for Hsin-Hua's playroom. This way the grownups have something other than the floor to sit on in there. When endless episodes of Baby Einstein and Caillou are on...we will need comfy seats to endure the slow wearing away of our sanity!

We also got the rest of the toys all cleaned and organized. The room is officially ready for a kid to play in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh...and PS...the rocking horse was a yard sale STEAL! $10!!! Actually, Pauly and I were saying as we were sitting in there last night, that MAYBE we have spent about $100 on everything in the room (minus the rug and furniture). Yard sales are a BEAUTIFUL thing!

We also got all the toiletries, gifts and electronic equipment ready to be packed. Right now Hsin-Hua's crib is serving as the staging area for all things going on the trip with us! We are actually prepared enough right now that we could leave within 24 hours and be VERY well packed!

We got so much done this weekend....Mr. Peepers was exhausted on our behalf! He is SUCH a supportive cat!

It feels SO good to have something to do again to pass the time.
Hopefully we don't have much longer to go!!!

At Long Last...It Finally Happened

3 days before we crossed the 6 month mark since our hearing date...we got the news we have been hoping and praying for...OUR FIRST RULING IS IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Words can't express how happy this makes us!

When I saw the email that said "Wonderful News" in the subject line, and read that our First Ruling was finally in...I instantly started to cry and shake uncontrollably. I didn't realize that our agency had cc'd Pauly on the email so I was frantically trying to call him. I misdialed his number no less than 8 times because my hands just wouldn't work :-)

So what does this mean, and what is next?

First Ruling - Once the hearing has been completed and the judge has had time to review all the information, he/she issues the First Ruling. This is a short statement signed by the judge that is forwarded to all parties involved (social services organization on behalf of the adoptive family and the birth family) notifying everyone of his/her decision to finalize the adoption. This first part of the Final Decree must go to each party and there is a waiting period of 10 days before any further court action can occur. The birth family has until the end of this 10 day period to change their mind regarding the adoption. Once the 10 day period is passed however, the judge can make the final decree.

Final Ruling - Once the 10 day waiting period is over (and the court staff finds time!), the second part of the Final Decree is forwarded to all parties. When the second part of the decree is received by your child's social service organization, the court process is DONE!
Time line for 2nd Ruling - 2-6 weeks after the 1st ruling

After we receive notification of the final ruling, we will need to set an appointment with AIT (American Institute in Taiwan) to get Hsin-Hua's visa and passport, and basically permission to take her out of the country. We are hoping we can get an appointment quickly.

Once we know of our AIT appointment, we plan on getting on a plane. Even if the appointment isn't for a week or two...we would rather be in Taiwan and WITH Hsin-Hua awaiting that appointment, then wait it out here. We don't want to miss another SECOND of her little life.

Please keep your fingers crossed and say some prayers that the judge does not delay in issuing our Final Ruling. With a little luck, we MIGHT be with Hsin-Hua for her first birthday!

Now it is back to the lists and lists of things to do and to pack! MAN is it good to have things to do again! I am crazy...but its not like I haven't always been honest about that :-)

WE ARE COMING HSIN-HUA. IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE WE ARE FINALLY A FAMILY!

10 Months Old And The Cutest Kid On The Planet

Look at our little peanut!

These pictures are from 1 day before Hsin-Hua's 10 month birthday.

I am pretty sure she is the cutest kid on the planet...seriously.

And the little shirt she is wearing is from Great Aunt Gail...it has Minnie Mouse on the front, and was bought in Disney 2 Christmas's ago! It looks adorable on her :-)

Enjoy.

(Still no news on a first ruling...but we are thrilled to see Hsin-Hua sitting up...and possibly crawling?)