Getting ready for Desmond

I know I've been slacking on my blogging lately. Ever since we received Desmond's referral we just hit the ground running. It's kind of like having a one month pregnancy. Desmond's room isn't ready just yet but it's getting close. I've ordered the crib, bedding, bought a stroller or two (my parents bought me the jogging stroller), painting his room later this week and starting to register. My girlfriends here are throwing me a shower this Sunday. They are so sweet. They've been planning it for months and were so excited to finally be able to set a date!

One of my friends planning the shower is in the process of adopting a baby from China through our same adoption agency so she's up to speed on the whole adoption thing and then another friend involved in the shower is from South Africa and couldn't be more thrilled to have another African join our group of friends. I just can't believe it's all really happening. I look at Desmond's picture about a zillion times a day and just wonder what he's doing at this exact moment. :) Right now our power of attorney in Rwanda is working on getting us a court date. Once this happens we'll be able to make travel plans. I'm still hoping we can leave right after Christmas but we'll see! I just want to hold Desmond and give him a thousand kisses!

I can't wait to meet Desmond

What a week! I still can't believe we got our approval last Saturday, referral on Tuesday and medical reports on Wednesday. Right now we are waiting on our POA (power of attorney) to set a court date. Once this is set we will be able to make tentative travel plans. I'm still holding out for the last week in December but that could be wishful thinking. Either way, we're getting Demond soon and I couldn't be more thrilled!

There have been so many blessings that have come out of this adoption but one that I didn't expect was to make such a special new friend. Last February when we were in the beginning adoption stages we met another family who was also at the exact same stage in the process as us and adopting from the same agency AND lived only one hour south of LA. This family is Nick & Becky Fisher. Becky and I became fast and close friends. We've talked so often on the phone that Nick asked Becky to add me to their family plan. :) They also got their referral last week (along with 7 other families- yah!) and are getting Judah a 7 month old boy. When I mentioned to our POA that Becky and I are friends and both excited about getting boys she told me that Demond and Judah are also good friends and have cribs right next to each other. She said that they are both big healthy boys that she think will play football one day. I thought this was so cute!

Desmond Duke Watson

Well, we decided on a name- Desmond Duke Watson. Ever since we started the adoption process when we talked about a boy we kept coming up with the name Desmond. We don't know anyone named Desmond and the name doesn't hold any super important meaning to us except that we like it and Duke is a Watson family name that we also like. So, there you go. Our little wats is now officially Desmond Duke Watson.

We got his medical records today and found out that Desmond's birthday is March 8, 2009. So, he's almost 9 months old! Everything seems to be moving quickly in Rwanda so there is still a chance that we could travel by the end of the month or early January.

Right now I am just in a state of excitement/shock/panic! One week ago I didn't think we would get our approval until next year and then hopefully be able to travel in the Spring and now I am a mother to a 9 month old boy! I don't own ANYTHING baby related. I need to buy a crib, stroller, car seat and all the other million baby items ASAP! So, that's where I'm headed now. To shop!

Little Wats is a BOY!!!!!!!!

Around 5:15 PST we received an email that has changed our life forever! We are getting a precious & absolutely perfect little boy from Rwanda. He looks to be between 8-10 months. We haven't received the medical report yet so we can't confirm the age but that's our guess. He definitely looks happy and healthy. He's a chunk.

Once we receive the medical documents and his history we will be able to officially accept the referral and then the next step is passing court in Rwanda. We have a Power of Attorney who will go to court on our behalf. Because it's December and the holidays are fast approaching it might be difficult to get all this done before the New Year. However, once we pass court and he is officially our child we can post pictures and start setting up travel arrangements. I of course would love to hop on a plane tonight but realistically we are looking at traveling in January.

Thank you Lord for the best Christmas Gift EVER!

P.S. He's still little wats for now. We haven't decided on a name just yet...

APPROVAL LETTER IS IN!!!!

Today is the first time since August 17th that I haven't checked my email first thing in the morning. So, you can imagine my surprise mid-morning when I finally did check my email and saw a message from our contact in Rwanda (who's never emailed us before) with the title "Adoption WATSON" with a jpg attachment. Oh my gosh, this is it! I immediately ran outside and from the upstairs balcony yelled down to Brian and the rest of our family who were lounging by the pool "It's here, it's here. We got the approval letter." Everyone came running inside (my mom in tears) and we all huddled around the computer trying to desperately make out what the letter says. Unfortunately, when it was scanned and emailed to us it's sort of hard to read but I'm pretty sure it says we were approved SEPTEMBER 7th or 17th. Either way we have gotten our approval and we are overjoyed and so thankful to be able to share this with both of our families in person! What a blessing and special surprise this Thanksgiving weekend.

CABO! CABO! CABO!

Happy Thanksgiving friends! I am so thankful that I get to spend this Thanksgiving with both my parents & in-laws in my favorite vacation spot. CABO! Above is a picture I took from my i-phone the other day while I was lounging by the pool. This is the view from my in-laws backyard. This place is breathtaking and I can't wait to bring little wats here soon! Right now I am sitting in the kitchen watching Brian prepare his famous green bean casserole from scratch. He is such a great cook and in just a few hours I get to over indulge on all my holiday favorites!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING & GOD BLESS to all the families traveling to Rwanda next week. We are praying for you!

Meet the Richardson's

Today Brian and I got the pleasure of meeting Corey & Kelly Richardson and their boys Brody (6), Chase (3) and Trent (18 months). Kelly & Corey adopted Trent from Rwanda back in May. They are from Vancouver, Washington and are in LA this week on vacation. I am so glad we got the opportunity to meet them. They told us all about their adoption story, gave us a copy of their adoption video and answered every question I threw at them. It was very reassuring and encouraging to hear how well Trent has adjusted to his new life. He's so cute! I can't wait to meet our adoption contact in Rwanda and hear the story of our child and I can't wait to give all the nuns a hug who have been taking care of our little wats and more importantly I can't wait to smother little wats with hugs and kisses. Something about today made everything more real and even more exciting!

Meet the Richardson's- It takes a brave woman to raise all boys!

Here's Trent- He's been home 6 months. Looks pretty happy to me!