Ps- While this appeal period is standard procedure for any court decree, eg marriage, divorce, etc. (we’re told they literally place the decrees in the newspaper), the National Council for Children & Adolescents hopes to get it waived for adoptions as the children in their orphanages have already been living unclaimed for long periods of time (in the case of our child it’s been almost 4yrs) … but for now, it’s the procedure, so we wait another 30 days.

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#InternationalAdoption #Adoption

ADOPTION UPDATE:

Our interview with the judge went well, and the Dominican Republic has granted us an adoption decree, which means in the eyes of the Dominican Republic we are officially, albeit tentatively, the new parents of the little one who has been a part of our family in practice since just before Christmas.(!)

Today starts our 30-day appeal period, a month of waiting to make sure no one objects.

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#InternationalAdoption #Adoption

ADOPTION UPDATE:

We have a court date! All four of us will go before the court on Tuesday and if all goes well we will receive the court’s “yes” and official adoption decree.

From there there will still be a lot to do (read: still months of work), but this will be a major step forward.

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

They could start by not putting up thousands of children for transnational adoption, every year. #Adoption #AdopteeVoices #TransnationalAdoptipn #InternationalAdoption #IntercountryAdoption #ChildTrafficking https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-64594469

ADOPTION UPDATE:
A week ago our request to shorten the cohabitation period from 60 to 30 days was granted(🎉)& we signed the consent to adopt form for our new son.

We’re nowhere near finished,but this was a step forward. Next we wait to hear from the Court. There’ll be much paperwork including a new birth certificate with a last name on it this time (it somehow devastated me to see he had none on the original),a medical exam,&lots of working with the US embassy.

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

(3 of 3) But next, Jim got “Mamá,” as our new son began to associate him as occupying a special loving role, beyond basic caregiver.

Now, 3 weeks in, Jim sometimes gets “Papá” and sometimes gets “Mapá” a beautifully fascinating and telling linguistic blend of both our titles, suggesting our younger son now understands Papá and Mamá will both be there for him.

Today he asked for Papá at nap time (!!). What a journey, Carlos!

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

(3 of 3) But next, Jim got “Mamá,” as our new son began to associate him as occupying a special loving role, beyond basic caregiver.

Now, 3 weeks in, Jim sometimes gets “Papá” and sometimes gets “Mapá” a beautifully fascinating and telling linguistic blend of both our titles, suggesting our younger son now understands Papá and Mamá will both be there for him.

What a journey, Carlos!

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

Then he switched to “Tía” which means “Aunt” and is what all the kids at the orphanage called the caregivers. He started seeing him as someone who could provide for his basic needs. That was progress.

Then, after a few more days, he’d sometimes call him “Papá,” but he remained standoffish. He had clear ideas of what Papá could and could not do for him. Nap time, for example, was NOT a place for Papá. Mamá remained the soother, the meeter of emotional needs.

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

(3 of 3) But next, Jim got “Mamá,” as our new son began to associate him as occupying a special loving role, beyond basic caregiver.

Now, 3 weeks in, Jim sometimes gets “Papá” and sometimes gets “Mapá” a beautifully fascinating and telling linguistic blend of both our titles, suggesting our younger son now understands Papá and Mamá will both be there for him.

What a journey, Carlos!

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

(2) Then he switched to “Tía” which means “Aunt” and is what all the kids at the orphanage called the caregivers. He started seeing him as someone who could provide for his basic needs. That was progress.

Then, after a few more days, he’d sometimes call him “Papá,” but he remained standoffish. He had clear ideas of what Papá could and could not do for him. Nap time, for example, was NOT a place for Papá. Mamá remained the soother, the meter of emotional needs.

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

All the caregivers at the orphanage were female, so our younger son never had any interaction with men before. It has resulted in an apprehension toward men in general.

For the first few days he called Jim “Carlos.” It was slightly hilarious. A worker at his preschool, perhaps? Someone from a cartoon?

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

ADOPTION UPDATE
The handoff went better than expected. He calmed somewhat when he saw his new brother whom he already adores, & when he saw I brought bubbles.
The most memorable moment was departure, when Jim & older son went to see if our taxi had arrived & left me and new son in the lobby. The tiny one holding my hand said “pipííí” and I turned to watch the stream trickle down between his shoes. Right there in the adoption agency by the Xmas tree.
So it begins.
#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

ADOPTION UPDATE:
Today we begin the cohabitation period. The visits have gone as well as could be expected. There were bumps, but also a lot of progress.
Today, tho, instead of meeting in our home (away from home) that he’s been getting used to, we will meet at the adoption office, a new place with new faces, and then the 4 of us will leave without the caregivers he’s come to trust. He’s going to be terrified and I expect today to be an epic meltdown. Here we go.
#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

ADOPTION UPDATE:
Today we begin the cohabitation period. The visits have gone as well as could be expected. There were bumps, but also a lot of progress.
Today, tho, instead of meeting in our home (away from home) that he’s been getting used to, we will meet at the adoption office, a new place with new faces, and then the 4 of us will leave without the caregivers he’s come to trust. He’s going to be terrified and I expect today to be an epic meltdown. Here we go.
#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

ADOPTION UPDATE: It went well. He arrived terrified because he’d never been out of the orphanage without all his buddies, and what’s more he’d never ridden in an elevator, so the little guy was pretty shaken by the time he and the social worker got to our door. But he warmed up quickly, especially to our 8yr old, and we had a good first meeting. We’ll repeat again tomorrow and the rest of this week, hoping each day gets easier.
Today’s finding: He loves snacks.
#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

ADOPTION UPDATE: It went well. He arrived terrified because he’d never been out of the orphanage without all his buddies, and what’s more he’d never ridden in an elevator, so the little guy was pretty shaken by the time he and the social worker got to our door. But he warmed up quickly, especially to our 8yr old, and we had a good first meeting. We’ll repeat again tomorrow and the rest of this week, hoping each day gets easier.
Today’s finding: He loves snacks.
#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

ADOPTION UPDATE: It’s confirmed. We’re going to meet him on Monday.

We’ll spend next week getting to know him via daily visits with him and the social worker, and if all goes well, on Friday he’ll come to stay with us. He’ll be with us for Christmas and I’m not crying, you’re crying. No, actually, I’m crying, too. It’s happening.

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

ADOPTION UPDATE: It’s confirmed. We’re going to meet him on Monday.

We’ll spend next week getting to know him via daily visits with him and the social worker, and if all goes well, on Friday he’ll come to stay with us. He’ll be with us for Christmas and I’m not crying, you’re crying. No, actually, I’m crying, too. It’s happening.

#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

ADOPTION UPDATE: The remaining documents arrived!
1. National Visa Center letter we need to seek a visa (via a DS-260) for our future son so he can come home with us - check!
2. Letter from US embassy in our future son’s birth country inviting us to begin the process officially on their end once we arrive - check!
Now, in terms of paperwork, we are ready to travel.
Next, we await confirmation from the adoption organization abroad on when we can meet him. OMG.
#Adoption #InternationalAdoption

ADOPTION UPDATE: The remaining documents arrived!
1. National Visa Center letter we need to seek a visa (via a DS-260) for our future son so he can come home with us - check!
2. Letter from US embassy in our future son’s birth country inviting us to begin the process officially on their end once we arrive - check!
Now, in terms of paperwork, we are ready to travel.
Next, we await confirmation from the adoption organization abroad on when we can meet him. OMG.
#Adoption #InternationalAdoption