Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Babyhawk Oh snap!
No, that title isn't a comment, it's my new baby carrier!!! Tay and I got home early this afternoon and it had been delivered by UPS and was sitting on our front porch. If you're curious about them, here's their website: http://www.babyhawk.com/Shop/DesignCenter/. I had heard about them on the Korean Forum. I had read where lots, if not all the moms had baby carriers when they went to pick up their children. Actually, I think it's manditory. I've read where it's very important for bonding and attachment, and for most children in Korea, they are carried this way.
At babyhawk.com you can pick out your own fabric and trim for it to be made from. I've read so much about different carriers from all the moms, and this one stood out the most. I love the colors, it is so unique. I tried it on, but seems weird without a child in it. There was no one here to model it for me besides Tay and she's too small for it to look right, so my kitchen chair had to do.
There were soooo many different fabrics to choose from, it was really hard to pick just one!
This is how it's made, it's all adjustable, everywhere. I sure hope it's as comfy as it looks!
You can wear it on the front or on your back. It'll fit, both Mike and me. I sure hope Aiden likes it, it may take some getting use to, but I've heard all kids like it after they get use to it. We'll see.....
Also received some good news this afternoon. I checked email and Dr. Plemmons, our IAP doctor at Vanderbilt left an email response to Aiden's Well Baby Check we received a few days ago.
At babyhawk.com you can pick out your own fabric and trim for it to be made from. I've read so much about different carriers from all the moms, and this one stood out the most. I love the colors, it is so unique. I tried it on, but seems weird without a child in it. There was no one here to model it for me besides Tay and she's too small for it to look right, so my kitchen chair had to do.
Also received some good news this afternoon. I checked email and Dr. Plemmons, our IAP doctor at Vanderbilt left an email response to Aiden's Well Baby Check we received a few days ago.
"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Lemmons,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you with this, I’m playing catch up from vacation. The new growth points on Gim Yeong-Min all look fine. Length and weight are all still within about the 50th percentile as well as head circumference. No changes from previous tracking on the growth chart. And the developmental milestones reported also seem to be on the right track, no significant delays noted or reported. Keep us posted as new info arrives."
Awesome news! Nothing new to report, only that he's doing just fine. Not to mention the new pictures, he is just a cutie! Now if only we could hear something about the Emigration Permit. Nope, I haven't forgotten, nor will I till I see or hear the words EP approved! Then we can start making some plans around here!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
PICTURES!!!
Lately, it seems every time I start a blog post, my title has big letters and all the (!!!!). Quite a bit of good news coming in huh? YEAH, now if I can only get the best news of all -- EP!!!! Emigration Permit is a must right now! Haven't got it yet, so these wonderful pictures will have to do - and oh yes - they're doing fine!!
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He has changed so much since the last photo, oh my goodness! I can't wait to go get him! Love that blue jean jacket, what a cool kid he is lol! If you're my friend on Facebook, you've seen them already I guess. But for those who aren't on FB.....here he is - Aiden Lee, my sweet boy who is waiting on us in Korea right now. This makes the wait even harder, but I know we will go get him in time.....God's timing.
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Monday, October 11, 2010
Well Baby Check!!!!
I've been stalking my email for a while now, just waiting for anything. I worked a long day today, Mike picked Tay up after work, so I could work later this afternoon. I arrived home around 6 pm, really tired. Mike and Tay were playing in the back yard. So what's the first thing I do when I get into the house....checked email, of course! There was an email from Lisa at Holt. I held my breath and clicked! It was a Well Baby Check from Lisa!!! Aiden went to the Holt office for a Dr. visit on September 30th.
According to the report, he is 28 inches tall now and weighs 21 lbs. Under gross motor development they have him rolling over, creeps and crawls, sits briefly, sitting balance is good, sits up alone without support, pulls to standing position, walks holding on to furniture. Under fine motor skills, they have him reaching out for and can grasp large objects, transfers objects from hand to hand, rakes at a raisin (yep, that's what it says! lol), picks up raisin with pincer movement of forefinger and thumb. Under personal, they have that he prefers foster mother, and responds to sound of name. And last under language, they have him saying single syllables, and imitates speech sounds. He is assessed at the developmental age of nine months! My baby is right on target!! Yeah Aiden! :)
This was a great welcome home this evening! I was so glad to get it! I'm just so bummed that there wasn't a picture attached. :( I posted on the Korean Forum that I finally received a WBC, but no picture with his care package. I asked in the post how I can find out if Aiden's care package made it to Holt in Korea. The moms answered me right away with the answers I needed - you all are awesome! They told me to track the package using the tracking number on the customs receipt (duh Leah!) So I googled USPS tracking international packages and there it was, don't you just love Google! There on the screen was each step that package made, from White House PO on Sept 13th, to Miami, FL on Sept 17th, arriving into Foreign Customs in Korea on Sept 20th, out of Foreign Customs 46 minutes later, then at Foreign delivery unit by 5:35 pm, then delievered to Holt by Sept 28th, 9:46 am. Okay, so the package made it there on September 28th, Aiden had his WBC on September 30th.
So where's a picture? Some of the moms also answered me with this: Most of the time pictures with care packages usually arrive a few days after the WBC does. Ohhhhhh, okay, so I'm .... waiting.... again.... :)
According to the report, he is 28 inches tall now and weighs 21 lbs. Under gross motor development they have him rolling over, creeps and crawls, sits briefly, sitting balance is good, sits up alone without support, pulls to standing position, walks holding on to furniture. Under fine motor skills, they have him reaching out for and can grasp large objects, transfers objects from hand to hand, rakes at a raisin (yep, that's what it says! lol), picks up raisin with pincer movement of forefinger and thumb. Under personal, they have that he prefers foster mother, and responds to sound of name. And last under language, they have him saying single syllables, and imitates speech sounds. He is assessed at the developmental age of nine months! My baby is right on target!! Yeah Aiden! :)
This was a great welcome home this evening! I was so glad to get it! I'm just so bummed that there wasn't a picture attached. :( I posted on the Korean Forum that I finally received a WBC, but no picture with his care package. I asked in the post how I can find out if Aiden's care package made it to Holt in Korea. The moms answered me right away with the answers I needed - you all are awesome! They told me to track the package using the tracking number on the customs receipt (duh Leah!) So I googled USPS tracking international packages and there it was, don't you just love Google! There on the screen was each step that package made, from White House PO on Sept 13th, to Miami, FL on Sept 17th, arriving into Foreign Customs in Korea on Sept 20th, out of Foreign Customs 46 minutes later, then at Foreign delivery unit by 5:35 pm, then delievered to Holt by Sept 28th, 9:46 am. Okay, so the package made it there on September 28th, Aiden had his WBC on September 30th.
So where's a picture? Some of the moms also answered me with this: Most of the time pictures with care packages usually arrive a few days after the WBC does. Ohhhhhh, okay, so I'm .... waiting.... again.... :)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Shopping!! and the US NVC letter!!
Today I went shopping! WHEW!! And I did not buy one thing for myself - typical! (that was my conscience chiming in!) I went to the Mall here with my handy itinerary of what I needed to look for. I was looking for certain gifts to give to some very special people when we travel to Korea! Since I'm budgeting, I had to stop before I completely finished - it's okay, I'll finish the next go round! (conscience again) Here's a look at what I've got so far!
I bought two Ambercrombie shirts (on sale of course) for the Foster Girls, ages 17 and 15, and two pair each of the 'stay at home' socks - (they are soooo soft!), a map of the US, and two lip glosses each. I'm also going to buy them some candy. Saw some great things at Cracker Barrel (all made in the USA, some even made in Tennessee!) That should finish up their gifts!
For the Foster Mother, I bought her some Centrum vitamins and found a great Clinique gift set at Macy's (also got a different Clinique gift set free for buying the one!) You know how they throw in another just for buying the one - great deal! For the Foster Father, I also bought him some Centrum vitamins, and found two really nice ties. I'd read that the Foster Father was an 'office worker', hence the reason for the ties. One is a Van Heusen tie, clearanced for around $7, and the other one was a Calvin Klein clearanced for $15!
When I was researching what to buy for all these people, I found many suggestions on the Korean Forum - thank goodness! Most of these items I bought were suggested as good gifts for the Foster Family. One thing that was mentioned was to buy things Made In The USA or from our state where we live. I'm also going to give out boxes of Goo Goo candies, they are made here in Nashville, Tn. Do you see the Moon Pies in the picture? Well, they are made in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Those will be part of the gifts I give our drivers, tour guide, Holt workers, etc. (My budget ran out, so I'll get the rest of theirs later.) Cracker Barrel has a lot of candy items that were made in the USA and lots were even made in Tennessee! Gotta get those girls some of our good Tennessee candy! :-o
I know you're probably thinking, Vitamins?!? It was a suggestion for the Foster Parents. I had heard that their vitamins are really expensive in Korea. So giving vitamins as a gift shows that you care about them and their health. The last thing on the table in the picture is Gerber's rice cereal. These are going to be donated to the Holt office when we travel there. I plan to get more, like I said my budget ran out..... This is the explanation under donations on the Korean Forum why rice cereal is needed for Korean babies: There are a lot of premature babies in care. These babies cannot tolerate the multigrain cereal that is available here, and single grain rice cereal is not available. Also heard that their rice cereal is expensive in Korea. Really? Sounds contradictory, but just goes to show you how different cultures can be.
So.....I still have to buy for the Doctors at the Holt office in Korea, nurses, and the Social Worker. I hope that's all. If I've forgotten someone, Forum ladies, please chime in and tell me!
NOW......for some good news! I received a letter in the mail today, dated Oct 5 2010, from the United States Department of State, National Visa Center in New Hampshire! The letter states that they recently received our approved Form I600 and our petition will be forwarded to the appropriate visa-issuing post where the adoption interview will take place. This is the beginning of the end process, where there's a hand full of requirements Aiden has to have before we get our Travel Call - TC!! All these hand full of requirements don't add up to a hill of beans unless he gets his Emigration Permit, the document that says he can leave South Korea this year (see earlier post)!! I'm on pins and needles waiting for that!! Till then......still waiting.....
For the Foster Mother, I bought her some Centrum vitamins and found a great Clinique gift set at Macy's (also got a different Clinique gift set free for buying the one!) You know how they throw in another just for buying the one - great deal! For the Foster Father, I also bought him some Centrum vitamins, and found two really nice ties. I'd read that the Foster Father was an 'office worker', hence the reason for the ties. One is a Van Heusen tie, clearanced for around $7, and the other one was a Calvin Klein clearanced for $15!
When I was researching what to buy for all these people, I found many suggestions on the Korean Forum - thank goodness! Most of these items I bought were suggested as good gifts for the Foster Family. One thing that was mentioned was to buy things Made In The USA or from our state where we live. I'm also going to give out boxes of Goo Goo candies, they are made here in Nashville, Tn. Do you see the Moon Pies in the picture? Well, they are made in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Those will be part of the gifts I give our drivers, tour guide, Holt workers, etc. (My budget ran out, so I'll get the rest of theirs later.) Cracker Barrel has a lot of candy items that were made in the USA and lots were even made in Tennessee! Gotta get those girls some of our good Tennessee candy! :-o
I know you're probably thinking, Vitamins?!? It was a suggestion for the Foster Parents. I had heard that their vitamins are really expensive in Korea. So giving vitamins as a gift shows that you care about them and their health. The last thing on the table in the picture is Gerber's rice cereal. These are going to be donated to the Holt office when we travel there. I plan to get more, like I said my budget ran out..... This is the explanation under donations on the Korean Forum why rice cereal is needed for Korean babies: There are a lot of premature babies in care. These babies cannot tolerate the multigrain cereal that is available here, and single grain rice cereal is not available. Also heard that their rice cereal is expensive in Korea. Really? Sounds contradictory, but just goes to show you how different cultures can be.
So.....I still have to buy for the Doctors at the Holt office in Korea, nurses, and the Social Worker. I hope that's all. If I've forgotten someone, Forum ladies, please chime in and tell me!
NOW......for some good news! I received a letter in the mail today, dated Oct 5 2010, from the United States Department of State, National Visa Center in New Hampshire! The letter states that they recently received our approved Form I600 and our petition will be forwarded to the appropriate visa-issuing post where the adoption interview will take place. This is the beginning of the end process, where there's a hand full of requirements Aiden has to have before we get our Travel Call - TC!! All these hand full of requirements don't add up to a hill of beans unless he gets his Emigration Permit, the document that says he can leave South Korea this year (see earlier post)!! I'm on pins and needles waiting for that!! Till then......still waiting.....
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
NVC out!!
Called National Visa Center this morning, sat on hold for only 17 minutes this time! The girl informed me we were logged out on October 4th. I guess the weekend made for a long turn around, but no matter! Our file is on it's way to Korea!!! There's lots of things needed from Korea for him to come home. Somewhere in their process, we're waiting for the Emigration Permit - very important at this point! An Emigration Permit says Aiden can leave South Korea. But, Korea has a "quota" for how many adopted children can leave their country every year. Being it's towards the end of the year, that "quota" could be getting close to FULL! If Aiden doesn't get his Emigration Permit, he can not leave Korea this year! : ( I am sooooooo nervous about this! I would love for him to be home for his birthday, which is January 3rd. So I'm on pins and needles till we hear if he's gotten it or not! Yeah, little stressed these days, but what else is new. So pray, pray, pray for us! We want Aiden home this year!
I'm excited and starting to get nervous. I have no idea how quickly or slowly this next hurdle will go. It's all out of my hands and the US. So back to the 'hurry up and wait'.... again.
I cleaned up Aiden's room last weekend. Got some things in order, taking inventory, whew! My sweet cousins have mentioned giving me a baby shower, so maybe I should get my invite list together. Seems weird not having a big belly to go along with the words "baby shower". But I love baby showers! Just love all the baby stuff! : )
I've been stalking my email to see if we'd received a new picture of Aiden the last couple of days. Nothing! The last time I saw him was his July Well Baby Check picture at 6 months old. He's 9 months old right now! I sent his care package in September hoping to get a new picture soon and some other moms have gotten updated pictures in the last couple of days, so PLEASE Holt, send me something, I'm dying over here! ((not really, just being my usual melodramatic self)) So, what's the hold up? Is he just so healthy, they don't feel the need for a check up? Wishful thinking.... Or is it that there's so many others in line it's delayed? Maybe.... Or some other possibility I haven't a clue of? Probably....
So I'm asking all who read this....pray, pray, pray for us that we can go get Aiden and bring him home soon! Hurry up paperwork, please! (asking nicely of course, my momma taught me well!)
I'm excited and starting to get nervous. I have no idea how quickly or slowly this next hurdle will go. It's all out of my hands and the US. So back to the 'hurry up and wait'.... again.
I cleaned up Aiden's room last weekend. Got some things in order, taking inventory, whew! My sweet cousins have mentioned giving me a baby shower, so maybe I should get my invite list together. Seems weird not having a big belly to go along with the words "baby shower". But I love baby showers! Just love all the baby stuff! : )
I've been stalking my email to see if we'd received a new picture of Aiden the last couple of days. Nothing! The last time I saw him was his July Well Baby Check picture at 6 months old. He's 9 months old right now! I sent his care package in September hoping to get a new picture soon and some other moms have gotten updated pictures in the last couple of days, so PLEASE Holt, send me something, I'm dying over here! ((not really, just being my usual melodramatic self)) So, what's the hold up? Is he just so healthy, they don't feel the need for a check up? Wishful thinking.... Or is it that there's so many others in line it's delayed? Maybe.... Or some other possibility I haven't a clue of? Probably....
So I'm asking all who read this....pray, pray, pray for us that we can go get Aiden and bring him home soon! Hurry up paperwork, please! (asking nicely of course, my momma taught me well!)
Friday, October 1, 2010
NVC in!!
I just sat on hold with the National Visa Center for 26 minutes! This is a good thing! :)
After we were I600 approved - YEAH! - on September 24th, our file was then sent to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire, where our approved I600 info was logged in. Our official logged in date was September 29th. It usually takes 3-4 days, then we'll be logged out. And by logged out, I mean our info will then be sent to the US Embassy in Seoul, Korea, where lots of other things will be taking place - UGGG! Yes, there's more to be done, but the good news is, we're done on the US side! Everything else has to come from Korea's side. Our info has to be sent to Korea so that when all the paperwork is completed on Korea's side, the US can issue the one way travel visa for our son to come home to the US.
Wow, that actually makes sense to me now! I knew this blog would come in handy! All this may sound easy to understand right now, but when I've read so much of what is to come, I get overwhelmed! Thanks to the Forum ladies for their posts to the Korean Forum. I could not have understood this without you! ;)
After we were I600 approved - YEAH! - on September 24th, our file was then sent to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire, where our approved I600 info was logged in. Our official logged in date was September 29th. It usually takes 3-4 days, then we'll be logged out. And by logged out, I mean our info will then be sent to the US Embassy in Seoul, Korea, where lots of other things will be taking place - UGGG! Yes, there's more to be done, but the good news is, we're done on the US side! Everything else has to come from Korea's side. Our info has to be sent to Korea so that when all the paperwork is completed on Korea's side, the US can issue the one way travel visa for our son to come home to the US.
Wow, that actually makes sense to me now! I knew this blog would come in handy! All this may sound easy to understand right now, but when I've read so much of what is to come, I get overwhelmed! Thanks to the Forum ladies for their posts to the Korean Forum. I could not have understood this without you! ;)
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