Always and Forever Ours: Happy Birthday, Zachary!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Happy Birthday, Zachary!

Dear Zachary,

Today you are one year old! Happy birthday!

I took this photo of you yesterday, on the eve of your birthday, and it really captures the essence of you: sweet, happy, laid-back, and always tuned in with your intense gaze!

I am both proud of you, and a little sad, too, that my baby is growing up. You are a dream-come-true for me. I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful baby. Thank you for being my one and only YOU! God bless you, Zachary!

I love you always and forever,
Mama

7 comments:

J said...: What a lovely post, and what a sweet boy you have there! Happy birthday to Zachary. xoxo

Julie

(ps...I tell Maya she's my dream come true, too. But only because it's true.); April 14, 2011 at 3:00 PM
heather said...: he is just BEAUTIFUL!
Happy Birthday Z!!!; April 14, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Kerith said...: YAY!!! Happy Birthday, Zachary!!!; April 14, 2011 at 8:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday Sweet Baby!!!
May the next few years SLOW down...
LOL...

Love,
Sophie; April 15, 2011 at 12:44 AM
The Busters said...: Such a beautiful photo!!! Hope you guys had a wonderful time celebrating his birthday! XOXO; April 15, 2011 at 9:18 AM
AprilM said...: Happy Birthday Zachary!! He's growing way too fast!!!!; April 15, 2011 at 9:24 AM
Laura Ferry-Jimenez said...: happy birthday, Zachary - try to not grow so fast, please! :); April 17, 2011 at 7:47 AM

Our Adoption Timeline

January 2009 - We saw Slumdog Millionaire, and God really began to stir our hearts about international adoption.

February 2009 - We had serious conversations and prayer about adopting from Ethiopia.

March 2009 - We had our phone orientation with Gladney (our adoption agency), decided to adopt from Ethiopia, and sent away for our application.

April 2009 - We submitted our application to Gladney, and began the paper chase!

May 2009 - We had our doctor appointments, continued the paper chase, and had our homestudy visit.

June 2009 - We submitted our last item of required paperwork to accompany our application to Gladney. Our homestudy report was completed and submitted to Gladney. On June 30th, our second anniversary, we received word from Gladney that we were fully approved to be an adoptive family through the Gladney Center, and that they sent our homestudy to CIS.

July 2009 - We received our "invitation" from CIS to come for fingerprinting. We were fingerprinted on July 18, 2009.

September 2009 - Our CIS approval notice arrived in the mail. Dossier completed and sent off on September 8. Placed on Gladney's wait list on September 8.

May 2010 - We received our referral for two boys--brothers--on May 24. The older is 19 months old. The younger is 1 month old.

July 2010 - We passed phase one of the court process on July 19th.

August 2010 - We traveled to Addis Ababa to meet the boys, go to court, legally become their parents, sight see a bit, and return home for three weeks. We returned to Ethiopia on August 30th, when they were placed forever in our arms! We are a family of four!

October 2010 - We received the boys' Certificates of Citizenship in the Mail from CIS!

November 2010 - We completed the Recognition of Foreign Adoption Decree process here in Texas, and received the boys' original birth certificates issued by the state of Texas!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Happy Birthday, Zachary!

7 comments:

Brian and Tracy

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