One week later

We are still flying high on the news that our adoption file has made it out of PGN.The end is near and we are busy getting things checked off the list for our departure and Max's arrival. Today, Jack and I took the wagon for a walk to the new Home Depot( it is just down the street and Jack has had his eye on it, waiting with baited breath to open) to by paint for Max's room.Did you know they have tasty treats at a grand opening. Gotta love home depot. My mom & dad will come this evening to begin painting. Next week,our friend Gretchen who gave us our crib, will come to set it up. We have pulled the high chair out and cleaned it up and Jack has gotten all of the board books and "baby" toys out of his room and into Max's. Clothes have been hung in the closet and we have started making lists of items that we need. Along with all the "house" items we have been preparing, we have a lot that needs to be done for our travel. We have a stack of paperwork that we need to complete, an even bigger stack contained in a binder that has to be taken with us and we have to pack for immediate departure. We have to take with us bottles, sippy cups, diapers,formula,(all things baby/toddler), clothes for a kiddo that we don't have a real accurate understanding as to his size, gifts for foster family, social workers and our attorneys. Yeah for the new airline policy of paying for each bag checked.

Many have asked what the next steps are so here is a little info...due to protection of our case I cannot give huge specifics on the blog as to where our case is but here is a rough outline:(if details don't amuse you, feel free to stop now)

ADOPTION PUBLIC DEED: When the PGN’s office issues the final decree (the final approval), the attorney picks up the documents and must register an Adoption Public Deed, which is signed by the birthmother. The adoptive parents become the legal guardians of the child when the Adoption Public Deed is signed. The birthmother’s signature on the Adoption Public Deed typically takes 3-5 days depending primarily on the availability of the birthmother.

BIRTH CERTIFICATE: Once the Adoption Public Deed is registered, the attorney requests permission to apply for the new birth certificate, which must be registered and obtained at the child’s place of birth. The new birth certificate will be in the child’s first birth name and the adoptive parent’s last name. Adoptive parent(s) will complete the child’s name change after the child is in the U.S. The civil registry process typically takes 1-2 weeks, but may vary depending on the workload of the civil registry. After the new birth certificate is issued, tentative travel dates are considered but not yet confirmed. A family will typically travel 1-2 weeks after the birth certificate is issued.

PASSPORT: After the new birth certificate is issued, the attorney requests the Guatemalan passport. The passport can usually be obtained in one day.

US EMBASSY APPROVAL: The U.S. Embassy requires a set of translated documents to be submitted before issuing their final approval. The documents that need to be translated are: new Birth Certificate, Social Report, Attorney General’s Final Opinion, Adoption Public Deed, Consent Confirmation (DNA approval by the Embassy), Power of Attorney, Attestation of Documents, and birth mother’s Power of Attorney (if she signed one.) Translation takes approximately 2 days. The attorney can submit these documents to the Embassy any day but Friday (when the Embassy is closed.) After the Embassy’s review of the documents, the “pink slip” is issued.

IMMIGRATION PHYSICAL: Once the “pink slip” is issued, the attorney can schedule the final physical for the baby, which is done by an Embassy approved doctor.

TRAVEL: Typically families will travel at least two days prior to the visa appointment and will receive the baby the day before the appointment.

So there it is. An excessivly long blog post about life one week post PGN. It's crazy and wonderful all at the same time. Keep you eye on the blog...for updates, things are moving and we are so excited that you can be part of this journey with us.