We've got her!

On March 2 we had our "handing-over" ceremony after resting the night before in Ratnagiri.  Almost as soon as we pulled the car up to the orphanage they were already standing there with Abha!  I didn't know what to do at first but didn't want to run up to her and scare her, so I said Hi and then we followed them to the office of the building.  While there, I talked to her a little while she stared at me.  I sat her on my lap and she smiled a lot of shy smiles. :) We finished up our paperwork and then the orphanage put on a little "ceremony" where they take lots of pictures and we give speeches and they give us roses and hand all the kids the treats that we brought.  Everyone seemed to be happy and Abha wasn't crying or anything. :)  The caregivers were so so so good to give us honest answers to our many, many questions.  Then we went to our hotel and got some giggles from Abha as we played with bubbles and crayons and the orphanage toys.  We traveled the next day to Mumbai and it was a rough ride for Abha as she was very carsick.  We got through it ok, though, and caught our flight yesterday to Delhi.  There we met Marie and she graciously took us shopping for some essentials we had been needing.  This included new shoes for Abha which she loves to take on and off and on and off and on and off.  We are getting to know our little girl who is very scared and shy when we go out and about, and when we are in a hotel room she lets her naughty out!!!  She runs around and tries to find all sorts of stuff to get into!  She laughs hysterically when Dad does silly stuff.  Now, some pictures. :)

With Daddy enjoying a lollypop

With Alex our facilitator

Saying goodbye to the social workers and caretakers

The lovely sign at the "hand-over" ceremony

Trying on some new clothes

Hmmm... not bad :)

We're in India!

We made it to Ratnagiri!  We got all the kids to their respective places and said our goodbyes, then at abour 2pm we left for Pittsburgh.  First flight went well to Atlanta.  Then had a perfect little layover in Atlanta to get where we needed to be to fly to London Heathrow.  The London flight was sparse so for the 8-9 hr flight Zack and I got to take turns laying down on the extra seats and sleep.  Our layover in London was a little longer but didn't seem too bad since we had time to sit and enjoy a nice Lebanese meal.  The flight to Mumbai was very, very full.  I tried to sleep, like, 6 times but couldn't so I watched a few Bollywood movies which were over 2 hours each.  That killed time.  But then when I still couldn't sleep I watched another one.  After 9 hours of constant cheap headphone use I thought I was going to get a pressure ulcer on my ears.  I didn't.  Don't worry.  I survived.  When we got to Mumbai we got through customs and immigration ok with only one tiny snafu with Zack's passport which we just had to wait on them verifying.  We met Alex with no problems and immediately started our journey to Ratnagiri.  It was 10 1/2 hours of catnaps and taking in the Indian city and countryside.  42 hours of travel total to get an hour away from her orphanage.  What a place.  A lot to absorb.  No wonder India fascinates so many, it is just so rich and dense in cultural uniqueness.
Tomorrow is the big day!  We are getting ready to add our fourth child tomorrow, little Abha!  We will have our celebration at the orphanage tomorrow and spend as much time as we can there asking our questions and saying our hellos and goodbyes.  Expect pictures tomorrow upon your awakening!!!

GOING TO INDIA!!!

Finally the long-awaited day has come!  Passport was received late last week and Saturday night we got a message that it was ready and we could fly!  Problem being it was a weekend and I had to get the nerve to text my agency rep Sunday afternoon at her "emergency number" when I couldn't stand the suspense anymore.  She was so good to help me on her "off day", and confirmed that we are good to travel...
2 days later!!!!!
I have been the busiest bee you've ever seen buzz.  We need lots of prayers that our visas clear quickly, that paperwork falls into my lap and that the grandparents' time off can be scheduled seamlessly.  Much is working out so far and we've had barriers crush as we go.
We leave tomorrow!
We're coming to get you Abha!!!!!!!!!

Written update

So yesterday the judge submitted the "writtens" (the hard copy court decree).  It had typos so it was sent back for revisions, which is very common.  So hopefully in the next few weeks we will have a passport submission in the works and can plan travel!

Court approval!!!

We got word that on the 19th, at court hearing number 4, we passed!!!  This means the judge will sign the court decree declaring us Abha's parents.  Hopefully in a few weeks we will have the written document, and a few weeks to a month after that, we will have the passport which means we can travel to get her!!!  Even though we have a few crucial steps ahead of us, we are thankful to have made it this far.  We will be all ready at a moment's notice to hop on a plane and go get our new daughter!

NESTING - waiting for court filing

An Indian adoption update!  We are still waiting for word that the SAA filed our petition in court.  There was a holiday last week, which delayed it a bit.  Hoping it will be filed soon and we can get the hearings rolling.

Little Abha's birthday was last week, so we celebrated with some whoopie pies.  We took a video to show her later, froze a whoopie pie for her to eat when we bring her home, and signed a card that we sent to her orphanage.  Will she get it?  I hope!  We don't have a last name, so hopefully a card addressed "For Abha" will get to her.  Can't do anything but try, right?

pajama'd cuties

 We switched Gianna's room around and put Abha's bed in there.  The other kids already list Abha in the family litany and Gianna draws a fourth kid in her pictures.  We love her already!!!

We are collecting all kids of sizes of girl's clothes - now all we have to do is learn Marathi!

NOC!

We got our No Objection Certificate!  That means as soon as the SAA applies for the court, we can begin the court process!  This is a big step towards bringing Abha home!!!  Thanks everyone for continuing to pray as we inch closer and closer!