Approved!!!

We have officially received what is called "First Approval" from the Thai Adoption Board!  This is a HUGE step in our journey to bring Ellie home!  This approval will generate a document called an Article 16 that we need to file for her Visa paperwork to bring her home.  Unfortunately the Board is very behind on issuing their Article 16's so it is unclear when we will get the document :(  It could be in a week or two or a couple months from now.  If there's one thing we know for sure about Thailand's adoption process, its that its unpredictable to say the least!

The more sentimental thing that came from this approval is that we are officially recognized now as Ellie's parents in the eyes of the Thai government!  Pattaya (the babies' home where Ellie is) even said in the email to our agency "now that they have received approval they can come get her."  Oh we wish it were that easy!

So we will continue to pray that that crazy Article 16 comes quickly and then hopefully we can be on our way!!!

Happy Birthday Ellie!!

Well, our little girl turned 2 without us :(  These birthdays apart are hard!  We celebrated 2 of them before Max came home so we were well prepared for the emotion the day would bring with it.  But what we weren't used to was the AMAZING joy that a big brother adds to things!!  Max had a blast celebrating her all day! 

 Max made her the sweetest "princess birthday crown" and card!

 

Max kept saying "I just wish Ellie could be here to see this!"

 

Baby girl, we love you so much and we are rejoicing in the fact that this should be the last birthday we spend apart.  Your presents are waiting, wrapped for you (but of course we happily ate the cake!!!)