Oh Happy Day...Oh Happy Day....

So..the other night Travis and I finally sat down and completed our homestudy application. Since we are going through a Christian homestudy agency, there was a part of the application that asked a few questions about your Christian faith. One of Travis's responses brought a tear to my eye - "Our little girl will be taught how to pray and live her life honoring God." I know it sounds so cheesy that I would cry, but I did indeed get a little misty. It reaffirms that yes, Travis and I will have a little girl! We finished our application, and I sent it in today! Yippeee!

That's all for now - we are just waiting to hear back "officially" from our homestudy agency to set up our first visit!

The Cat is out of the Bag!

By the heading of this post, you know that we have spilled the beans about our adoption. On Saturday, I told my sister the news that we are beginning our adoption process. I HAD to tell her before I could tell anyone else. My sister and I are extremely close, and if I didn't tell her first, I would hear about it for the rest of my life. However, the first picture is of the onesies I made to tell her the good news. The onesies say, "I heart Auntie Brianna" "Auntie Brianna's Cupcake" and "Made in Ethiopia." Everyone was tearing up as Brianna lifted them out of the bag! She was so excited. Auntie Brianna has been asking for a niece/nephew since Travis and I got married - for over three years. So, she has finally got her wish! Travis also called his parents to share with them the good news. They were super excited as well.

Before telling Brianna, earlier Saturday, I made my "first" baby purchase (hence the second photo). I bought a Baby Einstein photo album. Travis and I are hoping to fill it with pictures of us, our families, and Puppy Lily and send them with an AGCI family once we recieve our referral, so that our baby will be able to see pictures of us before we go pick her up. It is amazing because it is water-proof and chew-proof! It is so awesome, and I can't wait to fill to it up with pictures :)

One last note, last night Travis and I began a journal to our Baby Girl, whom we like to refer to as our little Cupcake. I hope she will enjoy reading it in future years, and knowing how much her mommy and daddy love her :)

PRAISE GOD!! Our application has been approved by AGCI. I'm so excited! Travis is out of town this week - so I called him, and he is super excited! We can't wait to share the wonderful news with our families over Thanksgiving! I couldn't wait to tell my mom - who has given me much needed support in this endeavor thus far. She was extremely excited as well. Our struggle right now is not telling my sister. She is coming up this weekend, so I hope to make a box full of goodies and get her reaction. However, it is going to be so hard not to tell her before Saturday. I'm making some shirts for her to share the good news! Don't worry, I will upload pictures. I'M SO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!!

USPS...

According to the USPS, our application arrived at AGCI yesterday! They should be in contact with us at the begining of next week! I'll update more then!

Our Journey Begins

Today marks the "first official day" of our adoption process. We sent in our adoption application to All God's Children International. Trav and I are so anxious for AGCI to recieve our application and to contact us about it. Though we know this is just the first of many waits as we begin this journey. However, that is not going to stop us from stalking that package via usps.com (thank you post office for being able to track packages in-route!).

**yes, I did indeed take a picture of our application before walking inside the post office to mail it :)

Now, off to check the location of our application :)