Forty Days

Yesterday we received the email that we've been waiting forever for.  The Latvian orphan court finally set our court dates and we now know the exact day that we will be meeting our son.  After months of wondering, it feels incredible to be able to start an official countdown.  

We will be leaving for Latvia on February 18th.  

Forty days.  

Though we always hoped it would be sooner, we are content in knowing it's all happening in God's perfect timing.  It suddenly feels so real, so close we can taste it.  We can finally get flights and an apartment and make actual plans.  No more guessing.

Adding to the excitement is the fact that since we now have official court dates, they will be telling D that he is going to be adopted.  Even though we've been working on this adoption since June, they don't tell D until the court dates are set.  I so wish I could be a fly on the wall when they tell him he is being adopted, to see his reaction when he finds out he is wanted.

We were lucky enough to be able to send him a gift bag with some pictures of us, which he also probably received today.  To think that he is "seeing" us for the first time is very exciting. 

 Sort of like a reverse sonogram.  

We made sure to add pictures that make us look normal and parental, showing our love for the outdoors, our dog, and large bodies of water.  There were a surprising amount of photos that made the "not acceptable to show him at this time" pile.

I left out the picture of Fans in his Chicago Bears orange pants.

And the one of me as Brandi the 36 year-old brownie.  

Of course the one of us partying like it's 1985.

And I may be wrong, but Fans with a squirrel head may not be a photo that screams, "Come home with us.  We are totally normal".

I think the ones that made the cut are a good first look into his new fam.  I hope in time he appreciates the squirrel head, but thought it would be smart to tuck the crazy back in and let him get to know us first.  No need in scaring the little dude.  

Oh, how I hope he is excited.  Pray that he is willing to start a new adventure with us as his parents.  It is incredibly scary for him to leave all that he knows and the caregivers that love him to come to the US with two strangers.  

He is a brave little boy.

So now we continue to prepare for our long stay in Latvia.  We will be there for almost four weeks living with D in an apartment to satisfy what Latvia calls the "bonding" period.  It is a chance for us to bond as a family and get to know each other, and make sure D is comfortable with us before bringing him back to the US.  We can't wait.

Forty days.