SAIGE ELIZABETH ALEMNESH BURKE

REFERRAL PICTURE 4 1/2 MONTHS


5 1/2 MONTHS


6 MONTHS

PRAISE GOD...IT'S FINALLY OFFICIAL!!!!

I received the call from Brett with my agency at 9:45AM telling me that WE PASSED COURT!!!!! I am officially a mom!!!! Alemnesh offically has a family!!! Oh and Alemnesh(Saige) will turn 8 month old in two days. 7 weeks from tomorrow we leave for Ethiopia.

TOMORROW NIGHT!

Tomorrow night while I sleep (try to sleep) my adoption agency will petition the court in Addis Ababa to make Almenesh (Saige) my daughter. Someone from my agency, a representative from Beta Saida orphanage, and someone from MOWA will be there. I hope and pray that we will pass court the first time around. After passing court Almenesh (Saige) will legally be my daughter. Then we will wait for travel dates. I have been given a tentative date of June 21st to pick up her VISA at the U.S. Embassy in Addis. Travel dates are dependant on the Visa date which is usually 8 weeks after passing court.

Keep your fingers crossed and say an extra prayer that we will pass court without any challenges. Please, Please,Please!!!!!!!

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!!!

Let's see.... My mom and Shannon had a shower for me on 4/10. It was wonderful to see everyone and celebrate the upcoming arrival of my little one.


My second cousin Olivia made the cake. Isn't it AWESOME!?!



Mom made the diaper cake.



Opening presents. Lots of little helpers.


Donna. Trina, and Jill.



Mom, Jane. & Shannon. Thanks for the shower!


Kate, Aunt Jane, & Alex. Aren't my niece and nephew too cute for words!?! I love them!




The early the next day Cindy and I headed for L.A. to start our week long cruise on Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas.






Had a great time. Very relaxing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

China

It looks like the China process is speeding up. If it continues at the same pace I will be able to bring Chloe home in the first half of 2012. Yes, I said 2012! Yes, that means I will have waited 6-6 1/2 years for her!

By then Saige will be 2 1/2 to 3 years old and Chloe should be just under 1 year. I will not be matched until 6 weeks before I leave for China.

It's all so complicated and ever changing, but I know it will be worth it after I have my baby girls in my arms. Lord please hurry!

Catching up!!!!

Well, it's been a while and life has been a bit crazy. From drama at work to changes in the Ethiopian adoption process, but time seems to work everything out. My daughter turned 7 months old on March 28th. I received my court date last week(April 28th) and tentative travel date (June 21st). So as always things could change, but for now these are the dates we are going with.



What else? Spent a week at our corporate office. My contractor finished my basement which looks amazing.

My managers had a suprise baby shower for me "TODAY" which blew me away.



Saturday, mom and Shannon are having a shower for me too. Sunday, Cindy and I leave on the cruise I won through my company. I can't wait. I need this vacation like no other. It will also be great to get caught up with Cindy. I miss having her here in town.

Oh, we also completed Saige's room! It's just perfect! Whew! I'm tired!



That's all for now!