Great News!

Here she is, just waiting for us! Ivy Sara looks ready to be scooped up by her parents, doesn't she?

We got the news today that the custody has been transferred to the adoption agency- just waiting for us to go to Japan and pick her up. It was a great relief to us to hear that the paperwork was completed.

We have been staying busy during our wait by stocking up on baby items and finishing some projects. We both bought baby carriers and are trying to figure out how they work. We also have to get our car seat installed and learn how to operate it. We have received some lovely gifts so far, like the lovely quilt made by my dear neighbor and friend Joann. Also, check out Ivy's first Teddy Bear-- so cuddly and soft, I've already tested it out!

I'm almost done with the decorating... only a couple of small pieces of artwork to complete. Some of you wanted to see the kimono I ordered from ebay- I chose it for the colors, which I think are beautiful.

So, here are the particulars: Ivy's birthday is April 25th and though she weighed less than 6 pounds at birth, she's close to 9 pounds now. We will leave San Francisco on July 19th to travel to Tokyo to meet her. We actually won't meet her until July 25th. So hard to wait that long, but what's a few more days in a 10 year wait? We will spend a few more days in Japan with her and then travel home on August 1st, landing in San Francisco on August 2nd.

Tuesday we are heading to the Adoption Agency Office to get the immigration paperwork organized, and final details set. I'm pretty sure that the three weeks before we leave will fly by!!!

We are really enjoying hearing from our friends and family at this time- sharing our news! We'll send more updates as we have them!

At last we have some news...

As some of you already know... we got a call on Wednesday morning from Taz to let us know that we had been matched with a baby girl. This is a picture of Sara, who is currently 2 months old and waiting for us in Tokyo. We don't have a lot of information yet, but expect to get a lot more information starting at the end of next week. What we do know is that we already love her!

We are waiting for appointments to be set up for her passport, for her embassy appointment, etc. and then we'll be making our plans!

It's been such a long road for us over the years, that it seems kind of unreal! It's beginning to sink in a little now. I look around our house, and think how different it will be when we bring our bundle of joy home with us. I cant wait to hold her... just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. Brian will tell her stories about Rufus the squirrel.... it will be wonderful!

We feel as prepared as we can be. We have most of the "stuff" that we need and have read some books on baby care. I'm sure I will be calling on the help of friends and family for advice along the way--- you know who you are! Fortunately, I was able to "practice" with an infant that Sally takes care of for the last few months, so I have officially changed a few diapers, but Brian hasn't!!!

We plan to name her Ivy. Its a name that we have both loved for a long time- kind of old fashioned, and perhaps a little bit unique. We will keep her other name Sara as her middle name, as a part of her heritage.

I'm adding a few more pictures here, and will add more when we get them. Thanks everyone for your support and interest in our journey. It's an amazing time for us, and we can't wait to get there and scoop her up!