7 months old

Ivy turns 7 months old today.  She's always in our thoughts and today Kevin and I are trying to imagine the sound of her voice and thinking about how much she's changed since her referral photos were taken.  If we don't receive new photos soon I think that I'll go out of my mind.  Kevin & I celebrated Ivy's 7 months by purchasing an Ergo baby carrier and an adorable little dress that she'll wear when she's home in Madison.

We're making progress and earlier this week we received word from the state of WI telling us that all of our state pre-adoptive requirements have been met and that our documents have been forwarded to US Citizenship & Immigration Services for the next, giant, step in bringing Ivy home.  We don't know how long this next step will take, but when I told my friend Yvonne that we were at this point she, half-jokingly, said, "So... have you started packing?"  We know that we're going to be waiting for a while before we receive the travel call, but it's so reassuring to know that the wheels are turning and that we're continuing to move forward.  

We're really focusing on getting her bedroom ready and last night we pulled all the grown-up books out of the bookcases in her room and replaced them with board and picture books. We're also identifying potential images that Kevin is going to paint on canvases that we'll hang on the walls.

Thanks to everyone who has been sending their thoughts, wishes and prayers to Ivy. We're feeling the force of your love.