9 Months!

We have reached the nine month mark for LIDiversaries! It has been 17 months since we started our journey. We are hoping that we only have to count another 1 or 2 months of LIDiversaries and we will be off to China!

We are so hoping that the next couple of weeks will bring good news for us about our LOA/LSC (Letter of Acceptance/Letter Seeking Commitment). Once we receive it, we have to sign it and get it back to China. After that it is Travel Arrangements/Letter of Coming! Which means off to China we go! When we last heard from our agency a couple of weeks ago, we were in Department 1, waiting to go into Department 2. Dept. 2 is where the LOA/LSC is granted.

So, when do we suspect we will travel? We are thinking late June, early July. Usually the file is in Dept 2 for a few weeks, then once LOA is sent out and returned TA should follow about 1-3 weeks later, and then we just have to wait for the next travel group to go.

So, we are counting the days. Today is day 73! For those not familiar with the process, families generally count from the day their letter of intent goes to China to the date they receive travel arrangements. 100 days is often the magical number, some earlier, some later. We have seen them as early as 42 days, and as late as 150 days. The new step of LOA/LSC has added some time in there. Day 83 has nagged me since the start of our journey? Coincidence? We are not sure. It is the day we fly down for Ryan's wedding, so maybe that is in. Only time will tell.

So, we did receive an update on Aidan this week. Today, he is one of 2 babies left in the nursery. One is going home today. She has been with Aidan for the last 7 months, so I am sure he will miss Amy.

Other things we found out is that he: is very active, is happiest after he eats, is a really happy guy almost all of the time, He is not afraid to try and walk, He has even tried walking with his head on the carpet! It is hard to explain but he can pivot and get good balance to walk. He has not really taken the steps yet because he does not want to be still long enough for that. He likes to be aware of his surroundings and does not like sudden change. He is actually quite happy in his crib in the morning when he wakes up. He knows right where he is and feels comfortable. He seems to require a lot of sleep, more than the other babies, he starts getting cranky when he does not have enough rest, but the SWI thinks that is normal granted that he is so active. They have not heard him say any words. He is quite quiet. His nickname from the nannies is Lin Lin. The director doesn't know how it started, but it is cute, and is really close to Aidan in sound, so that is great.