What's happin' with the Morris-Seales family?

There was a package from the agency and I figured it was more paperwork. But to my surprise it was 4 disposable cameras from our fostermom. The pictures were of Meredith before we visited and through Christmas. Apparently I didn't leave enough cameras oh well she'll be home in two weeks anyway. I have added a slide show at the bottom of this page. Scroll down to the bottom and check out the pictures. Some are old and some are from today's surprise. ENJOY!!!!

That's what my days are consisting of these days. List of things I need to pack, lists of things I need to buy, List of chores I need to do around the house, List of sites to see and gifts I want to buy while in Guatemala, and lists of task I need to finish at work before I leave. I'm proud to say that I've crossed of several items this week from my chores list. I have the adoption announcements ready to mail, the lawn service is coming Saturday to clean up the yard, and you can actually see the floor in Meredith's room. I'm almost finished packing mine and Meredith's suitcases. It's kinda hard to pack the stuff you use everyday... WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET THERE!!!!! HOLD ON MEREDITH MOMMY IS COMING!!!!!!

Guatemala Here we come!!! After much Internet research and many hours on the phone. I have booked our itinerary. We leave Louisville on Friday April 13th. Our Embassy appointment is April 16th at 7:15 am, we are number 13. We fly home on Wednesday April 18th. We will be staying at the Westin Camino Real in Guatemala City.

What do you get when you mix red and white?????? PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YYYYYAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOO Our appt is 04/16/07 at 7:15 am We will probably be home the 18th or 19th. I'm working out the details as we speak. Aunt Lib I think the pink ribbons worked today. Rebecca also go her appt today and hers is 04/17/07, kinda bummed that we won't be a the embassy together, but we will be a the hotel together.

since we are in the same boat. I NEED PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE OH PLEASE let me have PINK!!!! Meredith is 9 months old today and we want her HOME!!!! They keep telling us Thursday, Thursday, Thursday. I sure wish it was Thursday.

What else can I say. Apparently the US Embassy is taking an extra look at every ones file now due to the recent incident that happened with a baby being smuggled in. So our attorney was told to come back next Thursday and pick up the pink slip. We don't know what to say, except we are devastated that we have yet another week to endure before we know when Meredtih can come home. Anyone want to ready about this incident you can go to: www.guatadopt.com

We were submitted yesterday (Tuesday) for PINK . I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. There is some confusion as to when the Embassy will be open/closed to Americans and Guatemalans. So I emailed the Embassy this morning and I plan to call down there later today. Our attorney is suppose to go back to the Embassy tomorrow at 3:45pm (5:45 our time) and pick up any Pink slips that are waiting. We hope it is ours and Rebecca's. It really looks like our appointment will be the 2nd week of April which is what I expected. I'm hoping that it will be the 9th or 10th so we can travel down to partake in the Easter festivities. We will be staying at the Marriott again. The Pool and Restaurant are both open now. Stay tuned for travel updates......

That's right. Meredith applied for her passport today. It will be ready to pick up Monday morning. There is a bit of confusion as to if the US Embassy is open to Guatemalans on Monday so it looks like Tuesday we will be submitted to the embassy for PINK!!!!!!! It takes 48 hours for the embassy to release the pink slip. So hopefully by Thursday we will know the date of our appointment. YYYIIIPPEEE!!!!!!!!!! Once we have a definite date we will decide when we want to head down. I'm getting so antsy that I don't know how much longer I can wait. So we might head down a few days early and take in the sites.

The civil registry held their promise our birth certificate was just picked up. So now on to the next step. What is the next step you ask???? Well as we speak they are submitting the birth certificate to be translated into English this should be ready to pick up tomorrow afternoon or Monday morning. Then they have to apply for Meredith's passport which could take 24-72 hours to return. Then it is on to the embassy to wait for PINK!!!! Keep in mind all those crazy days the embassy is closed in the next 2 weeks. So we could find out our appointment next week or the following week. I still feel like we won't travel till after Easter. But hoping for a awesome surprise. Oh Rebecca got her birth certificate too today, so Zachary is now officially a Steen. As it appears right now we will get to be in Guatemala together!!! COME ON PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We did indeed hear from the agency today. The Civil Registry said that our birth certificate will be ready on the 8th. So keep your fingers crossed. I also received a copy of the final adoption decree today, so we can apply for the State Employee grant, wwwooohoooo!!! The attorney said that if the Civil Registry holds true to what they say about the 8th she will submit us to the Embassy for pink on the 13th. Why the delay? Well the US Embassy is closed several days in the next 2 weeks. March 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 20, 23. Some of those days the embassy is just CLOSED to everyone regarding adoptions, other days the embassy is only closed to Guatemalans, ie Fridays. So just because I've listed these days above doesn't mean that we won't find out our Pink appt that week. The Embassy will still inform families of their pink appointments they just won't have any on these days. Confusing huh??? Welcome to the wonderful world of International Adoption. So in summary Meredith will ...

Just heard from the agency that we were submitted to the Civil Registry yesterday. What that means is that we have applied for Meredith's birth certificate to be amended. This could take anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks. Looks like right now we won't travel till 1st or 2nd week of April. We are playing beat the clock right now, the 1st week of April is Holy Week and they tend to take several days off that week. So we may get to celebrate Becky's birthday in Guatemala. We'll keep you posted.