Well, I'll be darned!

We received PA (pre-approval) from China -- we get to adopt Addison!!!!

PA actually means that the China Center for Adoptive Affairs has given us an informal approval and will issue a formal approval once all our paperwork is in, reviewed, etc. -- provided that our dossier supports the statements made in our Letter of Intent.

Holy Moly! We have a son. And a really cute son, at that. More later -- LOTS to do! In the meantime, take a gander at this handsome guy. Addison ShengJun -- our baby boy.

REMINDER -- In summary, here's the process:

• Send in LOI (7/9/07)
• Receive PA (hopefully!) (8/10/07)
• Get fingerprints in order to receive the I-171H (permission to bring a child into the country)
• Work on home study -- WHICH WE HAVEN'T STARTED AND NEED TO ASAP
• Complete home study and send it to the immigration office in Orlando (which gives us the ever-coveted I-171H) GOAL DATE: October 1st
• Recieve I-171H, send dossier to Chinese consulate the next day
• Send dossier to agency, they send it to China GOAL DATE: October 25th (our 2 year anniversary of meeting Kate in China)
• Wait 3 - 4 months for LOA (Letter of Approval) which is China's formal approval of us as Addison's new parents GOAL DATE: Febrary 25th (Scott's birthday)
• Sign it and party it up for a little bit while waiting for TA
• Receive TA GOAL DATE: March 25th
• Panic because you haven't done anything productive while waiting for TA
• Get consulate appointment (the last step of the process in China, our oath at the US Consulate) The travel dates are all coordinated around this consulate appointment
• Go to China GOAL DATE: April 15th (Hey, tax day should be a good day for someone)
• Let the fun begin!