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To help explain this process better, we are taking some information directly from www.guatadopt.com

More on the adoption..

Here's what we have done so far:
June 2005 Adoption Orientation
7/ 06/05 I-600 A sent in(Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition)
8/16/05 Application sent to adoption agency
9/16/05 Homestudy done!
11/1/05 Homestudy approved by agency
12/1/05 CIS Fingerprints(Immigration)
12/1/05 All dossier documents received the seal from the secretary of State(Trenton)
12/8/05 All documents authenticated( by the consulates of Guatemala in NYC, NY)
12/12/05 Dossier sent to agency
1/19/06 I171H Approval received- we officially started awaiting a referral
3/10/06 REFERRAL --IT'S A GIRL
3/24/06 Dossier/Power Of Attorney sent to Guatemala

NOW- Our attorney is presenting all documents, photos, and medical test results to the US Embassy. The Embassy reviews the file and gives approval for the DNA testing, which is carried out by authorized medical personnel and analyzed by an approved laboratory in the US, under strict chain of custody procedures. The birthmom and child are escorted to the embassy-approved doctor where their identities are verified and saliva samples are collected for DNA analysis. The child’s thumbprint is taken and put into the adoption case file. To verify the child’s identity, US Embassy personnel compare this thumbprint to those taken when the birth was registered or when the birth mother signed custody of the child to the attorney. The birth mother’s identity is verified through her original cedula (photo identification card), a photocopy of which was entered in the adoption case file at the time the birth mother relinquished custody of the child to the attorney. The birth mother’s thumbprints are also taken. A polaroid photograph is taken of the birth mother holding the child on her lap and is attached to the DNA file. The birth mother and foster mother sign forms attesting to their identities, and the birth mother signs her consent for the DNA analysis. The lab sends a copy of the DNA test results (with photos) directly to the US Embassy in Guatemala, and to the adoptive parents and adoption agency.The US Embassy reviews the test results and all supporting documentation. If all documents are in order, the US Embassy provides the attorney with the Consentimiento (consent form)before the PGN will authorize the attorney to prepare the final adoption decree.

This a picture of our nephew, Zachary's FIRST Birthday. Zachary has joined the buttercream icing lovers club!

Bryan and Logan

Watch out YANKEES!

Bryan

Bryan is hanging out with his friend Logan, "just chillin...."


Bryan and his friend, Derek are hitting the yogurt again...
Bryan is showing off his early childhood musical talent!
Bryan is enjoying the spring air. He likes to say, "I am running!"

Our First Child Update

On March 25th we received updated photos of little Maya. It was a wonderful surprise. We are in love with those big eyes. We also received information on her foster mother and some of her habits. Maya's foster mom lives with her husband and their eight year old daughter. Maya sleeps a crib. The report we got said that she is a good baby who wakes up only once during the night for a bottle. We were happy to hear that. She enjoys her bath time and has started to receive her vaccines. We look foward to our next report sometime in April.

Our Referral Day

We started the adoption process in June, 2005. On March 10th, 2006 we were referred a little girl that was born on February 24th, 2006. We are calling her Maya. She is 6 pounds and 19 inches long here. We understand that the birthmom still has time to change her mind, although rare. We are hoping for the best !