in my dreams

Our caseworker would like our court dossier done by the beginning of October. I'm pretty sure that right now is the beginning of October. She says the we will probably invited to court in November and it is imperative that we get moving. Listen, I'm moving but most of it is out of our hands. She wonders why we haven't done our doctor visits or had our criminal records checked in Kansas. Well here's the thing. When you get a new home study (remember, we moved) I assume you need to submit it to USCIS and get a new I-171H. It's a form from the government that says we can adopt a kid. Anyway, the first one took 7 months to get. I know it's not going to take that long this time, but it is going to take more than a week.

The criminal checks are only good for 6 months and the doctor checks are only good for 3. My goal is to update as little as possible, so I was planning on waiting until sending things to USCIS then getting the other checks done. Seems like the right thing to do. No? Am I missing something?

November would be amazing, but I know it's not going to happen then. I am aiming for the end of the year or the beginning of next. That reminds me of registering. The computer asks you when you are due. I really have no idea, so we just picked a date. 1/11/11 -does it only amuse me...most likely.

a backyard rainbow

draft

This evening I received a draft of our new home study! Only a few things that need to be fixed. Waiting on our Kansas fingerprints to pass.

Anyone out there move during your adoption and have to send your new home study in so you could get a new I-171H? How long did that take?

approved

"It has been determined that you are able to furnish proper care to an orphan as defined in section (blah blah blah) of the Immigration and Nationality Act"
-Your friends at the Department of Homeland Security

Ya! We have been approved to have a kid!

I wonder how long it will take when we send them out updated home study...

Also, you can pat me on the back, Kansas just told me that neither Jim or I have abused children. Go us.

childproofing?

We don't have our child, yet. We have done little to actually prepare our home for our under two year old. However, I was walking around our yard this morning and wondering if I should take some childproofing tips from nature.



A super spiky Hawthorn tree and two gardens full of roses will surly keep a child away

double chocolate chip cookies

three dozen, freshly backed, double chocolate chip cookies

securely packaged among shredded fidelity statements and
old credit card bills

the cookies were mailed off just hours after being made

these are the three I saved for myself

email me at trisha.tylick@gmail.com to get your own

a visit to the CPA

There are, what feels like, a million documents that need to be created and then approved by various people in order to get our dossier together. From what I have heard one of the most difficult is a certain financial form that we fill out and a CPA (certified public accountant) approves and signs.
It's not particularly hard. We know how much our house is worth, how much we make, our debt, our life insurance policies, and all that other business. However, the difficulty is finding a CPA that will sign off on the financial information you have listed, give you a copy of their license, and then have it all notarized. We thought it would be even more difficult since we moved to Kansas and we don't have a regular "tax guy" down here. I've heard of people asking and asking to find someone willing to do this.
We got lucky! We have been going to a new church and we asked the pastor if he knew of anyone at the church that is a CPA. Yep! Jim called the guy and he said come on down with all your information and I'll help you out. Just like that. Jim had the day off today so he stopped by and got it taken care of. Easy. Lovely. Done with that.

Many people keep asking, when are you going back? Great question. We still need to...
-Get a copy of our updated home study (waiting on Kansas fingerprint approval and child abuse clearing...fingers crossed)
-Get approval from the Department of Homeland Security (could they be any slower?)
-Be cleared by a doctor. Not looking forward to getting blood drawn. Can I be a mom if I'm still a baby?
-When all that is done and notarized I'll take a trip to Topeka to have it all apostatized then send it to our agency and wait, wait, wait.

ready for some cookies?

Scroll down for the updated menu! New items are marked with a *

This little cookie club started to help us raise money for our adoption. Our adoption is finished and everything has been paid in full, but I don't want to be done. I love to bake and I've received very positive feedback from my current subscribers, so let the cookies continue...

What you have to do
Choose your subscription
Decide what you want (1 choice each month) and when you want service to start.
Send me an email at trisha.tylick@gmail.com
Upon receiving your check I'll get started on your order.

*gift cards are also available and can be mailed directly to the person of your choice

The menu
Chocolate chip cookies
Chocolate chip cookies with pecans
Double chocolate chip cookies

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
Cowboy cookie (oatmeal chocolate chip with coconut, chocolate chips, and pecans) this has been, by far, the most requested item!
Oatmeal butterscotch

Peanut butter cookies
*Coconut-Pecan shortbread cookies (think pecan sandies)
*lemon sugar snaps

Brownies –Chewy and Chocolaty
Regular
Mint
Double chocolate
Turtle (pecans and caramel)
The Blondie -not so chocolaty

Bars
*Shortbread bars
Chocolate shortbread bars

Bread/Cake
*Marble Cake with White Chocolate Glaze (baked in a loaf pan)
*Banana Bread (walnuts, chocolate chips, coconut) I'll gladly omit any of the stuff you don't want but trust me it's amazing.
*Cherry Cake-a not too sweet white cake studded with dark sweet cherries and dusted with powdered sugar (a thin cake cut into triangles)

Everything is made with really real ingredients like butter, sugar, chocolate, nuts, homemade caramel, etc. No margarine. Everything will be made and shipped on the same day to ensure the best possible freshness.

Subscriptions
3 month $60
6 month $120
9 month $180
12 month $220
All subscriptions include 3 dozen cookies or 16-20 brownies/bars, packaging, and shipping. The profits will be put into our son's bank account (how much will college cost in 16 years?) or to help support other family's adoptions.

If you are a past or current subscriber, leave a comment about your experience. The delicious, the crummy, your favorite, your least favorite, and whatever else you can come up with!

A month

It's been one month since we said "see ya later" to our baby. He turned into a 15 month old and I bet he took his first step, or is really really close.

In the past month we moved into our house, sent in our application to a new home study agency, updated a few forms, and are continuing to wait for our I-171H. This Friday our new caseworker is coming out to approve our home.

Hoping for a productive week.