One adoptive parent must be a Canadian citizen in order for the adopted child to be granted citizenship...

Well my friends, I am, apparently, Canadian.

This coming from a Canadian born always lived in Canada and hasn't traveled out of North America type of girl might seem obvious to you.

Not so obvious to the immigration team working in Sydney Nova Scotia.

I rushed about on a beautiful June day getting certified true copies of 3 pieces on my Identification (passport, driver's licence, birth certificate).

Several dozens of minutes on hold, a few invigorating conversations with the Immigration call centre about time lines and 3 months later the "estimated 2 week turnaround" has turned around...

Everything is out of my hands now.
Next- Ontario reviews my adoption approval and Benjaminh's referral paperwork and issues a letter called the LONO (Letter 0f N0 0bjecti0n)
Vietnam processes my Dossier and Benjaminh's Dossier and eventually issues a LOI (Letter of Invitation)
I travel to my son's birth Country and meet my sweet Benjaminh.

For now?
I wait.
With a big sloppy grin on my face while I stare at the brand new 8x10 I had printed on the weekend.

All Done!

I took the day off yesterday to get my referral acceptance paperwork together. I felt a bit guilty for taking a full day for something that might take an hour or two but signed on a supply teacher for a full day despite my feelings of guilt.

I should have known better.

You would think that after 28+ months in the adoption race I would realize that all perceived time lines must be multiplied by an unknown value. Never, never zero, never 1 and very seldom 2 or 3.

Don't ask what took so long. Just know that I was up at 8 to drive over to see my Adoption Practitioner and my paperwork was at the purolator depot by 7pm...

and then I promptly went shopping.

For Benjaminh.

For the first time I bought a few coordinating clothing items with a baby's little face and body type tucked into the corner of my mind. I shopped for travel. Travel to Vietnam that will likely happen when it is on the colder side (for Vietnam).

3 long sleeved 6-12 month onesies in various baby/blue chocolate brown patterns and two pairs of track pants, one baby blue, one chocolate brown. All from Gymboree's newest monkey line of course.

And I learned about Gym Bucks. I got me some Gym Bucks of my very own. Gym Bucks could prove to be my newest addiction.

First Doctor Visit

Took my sweet boy to the doctor today...
in a purolator envelope.
He's perfect...
but I already knew that.

Wednesday,
Adoption Practioner.

I will accept this referral unconditionally.
He was mine the moment I saw his face...
Tuesday June 24th, 2008
8:10 a.m.

Joy and Pain

As I gaze endlessly at an 8x10 computer generated copy of sweet Benjaminh relaxing in a hammock I feel intense joy. At times over-whelming. I stare at a photo of tiny curled toes and long slender fingers. Imagine his little elfin ear hiding behing his raised arm. Dream about his baby smile and belly giggle. I know the details of this new picture. Finger tips woven through the bright green mesh. This sweet 3 month old baby boy.

I know every detail of the other 12 pictures as well. The early pictures. The little red cumberbund tied around his 19 day old middle. His little sock covered hands. Tiny cheek scratches. A red eye that worried me for days before he was ever really mine to worry about.

The stork visited me at 9am today. In the school office. The stork delived my future right into my quivering hands.

And now, today, I know a few details of Benjaminh's story. I know exactly what I was doing at the moment Benjaminh lost his first family. I've read the documents that set out a chain of events in black and white. Benjaminh's chain of life. Benjaminh's story to tell, someday, if he wants to.

While I sit here feeling intense joy I simultaneously sit here imagining the unbeliveable pain of a birth family on the other side of the world.

Joy and pain, tears of happiness and sorrow, wrapped up tight in a 4.7 kilo package.

Sweetness set to music...

I really have no idea if this youtube upload will work.
Never done it before.
If it does not work I'm sure someone will tell me and I will keep trying...

Click here

Sweet Benjaminh

Click here for a video preview of sorts...the video is delayed.
I have been blessed with a referral for a sweet baby boy that I will call Benjaminh. After what has at times seemed like forever and ever my turn to be a mommy has arrived. I am blessed.

Benjaminh is living in an orphanage in a Vietnamese province outside of Hanoi. He rests comfortably in a green hammock with his arms stretched up and his tiny little toes curled. He stares straight into the camera, straight into my soul. He is beautiful. Everything I could possibly dream and more. Chubby little cheeks and fat little ankles.

As some of you know I have been doubly blessed as real life friends travelled to Benjaminh's home in June. They asked at that time which baby might be mine. They stroked his little legs and held his little hand. They took photos, just in case. 12 photos in total. I have, because of their kind and loving investigative work, 12 photos of my sweet baby when he was soooo new. Perhaps 2 1/2 weeks old. This is a gift that will be with my son as he grows up. Photos of a tiny baby Ben. Stories of a very protective and loving nanny. A gift I could not have given my son without their help. I hope I can pay that priceless favour forward very soon.

I won't be posting photos of Sweet Ben on this unprotected site. If you are interested in seeing his sweet face I'll link you up to another page soon...if you don't know the password but wish you did contact me at lazy2thebones@yahoo.ca

I'm going to go stare at 13 beautiful photos of my son now.

Those of you still searching for your children or waiting for the child you have already found...please know you are in my thoughts all of the time.

From where I sit right now it seems to be true.
The wait is really worth it.
Really.

My friends,

I am thrilled to announce that the program director has just emailed me (from the cottage I'm sure) to let me know the final piece of paperwork and the referral photos of my son have arrived. She is obviously on holiday so I have no details whatsoever…but when I do I will certainly share.

Tomorrow would be a great day for a phone call!

Stay tuned for more exciting news in the days to come!

Bev,
big brother Boomer
and…
sweet Benjaminh