benson brothers

Benson Brothers - that was the title they put on my January update.  Yesssssss, I love it.

Getting updates from the orphanage for me is like being a 6-year-old on Christmas morning. As I can attest, having witnessed an actual 6-year-old on Christmas morning one month ago - it is pretty darn exciting. Since there was no report in December, they must have felt the need to compensate a little bit, and sent TONS of photos too.

brothers

ashley, 17 months - mickenson, 4 years and 2 months

cute ashley :)

hahahahahahaha

k, I think he looks like Mickenson in this one:

Mickenson :)

he looks so happy! :)

 babe.

 
Ashley’s report made me laugh out loud. Here is part of it:

“Behavior: Ashley is a calm and content child. He enjoys receiving affection from the nannies as well as using his walking skills. He is strong and a quick mover. Ashley walks from friend to friend and taps them. He has good balance but tends to knock his friends down who are not as sure footed.... He is a solid child with a strong hand and surprises himself when he knocks his friends down.”  Hahaha, funny little guy knocking his  friends over.

Mickenson is growing up too fast. He already looks older to me in these pictures. I wish I could freeze time (I have had this desire ever since London turned one). He is learning English now and they say he is a very active child:

“Mickenson is most often seen with a smile on his face.  He likes to join in group activities and finds happiness by keeping busy with his friends.  He enjoys outside play time and the freedom it gives him to burn off energy. He likes to swing, run, catch and throw. Mickenson gets along well with the other boys in his age group. When he feels overwhelmed, he likes to be held and cuddled. Mickenson states that his friends at the crèche are Ashley and Ms. Elud. He continues to enjoy art projects, especially coloring.”

Both boys are in good health and as the nannies at the crèche put it, “thanks to God that there have not been any major sicknesses at the crèche during this month.”

10 children from the crèche were released to their adoptive families in the past month, which is very encouraging.  They are so darling, I don't know how much longer I can wait.  Oh ya, THIS much longer:

process from here on out...
So... my ridiculous naivete never ceases to amaze me. A while back I sort of gave a brief run-down of the adoption process. Silly me, apparently I left off like 10 or 20 steps. Ok, not that many. But it seems like it. For everyone who has asked about the process and length of waiting, here is a little update on that. What I understand of it, at least.  It really isn't that bad or that long, especially compared to other International Adoption standards.
 
The Haitian government agency through which all adoptions are processed through is the IBESR. That is where the adoption file may sit for an unknown period of time. Some may sit for 6 months or more, while others (such as two recent friends of mine) may have theirs approved within 2 or 3 months. This is where I will be as soon as my boys’ documents are processed (most likely in a matter of weeks), waiting for IBESR to approve my files. This, however, is not the end of the road.

Once IBESR approves the file (or files in my case), they are then in PARQUET, where they stay for about 2 or 3 weeks until you get your final adoption decrees.

After that, the children will need to obtain Haitian passports from MOI which could take about 2 to 3 months (hopefully less).

Finally, an I-600 United States Immigration form must be submitted (and physically filed down in Haiti) and an I-604 investigation completed before the boys will be allowed to enter the United States. This could take about 2 to 3 months as well.

Bottom line: long and slow journey baby.

In the interim, I would LOVE to go back to Haiti and actually meet my boys in person. Seriously, so bad.  I can't let myself think about it, because I want to so bad.  But, to avoid unnecessary costs and additional emotional trauma, I am thinking I will need to wait until it is time to go down there and file my I-600.  Until then, I have compiled a little package to send down to them.  My agency let me know that I could send photos and letters that they will hang up in the boys' rooms.  Love, love, love.