We are number 16 on the wait list! After officially submitting our dossier to Ethiopia the first week of March, we learned at the close of the month where we sit on the list of waiting families. Our agency will provide us, at the end of every month, with a summary of activity/progress for the prior time frame. The March summary was the first update to include us. Every month now we will be able to read how many families have received referrals, how many have travelled on their first trip (to attend court) and how many have brought children home.
While it is exciting to know where we stand on this list, we can't get too caught up in the statistical side, as the list is open to change at any time. For example, there are many families ahead of us who have specified a gender preference. There are also a lot of families who are adopting two children, families who are adopting older children and there are also families who have set the same parameters that we have "either gender, 0-12 months." The agency allows any family to change these parameters at any time, therefore potentially changing wait time in either direction.
Needless to say we are thrilled to be "just waiting" or "officially expecting" as some of my relatives have put it, and we look forward to updating you on our latest "number" every month. If all goes as planned, which we hope and pray that it will, we should be home with the newest Pillitteri in the late summer or early fall.
In the meantime, we have been spending our free time preparing for Baby Pillitteri's arrival.
We bought a crib (we have yet to assemble it. I think we will wait till we are feeling adventurous) we also purchased a stroller and have even started a small stockpile of diapers (larger sizes, as we have no way of knowing what size to expect initially).
I myself have also spent free time thinking about our little one, who most likely has already made his or her debut in the world. I pray that he or she is kept safe and healthy and I pray for the safety of his or her family. I know that the circumstances that have or will lead to our child's arrival at an orphanage are not easy ones. I just ask for God's hand to bring comfort and peace to those who will be giving us the greatest gift we will ever receive. I know that He has great plans for us and we both are excited to meet the child He's chosen for us.
