Adopting Baby Schlenner: Happy Gotch'a Day Gabriella

China Adoption Timeline

Travel 10/5/10/22!!
Travel Acceptance 8/28
Articla 5 p/u 9/15
Waiting for Article 5 drop off 9/1
NVC cabled 8/31
NVC approval 8/30
I800 Approval 8/25
LOA 8/4/11
Pre-Approval from CCAA 5/6/11
LOI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4/29/11
REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4/28/11
LID!!! 4/21/11
DTC!!!! 4/6/11
I-800 Approval from USCIS 3/23/11
USCIS Fingerprinting 3/14/11
Dossier sent to Chinese Consulate 2/25/11
Dossier approved 2/1/11
Dossier Paperwork Complete 1/28/11
I-800A to USCIS!! 1/28/11
PA Approval!! 1/27/11
Homestudy 12/13/10
Application Approved!! 11/12/10
Registration & Application!! 8/22/10
Started the Process for China 8/11/10

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Happy Gotch'a Day Gabriella

Today is Gabriella's Gotch'a Day Celebration!!!! Seven years ago today Ryan and I pledged to the Orenburg Court in Russia that we would be Gabriella Yulia Hopes parents and forever love and care for her! We went to the baby orphanage where Gabriella lived for 11 months and took her out of there as quickly as we could. It was one of the best days of our lives and forever changed our lives!!!!!!!!!!! Gabriella was 11 months old and 11 pounds when we left the orphanage. Tiny, sick, malnourished, and very weak.

Gotch'a Days are BIG events in our house. Almost bigger than a birthday!!!!!!!!!! The morning begins with breakfast in bed and stories of her Gotch'a Day. Then I prepare a cultural Russian meal for dinner, and we wrap the night up with videos of our travels to Russia.

Happy Gotch'a Day Gabriella! We so happy we Gotch'a!!!We love you!

2 comments:

Nikki said...: Oh, Ann I needed to hear that today! Happy Gotcha Day Gabriella!; March 24, 2011 at 8:00 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy Day Gabbs! Know your Auntie Holly and Cuz Harley love you very much. We're so glad we "Gottcha"!
Love you!; March 24, 2011 at 8:17 AM