Catch-up

I'm not really sure where the time is going, but there is a pro and a con to this. The pro is that it is getting closer to summertime and closer to being able to FINALLY go HOME! The con is that it is getting closer to summertime and closer to HOPEFULLY being able to go HOME! Every day that ticks by that we don't hear any news of the status of our paperwork, I become more stressed out.

There are five stages that must be completed before we can get out of here:
1. Recording of Finalization of Adoption at Makati City Hall
2. Amended birth certificate at the LCR of Quezon City (Aiston's birth city)
3. Amended birth certificate at the NSO (National Statistics Office; the official birth certificate we absolutely need for a passport)
4. Filipino passport
5. Interview with the U.S. Embassy for a Tourist Visa (Yes, he will be a "tourist" as our son! For now, anyway...)

As far as we know, we are at the end of Step 2. Which makes me very, very nervous. We are basically relying on a connection at the NSO in order to get everything done before June. It is tremendously frustrating to know that our family happiness is dependent upon the signature and typing up of one document given by someone who doesn't seem to give a crap! 

So, while we wait, this is what we've been up to:

A baby shower for a friend (she had her third-a girl-just recently)

A three-day weekend in Cebu - Cory went rock-climbing while Ace and Mommy hung out with friends at the Shangri-la

It took Ace awhile to open up to the idea of going down the waterslide, but Tita Kristen encouraged him and once he did it, he didn't want to stop!

Making friends as usual (these kids actually attend ISM, so it was a great connection and they were so lovely to Ace)

A quick trip to Singapore to reunite with a very dear friend and a reignited passion for food with a re-focus on eating vegan meals at least half of the week

Teaching and student-led conferences (a success!) 

Bring on Spring Break (and Lola's arrival!)!!! 1.5 weeks to go...