Nothing to report...

We have been VERY busy the last few weeks. My school started and Tommy has been busier than ever... We should have SUPER fun news about him in the next few months (that was a cliffhanger to keep you from deserting us). I will post the moment we hear.
Adoption update:
We received a letter from immigration. The letter told us that they need additional info. So that was a bust.
Other ramblings:
I noticed that People magazine (Yes, I am a subscriber and there is much personal shame. But shame builds character? I have also perused people.com and have voted on if a certain celebrity is better as a blonde or a brunette. It's a new thing for me. But I will NOT vote on who looks better in a certain outfit. I simply believe in giving hair advice, although frankly I have no credentials considering I am not very fashion savvy, and I don't particularly love receiving critical hair advice. Perhaps, I should rethink this new gig. But I do know I am against trying to make someone feel poorly about how they didn't look as good in their outfit as someone else...You must have standards people! I am admitting a lot. I better stop) had an article about Tom's shoes. That means that tons of people will be sporting them, here and abroad. Which I think is pretty cool. The next shoe drop is in South Africa.
How can you blog about nothing? It's pretty difficult at times, but I persevere. I just can't wait to have something adoption related to blog about!

Shoes that I like...

Sunday, in an LA Times advertisement, I found shoes that were of high interest level to me...It was an advertisement for Toms shoes (Toms stands for TOMorrow) now being sold at Macy's. I went to Macy's today. They did not carry Toms. I was sad. I really, really wanted them in my life. I will find another vendor. But, until then, below is the link. For every pair of shoes they sell, they donate a pair to a child in need. I will wear them...when I convince someone to sell me a pair (minor detail).

CLICK HERE FOR FUN SHOES

Thanks for stopping by!

I am a breezy mailman stalker!

We have everything for our dossier except for our I171-H form (immigration approval). AAA is wonderful because if you are a premier member (we upgraded, now I'm fancy and you can brag about knowing who I am) they will notarize 10 documents a day for free. They are very nice people that way. I've been busy stalking our mail carrier (even though I don't really expect the I171-H form to come yet). I am hopeful, so I stalk. This is way more daring than it sounds. Our mail carrier is spicy. I'm just warning...DO NOT leave junk mail in the mailbox to throw away later and then forget and leave it in the box. She does NOT like that. I don't know her stance on stalking, but I have a feeling she may be against that, too. I have to be smooth and I don't believe smoothness is a personal strength. We'll see.
As soon as we have the I171-H, I can ship the dossier off. Then I will be able to stay awake nights waiting for THE phone call. My eye twitch is still going full force. I'm sure waiting for THE phone call will totally fix that up.
Oh, and as many people have been informed, I will be defined in fall 2007 as "breezy". It's a new thing. No more overdoing stuff, wanting things to be perfect, obsessively researching, overanalyzing, or running about with an eye twitch. Fall 2007 me=breezy (my definition of the word, not Webster's). I go with the flow. Hmmm...is stalking breezy? I may have to reevaluate. Oh, good...it's not fall yet. Hurry up I171-H...Hurry, hurry...HURRY!

So so close to waiting!

Today we got our police clearance letters (and even had them notarized, a bargain at $102) and a couple of documents certified (a mysterious process which is done after you notarize them...basically they staple a gold star on the papers and charge you $18. Oddly, you don't even feel ripped off because you are so proud of yourself for getting it completed. I think they trick you by giving you a gold star. It is impossible to be irritated right after receiving one. You feel good, almost prideful. I earned/paid for a gold star. This process is well thought out). I still have to get them Authenticated...who makes this stuff up? Do you think I may get another gold star?
Two more things were checked off our list today! What do we have left? Really just an errand or two, copies, and more notarizing...oh, and our immigration approval. VERY EXCITED! I can't wait to just wait! I have a feeling that waiting without having anything to do, won't be as glorious as I think it sounds. My left eyelid has been twitching for over two weeks (Tommy refuses to pity me because he holds the record with his infamous 3 week twitch, so I must widen my possible pity providing circle by posting). I think it may be adoption related. I'm not an eyelid twitch scientist, but I'm pretty sure.

Ethiopia Reads

I spend a lot of time thinking about the best items to donate when I go to Ethiopia. I will have the opportunity to hand deliver many items in need (clothes, diapers, etc.). Since I have a passion for education, I am most excited to have the opportunity to bring books. A children's library opened in Addis Ababa a couple of years ago. This is a BIG deal considering that more than 99% of Ethiopian schools do not have libraries. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to visit the library, donate books, and read to children during my visit. If you know me, and have an extra special book you would like me to bring, please let me know during the next few months. Or perhaps you can add to your child's multicultural library by purchasing a book from the Ethiopia Reads website. The money goes toward their goal of bringing literacy to Ethiopia. I firmly believe that education can help Ethiopia.
Please check out the Ethiopia Reads website:

CLICK HERE

Also on the Ethiopia Reads website- the Mesgana Dancers of Ethiopia (7-12 year old girls) are coming to the U.S. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. I know Tommy and I will be attending, if you would like to join us, let me know! It will be a fun night out :) Maybe we can go out for a great Ethiopian dinner first (again, I'm obsessing about food...typical).

Cheers,
Danni

and if you don't like those clothes, here's another option!

50% of the profits go to Millenium Promise. Their goal is to end extreme poverty by 2025. The price is a bit steep, but it is a great cause! BTW, please don't look at the rest of the Kitson website...it is embarrassing to endorse. Thanks!

CLICK HERE

If you too need clothing...

Half the profits go to the Global Fund to help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa...and I think they are very neat shirts. Our fam will be sporting them this season.

CLICK HERE

A family adopted 3 boys

I warn...this video may make you cry. It made me cry. A lot. Good luck with that.

CLICK HERE

I600A form filed, fingerprints...check, check!

We have filed our I600A form, which, upon approval, will allow us to bring an orphan into the US (we actually asked for approval of two children, just in case). This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months (I've heard as little as two weeks and as long as four months) to approve. We should be able to gather the remaining documents during this time. So, when we get the news in the mail that we are approved, we should be ready to authenticate our documents and ship em off to Ethiopia. It would be then that we would be "officially waiting" for a referral. Very exciting!

Homestudy approved...check!

I just got back from a road trip up to Canada with my mom. LOVED the Pacific Northwest! It was very beautiful.
Nicole left us. Her and Andy just took off and left us. Now they are spending time in beautiful places drinking from buckets.
Our homestudy is finished and "in the mail." It was approved by our placement agency, Children's House International. WHOOOO HOOOO! That means that we can go to immigration next week and make our FBI fingerprint appointments. Most of our other dossier documents are done. So, by the time we get our fingerprints back we should be ready to authenticate our documents and send them off to Ethiopia. My guess is about 2-4 months till they are headed to Ethiopia! Then we will be officially waiting for our referral. So adoption plan next week is to go to immigration, a doctor's appointment to finish that paperwork, and hopefully figure out how to get the proper state police clearance letters we need.
Sorry this is such a boring boring post, but Nicole reprimanded me and told me to post. I usually do what she says. Which explains a lot actually.
Tommy's neck is healing nicely. He's very pretty again.