Joanna, Lucy and I invite you to come with us (virtually) to pick up the latest addition to our family. Claire Qin'ai Connor was born on July 2, 2008 and will be introduced to us on Father's Day 2009 and introduced to the rest of the Connor/Wilson family on the eve of her first birthday. We will be leaving on June 18, 2009 for Beijing, China and then on to the Dianjiang SWI (Social Welfare Institute) in Chongqing Municipality to pick up Claire and tell her how much we all love her and how we couldn't wait to get her. Claire is our second daughter adopted from China. Lucy Xiao Hong Connor is now 3 1/2 years old and is terribly excited about becoming a big sister. Unfortunately, she will have to wait a few more weeks to meet her baby sister because she will be staying with her Gaga, Aunt Mimi, Buddy Bear and her cousins Tia and Kare Bear while Mommy and Daddy travel. To catch you up to date with all that we have done to get to this moment, here is time line of our journey so far.
7/10/2007
First meeting with A Helping Hand to begin the application process for Claire. The CCAA (Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs) requires a one year delay between adoption from China and new application. This means that we cannot send our application until November 2007.
8/4/2007 to 8/23/2007
Four home study visits with May Brisco
7/25/2007 to 10/31/2007
Completion of paperwork/dossier
10/27/2007
I-171H -- USCIS Application for Advanced Processing of Orphan Petition accepted
11/9/2007
Dossier sent to the CCAA in China
11/15/2007
LID - Log In Date -- our reserved spot in line via the CCAA
11/15/2007 to 2/27/2009
Wait
2/27/2009
Referral Day -- While on vacation with Granny and Grandpa, we received the wonderful news that we were matched with our beautiful 8 month old daughter
3/2/2009
Updated home study -- change application to special needs program
4/16/2009
Updated I-171H
4/27/2009
LOA - Letter of Adoption -- This is the official notice of China's acceptance of our application to adopt Claire
5/20/2009
Notice of Travelling to China for Adoption Letter (TL) sent
5/29/2009
Airline Tickets Purchased
5/31/2009
Pack
6/11/2009
Final Travel Meeting
6/18/2009
Leave for China at 10:45am -- will provide more on itinerary after final travel meeting
7/1/2009
Arrive home from China at 9:45pm
7/2/2009
Claire Qin'ai Connor's 1st Birthday
