Post Adoption Update

Is anyone out there still?  I doubt it, but why not try...

Things are going wonderfully with Munchkin.  If you can believe it, he is approaching his 2nd birthday.  He is truly the cutest kid in the world and I know you think I'm biased about this, but I am telling you it is a verifiable fact. So there.  He talks constantly about puppies and buses and trains and owies. And mommy and daddy of course.  He can actually throw a football with one hand (not well, but hey), kick soccer balls (quite well), and recognize the letters 'O' and 'I' and 'E'.  He has the biggest smile with these precious dimples you can stick dimes into.

I am so glad we had the opportunity to adopt him. I marvel at how amazing it is that in today's world, a childless couple can be matched with a family-less baby boy, and that together they become this wonderful family. 

Adoption Rules. Whoever invented it is a freakin' genius.

Believe it or not, though, we're still working on all that adoption paperwork!  We're getting toward the end though. 

After his adoption finalization hearing  in December 2007, the court officer sent put in the paperwork for him to get an official birth certificate from the State of California, with T's and my names listed as his parents.

Getting a new birth certificate is very odd to me. I'm sitting here reading the birth certificate and it totally looks like I gave birth to him --, hence the "BIRTH CERTIFICATE" printed on the top -- while on vacation in Korea on his actual birthday. No mention of being adopted or of his biological parents.  The paperwork is deliberately misleading in other words, and I can't see why we do this in the year 2008.

Anyway, this birth certificate did not arrive for 4 months, in April.  The State of California is super speedy, wouldn't you know.

Once the birth certificate arrived, within 24 hours I sent off his application to US-CIS for a N-600 Certificate of Citizenship.  Now, some people go get the social security number first or the passport, but I figured it would be much easier to get those other two pieces of identification with the N600 in hand. Plus I could just mail in the N600 and the passport and social security card processes require I wait in line at an office for a bit while trying to entertain a baby.

Anyway, said N600 form is a bit of a bear, and there is some debate as to how much supporting documentation you need to send in.  I sent it all in so there would be no way they could reject it. I'll list it here because I know people will end up on this page via a google search for "What documentation do I need to send it with N-600".

• N600 form filled in and signed
• 3 passport photos of Munchkin, with name and alien registration number in PENCIL on back
• photocopy of child's green card
• photocopy of child's new birth certificate (as issued by State of California)
• photocopy of Adoption Order as proof of the adoption finalization, issued by our county court
• photocopy of mother's birth certificate
• photocopy of father's birth certificate
• photocopy of child's foreign passport, in our case the one-time use "Travel Certificate" issued by South Korea.
• photocopy of the IR4 visa stamped within the child's passport
• Photocopy of parent's marriage certificate
• Photocopy of driver's license of mother
• photocopy of father's driver license
• A personal check drawn on a US bank for $420, payable to Dept. of Homeland Security.
• A cover letter telling them to find child's original foreign birth certificate and certified translation in the original immigration file already in US-CIS's possession.

4 months later, we received the N-600. 

So then this weekend we applied for the passport.

Once that arrives, I'll apply for a name and citizenship change for Munchkin's social security number (he is listed as Korean and under his Korean name in the SSN database currently).

And then, at long last, we'll be done with the paperwork.  It'll only take 3 years.

Hope you are all doing well.  I am thinking of making a come back and writing about adoption again. But this time for from a "how to adopt" informational perspective rather than a mommy blog.  What do you think of this idea? Or maybe there are plenty of other sites that fit this need by now (there weren't back in 2005 when I started writing).

Comments

[Summer]

So happy to see a post from you!! Good to know you and the Munchkin are doing well.

Personally, I would love to see you blog again about anything, as long as we get occasional updates on you and the Munchkin.

[Jennifer]

Still here :) Glad to hear life is going so well.

[Lut C.]

Great to hear from you. Amazing that you're still dealing with paperwork for Munchkin. For a moment I thought you were talking about a new adoption adventure.

[Jenn]

I'm happy you are happy :)

[Tonya]

SO glad to hear that you are all doing well! It seems like all that paperwork is so onerous. I am happy you are nearing the end of that part of the saga.

And of course, would love to hear about whatever is on your mind. Happy to see you back!

[millie]

Yay! It's always so very good to hear from you. I just can't help but smiling when I see a post, no matter how infrequent. I think your idea is stellar!

And, on a selfish note, I'd love to see you and/or Dimple Boy sometime soon. Say October?

[Jennifer]

Still keep your blog on Google Reader. So good to hear from you! Happy everything is going well for you and your family.

[ivfcycler]

thanks for the update, and for all you've shared. i knew to get a 2nd beta even after i got my period with a beta of 4, thanks to your site. the doctor was certainly surprised, yet admitted that come to think of it, she had seen an ectopic pregnancy after a beta <5 before.

[Tracy]

Great to see an update!! I have your site bookmarked and check it every so often to make sure it is still up. You are a wealth of information. I think doing an adoption blog would be a great idea. So glad that you and your family are doing great!!

[starfish]

Still here! Great to hear from you. Adoption is totally amazing, right? Our little one just turned two too! I'd read your blog no matter what you had to say, so go for it.

[Regina]

Thanks for the update. I have been following your blog for about three years now because I also had two ectopic pregnancies, one miscarriage and six failed IVF cycles. We finally decided to adopt from Korea as well and we started the procedure this year! (dossier sent in July 2008) Your blog has been so informative and also very moving. It touched my heart in many differnt levels, and I cried with sadness and joy while reading your blog. Congrats on your baby boy's progress again!

[jb]

just write -- I mean, the adoption info angle is probably always helpful but you have such a nice & easy style, and good info in general, I would like you to do more of a "mommy" blog -- ie, dealing with a 2 yr old, potty training -- life etc.

glad all is so well!!

[Hazel Jones]

Hi,

I'm Hazel Jones and I work in a company interested in blog advertising. I found your blog engaging and I'm contacting you to ask if you are interested in blog post sponsorship.

If you are interested, kindly mail back at k5sino@bigstring.com, indicating your blog for reference, and I'll send you back pricing details, guidelines and processes. Looking forward to doing business with you.

Sincerely,

Hazel Jones

[Peeveme]

Hey,

Nice to see an update. We met at the 1st barronpalooza you organized. I was not blogging then but am now.

I'd like to hear both the adoption blog and you adventures in motherhood.

[appleandmoses]

Just found your blog. I am also going through a very similar "situation". I was brought up very proper and that's how we describe it, a "situation". Thanks. I have wanted to cry and scream and find comfort so many times through this journey but no one or no thing has brought as much comfort as reading your blog. I have laughed and cried reading your each of entries. I have ignored my work, my husband and my phone calls.

Thank you and congratulations on your baby boy. I hope you will continue writing and sharing your life.

[Retro Girl (Angela)]

Hello...
We're presently adopting a baby boy from Korea and found your blog when looking for timeline info. WOW your documentation is amazing. Thank you for publishing this!!

We are at the stage where our I600a is in process, just got the fingerprints yesterday to go along with it...agency says our referral could come at any time now...(between now and January we are guesstimating based upon their # of referrals per month/position on waiting list).

I knew there was a lot to be done post-adoption...but didn't realize I guess, the scope of it all. Whew! I'm worn out just reading it all. I know it will be more than worth it...but wow! Thank you for all of this information.

[thanks]

Yes, there are plenty of people still out here. I just came across your blog and it made me cry for two hours while reading it. I have to send many thanks because your blog is an incredible source of information, and it makes me feel better to know that I am not alone in my depression and misery. glad that your situation worked out in the end.

[Nic]

I just found your blog too! I typed in "ivf cycle change to iui" and the link came up. What a wonderful blog and so helpful to see EVERYTHING. My best friend just adopted a baby boy and I just started the ivf route and seeing your thoughts are so similar to what we're going through. Thank you for all the info! (especially the adoption - it's such a mystery!)

[Jennifer Custer]

The listing of all the supporting documentation for the N-600 was SO WONDERFUL. I have been trying to get this type of information as I work on submitting my form. Did you have your photocopies notarized? Thanks.
Jennifer; jcuster@iupui.edu

[Kiwi]

Hi,
I just wanted to say thanks.
Yesterday we found out that our second pregnancy was another ectopic.
The first (two months ago) ruptured.
This time it decided to die itself.
So as I do when I'm upset, I googled...and came across your blog.
Pretty much all last night and today I've been reading. I have read every post.
And I just wanted to say that you are a fantastic writer and to thank you for making me laugh, cry, taking my mind of my own problems and making me realise that others out there have gone through this too.
Thanks for sharing your story.

[Gen]

Thanks for writing this. I know it's years later now, but it was all very timely for me. Just getting on the IVF bandwagon now...only 5 eggs...already been through 2 ectopics before trying IVF. Been debating adoption for a long time, but promised to give IVF a go at least once before moving on. It was very cathartic to hear your story. After stumbling upon it, I read for hours. I especially "liked" the one where you talked about crying in the clinic room and having both the doctor and nurse leave you there...so similar to my experiences...it made me feel a little bit better to know that it's not just me. Thank you for posting all of this.

[Amy]

Yes, there's someone still out here! Thank you for sharing your story! I will be referring back to it often, as we are just beginning the adoption process. You are an answer to prayer!! As far as infertility treatment is concerned...been there, done that. Time to move on. The wait of adoption is what is so overwhelming to me right now. As I said, we're just getting started, so to think that I have a MINIMUM of 2 years ahead of me where I'll remain childless, all the while thinking about all the "what if's?" I'm able to conjure up for these upcoming years (I'm 35, my husband 39), makes my head spin and my heart sink. But you give me hope. And a whole lot of INCREDIBLE INFORMATION. Thank you so much again for sharing your story! And I'm so happy you finally have your family!

[jj]

Thank you for sharing this story. I am going through an ectopic pregnancy and found your blog. I couldn't stop reading. It all worked out in the end. Congratulations and have a happy life.

[endobaby]

Hiiiii! I used to read your blog years ago. Are you able to update us at all?

[Kristina]

Thank you for sharing your story. I cried, I laughed and most of all I admire your bravery and brutal honesty.