Our Colombianito(a)'s Story: Sebastian's 1000 Smashing Outfits & some other things

As all of you imagine, the last two weeks have been pretty intense... to say the least. We celebrated the new year and a few days latter both got back to work. Or at least I came back to try to work. And seriously... I've done my best to concentrate and be a good, responsible, professional, but it's been tough. My head is in Colombia and without my head... it's kinda of hard to get anything done. However, I've managed... even when I've had to put in some weekend time.

So the first week of the year after we "met" our little guy, we landed on a name. Sebastian. It didn't really take us long since we've been talking about it for over a year. The main criteria for selecting the name was that it would sound nice in Spanish and English. Besides... he really does look like a Sebastian. So cute! Nickname: Sebas. - Which is what everybody in the family is calling him already.

Then, with grandma Martha's help, we landed a lawyer in Colombia. I called her to introduce myself and got some bad news. Our police clearance documents need to be re-done because they're over 6 months old. We wouldn't mind the re-doing situation if it didn't take four (FOUR!!) weeks to get done. So right away, we had to get our fingerprints taken. I kinda of "bribed" the lady at the fingerprint's office with a picture of Sebastian, so that they would send the fingerprints to Ottawa the very same day. I think it worked, so hopefully we'll get the clearances in the mail the last week of January. We will still need to notarize, legalize and send to Toronto for stamping. Arrrggg!!!

In the mean time, our translator finished the formal Match Proposal which was send from the ICBF (Colombian Authorities) to Alberta Children Services. The Fedex is in Edmonton now and the documents are supposed to be revised, approved and send to our Agency here in Calgary, this upcoming week. That's when they'll call us. That's when we will have to formally sign the acceptance of the proposal (very corporate uh?). Then, the Alberta Government will create some other letters, all of which will have to send to Colombia, properly translated, and only THEN... we'll be able to fix the appointment to officially meet Sebastian. Hopefully we'll get the clearances just in time.

I know we'll get there... but the process is so freak'n loooooong!! Imagine knowing this little guy is waiting for you and being stuck in the bureaucracy of it all. I know, I know... this needs to be done so that kids get placed in good homes but that doesn't make it any easier. Lucky me, my friend Alex got the proposal some days earlier than us and now she's the one teaching us what needs to be done.

Anyway... so with that done, Tavo and I decided it was time for shopping! But before I talk about shopping I must publicly say that people around us have been beyond awesome. And I don't only mean friends, but colleagues, ex-colleagues and pretty much everybody. Everybody is so happy for us, so willing to help it's incredible. We've gotten a bunch of toys, clothes and much needed advise. It's really overwhelming. So thank you all!.

But going back to the shopping, I must say I predict our little guy is going to be a total chick magnet. 1. He has the cutest smile ever. 2. He also has the coolest ride in town (which took his daddy about 2 hours to put together... and I'm not laughing. - ok who am I kidding... I am, I so am!) ha ha... and 3. He possesses about 1000 smashing outfits.

So here's the deal: If I can't smooch him, and kiss him, and hug him... I've decided at least I get to buy him clothes. That, plus the fact that my friend Shelby (who has gorgeous twins - boy and girl) gave me a bunch of clothes from Lukas, equals... the best wardrobe in the house.

So here's daddy deciphering the encrypted language of the stroller instructions (7:30 pm): - tic tac tic tac tic tac...

8:15 pm - Ok... look for the red hook... the red hook... where is the red hook??? !! - See Duna's face. She's already bored.

8:40 Tires, check; Transmission, check. And the last little accessory just in case it rains...

9: 15 - Sebastian's Lamborgini ready for its first ride. Ahhh daddy's smile. Mission accomplished.

And then he said: Don't put this in your blog. :) - You would think he knows me better by now.
We won't tell him.

And here is Sebastian's room now that the toys took over: