The wait begins!

We received our adoption order back last Friday! Which was about the timing they told us (they said 1-2 weeks) we got it back in 8 days. On the same day we submitted our part 2 Citizenship! This is the big wait! They say at least 30 working days for this to come back. So our waiting period begins!

While we wait for this we have to go to the DHA (which is like service Ontario but way more difficult to deal with) and fill out forms to change her name on her birth certificate to Puklicz. From what we heard we will never see the birth certificate or even know if the other forms have been processed. We only need the receipt of this to submit with her Canadian passport application. 

Phil went today and got all the forms, which we have heard is hard to get 1 of them. So we are grateful we got them all on the first try. We will fill them out and he’ll go back to submit them. It’s a pretty chaotic place run by such a broken system. Prayers that his next trip goes smoothly and safely would be appreciated! 

The rest of our time is trying to build some sort of routine/life here while we wait. We have been going for walks and to the beach pretty much every day. The kids love it and it’s a great place to kill some time! 

Maya has been eating better at meal times! When she was at the baby home they described her as a “picky” eater and would just revert to jar food for her. We’ve been trying to introduce the foods we eat by giving them to her first, praising her for trying it and then continuing to cheer her on if she continues to eat some of it. Usually finishing the meal with her jar food. She often would get frustrated with not seeing her familiar food, which is totally understandable. Food can be a thing of comfort, especially when everything else is new still and she’s getting used to it all. We’re so proud of how far she has come so far! The past couple meals she has been more receptive to trying new foods and usually eats enough that we haven’t been using the jar food! This has been a huge win for us to see her trying new things AND enjoying them. 💞

We have been learning lots about Maya every day! I randomly started singing twinkle, twinkle little star and her face lit up and she smiled and sang along with me! She loves to sing and sometimes we can figure out what songs she’s singing and sing along. She especially loves the song from Barney “I love you, you love me, we’re a happy family! With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you! Won’t you say you love me too!” ❤️

We’re figuring out she is more of a salty girl than a sweet tooth! Will pound back salt and vinegar chips but only wants the smallest of licks from an ice cream cone. LOVES water and has no fear of it whatsoever. She didn’t like the waves at the beach at first but now runs full tilt into them. She gets excited to go into the van now! Always up for an adventure! She loves to be held and close to you. She likes going on our morning walks and just looking around at everything. She doesn’t like birds or most animals and tells them to “go away!”. They would say this at the baby home to the monkeys. Haha 

There have been things that have surprised us too, like early on when Phil and I kissed or hugged she would cry. Or if we ran or danced she wouldn’t like it. Little things that we do every day that in her mind she wasn’t sure about or had ever seen. Sometimes it takes us a bit to figure out what specific thing she isn’t liking. A whole new learning curve!

We are so grateful to be in such a beautiful location growing as a family. We often think about life back at home and everyone we are missing so much. We can’t thank you all enough for encouraging us, praying for us, the messages, everything. We love you all! 💞

Love,

PMJM