Last Big Step

Today, we got the certified true copies for her citizenship application!!!  I will mail the whole package tomorrow morning.  I have added sticky notes to every page indicating what it's intended use is.  I also included 3 different head shots to choose from (2 of each, of course) and 2 different copies of my receipt of fee payment (1 filled out, one not... I had entered my address and such online but nothing printed out on the receipt except my name and all the blanks are there so I filled one out and included another fresh off the press).  I'm so paranoid about it being sent back after the back and forth I played with Immigration to get the approval letter to be foreign adopted parents!  My biggest concern with this is they will not like the affadavit of the translator because it is at the bottom of each translated page and because the photocopy is slightly skewed the bottom of the last sentence is cut off... still don't even have to guess at what it says, just literally showing two thirds of the letters.  I also worry that it will be a problem when I've included 1 certified true copy of a document that is to be used for both official forms (the proof of adopted parents' citizenship and the grant of a minor [adopted] citizenship), for example, the proof of guardianship via the adoption certificate; there is 1 copy to be used for both forms.  I hope, hope, hope that everything is okay so we don't keep sending things back and forth.

The lady at the courthouse doing the certified true copies today was a hoot and totally enamoured with Dania.  She looked at the first copy and said, "well, I didn't expect I'd be reading Russian today!" and then asked about everything as she stamped and signed all my papers.  She also way undercharged me which I totally appreciate.  A few pages were stapled together (translations and document) and should have counted as 2 copies each but she only counted them as 1.  She was still shocked at the total being $90 but I laughed and said while we were sending Russia documents, it was $60 a document for translation and certification as opposed to $13.50, so I was happy with that total!

So, now I have a brown paper package on the dining table that is to be sent tomorrow morning!  YEAH!!!!

On different notes, Dania had some good strides in the clingy department where she slept at Mima's house here without Mama and Daddy putting her to bed or being there when she woke up.  She did great!  All in prep for Mike leaving again and me being in a wedding in August so she will be staying there again.  She has also been doing really well with trying the b and p sounds as not initial sounds.  She is saying 'maybe' and 'up' all the time now.  She even said 'Rob' when pointing to our friend Rob.  I have been so impressed.  She is clearly watching our mouths closely still... but must be practicing in secret in all the mirrors in her room hahahaha.  She has even been holding her hands on her lips when trying to say 'Big Bird' because I pinch mine together with my hands to show her.  What a kid.

We are also about to embark on a trip to Ontario and my favourite place in the world - The Cottage.  So many childhood memories so I hope to start creating them for her - tomorrow!

Love these 1-year-later shots.  Thanks again to Jenine at Blue Vine Photography!