Oakes Adoption

It's a boy! 18 months after deciding to expand our family through international adoption, we finally got "the call" on Jan. 8th. We thank God for Johan Mateo, a healthy 17 month old boy from Florencia, Caqueta in southern Colombia. March 12, 2010 was a great day, when we finally had him in our arms. He's now firmly in our hearts. We want to document the journey of being united with our new son. Thanks for following our journey and for your prayers for Johan Mateo and for all of us.

Adoption Timeline

Sept. 25, 2008 -- Johan Londono Tapeiro is born in Florencia, Caqueta

Feb. 16, 2009 -- Adoption Application Submitted to Gladney

July 2009 -- Dossier Submitted to ICBF Colombia

Nov. 18 2009 -- We are approved by ICBF to adopt a boy age 0-35 months.

Dec. 22, 2009 -- ICBF assigns Johan as our referral.

Jan. 8, 2010 -- We receive referral of Johan.

Feb 11, 2010 -- I-800 approved by USCIS.

March 2, 2010 -- Entrega date set

March 6, 2010 -- Travel to Colombia

March 12, 2010 -- Entrega Day -- Receive Johan Mateo!!!

March 23, 2010 -- Entegracion Day at ICBF Bogota

March 31, 2010 -- Liliana travels to Florencia, Sentencia is signed. He's legally OURS!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Heading home

We are happy and a bit sad as well to be heading home with Johan Mateo -- happy for him to get to know his new home, and sorry for all of us to be leaving our "second home" of Colombia.

What a great month full of memories. We capped off our time with a visit from Gigi, and pretty quick she and Johan were buds. We stayed at Abuelita's house in Bogota for a few days and then spent a wonderful long weekend in Villa de Leyva, an old, preserved colonial town about 3 hours away in Boyoca. Pics to come. Now our last day is filled with packing and a last chance to eat arepas, roast chicken, papas saladas, REAL aquacate, etc. Tomorrow... enchiladas!

--
Mike Oakes
moakes343@gmail.com
210-325-6767