"It just feels like our whole life is waiting until we get to travel to China." -Larry

The dresser and hutch, covered in books
and things we are organizing for our
impending trip to China.

With the "gift" of 17 snow-days home from school this winter, we have been making ourselves busy with adoption things as much as we can.  

In the interest of not spending extra money, we got a free dresser from Craigslist, which I refinished in black.  Then we bought a used desk with hutch for $15 and I refinished the hutch in black and we have assembled those together for Joseph Li's room.  It is going to be a bedroom to grow into, not a nursery.  He'll be almost a year and a half old when he joins our family, so a cutesy nursery didn't seem right.  Instead, I am doing the room in moss green and black.  

Abigail has been happy to give Joseph her old board books and clothes she doesn't need anymore.  Unprompted, she also asked me to move her toy box into his room because she is "not a baby anymore" and he "will probably like it."  

Larry is ready to travel, as indicated by his quote and title of this entry.  I am nervous at this time because our family is SO perfect right now, with the most perfect little kid and I just don't want to mess it up in any way.  But if Abigail can be a good role model for her little brother, we will have nothing to worry about!!  She is an amazing person and she is "so ready for this change" (Anna, Frozen -- we have had it playing non-stop since the DVD came out on Tuesday!!).

Trying to keep busy

I am updating

photo albums and scrap books.

I am spending hours on picnik, lunapic, and fotoflexer.

Abigail got her first tree ornament. It changes colors.

Thanksgiving Day, 2010

Most of another month has flown by since my last update.

Last Sunday our coworkers threw us a shower for Abigail. We got the high chair we really wanted, a lot of dresses, a few warm clothes and blankets, a stroller, some books, a few gift cards (very appreciated), and a small variety of toys. We still need a circle of neglect, I mean, a Baby Einstein Around the World Discovery Center, a gate for the top of the stairs, and a few other things. It was very nice that Larry's mother is in town and was able to come to the shower.

Also, in the past week, our Article 5 (the very LAST piece of paperwork before we are invited to travel) was delivered from one office in China to another. Our invitation to travel will be extended in 2 to 4 weeks. (Everyone, please cross your fingers for 2 weeks! We would love to spend Christmas in China!)

Quite a Surprise

Today our agency sent us an update on Abigail. She has gained 6 pounds in the past 5 months, is 2 inches taller and they sent a new picture too! In it she is sitting and she is clapping and it looks like she is looking at someone to the side of the camera, like she is copying their movements. The big surprise though, is that her cleft lip has been repaired! (We don't know about her palate.)

This is amazing!!

Happy Birthday Abigail!

Given the 12 hour time difference, it is currently our daughter's first birthday! To say that I am sad to have missed it isn't quite right: it is more like I am numb to it. I'm a little in shock about it because it was both eons ago and somehow only yesterday that she was 8 months old! I suppose all parents feel that way though.

But eventually all the stars, planets, and piles of paperwork will align just right and we will fly to China and bring her to her new home, celebrate the missed birthday and Christmas (hopefully only 1, not 2 missed Christmases)!

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Given the lack of recent posts, I'll give a quick update of what has been happening the past month.

We got our LOA, signed it and returned it promptly. We applied for Abigail's visa and our travel visas. We finalized Abigail's middle name (Zijia). We received some type of immigration approval that I don't quite understand because it needs to go to about 4 or 5 different offices before we

can travel and I am not sure why. We also sent Abigail a birthday care package.

Another Day Older

Dear Zi Jia,

Almost 2 months have passed since we learned of you.

But you still don't know us and likely won't soon.

A few days ago was your 10-month birthday and in a few more days I'll watch your 11-month birthday slip past.

And the months will continue to fall away as you exist half a world away from us.

It breaks my heart into a million pieces to think from when we knew of you until you'll likely know of us, you will double in age.

At an age when each day counts.

Every day is another day you live in an orphanage.

Every day is another day that you are undernourished.

Every day is another day that you are not stimulated enough, held enough.
Every day is another day I worry about you, ache to hold you and take care of your needs.