You've got Mail....and an update!

I recieved an email today from my agency with some new pictures and updated measurements of Madison. This will likely be my last "official" update before I travel. I love the pictures that I got and the one I attached captures her personality. I love how she is hugging her little friend closer to her. Oh my gosh....I cannot wait to get my hands on her and I will never let her go. People don't understand how you can thoroughly and utterly be in LOVE with a child you have only met briefly. I can only imagine it as a love a Mom feels as she grows her baby in her belly. Madi may not be growing in my belly, but she is certainly growing in my heart!! She currently is 41.3 inches tall, 41.4 pounds, and her foot size is 5.5". I would say she is around a size 5/5T. Soon, baby girl, soon...........

Next Steps

The next steps of the process is basically me waiting to hear that the process is moving along. No more paperwork to do. Until I get Travel Approval that is. In about a month or less, I should hear that my I-800 application was approved. China has appoved me to adopt Madi. US Immigration has approved me to adopt "a child." My I-800 approval approves me to adopt MADISON. Once they approve this...and they will, they send the approval to the American Consulate in China. Usually about a month after that approval is sent to the American Consulate and my facilitator delivers it to the Chinese Adoption Affairs office, and then they issue me my Travel Approval. All of this should take about 2 months. Once I get my Travel Approval, my agency books a "Consulate Appointment" for me in China. Once all of those appointments and approvals are in hand, I can TRAVEL. LOTS and LOTS of paperwork, but oh so worth it to bring my daughter home. I can expect to travel just before or just after Christmas.

I really thought that this would all happen after the holidays, giving me more time to bank more money for the last bit of expenses needed to finalize everything. (And closer to getting my tax refund). It is all happening so fast now and I am a bit nervous. Nervous about the funds. I am staying calm and trusting that things will come together as they are supposed to. They all have up to this point. In the worse case scenario, I will postpone travel until well after the holidays, closer to the time I will get my taxes back. That will give me a few extra paychecks to bank between then and travel. Of course, my first choice would be to hop on a plane tomorrow, but that is not an option :-)

I am most nervous about how Madi will adjust to all of the changes about to happen in her life. This sweet little girl has had so many losses and traumas in her life. Although this is a happy and wonderful event in OUR life...she has no idea if this is a good thing. I am sure she will be frightened to be leaving everything that is familiar to her. She has no idea that we will love her. That we won't hurt her. That she will be safe with us. It breaks my heart!!

I am also sad to leave my girls behind for this trip. It is the right thing for everyone. I will have time to devote everything to Madi for the two weeks we are in China and we can start bonding without her having to share me with two other siblings. It is the right thing for the girls since they will be staying at home with my Mom who will keep their routine and schedule the same as if I were home. It would have been great to have a travel companion, but I think it will be fine to travel and do this alone. Hopefully I will travel with a group of other parents from my agency. But, if not, I am totally comfortable with navigating this trip alone.

I will keep everyone posted. I am so very thankful and grateful for all of the love, prayers and generosity. I am overwhelmed by everyone who has reached out to us!!!

Love to you from us!!!

LOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In just 40 days I received my LOA. This is the "official" approval that I need to adopt Madi. I had already gotten pre-approved, so I knew this was a technicality, still it was a needed step in order for me to move forward. Next step is to file the I-800 immigration forms and then TRAVEL. Of course, there are a bunch of tiny steps in between, but I am getting CLOSER!!!!


The next timeline is a visual of the adoption process. I am at the "obtain I800 approval" phase. You can kind of get a sense of when I will travel based on this. But like anything in the adoption world, things can speed up or SLOOOOW down without any notice. I still have a chance to travel before Christmas. That would be a HUGE blessing!!!



I am so excited to be getting closer to bringing my Madison home. She is already loved so much and spoken about everyday in our home. I still have a way to go in order to get the finances in order, but I have Faith that everything will work out just as it is supposed to.

Back to school 2011

Even though we had an earthquake and a hurricane the week before school started, nothing could dampen the excitement these two had to start school. It was raining before I left them to go to work, but it cleared just as the bus was to pull up. We are looking forward to a fantastic year in 4th and 1st grade! Happy Fall everyone!!!

Back to school priorities

It has been a tradition since Emily started Kindergarten that the girls get a manicure-pedicure during Labor Day weekend, just before school starts. I couldn't skip the "tradition" this year, so off to the nail salon we went today. The girls are so excited to start school on Tuesday. I always love this time of year. A time to set new routines, new bed times, a crispness in the air. Fall is my favorite time of the year. I can't believe that the summer is over and we will soon be apple picking and wearing sweat shirts. We have a lot of fun things coming up. Stay tuned for the tradtional "First Day of School" pictures!! Hope everyone gets off to school with as little tears as possible....especially those Moms/Dads sending their little one off to school for the first time.

Tag Sale and LOVE OVERFLOWING

I am so overwhelmed with the love and support that my friends and so many of my family have shown us since I shared with them that I was adopting Madi. Today was our Tag Sale and it was a HUGE HUGE success. The donations came in droves from friends, family, and even strangers. People bought lemonade from a bunch of little boys and girls just wanting to help bring their sister/friend home. My friends came early to help me set up, stayed all day, and helped clean up. I was overwhelmed many times throughout the day...not just my tired feet, but my heart. Through the adoption of my girls, I have gained sisters. I have gained a family far larger than my girls and my biological family. We all came together with one purpose, to help our children be a part of a group with families just like ours. Families who had children from China. What we got was much more. These ladies are my heart. We all know that in a pinch we all have each other's backs. We would do anything for each other and MOST certainly for each other's kids. These are the ladies who I will be growing old with, rocking in our rocking chairs laughing at old stories and memories of "when we were young." You ladies ROCK. I love you!

My Mom and my Aunt are my constant supporters. In all areas of my life. They are so important to me and their unending support and love is beyond measure. My Aunt loves my girls so much (and me too) that when she comes over, I have to lay some ground rules or else they wouldn't leave her alone for two seconds. When they were a little younger I had to remind them that Aunt Melanie comes over to see Mommy and Nanny, not to just play with you LOL.

My Mom, always by my side. I think she deserves a post all her own. I will work on that. She is my best friend!

Love all of you ladies!! I can't wait for you to meet Miss Madi. She is such a love and truly meant to be a part of "our circle of love."

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Is there anything more to say.....

I love you, Madi! I wish I could hop on a plane today and bring you home. Soon baby, soon!!

Love,
Mama xoxoxo