What a Difference

Hard to believe it hasn't even been 5 months since I was handed Emmeline in China.  This picture is from our first few days together.

 

This picture is from this past week...

Love that kid!

Pumpkin Patch

We had so much fun at the pumpkin patch yesterday.  Jeff and I must be getting old because we were both completely worn out afterwards.  The kids?  Not so much.

Itinerary and Travel Journal Link

Here's our itinerary.  We meet HuiLan on Sunday the 9th.  It's Sunday in China right now so that means I am only ONE WEEK away from finally having her in my arms..  Well, I say 'finally' (and anyone who has read the blog knows my struggle with adoption impatience) but honestly, looking back now this process has been somewhat of a whirlwind.  It just seems like forever when you don't know when you are going to meet your child and you have no control over choices being made for them and you aren't there to comfort them. I think the reality of not traveling to China has hit Jeff a little.  It's very bittersweet to meet our daughter without him being there.  I know it was the best choice; though of course not perfect.  I have started a travel journal at You Belong.  It's youbelong.net/loosclan  I've been having technical difficulties with my journal, so I may just use the blog to update.

Here's our itinerary:


Thursday, October 6th: Leave for China!

Saturday, Oct.8: Fly from Seoul to Xi’an

Sunday, Oct.9: Meet child at Civil Affairs Bureau.

Monday, Oct.10: Conduct adoption registration paperwork and notarization formalities.

Tuesday, Oct.11: Apply for Child's passport.

Wednesday, Oct.12: Free time.

Thursday, Oct.13: Sightseeing in Xi’an.

Friday, Oct.14: Fly to Guangzhou.

Saturday, Oct.15: Have child’s visa photos taken and go through the physical examination in the morning.

Sunday, Oct.16: Sightseeing in Guangzhou: Safari park.

Monday, Oct.17: Check TB test result.

Tuesday, Oct.18: At 10:00am, family goes to US Consulate to submit orphan visa petition documents and do oath-taking ceremony.

Wednesday, Oct.19: Family goes to US Consulate to pick up visa in the afternoon.

Thursday,Oct.20: Leave for home.

Our family is growing again!

On Saturday, Cameron and his girlfriend Charity went to Fall Creek Falls where he proposed.  She said YES!  We are so thrilled for them both.  Charity is an amazing girl and we could not have asked for a better person for Cameron to spend the rest of his life with.  God is good!

The Room

We are finally getting HuiLan's room together.  EXCITING!  Now I have a place to go and touch her things and dream about having her here with us.  Weird, huh?  It's just something I do.  I remember going into Allie's room when we were waiting for her and pulling her little outfits out of the closet and rearranging them.  It just made me feel close to her.

This was the room last Monday morning...

This is Monday afternoon.  Whoa, a little brighter on the wall than I expected. 

On Monday night and Tuesday, I worked on the crib and on Tuesday night Jeff deep cleaned the carpet.

On Thursday, I put together the bookshelf and then I opened the dresser box to find that there were no instructions.  After four very long calls to Target.com, we were nowhere.  They don't carry the dresser anymore and don't have any manuals to send.  I just bought the dresser last month!  Thankfully, God blessed me with a mechanically minded son (who is newly engaged!  WOOT!)  that was able to figure out how the 8 million pieces of the dresser fit together.  So here is the room this morning.  We still have work to do but I am not sure much more will be done before we leave.  I want to get a wall decal for behind the crib but I am not sure what I want it to say.  I've seen a few things that I would like to try and make for the other walls, so you can expect them to be done about the time she starts Kindergarten high school.  

I even packed a little this morning.  Ten days until Cameron and I leave and I am starting to get EXCITED!

Beyond Blessed

We sent some questions about HuiLan to the orphanage.  Here are their answers...

What's the meaning of her name and why was it chosen for her?
There's no special meaning to her name; we all call her HuiLan

Is she close to anyone?  Does she have a best friend?
We have shifts here due to the nature of our work, so HuiLan is close to her nannies.  She plays well with other kids, no special best friends.

What's her personality like?
Her personality is quite vivacious.  (UH OH)  She loves to play and loves to laugh.

Does she have a favorite food?
Nothing special.  She's not picky.  (Hallelujah!)


What's her favorite activity?
She likes her aunties playing toys with her and holding her hands walking around.

How does she like to be comforted?
She likes to be held and hugged. (AWWWW!)




and the best part of all.................


Is she crawling?  Is she able to stand unassisted?  If so, has she taken any steps?
She can crawl, can stand and can walk. (God is so good!)


I am so ready to go get her!

Flights are booked!

I guess we are going to China!!!  Cameron and I leave on Thursday, October 6.  That's 24 days if you are keeping count.  We'll get to Xi'an a day early (early am on Saturday 10/8), but that's the best situation the travel agent could work out.  We don't have our in country itinerary from ASIA yet, but from what they've told us, we should meet Cecilia on Monday, October 9th.  Four weeks from today!  On one hand, it seems so close and on the other, it seems so far away!  I.can't.wait.