We made it!!!

We are here in Beijing. We made it to our hotel just fine (we had a driver and guide). Decided we would go out for a walk and clearly crossed the line, we were immediately bombarded with Chinese "walking" street vender's 2 women followed us for about a block saying "hello, hello you buy 4 or 5) we decided to turn around and go back were we came from once we crossed back over the line we were safe, few! Dinner was next, very hard to order, we should have found our guide be thought we could do it on our own. We ended up with 3 very small bowls of soup that took about an hour to get to the table. We almost fell asleep at the table, we had all been up for about 24 hours (very little sleep on the plane).

Tomorrow we are going to the Olympic parks and Tiananmen square and the Forbidden city. Hope to have pictures and a clear head.

All in all things are going well, Only a few more days until I have my baby in my arms. It feels good to be in China.

Z and N I love you very much. P you too.

I am going to try and get some sleep now.

Packed!!! Sleep?

I am packed. But will I sleep tonight??? I am so excited!!! Tomorrow I will be on a plane to China. Gosh that sounds crazy, never in a million years did I dream that adopting a little girl from China was going to be part of my life. Here we go . . . Next post Beijing

3 Days

3

There were times when I thought this adoption would never happen and now I am counting down the days . . . incredible!!!!

I am filled with excitement, joy, nervousness, happiness, sadness . . . and many more emotions. I can't wait to hold my new little one, my arms and body ache for her. I am worried about leaving my boys for 2 weeks (never been away from them this long). I know they will be loved and cared for while I am gone. They have the best dad ever and we have such a great support system. I know they will be in good hands.

I am so excited to be in China the parks, the food, the people, being with my dad and sister, the whole experience is a trip of a lifetime. I so want to allow myself to live in the moments and not let the worries dominate.

Now I need to go finish packing hopefully for the final time. Just a few things left to-do. Mostly I want to hang out with my boys.

Maternity Leave

Yesterday was my last day at work for 12 weeks. Friends from work took me to lunch. One of the ladies at lunch has 2 China babies (her first was the one who planted the seed in me for adoption) She told us all about her travels, she went to Nanchang for her second which is the same place we will be getting our baby I love to hear her stories, I could talk about China and adoption all day. I really enjoyed lunch A big thanks to T, B, A and A.

It is really different going on leave without being pregnant, to some people it was a surprise so I got to tell them all about our new daughter, which goes back to getting to talk about adoption all day . . . what a great day!!

Things at home have been a bit stressful this last week trying to put the last couple $$$ together for the Adoption, but last night we decided to use a gift certificate and go out to dinner. We enjoyed and celebrated. YEA!!! I have been walking on cloud 9 . . . a great place to be.


4 DAYS AND WE ARE OFF

1 week!! Door????

We have one week until we take off for China!!!!


In the morning it is always a bit of a challenge to get the kids ready for school. Or shall I say get the kids to get themselves ready for school (because that is what a good mom would do). There is always one straggler. We go to the car and the last kid out of the house NEVER SHUTS THE DOOR. WHY? WHY? WHY? Is it not obvious that the dog could get out, the robber could get in, oh and never mind the fact that it is pouring down rain. This seems so obvious to me. Clearly not to the 8 or 4 year old.

Shower and the Nursery

My Sister In-Law and Sister threw my the best shower ever. Yummy food and drinks (since I am not pregnant for this shower I got to have a few drinks) I had my friends there and got to celebrate. Tons of great gifts . . . as you will see the nursery is now done. Thanks to everyone.

Travel Itinerary

11/19/08 Wednesday Leave Seattle

11/20/08 Thursday arrive Beijing

11/21/08 Friday Tour of TianAnMen Square, Forbidden City and Olympic Green Park

11/22/08 Saturday Great Wall

11/23/08 Sunday arrive Nanchang GOTCHA DAY!!!!

11/24/08 Monday Paperwork

11/25/08 Tuesday Shopping

11/26/08 Wednesday Shopping

11/27/08 Thursday Tour of Nanchang

11/28/08 Friday Fly to Guangzhou

11/29/08 Saturday Medical check-up

11/30/08 Sunday Tour Guangzhou

12/1/08 Monday US Consulate

12/2/08 Tuesday Pick up visa

12/3/08 Wednesday Head back to Seattle