Hotel & Tickets - CHECK!!!!

Hey guys... We received our travel dates on Friday!!!  HOOOWHOOO!!!  Our hotels are booked and the plane tickets purchased.  Let the 75 trips to Walmart and the packing begin!

I will be blogging while we are there.  So please check on us daily... 

Article 5

Our Article 5 was picked up from the US Embassy in China on Friday, 10/15.  This document will prompt our TA (travel approval).  We are hoping to get that within 15 days... please pray it comes soon!  One more step and we are off... Based on our current timeline we should leave sometime bw 11/11 and 11/25.  Keep you all posted!

The crazy thing is that I feel completely NOT READY to leave.  What??!!!  Three years of planning and I still feel ahhhhh - not prepared.  Going into overdrive now to get everything together. 

Love to everyone!
Kel

More good news...

Well God's grace is just pouring out today.  My sweet friend Jennifer, who is in China right now with her daughter Myah, saw Laidyn at the orphanage this morning (last night our time) and snapped some pictures for us.  Here is what she emailed me this morning: 

"Oh my, she is the most precious thing ever!  Kinda shy, but wow... what a little angel you have.  She came to the baby room hand in hand with her foster brother, who will be adopted next week.  I would guess him to be 4 or 5.  I know nothing more about him then that, but you should ask on the yahoo group to see if you can keep in contact.  They said that they are very close."  Jennifer

Jennifer said she popped in and then she was off.  I am even more excited now!  I guess she is at the orphanage now - i will try to find out from our agency.  I knew she would be moved from the foster home to the orphanage, but we were not sure when.  I am so glad she is close to her foster brother and I will try to locate his new family... I know she will be able to attach to Bren and Noah easily!  

What a day... we are coming sweet BeiLei... be there soon!!!
Kelly

Getting Close...

Hey guys... we are getting soooo close.  Our Article 5 should be picked up on 10/14!Yipee.... we should get TA (travel approval) about 10-15 days after that.  Hopefully sooner. 

We also received an update with some new pictures.  She is measuring and weighs the same as in August... no real changes.  In the pictures she is wearing the pj's we sent, playing with her purse and doll that we sent.  She's also standing - that makes me feel awesome bc we had not seen on of her just standing on her own yet.  :) I can't wait to show Payton the pictures - She played with that doll every time she came over while it was sitting on the counter waiting to be shipped to China.  I love that Laidyn is holding something that Payton touched and played with too.  Awhhhh!!!!

Also... to my wonderful family and friends who threw me the most precious baby shower this week - THANK YOU!  You are all wonderful and I could not be more grateful.  It was a perfect evening.  All of Laidyn's toys are put away, her clothes are washed and the suitcases are ready for packing.  Thanks so much for all of your love and support!!

Kel