Travel Approvals Are Arriving!!

Some who received their referrals this month have reported receiving their TAs today! This is awesome news because once we have the TA our agency can set the Consulate Appointment (CA).  The date of the CA is what determines when we leave for China.  The CA happens at the last part of your trip.  Generally speaking, our agency makes the CA on a Tuesday because you have to stay in the province for a day after the appointment to verify all the paperwork. Everyone meets their Babies on the Monday of the previous week so we would need to leave approx 2 weeks before the CA.  So ..... needless to say we are very anxious to hear about our TA!! 

Can you imagine we could be on our way to pick up our little buttercup in just a matter of weeks!! 

Right now the house is totally upside down, but this weekend we are going to be working like crazy on Willow's room -- something we have been looking forward to for so very, very long. 

Life IS Good!!

XOXO,

M&R 

New Pictures!!

It has been so hectic these last few days, I don't think either of us is getting more than 4-5 hours of sleep but we are just so incredibly happy!  I must confess I have taken to the 30 minute power nap during the day.  Could this just be some subconscious way of adjusting? - I don't know, I don't care!!! We got new pictures and our little girl looks so healthy and amazing!!!!

We are a little sad that we have missed so much - she looks so grown up- but we try not to think about that.  

Rick has put her pictures up on the fridge and yesterday I think I stood in front of them for about 20 minutes at one time.  I wouldn't have known except our contractor walked by to take a break and when he came back I was still standing there!  I am still trying to get a handle on the spontaneous bursts of tears but there has been progress - thankfully as I was starting to dehydrate!!   

We had a great talk with Nancy from our agency last night and she is going to try to arrange for us to meet with Willow's foster family while we're in China.  We're not sure how long she has been with this family but we would consider it an honor and we'd  be eternally grateful for the opportunity to know any of the loving people who have obviously cared so deeply for our daughter.  These requests are not always granted so we are crossing our fingers.  

OMG ....Look at HER!!!!  

Much Love - 

Our Beautiful Rainbow

It just gets better and better.  Right after my last post, Rick and I went around the corner to dinner.  This Japanese/Chinese fusion restaurant just opened about 3 months ago and we're already regulars!  When we walked in tonight, Rick said "hmm...we should have brought our paperwork maybe they could help us translate."  So as we left we asked the owner, Becky, and she said she'd be happy to help just fax it over.  Minutes after we got home and faxed it she called us and this is what she said.... ( I warn you - get the tissues ) 

This report was done on 1/20/08.  The document shows that Willow was found on 7/18/07.   She was found to be in good health, no disease, and very cute! (yes Becky said it said that!) Her Name, CAI MEI, was chosen as a good name for her as it translates to "Beautiful Rainbow".  

1st month  not sleeping too well, crying until somebody held her

2nd month much better sleeping and eating well

3rd month looking for voices and smiling when touched

5th month Raises Head and Giggles

6th month Recognizes emotions in others

Drinking formula 6X/Day 280MLs

Eats Eggs, Fruit, Rice

Very Outgoing and Happy

Likes the Outdoors

Likes Music

Measures 64cm , 7KG (15.5lbs)

Head 42cm, Chest 40.5cm. 

I cannot tell you what a gift Becky gave to us tonight. I think I will sleep better tonight! We are so happy to hear that our little one was found quickly and in good health and that she has had many occasions to giggle and smile. We cannot wait to hear that Giggle!! 

XOXOXO

What A Day!!

Today Rick and I were supposed to be waking up in a cute little hotel in the center of Quebec City, but after noticing our little boy Ollie was not feeling well (more later) we had to cancel and instead I spent the day with my Sister and it turned out to be better than any ol' trip to QC could have ever been .  These are the very first things purchased for our little Willow.  We had the best time and I am soooo glad to have my dear sister to share this with.  No one else can shop like Auntie!! (She purchased all the great things hanging here and my favorite so far are the Panda PJs Auntie picked up!!)   

Introducing Willow Assante-LaBash!!

Here she is!!!  Our beautiful baby girl.  Born on July 17, 2007 she will celebrate her first birthday next week.  We haven't received too much information yet but what we know for now is that she is very active but is a deep sleeper (yay!) she laughs out loud and knows her name when called.  They call her Chai Mei and according to our report she weighed 15.5 Lbs in January (at 6 mos!)  She is amazing!!! Look at those cheeks just waiting for Mommy and Daddy to kiss them and pinch them!!  She seems to have some bruising on her forehead - takes after Mommy!  We're supposed to get more pictures before noon today and I will post as soon as I can!!  

P.S. we're still working on a middle name! 

It's a GIRL!!

At 8:23 pm after a long sad day thinking we were forgotten by the CCAA, we got "the call"!!  Our Daughter is about to have her first birthday (we are sad we cannot be there but there will be many, many, many celebrations when she is home with us!) , she is a deep sleeper (horray) and laughs out loud!!!  We wait for more details to come in the morning and will post again then.  For now, we are beyond thrilled!! We cannot believe it!! A baby girl!!

Some Background on How the Matching Works

Here's a Link that explains the matching room pretty well.  

http://chinaadopttalk.com/2006/12/07/how-the-matching-room-works/

No News Yet! 7 am

Great. Communication Issues Predicted Today!! With no other concrete news I am starting to get hooked on this horoscope thing!!

July 07, 2008

1. Capricorn (12/22-1/19)

   Today might not be an easy day for communication. There will be a lot of unpredictability in terms of people's motives and energy levels, and people might not realize what they are saying. Just be ready to change things on the fly. This is a day to utilize all your flexibility and patience. When someone in power says they want something done a certain way, you can expect them to change their mind before long. If you are expecting it, it won't bother you so much.

T- 14 Hours!! (10:30 AM Monday)

Wow!  We just finished dinner a short while ago and talked to DickiePoo and are all caught up now on all the goings -on in Foot Hills Point.  Tuesday is his house closing and we're hoping all goes smoothly so he can make his way to Michigan! In return, we caught him up on the latest news from China and it seems no matter how many times I hear myself say that " we might get THE CALL tomorrow" it never ceases to take my breath away.  I am constantly on the verge of tears every five minutes - happy, happy, heart bursting with happiness tears.  Tomorrow Rick and I will go our separate ways by about 6:45.  He has to be in NYC all day Monday and Tuesday and is planning to stay overnight on Monday (cannot believe the timing but it is unavoidable).  I will be headed down to Yonkers, NY for an early morning client meeting, then a bit north to White Plains for a second meeting which should finish around 1:00pm.  That said, if the call comes in I will absolutely bail on the second meeting and head to NYC (unbeknown to my beloved) so that we can celebrate together even if only for 10 minutes. 

I will post again in the AM!!!!!!!!!

This.....Is.....The....Looonnnggeesssttt...........Weekend...of..My.... L..I...F...E....

So... let's see.  Organized the linen closet, made trip to Goodwill, picked out fabric for new bed at PB, chose paint colors for MBA and MB, purchased new window treatments for great room, return said window treatments, went grocery shopping , picked up new light fixture, ordered more stone for floor.... and it is still only 5 pm!!  When will this weekend end??  I have never wanted it to be Monday so bad!! 

Here's the latest from RQ...

R5 - 25th

July 5th, 2008

I think we can take the 25th as cut off to an R5 now.

Congrats to all who will be included!

 
 
I’ll also give it an R3 that there will be some expedites in this batch. It has now come from several sources.

Perhaps Monday Will Be Our Lucky Day?

Referrals in Europe

July 4th, 2008

Referrals did not arrive in all of Europe, but at least one agency in one country made phone calls late Friday. The LID’s were for the 23rd.

Well, If There Was Ever Any Doubt....

It has all been erased now - It is definitely happening, how could Yahoo Horoscope Ever Be Wrong?? 

Just got online and on my way to RQ when I spotted this in my Yahoo Home Page.  Oh, yeah I am soooooo ready for change!! (sorry about the formatting, I am still trying to work out the bugs!)

Horoscopes

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July 02, 2008

1. Capricorn (12/22-1/19)

   You are ready for change, and it's coming soon -- you just have to hold on a little bit longer! For now, your routine will be extra-routine, but it doesn't have to be extra boring. If you look at the content of your day as something that is about to change, you'll appreciate it a lot more. New things become old things, and then they are gone -- and you might miss them! You're a lot luckier than most people, and it shouldn't take much for you to find satisfaction with your day.

   
   

Horoscopes

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July 02, 2008

1. Capricorn (12/22-1/19)

   You are ready for change, and it's coming soon -- you just have to hold on a little bit longer! For now, your routine will be extra-routine, but it doesn't have to be extra boring. If you look at the content of your day as something that is about to change, you'll appreciate it a lot more. New things become old things, and then they are gone -- and you might miss them! You're a lot luckier than most people, and it shouldn't take much for you to find satisfaction with your day.

Horoscopes

Collapse moduleDelete ModuleEdit Module PreferencesRefresh Module

July 02, 2008

1. Capricorn (12/22-1/19)

   You are ready for change, and it's coming soon -- you just have to hold on a little bit longer! For now, your routine will be extra-routine, but it doesn't have to be extra boring. If you look at the content of your day as something that is about to change, you'll appreciate it a lot more. New things become old things, and then they are gone -- and you might miss them! You're a lot luckier than most people, and it shouldn't take much for you to find satisfaction with your day.

Horoscopes

Collapse moduleDelete ModuleEdit Module PreferencesRefresh Module

July 02, 2008

1. Capricorn (12/22-1/19)

   You are ready for change, and it's coming soon -- you just have to hold on a little bit longer! For now, your routine will be extra-routine, but it doesn't have to be extra boring. If you look at the content of your day as something that is about to change, you'll appreciate it a lot more. New things become old things, and then they are gone -- and you might miss them! You're a lot luckier than most people, and it shouldn't take much for you to find satisfaction with your day.

MADE JA LOOK (LIKE 10,000 TIMES!)

That is what the header should say on the RQ site!! So as it turns out, those "packages in the air" were not referrals and we're not even sure what they were.  Probably TAs (travel approval) or LOAs (letters of approval) so we're just plain SOL(I'll assume you all know what that means)!  Today two agencies say that the CCAA is still matching so at least we know that something will come soon!

On the plus side, I spoke with our agency today and feel pretty good about us all being on the same page. That's a relief.  I just need to send them a list of our phone numbers and the order in which they should call them so that we make sure that we actually pick up "THE CALL" as soon as they dial it - which, according to them will be only minutes after they receive their DHL package.  I forgot to ask what time of the day they usually come (smacking forehead now).  There were a few times on the phone with Pam today that I really started to get vaclempt (sp?) as she was telling me what type of information we'd be getting during the first call it just started to seem so real.  We are very, very, very close now and it is starting to sink in - We're going to have a CHILD!