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We're in Seattle!

We started off the day with a great breakfast at Fat Jack's and were very moved when the wait staff picked up our check in anticipation of our trip.

We almost missed our connecting flight to Seattle because we had to circle around in Atlanta because if weather. Amelie and I waited for the stroller off the plane and Allen went ahead to the next gate to tell them we were coming. He called in a panic saying leave the stroller (no one seemed to be in a rush to get it) or we would miss the flight. We ran (luckily the gate was close). At one point, I was running with Amelie under my arm like a sack of potatoes. But, we made it and the rest of the flight was smooth.

It was good to have a decent night' sleep to help break up the trip.

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Girls Day

Today we had a girls day out with me, Amelie, Ging, Nana, Amanda and Emerson. Amelie and I had been talking for a while about having a girls' day so we could get our toes polished with lucky red since we'd be heading to China shortly after.

We all met at Lakeside Village and took over for a while. The best part was watching/listening to Amelie chatter away with her nail tech about her upcoming trip to China. When the nail tech asked Amelie why she was going to China, she told her it was to get her little brother. The tech then asked Amelie how old he was and what his name was. Amelie told her, then was very precise when saying his name so the tech could know the proper pronunciation "Han Min" Amelie said carefully and slowly a number of times.

It was a fantastic day of pedicures, shopping and a movie (Amelie wanted Nana and Ging to see African Cats since she had already seen it and loved it so much). We got to follow it up with swimming and pizza at Lenny and Amanda's. Pretty great way to spend the day!

On another note, Amelie is somewhat anxious about the trip to China and is more frequently saying that she doesn't want to go. She asked me the other day if someone could just bring Han here. When Allen or I talk to her about why she doesn't want to go, she says she will miss her family and her animals. Last night, when Lenny gave her a hug good bye, she said something to him about forgetting her while she was gone. He, of course, assured her that wouldn't happen, but it does shed some light on what may be worrying her about this big trip.

We realize the trip to China may be a bit overwhelming. Perhaps due to the fact that is out of the country which is big enough, but also she knows this is where she was born and has some history here. It's hard to know what exactly she must be thinking, but we do know it's a lot for a 5 year old. We've been trying to be sensitive about this and let her talk it out as much as she needs to. We also make sure to talk about plans we have with family and friends when we get back so she can know for sure that we do actually plan on coming back to the world we know and love.

Weekend Getaway for 3

This weekend we decided to do one more family vacation as just the 3 of us. It also happened to coincide with my birthday and Allen's last week working for big Corporate before we start our joint venture of a home-based business together, so we had a lot of reasons to celebrate.

We went to Redington Shores Beach near St. Petersburg and had a wonderful, relaxing, close-knit family weekend. It was important to us that we had that one-on-one time with Amelie before we become a family of 4. She's been our one and only for so long and the center of our attention. Her world is about to change in some big ways, albeit positive ways, they're still big changes for a little girl (as if traveling out of the country isn't a big enough endeavor, she's about to get a sibling which, in and of itself is a big change - particularly when we don't know what sort of adjustment issues there may be).

We're definitely not high rollers in this family, we had a perfect blend of relaxing on the beach building elaborate sand castles, boogie boarding (Amelie is a surfer at heart I can tell), playing frisbee and walking around the shops at John's Pass.

Travel plans are set

It's hard to believe that in less than 3 weeks time we'll be on or way to China. In less than 1 month's time it will be Gotcha Day.

Nerves have set in. Nerves of excitement to be sure, as well as nerves of worrying about getting everything done for work while we're gone do I don't worry about customers, and mostly, nerves that I'll forget something important along the way - some form that needs to be brought or notarized before we go, some medicine that I can only get here, our some wad of cash that will go towards a major fee while we're there. I'll be more obsessive than Santa in checking my lists (not just twice, but too many times to count I'm sure.)

But mostly, I'm just impatient to get our boy and nevermind the rest.

Well, here are some fun pictures....

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More about our little Han

Tonight I decided to go back through Han's growth report (it's a good read) because I like to and, it had been a while.

I'm posting an excerpt from this report that relates to his post-surgery progress:

He is active and likes to be held by others, can imitate adult’s action and drink 220-250ml milk per time. After operation for 4 months, we did the examination for him in People’s Hospital of Deyang City again. Results of operation of his had been improved. This time Min Han is not different from before, he has extroverted disposition; every day the caretaker took him to downstairs to play, he does what adult do; his condition is improved well slowly; he can sit on the baby walker to go back and forth; he likes to watch TV, listen to music and play with toys. In Sept.2009 we took him to Cardiovascular Hospital of Chengdu to recheck; the doctor found less reflux flow of bicuspid valve; after we know the result we go to consult a doctor; the doctor said his ill only is slowly nursed back to health, and do not over-exercise; we follow the doctor's orders, especially take good care of him. Now Min is already 2years and 6months, he can go upstairs and downstairs; his intelligence development and physical state are normal; he can observe the facial expressions of adults, can speak father and mother, brother and sister; he likes to play with the same age children. Recently we did PE for Min Han again: height: 87.5cm, weight: 11.4kg, head size: 49.8cm, chest size: 51cm, and has 20 teeth; drink milk 200-250ml per time. He likes playing in the yard every day and is very independent; he often play with toys carefully in the bed alone, and can learn to have a meal by himself, drink milk with holding bottle. Now Min Han is a sensible child and the caretakers in the welfare institute all love him

Class Presentation

Amelie wanted to bring our big red leather-bound book of beautiful color photographs from throughout China to school recently. I said we'd need to check with her teacher first and suggested we both do a presentation about China and showing the pictures from the book. Amelie was very excited about this idea and even more excited when we got approval from her teacher.

We focused the presentation on the cities we'll be seeing on our trip. We started off by showing the globe and having the kids point out Florida and China so they could see that China was on the other side of the world from where we are now.

We showed Beijing on the map of China and asked if anyone knew of anything really big in China. One of the kids yelled out the Great Wall, so we showed pictures of the Great Wall and mentioned the fact that Amelie would get to be there. We talked about the Forbidden City and how, a long time ago, there could be a child actually ruling China. The kids got a kick of of this!

We then showed Sichuan on the map and pictures of the Sichuan countryside and the pandas.

We talked about Hunan and how it was known for it's great artwork with silk. We talked about silk worms (at which the kids yelled "Ewww!"). We then showed pictures of the process of how the cocoons are taken to the factories and made into silk.

Amelie had a great time and did a great job presenting by walking the pictures around the circle so everyone could see what we were talking about. The kids were very interested and asked a lot of questions and made some observations (some were even on topic!).

May 5th Tentative Travel Date!

We just got word that May 5th is our tentative travel date. This is what we were hoping for! The next step is for us to get a Consulate Appointment (CA) which should happen in 2-5 days. Once that happens, then we'll have to work on booking our flights and prepare for the madness of getting ready to leave for China in less than a month.

Time goes by so fast that these next few weeks are going to seem like a blur, but I can't imagine having a lot of time and twiddling our thumbs.

Amelie is very excited and dug out one of our large photographic books on China. She was looking through it and wanted to bring it to school. So, I suggested I come in and help her present it to her class (with permission from her teacher of course). So, she jumped up and down and yelled "Yeah!" when I told her that her teacher said that would be a great idea.

We have Travel Approval!!!

Today we got the email with the words we've been waiting 3 1/2 years to hear "I HAVE YOUR TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!" We were at Ging and Poppy's for dinner and shortly before we were supposed to eat, I see the wonderful email sitting in my Inbox. After I squealed, I motion for Allen to come over and read it with me so we could see the details at the same time. Then, we got to jump into the room to tell Amelie, Ging and Poppy - how fun to have people to share with right away!!

Amelie was very excited that she might win the

pool that Amanda setup at the Han Party she threw for us this past Saturday. I think no matter who wins that one, Amelie will have to get the prize (I'm sure no one will object).

So, just like everything else in the adoption process, it's a matter of hurry up and wait and hurry up again. Jenny Teague, our travel phase rep. at Great Wall, is trying to get the famil

ies to travel by May 5th. But, since she got a record number of TAs this time around, she may not be able to get everyone in and those families would have to leave May 12th. So, if we have to wait an

extra week? I think we can manage, we've waited this long so far, an extra week isn't even a drop in the pan. Of course, we're hoping for May 5th. Cinco de Mayo China style!

Welcome Han Party

Today, Amanda, Lenny and Emerson, had a great party in anticipation of Han coming home soon. We had a great time with the family and gathering for such a great reason.

We feel blessed to have family and friends that are so excited to receive Han with loving open arms. Joining us were Granny Great, Nana and Papa, Ging and Poppy, Mary Liz, Cindy and

Mike, Amy,

Kevin, Abby and M

alia.

Passports are ready and so are we, just waiting for China

Much to my relief, we got our passports back yesterday and they are good for 1 year. Now we just need to get our Travel Approval from China.

This week, Amelie finished another week of swimming lessons with Aqua Tots and proved, once again, what a natural and graceful swimmer she is. She improved her freestyle, breast stroke, back stroke and butterfly and was very excited about the medal she earned at the end.

Today we had a fun day hanging with Amy and Abby and Malia going strawberry picking in Plant City. We then hung out the rest of the day going swimming, eating strawberry shortcake and watching movies. Pretty much a perfect day!

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Need a Translator?

Today we were driving around and Amelie was wondering how I would understand Han when he wanted to play with something. I told her that we might have to learned Chinese. She then told me that she already spoke China and she could talk to him in China and tell me what he wanted in England. So, I guess the 2 languages spoken in this house are "China" and "England" and we can officially say we are a bilingual family.

By the way, when Amelie told me she could speak China, I asked her some words, but she told me she didn't like to say them out loud.

Poop Tray for 2?

I get to spend some girl time with my favorite girl today. We were going to our favorite Chinese restaurant before meeting some friends at a show. On the way, Amelie asked, "Can we get the poop tray?" I said "Pu pu platter?" Amelie said "Yeah, that".

Mostly though, I'm blown away at her mastery of language. Earlier she asked me if we had to be at the show by a "reasonable hour". She then quizzed me about my knowledge of princesses by asking, "What do you think of Princess Caring versus Snow White?" I love the "versus", but I restrained my giggle so that I could give her an earnest analysis.

Sent off for the visas!

Today I was in a mad scramble to get our passports sent off. In the mountain of emails we got from or agency pertaining to the travel stage, the stated deadline for getting the visa applications out by March 17th. I just barely made the cutoff by sending them 14 days early, but I want to be ready in case we get that call way earlier than anyone ever anticipated. Looks like I'll be stalking the fedex guy again..

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Welcome to the Travel Phase!

Today we got our official "Welcome to the Travel Phase" email from our adoption agency! This means we're done filing immigration paperwork, getting fingerprints, remembering to sign with blue ink and not black and we can focus on the chaos of preparing to travel to China with one child and coming home with 2.

This email was followed by a slew of other emails of everything we'll need to do including sending

off for our visa applications to get our passports updated with a visa to enter China.

Yesterday, we took a family trip to Target to get Han some bedding. Allen finished building Han's bed which is a twin under Amelie's loft bed (pictures soon). We recently had fun buying

clothes and undies for the little fella too.

As a nice distraction, my friend Angela is here from Alaska for a visit. We had fun tonight going to see her in Kissimmee and playing miniature golf. Hard to believe it's been 4 years since we last saw each other! Of course, when we do catch up, it's like no time has passed at all. Angela hadn't seen Amelie since she was 1, so it was fun getting them together again. Anywhere we drove, Amelie wanted Angela to sit next to her.

Our NVC Letter came today! Isn't that exciting!

Our letter from the National Visa Center came today. What does that mean if you are not top of all the Hague lingo and the trials and tribulations of the I-800 process? Well, it means we're one step closer to Han. Our immigration paperwork for Han is complete and we're ready to start the process to get his visa which will allow us to bring home our baby boy.

It is actually possible that ee could get our wish to travel in April. Obviously time will tell!

In the meantime, Amelie continues to entertain and dazzle. Putting her in dance was definitely the right choice. Too early to tell if she had an affinity for - right now she and the girls in her class seem to tip over a lot - but the moves and the clothes fit her girly nature.

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Pictures from Will's Baptism

Enjoy!

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Will's Baptism Weekend

We had a good time at Will's Baptism this weekend. Thanks to Micah, we got to enjoy family a bit longer by staying overnight in Gainesville.

The ceremony was very nice and Will performed admirably especially as he was held up for the congregation to admire. At one point the minister said, "be still in God's presence". Amelie, who is as active and restless as the day we got her, replied quite seriously "I can't".

We also got to see a professional golfer in the making as we watched Cole swing the golf club very diligently and very accurately for a newly turned 2 year old.

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Pictures from Paynes Prairie

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Gainesville Weekend

We're on our way to Gainesville this weekend with Lenny and Emerson riding along. Along the way, we're checking out Micanopy, a quaint, old Florida town lined with antique shops that are a throwback to a century past.

We're also looking at Paynes Prairie State Park as a possible place to bring the camper for a weekend.

In the meantime, I am hoping Micah has good luck in Tallahassee getting his car fixed as this whole early weekend get together was his idea. It would be nice if he got to participate.

In the meantime, I'll try to upload some pictures.

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Life it is a changin' and movin' right along

We were graced with our own piano recital where we were requested to sit in the audience (in our living room) and Amelie tinkled the ivories to the tunes of I Have a Little Dreidle and Bingo. For the girl we've always said can't not talk, she chattered to herself the whole way through with interjections of "Hmm", "Where was I" (giggle) "Oh yeah" "here we go" (giggle). Meanwhile we had the view of her tiny feet crossed at the ankle swinging back and forth below the piano bench.

More good news on our journey to Han. We got our I-800 approval (form that says we can adopt Han specifically and bring him back to the U.S. - big form in the Adoption world!). We weren't expecting this until end of Feb. so that is one more thing that is moving right along faster than we anticipated. Fingers are crossed the remaining steps will go as smoothly!

Care Package...slowly but surely

Yesterday, after the Chinese New Year event, we started putting together Han's care package. We took some pictures of us that we'll include in the mini photo album and I sent a letter for the director and nannies off to get translated into Chinese. Once we get that back, we'll be able to send him the care package which right now consists of a blanket, little truck and bouncy ball. We'll get a disposable camera (you never know, it could work this time!) and some baby clothes for the orphanage. In the meantime, here are the pictures he'll (hopefully) see.