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.