One Word:FINALLY!

Here it is...our I-171H Approval! After waiting for 29 weeks (instead of the standard 8-12) we FINALLY received our I 171-H Approval from USCIS to adopt Sophie!! Basically this means that our adoption agency needs to have this form approved by the Chinese Consulate in Washington State and then our dossier is on it's way to China for translation! Our next big hurdle to cross will be to receive a LID (Log in Date) from the CCAA (Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs). THEN we wait for TA (Travel Approval). We will update the blog as we hit these milestones so stay tuned. : )

I was SHOCKED to find this in our mail box this morning, I think that I asked Greg 3 or 4 times: "Are you SURE that this it"??!! After regaining my senses and calling my Mom I was off to FED EX to overnight the approval to our adoption agency. We have had some minor flooding here and I drove through 8-12 inches in some areas to get there, I was just glad that I did not have to get out and wade to the building....of course I would have. ; )

When we told Emma that the special paper came that we have been waiting for and that Sophie can come home now Emma replied: "SISTER"!!!

I guess that this means that I can start to get Sophie's room ready! Even if we do not travel for 4, 5, or 6 more months...those of you who know me understand that I need to be organized. : )

In the closing of this rambling post I want to take note that it is September 13th, but in China it is September 14th...the first day of The Moon Festival. This is a very important family oriented holiday in China. So, what a fitting day this was to receive our approval for Sophie!

Another Picture of the Yangdong Trio

Three Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.......(L to R): Eliza (in the back), Emma, & Jaiden.

I forgot to include this picture in my previous entry this morning. I just love, love this picture that my friend Sarah took. It captures the energy of the three girls so perfectly! :)

朋友...."Friends"

Three Very Lucky Moms and their daughters! L to R: Julie & Jaiden, Megan & Emma, Sarah & Eliza.

Playing Ring Around the Rosy

At the Zoo

A Playdate with MORE girls from the city of Yangjiang (different SWI though). L to R: Emma, Jaiden, Eliza, Anna and Amy.

L to R: Eliza (Dong YiYi), Jaiden (Dong RuNi), and Emma (Dong CanNi).

Emma & Eliza, both wearing headbands and glasses. (Emma stole Eliza's fashionable look)!

THREE car seats in the car!

Jaiden and Emma-hand in hand!

The trio in my bath tub! :)

朋友...."Friends"

No matter what language you say it in, "FRIENDS" can be a powerful word. I met two very special women on my "Yangkids Yahoo Group" two short years ago. We connected through our daughters who at one point in time were ALL living at Yangdong SWI in Yangjiang, China. First I "met" Julie from Oregon who was waiting to adopt Jaiden and then I "met" Sarah from North Carolina who was waiting to adopt Eliza. Sarah brought Eliza home 7 months after we returned home with Emma... and Julie was the last one to travel arriving home with Jaiden 2 months after Sarah's journey.

Enough about US, it is time to meet the Yangdong Trio. Emma is the oldest at age 4 while Jaiden and Eliza are both 3 years old. The girls birthdays are all with in 10 months of each other-that's right-can you IMAGINE three strong willed toddlers together (in coordinating outfits ;) ) for 4 days?! They are definitely 3 separate personalities and they all have distinct features, it was an incredible gift to be able to enjoy the trio together again. As Sarah put it: "Together From the Start-Forever in My Heart". :) The girls truly got along well and had a lot of fun together, as did the Yangdong Moms.

One day we were even able to meet up with another Mom (Tami) and her daughters Amy and Anna. Her girls are also from Yangjiang! All of the pictures posted speak for themselves, don't you think??

Back to School!!

Lots and Lots of Pink...Pink hair ties, pink dress, pink backpack! The excitement is brewing...
Skipping to the Car...


Emma chose her own backpack this year-Kung Fu Panda!
READY TO GO!!!

Today was Emma's first day of Preschool in Kansas! She woke up at 6:00 A.M. and was asking to go....but, she had to wait for 6 and a half hours since she is in an afternoon class this year! :-) Emma told me that she was going to her new school to see Ms. Marci and as you can tell by the photos posted she had no reservations about going, not one tear! Apparently she had a good day according to the note in her bag.

A Mini Reunion at Cracker Barrel!

"Hand in Hand"
The trio L to R: Braydee, Emma and Lucy
"Old Friends"
L to R: Emma, Braydee and Lucy.

Greg and I decided that it was time to get out of town, so we took Emma to Kansas City, MO for the weekend. We attended a Royals Baseball Game and ate some great Barbecue food on Saturday. (Don't worry everyone-I had the shrimp)! Emma had a blast at the ballgame, clapping and cheering for both teams. :)

On Sunday we met some very special friends for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. The Rutter-Chu family was part of our travel group in China and their daughter Lucy was born in Guangdong Province just like Emma. We had not seen them in 2 and a half years, but somehow the girls just connected immediately. They had a great time visiting and so did we. My friend Cristy took the pictures posted above, she captured better ones than I did so I am using hers! :) (Thanks Cristy-*lol*)!

Our File is in Kansas City!! (Week 23).

I have a positive "Sophie Update" to share. I found out this week that the Chicago USCIS office did indeed transfer our file to Kansas City. If they would have put an ounce of the effort that they have used to avoid working on our file into actually processing it we would have had I171H approval weeks and weeks ago! Remember, the approximate wait time for Illinois is 8-12 weeks and we just finished week 23 of the wait! Anyway, while we are disappointed that Chicago did not do their job and take ONE HOUR out of their day to process our file, we are at the same time relieved that it is out of their hands. According to the senators office Kansas City is reviewing it now! I am praying that there are no more delays so that we can get our dossier to China already!

We think of Sophie every day and our arms ache to hold her. If I close my eyes I swear that I can smell her scent and feel her soft skin. Please keep Sophie and our family in your prayers so that I can hold her for real one day. And, feel free to send "bad thoughts" to the Chicago office... ;P

A Day in the Life of Emma

It has been awhile since I have posted on the girls blog, Emma has been keeping me BUSY! All of the random pictures below were taken over the past week. Enjoy!!! :)

Emma hanging out in her room "listening to mucik"-(Music)!
Showing off her tattoos!
Emma looks like she is 10 to me in this picture--she is growing up so quickly! : (
Enjoying her nightly ice cream cone habit, she is obsessed with napkins!

Exercising with Daddy!