Making Plans

Things are starting to happen. :-)

The agency called yesterday and they have our TA's and have requested CA appointments. The plans aren't final, but it looks like we'll be leaving for China somewhere around October 26th and will head home around November 8th.

I should have Deanna in my arms in 4 weeks.

What's Next?

So the big question on everyone's mind is... "when can you bring little Deanna home"?

Right now I'm in another waiting phase. I'm waiting for my Travel Approval (TA) from China. Once I have TA, the agency can make my Consulate Appointment (CA). The travel will be scheduled around the CA appointment. So right now, I'm still waiting for the TA and there isn't much new news until that is ready.

But this time, I don't mind the wait at all. While the 3 years of waiting was painful, I am ok with this part of the wait. (Or at least I am today. If it goes on too long then I may have a different story.) The most likely scenario is that our group will travel to China at the end of October and be home the first week in November. It could be faster than that, but probably not much slower.

I've been keeping really busy getting ready for her to come home. It's so much fun! I'll post more about that later.

Oh, and by the way, I bought Deanna a "Baby's 1st Thanksgiving" outfit this weekend. Yeah! Deanna will be home for Thanksgiving. This will be the best one ever! Yeah!

Thanks for checking in!

Sweet Deanna

These past 2 weeks have been so amazing. I am so thrilled that Deanna and I are now a family. And in a short while, we'll be united in person. I am walking on air. Nothing else in my life compares.

The reaction from family and friends is so intense. I am blessed with the most loving family and friends that anyone could hope for. And Deanna is loved so much- and everyone cannot wait for her to arrive. Thank you to everyone who has made this celebration so special.

I am so in love with sweet little Deanna. I can't stop looking at her picture and dreaming of when we'll be together. And I love her name - I've named her for my 4 brothers and sisters whose names all start with a "D".

I've been very busy lately getting ready for her arrival. I'll post more about the next steps later.

For now, I'm still walking on air...

It's A Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Introducing the newest addition to the C family.... the most precious and beautiful little girl in the world.... Xiu Hua Mei.

She is 8 months old and is currently in Chongqing City, China.
Here are more pictures of her:

This has been a totally surreal morning. I sat by the phone with my palms sweating and my heart racing like crazy. Then "the call" came from my agency... and then the email with these amazing pictures. Words cannot describe what this feels like. I am happy, elated, overjoyed, humbled, thankful, grateful, and mostly blessed.

Something in the Air

The CCAA has updated their website to say that referrals are done for this month. Woo-hoo! That means my referral is probably in the air on it's way to my agency. I can't believe it's Labor Day - DHL doesn't deliver today so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see my daughter's face.

On the positive side, the chances of getting my referral tomorrow are like 99%. Woo-hoo again. How will I ever get through the day today? I'm already up at 5:00am checking other blogs to see what information is out there. It's not a holiday in Europe today, so I'll be looking for posts from waiting adoptive parents in Europe to see if they get their referrals today. If they do, then those waiting in the U.S. should get theirs tomorrow. Did I say woo-hoo?

I'm so excited I don't know what to do with myself.

My First Blog

Thank you stopping in and reading my first blog - I'm glad you're here.

Today is September 1st. For more than 3 years, I've been on an incredible journey to begin my family. This long wait has been difficult, but my dreams will be coming true in a very short while.

Somewhere, halfway around the world, the CCAA has matched me and a child and we are already a family. Isn't that amazing?

The CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs) sends out referrals once a month and we are in the next batch. Rumors say that those referrals are in the air via DHL already. That means I will see my precious daughter's face in a number of days. I've waited 3 years, but these last few days are killing me. But it is so worth it.

Please join me on this journey. Your support means the world to me.

D