I 171 H

Can you say Hallelujah? We got our I 171H in today. That is the last piece of paperwork from the federal government we need. Now we just need our Travel approval. The word on the Chengdu chat group is that travel has been postponed at this point. Several families were getting ready to leave in June and had to delay the trip. Hopefully, by the time our TA comes in, they will be processing adoptions in Chengdu again. Dan came home Thursday, so we have a busy month ahead of us. We will be working on getting our visas and getting Alex's room ready. There are two showers planned this month as well. I can't believe it is already June. Where does the time go?

Okay so we didn't just register..

So this weekend was suppose to be about registering for the baby showers, but there are some things too cute to pass up. Here all all the things we got this weekend. Some things I bought, some my sister Rhonda bought and some my Mom bought.
This first picture is a cute little dress. I just so happened to find a pair of sandals at another store that went perfectly with the dress.



These two are adorable sun suits.


This is a pair of jean we found that we hope will fit.


This final picture is a little pair of Pooh pants, a sweater and the cutest pair of sneakers ever.


I'm sure there will be more purchases in the future. Normally, I hate shopping, but I am loving shopping for Alex.

Fun with the Family

This weekend my mom and sister drove up to spend the weekend with me and help me register for the two baby showers that are planned in June. This morning all of us, along with my friend and honorary grandmother Leslie ,went to Babies are Us. Let me tell you, I had the best time. I've waited a long time to be able to register and buy gifts for my own child. After about 2 hours in the store, we decided to go to lunch. Amazingly, we didn't buy a single thing there. We had a nice lunch at Chi!i's and then we were off to T&arget. We mainly registered for toys and such there. Unfortunately :) we weren't as good and came home with the cutest pants, dress and sweater for Alex. Tomorrow, we may try to go to W&lmart and register there. The only things I haven't registered for is a car seat. Anyone who has any recommendations of a good toddler/convertible car seat, let me know. I'm still a little undecided.

Letter Seeking Confirmation

Our agency called today and our letter seeking confirmation arrived from China. That means Alex will definitely be ours soon. It also means we can post her picture. Look at our beautiful daughter. Soak in the cuteness.

Okay, so the next question is when? We are now waiting on 2 things, our travel approval from China, which usually takes 2-4 weeks to arrive and the renewal of our I171H from USCIS. Once they both arrive, we can travel within 2 weeks. This means with any luck we could travel in June or July. As for actually travel to the area..our agency is checking into travel around Chengdu. Hopefully we will find out something soon.

Spring

Yesterday was a beautiful day and for the first time in 2 years, our area has gotten enough rain, so the flowers in my yard are blooming. I took a few pictures. Enjoy.

My non existant dignity

I try very hard every day to carry myself with some professionalism and dignity, or at least I try to at work. Alas, most often I fail miserably.
Tonight I ordered takeout because I felt like crap and didn't feel like cooking. After I got home and fed the zoo, I changed into some comfy clothes, which as usual consist of Sponge Bob pj bottoms and a t-shirt. I wasn't really worried about the delivery person coming to the door, I mean who cares, I don't know them.
Except this time, they knew me.
As the young man hands me my order he says "I know you, your that vet." D'oh!!!!!!
So, in one fell swoop, any professionalism and dignity I had by being the doctor went out the window. Then I had to search my NyQuil impaired brain for who this person is and who their animal was. Geez..now I gotta be all dressed up to get pizza.

A doll for Alex

My brother Darren, sister-in-law Leslie, and 2 nephews and 2 nieces sent Alexandria this present today.


Isn't she adorable.

On an another note, I still feel like crap. The fever is still hanging around.
I hope it breaks by this weekend.

Well, I spoke too soon...

about the vaccines not bothering me. I woke up at 5 am with a fever. I tried to go back to sleep, but no luck. I took 2 fever reducers and got ready for work. Within an hour the fever was gone, so I headed in to the clinic. Around 9am the fever came back. I decided to only take 1 pill this time, but alas by 10 the fever continued to rage. I took another tablet (now 4 in 5 hours) and waited for the fever to break. By 10:30 I was headed home. The appointment schedule was really light anyway due to the weather. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be my self again.

More Presents!!!!!

Today I came home to find a package at my door.
My brother, Darren and his wife Leslie sent us these adorable shirts.

This one is for Alex. It has a panda on it.

This one is for Dan.


This one if for me.


I can't wait to wear it and be called Mama.
I started my vaccine series today. So far I feel fine. I don't usually do well with vaccines, so I'm a bit surprised.

Chengdu

So this morning started out with news of the earthquake in China. What most of you don't know is....Alexandria is in Chengdu. I spent the entire day at work trying to pay attention to clients and their problems, while worrying about Alexandria and all the other children. I called, e-mailed and fretted all day. Bits and pieces of news would come in that made me think the area was okay, but the news reports got progressively worse. Finally at 5 pm we got an update from Half the Sky. They sponsor the orphanage where Alexandria lives. They said everything is okay and the children were evacuated. I could finally give a big sigh of relief that she was okay. I hurt for everyone there and all the lives lost, but I'm grateful our daughter was not injured. The feeling of helplessness was more than I could bear not knowing all day if she was okay. I thought the wait for the referral was hard, but the wait to have Alexandria in my arms is turning out to be worse. Please continue to pray for everyone in the area.

Buck Creek Festival

This weekend I went to the Buck Creek Festival in Old Town Helena. The festival has been going on for 7 years, but this is the first year I have gone. Mainly, the festival involves music and lots of booths. It was a nice day, although a little hot.

This was a large area of inflatable rides for the kids.


This is the highlight of the event. The duck race. The race is for charity. Each duck cost 5 dollars each and if you come in 1st, 2nd or 3rd then you win a prize. This picture is of the volunteers dumping thousand of rubber ducks in the creek above the waterfall.

We waited and waited and waited for the ducks to come over the falls. Turns out for some reason, a large portion of the ducks headed up stream. So we waited almost 30 minutes for the ducks.

Finally, the little ducks came over the falls and floated towards the finish line. No, I didn't win anything. As far as I know my duck never even made it over the falls, but it was still a fun day.

Just for fun, I took a picture of a booth that had an inflatable version of my favorite character "Patrick".
While at the festival, I saw a booth of a woman who makes the most adorable children's outfits. I saw this cute little capri outfit that I just had to order for Alex. I can't wait to see her in it, and next year, maybe she can come with me.

My Mom........

Here is picture of Mom with all of her children. Yes, there are five of us and I'm the youngest.

Let me tell you a little bit about my mom. I was born 2 days before her 31st birthday. When I was a kid, I thought she was sooooo old, compared to my other friends moms who were in there late twenties. Mom was always there for us. She was a home room mother, ran the 4H club and kept the everything running smoothly. My father passed away when I was 10, leaving my mother a widow at the young age of 41. The 3 oldest kids were already out of the house and married or living on their own, but my brother and I were still kids. Mom was left with a 10 year old girl and a 16 year old boy to finish raising. Mom didn't have a paying job either. In short order, she started looking for a job. Eventually she became a teacher's aid and then went back to school to get her teaching degree. She did all this while still being an attentive mom. She still managed to go to the basketball games, football games, softball games and other school functions. She sent me off to college and finished college herself. She was my matron of honor at my wedding and has been there for everyone of her children when we needed her. She now has 9 grand kids, and one on the way. She has 1 great grandchild. Mom is planning on going to China with us. Mom retired last year and is happier then ever. I never realized how hard it was for her to raise all of us until I raised a teenager of my own. I'm still amazed at how she handled everything, alot of the time alone. I'm amazed at the trust she showed in me during my teenage years, and I'm glad to say I never did anything to break that trust. So on this Mother's Day I just wanted to say, Mama Thanks for everything and I hope when Alexandria comes home, I can be half the mom you were to me. I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for you.

How much longer?

3 years and 3 months.....That is how old Alexandria was yesterday.
15 years, 4 months and 2 days...that is how long Dan and I have been married.
8 years and 8 months....that is how long Dan and I have been trying to have a family.
2 years and 5 months....that is how long we been working on the adoption.
1 year, 4 months, and 7 days... since our log in date.
1 week and 2 days.... since our Pre-Approval.
How much longer will it be until we hold Alexandria in our arms?
I hope not much longer.

Lets make it fun...I predict it will be July 27th.
Why might you ask? A very scientific reason. On April 27th Dan and I had Chinese food for dinner. My fortune cookie said this "Remember three months from this date. Good things are in store for you"
So what are your predictions? Just to make it interesting, who ever gets closest to our actually forever family day will win a prize. Don't know what it is yet, but it will be something great.
So leave me a comment.

Presents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday we got the first official present for Alex. We did a secret Santa swap in Dec, but this is the first present we have gotten since our announcement. My wonderful friend Margie sent me a surprise package.


This adorable swim suit that I hope Alex gets to use this summer. There is also a pack of barrettes for her hair.


This cute little summer outfit with a skort and some rubber bands for her hair.


Also, lots of books. I love "The kid with too many pets". Sounds like Alex already. Ha Ha

I was tagged,...again

So I got tagged by Margie. Here are a few things you may not know about, and probably don't care to know. ha ha


1. Do you like blue cheese? NO!!!! It smells terrible
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? Are you crazy? Of course not
3. Do you own a gun? Yes, several actually.
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? Nothing, I don't get to eat at Sonic often, but they are building one in town. YEAH!!!
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Only the OBGYN.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Love them, and but I like sausage dogs better.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee, lots and lots of coffee.
9. Can you do push ups? At one time I could, now I doubt it.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My 10 year anniversary ring.
11. Favorite hobby? Reading, watching movies, and reading other people's blogs.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? No, but I work with a lot of people who do.
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I worry way too much.
14. Middle name? Dale.
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I love watching Scrubs, I wish I had something sweet to eat, When will we go to China.
16. Name 3 things you bought yesterday? Lunch at the Mexican restaurant, and a pack of cigs.
17. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Diet Coke, Coffee, Green Tea.
18. Current worry? We will never go to China.
19. Current hate right now? Nothing.
20. Favorite place to be? At home with my husband and animals.
21. How did you bring in the New Year?At a friends house having a bonfire.
22. Where would you like to go? China!
.23. Name three people who will complete this? I have no idea.
24. Do you own slippers? yes.
26. What year would you go back in time to? I don't think I would go back in time.
27. Can you whistle?Yeah.
28. Favorite color? Blue.
29. Would you be a pirate? No I get seasick.
30. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing, ever.
.31. Favorite girl's name? Alexandria, obviously.
32. Favorite boy's name?Mitchell.
33. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing.
34.. Last thing that made you laugh? I can't remember, probably something that was said at work.
36. Worst injury you've ever had? A toss up between my ACL rupture and when my gall bladder became inflamed.
37. Do you love where you live? YES !
.38. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2
.39. Who is your loudest friend? Dara without a doubt.
40. How many dogs do you have? 3.
41. Does someone have a crush on you? I doubt it.
42. What is your favorite book(s)? All of the Harry Potter books.
43. What is your favorite candy? Any thing with Dark Chocolate.
44. Favorite Sports Team? Duh, Mississippi State University Bulldogs!!!.
45. Your favorite meal? Seafood, (Snow crab legs, Shrimp etc).
46. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping.
47. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I wish I could sleep longer.
48. Do you have any odd habits? Not that I'm aware of, but they may seem odd to other people.
Okay, now I'm gonna tag Heather, Fliss and anyone else who wants to play.