March 20th 2006: Getting Closer To Us!

Well, I realized that I never posted how far CCAA got with the last batch of referrals. They went from March 14th to March 20th. YIPPEE!!!!!! We are so hoping that they continue to do big batches of 6 days or more! Keep "speeding" along CCAA!(Thus the picture of little Speedy Gonzales!) We are April 5, 2006 so we are anxiously waiting (and allowing ourselves to get excited a little!)

Putting Together Baby's Care Package

Well, I was looking through some papers that I had filed away years ago when we first found out that this wait for our baby was going to drag on. We just couldn't bring ourselves to read that stuff when it was so far away from happening. One of the things I read was a note that our China coordinator in California had written about once we get our referral, we can send a care package to our baby through her. She would actually get some goodies from Mommy and Daddy before we travel to pick her up. Here are some things that we are thinking about putting in the care package (nothing is definite and I'm hoping to get some more ideas from veteran adoptive parents). These were some of the suggestions of things we could include:
1. A small blanket that we launder with our washing detergent or sleep with before sending (so the baby is familiar with our "scent". This may help her transition to us a little smoother.
2. A small photo album with pictures of us, our pets, our home, her bed, her room, etc. This may help her to know our faces when she sees us.
3. A small toy/doll
4. A disposable camera with a note asking the nannies to please take pictures of her at the orphanage (to be included in her Lifebook that explains her early years before she joined our family).
5. Soft pajamas for her to wear (also laundered in our detergent/fabric softener).
We thought that maybe we could start putting together this care package now, to give us something to focus on and to keep our spirits up as we continue to wait. Oh I hope we get her soon!!!!!!!!! (As I get more suggestions online, I will add them here even though we might not include them all in the actual care package).

Summer Break!!!!!

Well, yesterday was my last day of school (I had two workdays Monday and yesterday) and now I am out on Summer Break. I have a few projects lined up in the baby's room and I want to get her 100 Wishes Quilt squares sent to the place that is going to make her quilt for me. They only charge $100 and it will be professionally done so it will last longer than something I might come up with (although I have made her a small baby quilt from other fabric squares so she will have one mommy made for her). Today my niece is coming to spend the night which is ALWAYS fun and she's going to pick out fabric and do a wish for Rebekah's wish book. YAY! I love my niece, Caitlin. It is hard to believe that she is going to be in the 6th grade at the middle school this year. I have a hard time seeing her as that old! I still see her as a little baby (sorry Caitlin...hahahahahahaha......Aunt Sue is TRYING to let you grow up but it is HARD!). Anyhow I am hoping we continue to hear about more and more referrals and that they really do get to us in September! I told my principal that would be great because my students start back on August 3rd and I would have time to get them settled and in a routine before going to China and then out on maternity leave. I am definitely going to be working my students HARD while I have them and HOPE that I get a long-term substitute who will be good with them and not just "play." When you teach an SOL grade, you really have to make sure you thoroughly cover the SOL content that is going to be on the state standardized tests in the Spring. Anyhow, I'm sure all will work out.......right now I just want that referral so I can go get our baby!!!!!! I've started "allowing" myself to get a little excited and to do a little planning now that they have gotten through March 20, 2006 people. They are only 16 days away from our log in date and that includes weekends! You can see the calendars of March and April 2006. We're getting closer!

Waiting To See How Far CCAA Made It This Time

Well, we've heard rumors that CCAA made it either through March 20th or 21st. Some agencies are saying one day and some agencies are saying the other and of course OUR agency says nothing. hahahahahahahaha I'll be happy with either 6 or 7 days this time. Here's what the dates would look like if they stick to 6 day batches:
June.......March 20th
July.......March 26th
August....April 1st
Sept......April 7th (We are April 5th)
That would put us traveling in October???? BEFORE CHRISTMAS!

Of course this is all speculation and high hopes! But it's fun to look and hope and plan and feel like this may happen for us soon!
I personally don't feel like we'll hear anything until after the new year. I just don't think they will get to us til then. This week has been kind of hard for me to deal with for some reason. It's like I can really feel my baby pulling me to China! Is she even born yet??? I don't know...the other night (2 or 3 nights ago) I had this dream about a baby and she was so cute!!!! She had little chubby cheeks and the cutest little rosebud mouth. And she was saying, "Mama!" I woke up feeling really strange....not sad or anything....kind of excited and just with a happy feeling in my heart. Oh I hope wherever she is, she knows we love her and we're hanging in there waiting to see her and hold her and love her forever!!! Hang in there baby.....Mommy and Daddy love you!!!!!

Roanoke FCC Picnic Today!

Today was such a beautiful for a picnic with our friends in the Roanoke, VA FCC group! We all brought food (a LOT of chicken) to the Garst Mill Park and had a ball sharing in food and fellowship! We were able to see all of the sweet children of our friends which always uplifts our spirits and gives us hope that we will one day have our own little sweet baby to share with them! It was nice to talk with Deb, Kim, and the others! It was a beautiful drive up there and back too!

LID-iversary # 38 and Counting

Well, here we are again......another month.........not much to say about it. It is what it is, and there's not a darn thing I can do about it. I'm just not fretting about it anymore.