Our "Semi" Surprise Baby Shower

My sister and family "semi" surprised John and I with a baby shower yesterday!! "Semi" has to do with the fact that I knew that it was going to happen, and assisted my sister in choosing the date.  With the uncertainties of timing in regards to travel approvals and consulate appointments, my sister wanted to make sure that once the arrangements were made, that John and I would actually be in the country to enjoy the party!!

 

What I didn't know was where and specifically what time.  John was in on the "where" as of Saturday night, so although he put on a good show yesterday afternoon, making believe that "maybe it really wasn't today", ha ha, he was actually the one who drove me to the party!!

 

What a wonderful time we had!! Spending time with family and friends and celebrating our daughter's imminent arrival. 

 

Lot's more pictures to come!!!!

Oh My Goodness!! I've Got So Much To Do!!!!

No pictures with this blog post!! I'd be too embarassed for anyone to see my home at the moment.  I think that "nesting" has completely taken hold! Aside from cleaning, purging, sorting and organizing, I'm also gathering everything we need for our trip.  The old adage "it's going to look alot worse before it looks better" comes to mind right now.  I have one more week of work, then I will be in prep mode full time!

This week was filled with celebrations, first Wednesday with nursing colleagues of mine who treated me to a wonderful delicious dinner at Ciao Babys and showered me with beautiful gifts.  Last night my FCC friends took me to Gino's in Islip and again, delicious food, awesome friendship and more gifts!! I feel so blessed!!!!

We're Leaving On a Jet Plane!!!

Received a phone call yesterday from our travel counsellor.  We have flights booked!!

We are leaving on Friday September 11th and will get into Beijing about 2pm on Saturday the 12th.

I am assuming that we will probably do some sight seeing on Sunday the 13th, as we are due to fly out Sunday night

to Nanning.  I am also assuming that we will finally meet our daughter, woo hoo, on Monday, September 14th.

I don't know the exact date we travel to Guangzhou, but I do know that our consulate appointment is Wednesday,

September 23rd and that we head back home on Friday, September 25th.

We're still waiting on our official day day to day itinerary which we should receive sometime this week.

 

Testing, Testing 123

Testing out the email capabilities of blogger.

 

Woo Hoo it worked!!! I was able to post the above by sending an email. Hope that means that I'll be able to email posts while in China, should we run into any blogger issues.

So...what's the picture above?? The bed in our back bedroom. Now covered with things that will ultimately be packed and brought to China with us. I'm still working on packing lists, and organizing exactly what's coming with us and where it will be packed among 3 suitcases (2 checked and one carry on) as well as one back pack (John will carry) and one diaper bag (guess who'll carry that :-)?)

We Have Travel Approval!!!!!!

Our agency let us know this morning that our travel approvals came in yesterday!!!
They have requested and already confirmed the provincial part of our trip, and have requested our appointments with the American Consulate. Depending upon the date of our consulate appointment, it looks like we'll be traveling sometime around September 10th. We should know more, including our tentative travel itinerary by early next week!! We're leaving for China in less than 3 weeks. We're gonna meet our daughter in less than 3 weeks. Yipppeeeee!!!
I'm ready to celebrate!!!
The heck with booze, bring on the chocolate LOL!!!

Care Package and Updates

Thanks to Anne with Red Thread China who sent the wonderful care package above to Renee Mei and her nannies. I was able to send a soft, stuffed bear to Renee, candy, chocolate and tea to her nannies as well as a letter from John and I. We sent a box camera as well. It will be thrilling to see the pictures Renee's nannies take of her. In regards to updated info, here is what Anne was able to find out:

Height: 68 cm (26.8 inches or 2 ft 2.8 in)
Weight: 8.5 kg (18.7 pounds) Wow!!
Head Circumference: 42.5 cm (16.7 inches)
Foot: 10 cm (3.9 inches)
Chest Circumference: 48 cm (18.9 inches)
Teeth: 2

Renee has 2 teeth, woo hoo!!!! Cheerios and fruit puffs will on their way my sweet little girl!!!
Unfortunately updated pictures were not available, but that's ok, John and I are looking forward to something even better than pictures. Soon we'll be able to see and hold Renee in person!! Nothing better than that!!!!
Still waiting on travel approval, should arrive any time now.

Guiping

When I first announced our daughter's referral, I noted that she was from the Pinyang Social Welfare Institute (SWI) in Guangxi Province, China. When we received her information from our agency, it clearly said Guiping SWI, not Pinyang. On questioning, Renee Mei is from Guiping and has been at the Guiping SWI since she was found.
In searching the web, I came across the picture above, of her SWI. This is where my baby girl is living now. She may not be aware of it now, but she'll be leaving this place in just a few short weeks, to begin her new life with John and I in the United States. Soon she'll be a "Long Island" girl.

We received our Visa's this week!!! How exciting it is to see the stamp in our passports! Now we continue to wait for travel approval, our American consulate appointment and ultimately our travel itinerary.

Renee, mommy and daddy are coming as soon as we can.
We love you so much already and can't wait till you are in our arms forever!!!!