Almost there...

Thursday we leave for China! I never thought this day would come. We are trying to get our life ready at home, which as you can imagine is not an easy task! I'm finished with work now for 12 weeks which helps ally with the final packing, cleaning the house and crossing off the final items from my LONG to do lists!!

We've downloaded a VPN to our laptop, so we hope to be able to update everyone while we are away. We get to China Friday afternoon...the Saturday we are touring Beijing and the Great Wall. I can't believe we will be exploring such a beautiful country. The country that our daughter was born in, for that we are so thankful. Sunday we fly to Hangzhou with 2 other families to prepare for the Monday morning where we all meet our children for the first time. I can't even begin to tell you the excitement I am feeling right now...we are so ready for this, and cannot wait to be a family of 3!!!

Getting Ready

First of all...please excue the poor cellphone camera that took these photos, but hope you enjoy seeing how we are getting ready for Tatum's arrival!

 View of nursery from door way

 View of Crib

 Inside crib...don't worry it all won't be in there with her!

 This girl will be WELL dressed. Keep in mind I have already packed her bag for China too! So there are clothes missing from this closet! YIKES

 Highchair with leftover balloons from my shower at work

 Tatum's TV chair

 Bathroom-we decided to keep this as grown up as possible since this is also the guest bathroom...but with a pink potty and a basket of hair bows, it does scream little girl!

 Thanks Aunt Laura!

 We will put her bookcase up today infront of the tree...(it's open) for now the books are in the basket on the floor

 We are overwhelmed with the generosity of our friends and co-workers! Tatum has SO many toys. We will work to widdle these down over the next week so she is not overwhelmed when she comes home.

Kitchen set

I think we are ready! Todd is putting up the baby gates today and putting the bookcase together. We have a few more things to pack, but otherwise....China here we come!

We have received confirmation of our international flights, our inner China travel details and all of our appointments we have for Tatum, sighseeing and our consulate appointment. This is all happening so fast and after many years of waiting, this is it!! We are so thankful for the love and support of our friends throughout this process, I can't tell you how much that has meant to us. The other day, we had so many gifts arrive, I literally just sat in the floor surrounded by them and sobbed. All good tears, but sobbed none the less. Todd hadn't warned me about some of the gifts because of who they were from and he knew I would be touched, and now I know why...he didn't want a lunatic calling him in tears! LOL

Today I am taking one of my best friends ever to lunch for her birthday. She will celebrate her birthday the day before we leave for China, and I know I just won't have myself together to celebrate with her then...so today is a day for us to spend together, to celebrate, giggle and just have fun together! Happy early Birthday....Laura!!

Tomorrow we are celebrating baby Leland's first birthday and Monday is my Father in Law's 60th Birthday. They are just getting home from a cruise, so it will be exciting to hear all abou that and catch up with the girls (my sister in laws) too!! :)

One last piece of good news....we found out we are able to travel to Tatum's orphanage while we are in China. I am so happy to receive that news!! We will go there on my Birthday to see where she spent the first 2 years of her life. I am very thankful to be blessed with this opportunity.

12 more sleeps before we fly out from Dulles to Beijing!!

Consulate Appointment confirmed!

We received word this morning that our consulate appointment has been approved for 9/28/2011. We are so excited, I can't even begin to tell you what we are feeling.

Here is our tentative schedule...we leave for China on 9/15!!

09/15 – Depart US
09/16 – Arrive in Beijing to participate in the Beijing tours on 9/17
09/18 – Arrive in province if you’re not participating in the Beijing Tours
09/19 – Gotcha Day!
09/23 – Fly to Guangzhou
09/24 – Medical exam/TB Test in Guangzhou
09/28 - AC appointment – Oath Taking Ceremony
09/29 - Family goes to AC to pick up passport with visa at ~ 3:30 pm
09/30 - Departure from China

We are working to get flights approved, etc... right now. Wish us luck!!

PS My Birthday is 9/20...best.birthday.ever this year!!!

Two Letters...

TA

I am one happy girl! We are hoping to leave September 8th, and I can't wait!!

We have a huge weekend planned. My family and friends are hosting a shower for us this weekend, and we have a ton of out of town friends coming in...and Irene needs to back off!

I will be back soon....I am exhausted and I need to start packing!!!

Struggling...

This is it, the final wait on a government body to issue something for the adoption process to bring Tatum home. We are waiting on our Travel Approval (TA). I look at blogs, forums, you name it...anything associated with a way for me to estimate when we can expect to receive our TA. I'm going crazy...my phone is with me at all times, I'm not sleeping well...and did I mention that we were in an earthquake today here in MD? In addition to that...we are expecting a hurricane this weekend. We are hosting a crab feast for 22 of our closest friends and family who are in turn hosting a shower for me to celebrate the homecoming of Tatum.

Tomorrow night, I am hosting a Cookie Lee jewelry party and my friend Jodi has offered 30% of all sales to be donated towards the orphanage fee that is needed to bring Tatum home. I'm looking forward to a night with some ladies to kick back and relax.

On top of all of this, work is nuts. I have just about zero interest in being there, I've had enough and I need a break....a 12 week break for me to be with my baby girl....so, come on TA!! (according to my neurotic math, we should receive TA this Friday...just saying)

Update

Last week we received an update on Tatum!! I took this picture from the lap top to brighten it up a little...our little beauty is 22 lbs now and just beautiful! I can't wait to get over there to get my hands on her and bring her home...I'm ready to see that first smile!

Article 5

Good News...our Article 5 was picked up!!! Now we wait for Travel Approval (TA)!! I can't believe this good news.......YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!