Well there has been some excitement and disappointment in the last couple of weeks.
The disappointment is that our church won't allow us to have the people we want to be Tia's Godparents because they don't meet the requirements. It is SO frustrating that one church is so strict and another of the religion isn't. We did think about going to the other church so we could have "our way" but Sam doesn't like that church at all. I understand and respect that. Rules are rules for a reason, no matter how much we disagree with them. So the search was on to try and find someone who we feel comfortable and confident that meet the requirements of the church and of course us.
But the hardest part of this was telling the person when we desperately wanted couldn't be Godparents. That was so heartbreaking for me as it was for them. My heart is still breaking....
After much debate we have solved our solved our dilemma on who will be Tia's Godparents, and I must say that we are both happy and proud that they have agreed! YEA!! Now that is all settled and done with we will have the baptism later in the summer when Grandpa and Grandma can come out for a visit.
Then earlier in this work week we received word that the Travel Approvals were on there way and that meant that the Travel Dates were right behind them! And folks we have them!!
Here is our itinerary for China:
January 6 Arrive in Beijing, China
January 7 Free day to recover from plane trip/jet lag
January 8 Holt orientation
January 9 Fly to Guangzhou, China (this is where the US Consulate is and happens to be the
same province that Tia is in)
January 10 Tia!!! We will FINALLY meet our beloved baby who we've dreamed of for so long!
January 18 US Consulate visa appointment for Tia's visa
January 20 Tia's visa is issued
January 21 Fly home
The days between the 10-18 will be filled with meetings, paperwork and the Adoption Finalization Ceremony. The thing I LOVE about Holt International is they don't leave you hanging. We will have an English speaking representative with us all the time. We will of course have some down time to ourselves to go shopping and or hang out with other families.
We looked at the temperatures for Beijing and Guangzhou and they couldn't be more different! The average temperature in January in Beijing is 28 and for Guangzhou is 58! WOW Which winter coat do I take??
I guess a sweatshirt, scarf, hat and gloves are a must!!
We are toying with the idea of doing a tour of the Great Wall. But after looking at the average temperature and the slope of the Great Wall, we're wondering if we should risk it. If I understand it right, we have to take a cable car - um yea that requires me to be OFF THE GROUND! I'm already worried about the 13-15 hour flight! I'm sure the flight home will be better as I'll have to focus on Tia, but the flight over is a totally different story! I want my mommy!!
Now that we officially know when we will be traveling to get our precious baby girl the reality is starting to sink in. There is no turning back now. I have all these fears and thoughts in my head. The main one is "WTF am I doing?" I know it's the "fear of the unknown" and that once we get her in our arms, our maternal and parental instincts will kick in but until then it's nothing short of fear/anxiety/excitement all rolled into one. I have been assured that this is all normal, however when I told Sam how I was/am feeling he looked at me like I'm crazy. Don't men have these same thoughts??
With the holidays just around the corner, Sam will be gearing up and will soon be starting to work the longer holiday hours. Between getting the store ready for Christmas season and his photography he won't have a day off to put the crib together until Thanksgiving day. On one hand I'm OK with that. On the other hand, I'm getting SO EXCITED that I want it done yesterday!
But honestly, it's working out for the best this way. It will be just enough time for me to work on getting the final touches and get our required documents together and start packing for China.
The BEST thing about these confirmed travel dates is now I can start buying the stuff we need to take to China for Tia. I've been kept on a very short leash but now I think it's safe to say that it's OK to start buying the baby meds, diapers, wipes, formula, bath for our trip. YEA!!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Happy Hump Day! This week has been so long and stressfull but yet, it's going by fast! Work has been crazy busy and we received our paperwork to prepare us for travel. Man, is that ever intimidating and overwhelming!! I sent what I needed to send back today and I'm hoping and praying that I didn't forget anything or complete something incorrectly! Keep your fingers crossed!
Thank goodness the remaining paperwork is paperwork is paperwork that we have to take with us when we travel to China. So with that being said, I can take my time filing it out as most of it has multiple pages of instructions and sample pages.
Still haven't done anything new to Tia's room. Sam has been crazy busy too and so I'm hoping that the crib will get put together before the end of the month, but we'll see. My goal/dream is to have her room done by mid November so we can bring up the suitcases and start getting things ready. We have started "lists" (as recommended) and I still worry that we will forget something. And I know that Sam will complain that we're "taking everything but the kitchen sink!" He still hasn't either realized or accepted the fact that babies require a lot of stuff, but he will soon learn!!
Well I suppose I'd better hit the hay as tomorrow is going to be another long day at work - I need to find the bottom of my desk before Friday night!
Thank goodness the remaining paperwork is paperwork is paperwork that we have to take with us when we travel to China. So with that being said, I can take my time filing it out as most of it has multiple pages of instructions and sample pages.
Still haven't done anything new to Tia's room. Sam has been crazy busy too and so I'm hoping that the crib will get put together before the end of the month, but we'll see. My goal/dream is to have her room done by mid November so we can bring up the suitcases and start getting things ready. We have started "lists" (as recommended) and I still worry that we will forget something. And I know that Sam will complain that we're "taking everything but the kitchen sink!" He still hasn't either realized or accepted the fact that babies require a lot of stuff, but he will soon learn!!
Well I suppose I'd better hit the hay as tomorrow is going to be another long day at work - I need to find the bottom of my desk before Friday night!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tuesday October 12, 2010
Today I got an e-mail notice that we will be getting a Fed Ex package/envelope by Monday with paperwork that help get us ready for travelling to China. Thank goodness we don't have to be present to sign for it so that is a huge relief for me as I don't want to have to take time off of work to wait around for it. Not that would be a bad thing, but I'll be taking 3 months of maternity leave and I have jury duty for the entire month of December. So I feel like I'm going to be gone too much. Now I know that is just guilt talking and my bosses (all 3 of them) are excited and supportive of my maternity leave, not so thrilled with jury duty though. To be honest, I'm not that excited about jury duty either. I think the jury duty/court trials is so fascinating that the other 2 times I've been summoned I prayed I'd get picked. But I work for an accounting office. I basically run the front office and I will be gone during the most important time of the year - tax season. So that means I have to train a temp to do my job and that will be hard to do if I'm gone on jury duty. I know that I can't help it and that it's my duty and that's fine. But the timing is just bad, that's all. But I'd rather have jury duty in December than when I'm on maternity leave! So I'm counting my Blessings!
Well Sam and I have registered for the Baptism class that is in 2 weeks (10/24). Thankfully we can take the class now and when we get home from China we can schedule her baptism. We're hoping that we'll travel by December 28, 2010 and be home by mid January. Our plan is to have my in-laws (who I adore and am very close to) here for her 1st birthday party (2/5), her baptism and my baby shower. I realize that is a lot in a short time, but they don't live here and I want them to be part of those very important moments. It is one thing that Sam and I won't concede on. We just want to make sure that our daughter KNOWS her Grandma and Grandpa Wellman regardless of the fact that they live in Ohio. With that said, we've made changes to our phone/cable/internet package to include unlimited free long distance calling. Now if I can just get my mom-in-law back onto the computer!! LOL
Well I'm happy to say that I have finally gotten all of my baby clothes washed, folded and sorted. I've gotten the 24 months/2Ts and older stored in totes. The 9-18 months are still sitting in the laundry basket. I need to just put them in her dresser. I'm still trying to figure out how I want to do that. Do I want to put all it all away like I have our clothes? Shirts in one drawer, pants in one drawer, shorts in one drawer, etc. Or do I want to put matching outfits together and then by seasons? I know that I am making this harder than it needs to be. That is what I do, which I am working on. That is probably why I haven't put all the clothes away yet. Good thing I still have some time to get that done!!
Hugs
Well Sam and I have registered for the Baptism class that is in 2 weeks (10/24). Thankfully we can take the class now and when we get home from China we can schedule her baptism. We're hoping that we'll travel by December 28, 2010 and be home by mid January. Our plan is to have my in-laws (who I adore and am very close to) here for her 1st birthday party (2/5), her baptism and my baby shower. I realize that is a lot in a short time, but they don't live here and I want them to be part of those very important moments. It is one thing that Sam and I won't concede on. We just want to make sure that our daughter KNOWS her Grandma and Grandpa Wellman regardless of the fact that they live in Ohio. With that said, we've made changes to our phone/cable/internet package to include unlimited free long distance calling. Now if I can just get my mom-in-law back onto the computer!! LOL
Well I'm happy to say that I have finally gotten all of my baby clothes washed, folded and sorted. I've gotten the 24 months/2Ts and older stored in totes. The 9-18 months are still sitting in the laundry basket. I need to just put them in her dresser. I'm still trying to figure out how I want to do that. Do I want to put all it all away like I have our clothes? Shirts in one drawer, pants in one drawer, shorts in one drawer, etc. Or do I want to put matching outfits together and then by seasons? I know that I am making this harder than it needs to be. That is what I do, which I am working on. That is probably why I haven't put all the clothes away yet. Good thing I still have some time to get that done!!
Hugs
Sunday, October 10, 2010
October 10, 2010
WOW!! What a week and a half we've had!! As most of you know we FINALLY got "THE CALL" about our darling precious baby girl that only took 4 years, 4 months and 11 days to get!!
Were to start? Well I had been checking the rumor site about the possible reality of it actually coming true. When I realized that it was true, I ran into the bedroom and woke Sam up out of a dead sleep and told him. His response was and has been "I'll believe it when we get the call from Ginger and have a picture in our hands!" I can understand why he had felt that way. After years of fertility treatments that failed, it was hard to get your hopes and dreams up.
So I was at work and I had been checking the rumor site and I had noticed that people in the eastern part of the US had received their calls. I was on edge, but I did manage to get some work done, surprisingly. It was about 3:40 pm Wednesday September 29, 2010 when Ginger called me on my cell phone. We started this dream 5 years ago and now it was coming true. I'm nervous and scared. I can feel my blood running. Cyndi and Naomi (my friends and co-workers and boss) are watching me as I'm getting the information of our baby girl. When I get off the phone they are at my side, full of joy and excitement. As they too have been on this journey with us. They have been full of support and encouragement!
As I'm sitting there, in total shock that "the call" finally came. They are encouraging me to call Sam. I tell Naomi that I would rather tell Sam in person. As I am being lovingly shoved out the door my mind is racing. I drive to Safeway and find a panda and "It's a Girl" balloon in the shape of a bottle. I run to my car and I'm trying to hold onto the balloon that is as long as I am tall without running into people and cars in the parking lot. Driving to the mall with balloon in the front passenger seat without causing an accident was a miracle.
When I finally walk into Sam's store, he's talking to some customers. Vanessa sees me and notices the balloon right away. When Sam's done and notices me I gave him the panda with the balloon tied to it. He looks at it and asks me "what is this?" He's looking at me, having no clue of what I gave him means. Finally he asked if I got "the call" and I tell him that I did. He's in shock. I tell him the information that Ginger gave me: her birthday, name and later that night we'll get an e-mail with her picture. We hug and kiss, and realize the long waited dream is coming true. He calls his parents and my mom. I call my sisters Debbie and JoAnna. Then I send out a mass text message to those near and dear to our hearts of the joyous news we've gotten!
Later that night, I get the e-mail that we've been waiting for. As my sister Debbie sits next to me (Sam had to work late that night) and her son Zachary next to her, we open the e-mail. Debbie's eyes fill with tears right away. I'm just sitting there, staring at her. Numb. In shock. I look at Debbie and she knows right away what I'm feeling and tells me "it's OK, you're in shock." I tell her I feel bad, and again she reassures me telling me that "this is totally normal and not to beat myself up over it."
As we send out the mass e-mail of Tia's pictures, the excitement is starting to generate. Hugs and tears and support all around as we are printing pictures of her.
Now that things have settled down some. I've been keeping busy washing and sorting baby clothes. I have been slowly working and organizing on Tia's room. I am now at a standstill until Sam puts the crib together and that will be a couple more weeks.
We've got one batch of paperwork done and am currently waiting for the second set. I'm not sure how much more is to do, but I am looking forward to tackling it. With that, work and everyday life I am hoping that the next 3 months will go smoothly and quickly.
Were to start? Well I had been checking the rumor site about the possible reality of it actually coming true. When I realized that it was true, I ran into the bedroom and woke Sam up out of a dead sleep and told him. His response was and has been "I'll believe it when we get the call from Ginger and have a picture in our hands!" I can understand why he had felt that way. After years of fertility treatments that failed, it was hard to get your hopes and dreams up.
So I was at work and I had been checking the rumor site and I had noticed that people in the eastern part of the US had received their calls. I was on edge, but I did manage to get some work done, surprisingly. It was about 3:40 pm Wednesday September 29, 2010 when Ginger called me on my cell phone. We started this dream 5 years ago and now it was coming true. I'm nervous and scared. I can feel my blood running. Cyndi and Naomi (my friends and co-workers and boss) are watching me as I'm getting the information of our baby girl. When I get off the phone they are at my side, full of joy and excitement. As they too have been on this journey with us. They have been full of support and encouragement!
As I'm sitting there, in total shock that "the call" finally came. They are encouraging me to call Sam. I tell Naomi that I would rather tell Sam in person. As I am being lovingly shoved out the door my mind is racing. I drive to Safeway and find a panda and "It's a Girl" balloon in the shape of a bottle. I run to my car and I'm trying to hold onto the balloon that is as long as I am tall without running into people and cars in the parking lot. Driving to the mall with balloon in the front passenger seat without causing an accident was a miracle.
When I finally walk into Sam's store, he's talking to some customers. Vanessa sees me and notices the balloon right away. When Sam's done and notices me I gave him the panda with the balloon tied to it. He looks at it and asks me "what is this?" He's looking at me, having no clue of what I gave him means. Finally he asked if I got "the call" and I tell him that I did. He's in shock. I tell him the information that Ginger gave me: her birthday, name and later that night we'll get an e-mail with her picture. We hug and kiss, and realize the long waited dream is coming true. He calls his parents and my mom. I call my sisters Debbie and JoAnna. Then I send out a mass text message to those near and dear to our hearts of the joyous news we've gotten!
Later that night, I get the e-mail that we've been waiting for. As my sister Debbie sits next to me (Sam had to work late that night) and her son Zachary next to her, we open the e-mail. Debbie's eyes fill with tears right away. I'm just sitting there, staring at her. Numb. In shock. I look at Debbie and she knows right away what I'm feeling and tells me "it's OK, you're in shock." I tell her I feel bad, and again she reassures me telling me that "this is totally normal and not to beat myself up over it."
As we send out the mass e-mail of Tia's pictures, the excitement is starting to generate. Hugs and tears and support all around as we are printing pictures of her.
Now that things have settled down some. I've been keeping busy washing and sorting baby clothes. I have been slowly working and organizing on Tia's room. I am now at a standstill until Sam puts the crib together and that will be a couple more weeks.
We've got one batch of paperwork done and am currently waiting for the second set. I'm not sure how much more is to do, but I am looking forward to tackling it. With that, work and everyday life I am hoping that the next 3 months will go smoothly and quickly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)