Extra! Extra! Read all about it!!

Hello all! Good, no...GREAT news!
We actually got an update on Mali!

I don't know how he did it, but Zhou worked his amazing magic. In fact, Kim said that this is the most photos EVER in an update for a child at their agency in the China program, which probably means that Mali's caregivers really love our little angel...which also means I'm really glad to know she's in such good hands there and we can try to rest easy knowing that she will be truly cherished until we can bring her home and begin to shower her with all of our love and kisses that we've been saving here :)

As for the update -> along with her pictures (which I'll post some highlights below, however there are 17 total so I put them, in their entirety, on Facebook if you want to see EVERY single one), they sent more measurements which show that she seems to be a bit petite for her age. Of course we're not quite sure when the measurements were taken, so she could actually be a bit bigger now. I guess we'll see for ourselves soon enough! :)

height 28.3"
foot length 4.5"
weight 17.6 lbs
head circumference 17.3"
chest circumference 18.5"


And now, the moment you've been waiting for...drumroll please.................
IT'S MALIANA! (in all her glory!! :)



















And finally, the amazing crew that is making this all possible... (left to right) - Zhou, Chris, and Kim from EAC! The best adoption team/dream-come-true makers in the world!

Ha ~ had to laugh...

I had to post this little note because I thought it was funny.

First, yesterday I was really dreading telling my parents about the delay in our trip because of how excited they are and just not wanting to disappoint them. But I am pleased to say they both handled it really well.

However, I had to laugh at my dad's reaction. First thing he said when he called was, "Well, don't worry, the doctors get this stuff wrong all the time", and then he just stopped saying anything else. I was initially so confused about what he meant and was like, "What? What are you talking about?". Then as he explained more, he said that I "must just not be as far along in my "pregnancy" as they had initially thought. She's just not ready to be born to you guys yet". I had to laugh at that. I really appreciated that perspective on the situation :) I guess it really is like a real pregnancy now...we were just in false labor, our version of Braxton Hicks! LOL

Thanks Dad!! 1-4-3

Another hump...

11:28am
And so it begins again. Just got word that we are no longer leaving on June 4th as expected, but rather closer to July 2nd. I am so sad, distraught, and feeling helplessly frustrated. The clock just keeps ticking and no baby. I want to meet Mali so badly, I am beside myself with grief at being so far away.

We are driving to Cleveland this afternoon to take some gifts up to the girls at the adoption agency, and also pick up some paperwork that will be needed for China. I'll try to update this later with more information on the details of what is going on. As far as we know right now, China has been quarantining people due to the "swine flu" (which is complete crap and has been blown ridiculously out of proportion by the media) and they are not letting many people into the country at all right now. In fact, the five families that went over there a couple weeks ago have been stuck in their hotel rooms for the last 10 days, and they don't even have their babies yet! How disheartening! I mean...getting all the way there, and not being able to be with your new child. Then having to fork over all that money to sit and do nothing in a hotel room. I guess I should be thankful we're not them and that the agency is trying to look out for us. It's just so maddening sometimes.

Will post more later, once back from Cleveland.


8:50pm
Ok, we're home again. Those girls up there are so great! We got to meet Uncle Zhou finally too and you can just tell he is one in a million.

It is bittersweet though. On the one hand we have every confidence that the staff at EAC is doing all they can to bring Mali home (in fact, after talking to Kim and Chris in the China Dept, I think they want this almost as much as we do), but at the moment, we are at the mercy of the Chinese government and there's not much more we can do for now. We are all just going to be crossing our fingers, focusing as best we can on positive thoughts, and hoping like crazy for a miracle. It could be worse I suppose.

We'll try to keep everyone posted as to what happens, but in the meantime we are going to be focusing on babyproofing, buying more cute clothes and supplies, cleaning out the house and making more space for Mali, and trying to enjoy all of this time, just the two of us, before our whole world is flipped upside down :)

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone - I hope you can enjoy some time off work with family and friends!

P.S. Uncle Zhou said that he would try to get an update for us (e.g. more pictures and information about Mali). I really really hope he can pull some strings at least with this...it could help satisfy some of our curiosity and ease the tension during this additional wait for our little angel.

Roses and Rainbows

I love my birthday every year for a lot of reasons, but one in particular has to do with something my mom does for me. Each year Mom sends me flowers, and in the middle of the mixed bouquet is a single red rose. The story behind the single red rose goes like this…

I was born on September 30th, right around the time in Ohio when the first frost is about to hit. When my mom went into the hospital in labor, the sun was still warm and no frost yet. However, when she came home, the first frost had arrived and killed all of the flowers that were still left from summer. All except for one perfect red rose on a bush by our house. So, in that tradition, every year my mom sends me those flowers with the one single perfect red rose to symbolize that for me. I love that story.

So, now you’re wondering, where does the rainbow come into play here?? Well, the same exact day (February 11th) that we got our first approval, the pre-approval, from the Chinese government…the first time we could take one deep sigh of relief…was the same day here in Columbus that a double rainbow graced our skies. It was so beautiful and such a big deal that even some of the news on the radio was mentioning it as they talked about the traffic on my drive home from work. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get home and get the camera out quick enough to capture it, however I was talking to my mom last weekend and saw that she had a picture of it in her phone, so I asked that she send it to me to include in this blog.

I’m so glad to have this photo and be able to pass this story on to Mali. I know that my single red rose story has meant a lot to me, has made me feel special over the years…and I hope we can use rainbows as one way to symbolize our love for Mali over the years as well. I have always loved and felt a strong connection to nature…seeing its beauty everywhere. I hope to pass this appreciation on to Mali and I also hope that whenever she is lucky enough to see a rainbow in the sky…she’ll be reminded of how special she is and how much she is loved.

So cute...feelin' like a parent now :)

Just a quick note. Shawn called Children's Hospital today to make an appointment for Mali in their International Adoption Clinic to get her full assessment once she's home. The appointment is set for 9am on 6/26/09 in their Westerville office (which is great because it is so close to us). They told us to bring snacks and toys as it is typically a two hour long assessment. It's kind of weird to think of something as simple as that suggestion. When you don't have or aren't super familiar with the every day stuff with kids...a statement like that sheds a whole new light on how we are going to have to think with Mali around. Much more planning and preparation before going anywhere...our whole life will change.

So, I also have to share that Shawn was really cute today. He called me at work to tell me that he made the appointment and it felt good because he got to do his first official "daddy" thing for his daughter. Also, as we were going through her clothes tonight, (clipping off tags, deciding what to pack, washing everything), he mentioned out of the blue that he really wants to learn how to do her hair. And a while back I saw that there's actually a class that he and Mali can take through Westerville Parks and Rec that teaches daddy's just this talent. I can picture it now - he's going to be so good at this!! :)

1st Mother's Day

So...first let me say Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there. I hope you are relaxing and getting the most out of YOUR day.

I also wanted to share that I think I got the BEST Mother's Day present ever! It actually came on Friday, when Shawn came home from work. He walked in the door and handed me a card "from Mali". It was a Mother's Day card and in it was our travel approval for China - we are officially leaving on June 4th!! Can you believe it?? He got a call at work from Kim at EAC and she was so excited to give him the news and suggest how he could give the news to me :)

I want to thank all of our family and friends for their cards, gifts, and well wishes on my first Mother's Day...it means a lot that other people can see me as a mom as it helps to affirm how I already feel in my heart. Here are two of my favorites...

Gift from Dad, Lisa, and Blaize

A Willow Tree sculpture of our new family
(I love Willow Tree...)

Gift from Mom

Front of the locket (a picture of my baby girl)

Back of the locket (inscribed "Mom")
(I don't think I'll ever take this off...)

So now, we finally have a date on when our physical journey will begin. We are both so excited! As we let this news sink in, we also started doing the math and realized that we will be able to celebrate Shawn's first Father's Day just days after we get home as a family. This will be truly special for Shawn to be able to wake up to hugs and kisses from his little angel on HIS special day. It doesn't get more perfect than this! Life is good.