BabyHawk

I got my BabyHawk today! I ordered it a few weeks ago (it was my Mother's Day present) and it finally arrived. It's awesome because not only does it hold toddlers up to 40 lbs, but I got to design my own! I chose the fabric and the strap colors (it's pink on the other side, of course).
I couldn't wait to try it out, so I cooked and ate dinner while wearing it. Pooh was my test subject (Libby didn't want to volunteer).
Paul thought it was funny (or maybe he just thought I was crazy). Either way, I had fun!

We Got MORE New Pictures of Caitlin!!

Our agency finally got us an update! They sent us these new pictures today, as well as pretty much the same information as Ann got us almost 2 weeks ago (size and number of teeth). Not that I'm complaining- I'll take any pictures of my girl that I can get! They also gave us an idea about what kind of food she's eating, which is good...

Care Package for Caitlin

This is a picture of the care package we sent Caitlin. It was fun- I love shopping for my girl!We decided to go through Ann at Red Thread. I figured it would cost us about the same to try to mail a package ourselves from the U.S., and with Ann I can be more sure that it will actually make it to the orphanage. If I send it myself it will probably only make it to the local post office, then someone from the orphanage has to go pick it up (possibly by bike). If the package is too big or too heavy, they may not be able to pick it up. And if the orphanage is too busy they may not even be able to send anyone to the post office. Ann knows how to get it sent directly to the orphanage's door. Plus she was able to get us those precious pictures and updated information last week! I cannot recommend Ann highly enough. She is wonderful!

Included in the care package is:

A pair of pajamas for Caitlin

A blanket

A toy

A baby photo album; I e-mailed pictures to Ann of Paul and me, Libby, and our house which she labeled put in the album for us

A disposable camera (we're hoping the nannies will use it to take pictures of Caitlin's everyday life at the orphanage; friends, nannies, her room, her crib, etc.)

Candies for the nannies

We were also able to write a letter to the orphanage, which Ann translated for us

I may try to send Caitlin another package a little later, but for now it just helps us to feel a little more connected to Caitlin. I totally wish I could just go over there and take care of her myself, but since that's not an option quite yet this will have to do for now!

WE GOT NEW PICTURES OF CAITLIN!!!!!

I am just SO excited! What an awesome surprise this morning! We decided to send Caitlin a care package through Ann at Red Thread. I just ordered it on Monday, and today we got these pictures, as well as some updated information on her size: she's up to 20.9 lbs. and 29.9 inches tall. Her lip has been repaired, and she has 5 teeth now! And her hair is growing in! She's just so beautiful and I can't wait to get over there and love on her!

Thank you, Ann!!!

USCIS receipt

We got our receipt from USCIS in the mail today! This means that our I-800A application has been received and is being processed. I had hoped it would come sometime this week, but I really wasn't expecting it this soon- I just mailed it in one week ago today! Oh how I am praying this means that we will be processed quickly!!!!

Update...

I decided I needed to post something (it's been several days since I have), but I really don't have any big news to share, unfortunately. Last Thursday I spent 3 hours on the phone doing a phone conference with our agency and 9 other families who we should be traveling with. However, since our paperwork is not up to date, we almost certainly will not be traveling with them. They are set to travel around the first week of September, but we will be several weeks behind them.

I sent in our I-800A application on Monday, and USCIS received it at 8:30 Tuesday morning. I'm hoping to get a receipt, or something, this coming week from USCIS. Our agency suggested that, hopefully, since we've already been approved for an I-800A once before, things might move faster this time. I hope that's the case!

The very disappointing news last week was that we were told by our agency that if we cannot travel in September, we will have to wait until NOVEMBER!! Apparently China pretty much shuts down for the month of October and families are not allowed to travel to complete adoptions. So I am determined that we are traveling in September, if there's anything I can do to help it! I simply cannot bear the thought of Caitlin having to wait another 2 months to come home.

FAQ: Why do you have to wait so long to go to China?

Unfortunately we still have a mountain of paperwork to conquer before we can travel to China to get Caitlin. Our new homestudy was finally approved and finished today, so I drove up to our homestudy agency to pick it up. I then added it to yet another pile of paperwork (including a 16-page application, more copies of passports, birth and marriage certificates), and FedEx-ed it all to the USCIS (Immigration) office in Texas, so that we can again apply for our I-800A. The I-800A is our pre-approval to bring an "immigrant" into the country. We already had this, but unfortunately allowed it to expire last year when we thought we still had years to wait, so now we must reapply.

Once we get our I-800A approval, we will apply for our I-800 (another pile of paperwork!), which will approve Caitlin for entry into the U.S. Then we cable everything to the National Visa Center (NVC) to get Caitlin her U.S. Visa. Then we send everything back to China so that they can work on the Visas for Paul and me, as well as our Consulate appointment at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou.

Once we have all that, China will send us our Travel Approval (or TA), which is when we can make our flight arrangements. When we receive our TA, things will really start to move fast; we should be traveling within 2 weeks (I know of people who were on a plane 24-48 hours after receiving their TA)!

Surprise Baby Shower!!

My Marketing Bunco group surprised me at Bunco tonight with a baby shower! They had a beautiful cake, and they gave us a Target gift card, as well as diapers, baby wipes, a book, and an adorable teddy bear. I was blown away at their generosity! It was so sweet of them!

Another Good Fortune:

Yep, and we're ready!!! :)

Where's Caitlin?

Caitlin is in Jinjiang City, in Fujian Province. Jinjian City is a coastal town, across the East China Sea from Taiwan. It is known for the large number of foreign shoe factories there. Jinjiang falls under the jurisdiction of Quanzhou, a beautiful port city that was once one of the premier ports for international trade. The climate is similar to that of Florida - hot, humid summers and mild winters.

The orphanage is a new building; it was built in 2008 and replaces the previous facility which had been there for 150 years. Love Without Boundaries runs a preschool program there. From all of the research I have done, it seems to be a great orphanage. LWB started a "Nutrition Program" several years ago to ensure the babies all get good formula, and the preschool program starts when the children are only 18 months old, which gives the nannies more one-on-one time with the youngest babies. I've seen a lot of pictures, and the children all look healthy and well-dressed, and very loved by the teachers- and the new building is beautiful!

We have been blessed in so many ways with Caitlin; it is comforting to know that she is being so well cared for in such a great orphanage until we can bring her home.