Hang on tight...

Hang on tight little Chloe! Mama & daddy are comin' soon !! We can hardly stand it we leave Friday Sept. 2 but it seems a long time away. Then we have to wait until Monday Sept. 5th for Gotcha Day. What a day that will be!

Below are the words to a song I just learned called Mama Hao. Well ... i did not actually learn it in Chinese but I will sing it to you in English.

Shi shang zhi you ma ma haoyou ma de hai zi xiang ge bao tou jin ma ma de huai baoxin fu xiang
Mommy's the only dearest in the world. With a mom, you have the most valued treasure. Jump into mom's heart and you have endless happiness.

Shi shang zhi you ma ma haomei ma de hai zi xiang ge caoli kai ma ma de huai baoxin fu na li zhao.
Mommy's the only dearest in the world. Without a mom you are like a piece of grass/straw away from mom's heart. Where will you find happiness?

Sweet dreams sweet pea. We're coming soon!

Love, Mommy & Daddy & Brother Caleb

Sweet Pea from Across the Sea...

We love you our little Sweet Pea!

All I Can Do Is Think of You

Dear Sweet Pea! All mommy can do is think of you. And of course this brings tears of joy and anticipation. We pray that you are doing well, mind, body & spirit. We pray that the transition from Yangxi staff and your crib mate to our loving arms will be easy and that we will have wisdom to know how to comfort you.

Today we are making travel arrangements and I am going crazy with my To Do list. I am certainly nesting!

I watched a video/slideshow of two girl's adoptions from China and it made me cry.

(For those who are interested, click on http://www.newsok.com/cc/adoption/adoption.html .)

I am falling more in love with you every day!

Only 14 days until we leave!!

Kisses and Hugs from across the sea. Love, Mommy, Daddy and Big Brother Caleb

P.S. Caleb came running into our bedroom this moring yelling, "Sissy, Sissy" and we were wondering why he was calling your name. He had gotten ahold of daddy's wallet that had a pciture of you in it. We pray the transition from being an only child to being Big Brother will go smoothly too!

Smart, Happy Baby!

Today we received an update about Chloe. Here are some excerpts from the report:

"Lilang is lovely. She can sit well with support; babbles to people. Lilang is an active, restless girl and loves smiling. She is interested in everything around her. She is a very smart baby"

"She is active now. She also likes outdoor activities and playing simple games, and enjoying happy nursery rhymes. She is happy every day."

That's our girl. Can't wait to see her lovely smile.

"She arrived at the SWI (social welfare institute) on December 21, 2004 . She was 3 kg. (6.6 lbs) and was 48.5 cm (18.9 inches) long. They estimated her birthdate based on her development status to be December 20, 2004 and named her Qiu, Lilang."

What lucky parents we are. It's amazing that before time God had in mind to create this beautiful child specifically for us all the way across the world. Amazing!

Break Open the Bubbly...We're going to China Sept.2!!

We reveived "Third Call" Today. What a surprise as I had received many calls today and thought towards the end of the day, "Maybe tomorrow".... but alas WE ARE GOING to China Sept. 2-Sept. 16th. This calls for a nice glass (or rather bottle) of Champagne. Let the countdown begin!!

Gui Lin

Below is a picture of Gui Lin, a glorious place in South China that I would like to visit some day. My friend Betty gave me a framed photo of this place to me as a present and it is hanging in our living room.

Majestic Beauty

They Say We'll See You in September

Little Chloe -- we're still waiting for "Third Call". We have heard we are possibly going the 2nd or 9th of Sept. Soon you will FOREVER be ours! Well you are ours now in our hearts --but once we hold you, we're never gonna let you go!!

So -have been surfing the web and have seen some beautiful pictures of your country. We've gotta take a few trips back when you're a bit older as there's so much to see.

For our friends, click on http://maotai.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/china/picture.htm to feast your eyes. Our beautiful daughter is from a marvelous place displaying God's majesty.

To Guangzhou, the city where we will be for 14 days, click on http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/guangzhou.htm . Can't wait to take pictures of my own. You know I'm gonna go shutter crazy!!

Where in China is Chloe?

Chloe is living at Yangxi Social Welfare Institute in the Guangdong Province of China. If you look at a map of China it is a bit hard to locate Yangxi. First, locate the Guangdong Province which is located in the southern-most part of China. Then look for Guangzhou, capital of the Guangdong Province. Yangxi is about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south west of Guangzhou, the Guangdong Province capital. It is just south of Yangjiang/Yangdong and near the South China Sea.

I am told we are going to receive her in the city of Guangzhou along with other children from our group whose children are living in the same province as Chloe. Right now I am picturing us with the other expectant parents in the waiting room at an official office. They call our name to come forward. We hold our breath and walk to Chloe who is in the caregivers hands. Will she smile? Will she cry? Will she even be award of what is happening? I am getting teary-eyed just thinking about that special moment called "Gotcha Day". I just hope I don't do something silly like drop her beause I am shaking from all the excitement!

Waiting anxiously by the phone for "Third Call" from USAsian Affairs.

Heard it through the grapevine

Heard it through the grapevine that we may get "Third Call" from USAA today or tomorrow. Maybe it's just me but things seem to be moving in slow-motion! Hope we leave sooner than later.

We think of you everyday and are preparing our home for your arrival. I know you will love it here. Most importantly I know you will thrive with all the love and attention you will be showered with. I pray God will let you know how much you ARE loved and that you will get lots of attention and hugs today by your caretakers.

I pray you will be just as prepared for us as we are for you.

Hugs and kisses without end.

Mommy

Your Chinese name

We asked our friend, Lawrence Fong, to translate your Chinese name "Lilang" from the Chinese charaters for us. He says "Li" means "beautiful", and "Lang" means happy -- and also, open (like an open mind) and "like the sun".

We can't wait to see our beautiful, sunny, happy girl!

More family awaiting your arrival

Beloved Chloe.. today was a difficult day as we had a funeral for your Grandpa Tom. He was a great father to his kids and a wonderful husband to Abuelita. We were able to give him the news of your pending arrival when we visited him last weekend and he was looking forward to meeting you. It saddens me that you will not know him but I know he is watching you from heaven right now and he is happy to know how much joy you will bring our family.

We've been showing off your sweet picture to everyone we know. We look at you often and pray God is preparing your heart and mind for our home.

Good night sweet pea. Love, Mommy, Daddy and Caleb