More Flickr Practice

Slideshow Test

Test Email Post

 

I'm testing the ability to post via email. There is a chance we won't be able to access the blog directly while in China so I'm trying to have a plan B, C, D and E. This is plan B.

Visas

Now that we have Travel Approval, we sent off for our Visas today!! I hate that whole process of sending away your passport. I've had to do that twice in the past for other Visas and the entire thing makes me nervous. But, I am sure it's going to work out great. Right?

Still no word on travel dates. However, I hear that our agency is trying to get us there by July 21st!!!! We always said we would go early to do Beijing which means we could be leaving in less than three weeks!! Oh, I hope that holds true.

Shower Fun

I've had two showers in the last couple of weeks. The first was a couple of weeks ago and was here in town. My friends Kristen and Heidi did an amazing job. I've heard horror stories of adoption showers where inappropriate (and highly annoying) "traditional" baby shower games are played. You know, like pregnancy trivia or something. This shower was the complete opposite. It was lovely. I got to spend the afternoon surrounded by people that have been so supportive throughout this lengthy and emotional process.

They served a fantasic lunch complete with my favorite desert - icebox lemon pie!! And I don't have a picture of it yet but they made the most adorabale baby stroller out of a watermellon. I kid you not.

Kristen probably could have written a thesis with all the research she did regarding Chinese baby traditions. We had red eggs, red envelopes, and lucky bamboo. They even presented me with a knife. In China, it is a tradition that when a baby takes their first steps, a relative walks behind her with a knife drawing three lines on the ground. The Chinese believe there are invisible bindings around a child's ankles binding her to a previous life. With the bindings cut, the child walks freely forever. I teared up when Kristen explained this. Of course I also teared up when I opened most of the presents!!! Speaking of presents, I do have a few pictures of those.

Hat, sweater and booties MADE by my friend Leigh. I "joked" with her that since this is so adorable, LuLu needs to wear it for the next 18 years of so. Therefore, she will be adding to it throughout the years.

Smocked dress made by Mom - who gets a special shout out for coming from out of state for the shower.

Travel Approval!!!!

We received our Travel Approval!! We do not have travel dates yet but our Agency is hoping for the "late July" timeframe. I of course am hoping for the earlier part of "late July."

Other happy new is I have TWO showers that I need to blog about. Off to do some travel paperwork and then will be back with shower news.

Hopeful yet Annoyed

I am HOPEFUL that we will hear something on our travel soon. I am annoyed that I will be on 4 planes this week, none of which are headed for China.

Nursery - In Progress

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Originally uploaded by Spencers

Reviving my flickr account and thought I would try it out with this picture of the nursery.

11 Months Old Today

LuLu is 11 months old today. It's been four weeks since we first saw that sweet sweet face. I love those two pictures more than I thought possible but I NEED more. I need to hold her, hear her laugh, hear her cry, feed her, change her, bathe her. But mostly I just want to hold her. Still no word on travel approval which just stinks. I am trying hard to be patient but it's not really working.

NOT On The Agenda

These days the only things on the agenda are obsessing over travel approval (don't have it yet), shopping for LuLu, and trying to put in an honest days work. Apparently the universe hasn't checked the agenda because last Wednesday the skies turned a weird, freak of nature green and then all hell broke loose. We've been cleaning up ever since.


I guess it was about 6:15 pm or so when I heard crazy thunder in the distance and noticed the strange color of the sky. I was cooking dinner so Jon turned on the tv to see what the "experts" were saying. I think his exact words were something like "Holy Crap" and then said he thought we had about 15 minutes. Of course I continued eating my dinner for another 10 minutes. Then the weather sirens sounded and within about 3 seconds it hit. The noise was horrible. The windows shook, rain fell sideways. We don't have basements here so when the weather hits, we take cover in our walk in pantry which happens to be under our stairwell. I think I've taken cover in there one other time and I don't think Jon has ever taken to the pantry. We were both in there, pillows on our head and I was telling Jon that I loved him.

When we finally came out of the pantry, this is what we saw.

Our trees that sit between our house and the neighbors house split and went on their car, house and fence. Debris was everywhere, the swimming pool was trashed. Luckily everyone was OK. Several houses ended up without roofs so we were VERY lucky. There was a confirmed tornado and 80 mph winds in the area. Not sure which one we had and not sure it matters. Either way, not fun. We of course lost electricity and were without for a couple of days.

My parents were already scheduled to arrive on Friday so they spent the next couple of days helping with the cleanup. Again, NOT on the agenda as they were coming to help with Operation "Get Ready For LuLu". Of course, they are from south Louisiana so a little storm cleanup doesn't even phase them.

It's Monday and besides some insurance details, things are getting back to normal. Operation "Get Ready for LuLu" did commence yesterday as my friends had a shower for me. It was LOVELY and more on that to come.

A Baby In China

Our adorable next door neighbor "F" is in kindergarten. She and her brother "C" are excited about LuLu and love to come over and look at "the baby's room." And of course, I love to show them. Last week, F's class wrote a story. It was one of those stories where someone comes up with the title and then everyone gets to add a sentence. F got to come up with the title - you will see why that is significant when you read the story. Here is the story that F and her genius classmates wrote.

A Baby In China

Once upon a time there was a baby who could play baseball. She was from China. She ate eyeballs for dinner. Her name was Sam. Her favorite food was cucumbers. Sam lived in Florida near Disney. Her Dad was named Sparkle. He was a knight.