I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET MIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got the call today ~ our LOA is here!

This is our China Princess ~ she is currently living in the Guiping SWI.

Her name is Jin Yudan (Yu means "Jade", and dan means "only") ~ her nannies call her Dan Dan. We will call her Mia Hope Yudan.


When I saw my agency come up on the caller Id I yelled to the boys (I had mine plus 3 others at this point) "this is it, this is the call I've been waiting for ~ everybody quiet!!".

I grabbed the phone and heard, "guess what I got in the mail today? She's all yours.....". I laughed, screamed, cried and jumped up and down like a complete lunatic!
When we hung up I ran into the playroom to tell Anthony. He hugged me and we jumped around and then Eddie grabbed onto us and we all just jumped in a big circle!!! (Anthony's friends could not figure out what was happening!)

What a wonderful day!

We should be traveling next month!!!

Sweet girl, mommy is coming for you. I am so very proud to finally show you to the world. My heart is bursting with joy!

~ BIG BROTHERS ~

Time keeps moving forward ~ although in a way it is standing still ~

I keep looking at my "ticker" on the top of my blog, each day the number goes up, but not enough for our LOA (letter of approval) to come!

I actually counted the number of days on the calendar yesterday, we are at day 39! I know, it sounds like A LOT of days; but in the land of LOA's it is NOT. Our agency said it could take 100 days or less. Of course, we'll take the "less"!!

Mia is going to be 18 months old on August 2nd . . . I wonder every night when I go to bed how her day will be. Is she out of her crib? Is she playing with another child? Is she touching the doll I sent?

But, I wish she knew that she already has a family. We are SO anxious to bring her home. Her brothers are so excited to meet her ~ I wish she knew how loved she is already~

Sleepover ~

"E" had his very first sleepover in "A's" room last night - on the trundle bed. The brothers watched some TV and listened to music. I heard giggles and whispers and could feel myself smile from ear to ear ~ they will remember these moments . . . and so will I.

*Of course, I am PAYING for the sleepover today. ("E" is usually in bed by 8:30pm and gets at least 10 hours of sleep each night - I did make an exception for the big sleepover though). Yes, I am in cranky-ville with Mr. Whiny-pants today!

Is it 8:30 pm yet???

FISHING ~

First time fisherman . . .











"A" is ready . . .










We've got one!










It got away?!










Climbing the rocks . . .












Mommy's fisherman . . .

Dear Mia,

We are so excited for you to come home. We are getting your room ready and adding some special touches. We all love you so much.

Love, Mommy, Daddy, "A", "E" and Penny.

I really wanted a PINK room, after having two boys....however, is there such a thing as too pink??? DH may "kill" me if I have him change it now... I'll keep you posted!

STATUE OF "LIVERY"

We took the boys to the city yesterday ~ "A" has been interested in the Statue of Liberty (or "Livery", as "E" would say). We took a nice little cruise around the harbor. Afterwards, we ate at Planet Hollywood; which the boys thought was "cool" and "fun". Getting around the city was crazy and hectic; but we enjoyed our day and were ready for bed when we returned home :)

*We decided to get our Visa for China while we were in the "area" ~ one step closer to our girl! Since the rates go up starting August 1st our agency sent out an email saying we could get this done now (since it's good for 6 mos.) - it's a good sign ~ Mia will be home BEFORE 6 months!!

"A" took this photo for Mia's scrapbook ~ it was about 95 degrees and we'd just walked about 5 Avenue's! It was hot and we were tired. Oh, and after this picture we had to walk back again to the subway ~ Mia is definetly worth it :)

THE moments

I just love when the camera is handy (or make a mad dash for it!) and I catch these very special, meaningful moments in my boys lives.

It makes me ache for Mia to join our family. I cannot wait to catch all The moments she will have with her brothers.

You are in my heart already, my precious girl; but I need you in my arms . . .

THE GIRLS ARE BACK IN TOWN!

It's that time of year again ~ the nieces have come to visit :)
We've been busy seeing movies, eating, shopping, eating, swimming, eating; and we have a trip planned to the water park this weekend.
I enjoy their visits SO much and each time they come it's more fun than the last ~ amazing!











The boys just adore their cousins too - there's always a lot of silliness going on. I cannot wait for Mia to meet them. The girls had me print out pictures of Mia for them to keep and show around - so sweet. It just warms my heart to see how much EVERYONE loves Mia already :)

CARE PACKAGE, A GOOD CRY & HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Anthony and I packed up some goodies to send Mia yesterday. As you can see, we had a photo shoot in the middle of the post office.

I enlarged her chinese name to put on the package, so there was no mistaken who this is for. I found chinese symbols for "We" and "LOVE" and "YOU" and put them all over the package. We also taped her picture to the inside of the box!

I didn't realize how emotional this was until we stepped up to the counter and I started talking to the post-woman ~ I lost it! Poor Anthony kept saying, "mommy, please stop crying", but the tears just rolled down my cheeks.
This package was actually going to MY Mia, MY daughter ~ it is as close to her as I can get at this time. I finally calmed down, but even as I write this I am tearing up!?

I hope everyone has a very happy and safe 4th of July!!

MIA is 17 months old today!

A Half a World Away
~Jill Marshall-Work

A half a world away,
Sometimes it seems we're so far apart.
But a half a world away,
Is not too far for a journey of the heart.
My little one, my precious joy,
I'm waiting for you.
My precious daughter, my little girl,
I know you're waiting too.

A half a world away,
A child waits for a family of her own.
While half a world away,
A family waits to come bring her home.
My little one, my precious joy,
I'm whispering a prayer.

My precious daugher, my little girl,
I hope to soon be there.

It is such a strange concept to know that you have a daughter a half a world away.
To wonder what she looks like, right now
To wonder what she is doing, right now
To wonder what it is like to hug her, right now . . .

Mia is another month older ~
We are so anxious to "come bring you home, our precious daughter, our little girl" . . .

KARA COMES TO VISIT

My wonderful friend, Kara came for a visit the other day. She moved to Chicago a few years ago, but she comes to NY about twice a year. We met when "A" was 9 months old and her son, Ryan was 6 months old in a Gymboree class. The rest is history!

She has 3 children: Ryan, Kacie and Connor ~ Anthony & Ryan had fun playing video games and in the pool.

Eddie had a ball with Kacie & Connor - it was a beautiful, sunny day!

I look forward to your next visit, Kara!

SHOWING HIS LOVE

I walked past Anthony this morning, he was sitting at the island drawing ~ nothing unusual for him. Then, I peeked over his shoulder and saw this!

I guess Mia is on EVERYONE'S mind. We are so anxious to have you here with us Mia. We truly love you and you are in our hearts ~

Oh, Mia! I just love writing her name! I also love saying her name, Mia, it sounds like a song ~ can you tell I'm in love?

The boys are also very excited - Anthony has been carrying around a tiny picture of her where ever he goes! Eddie is getting used to the idea of Mia, he has been "fixing" her room (which is another post - we have to get started making a girly-girl room!) and bringing his tools up there. That is his way of dealing with all the changes that are to come. Although, the other night at dinner he was counting how many "people" are at our table "1-2-3-4, yup that's enough people", Eddie said. Hmmm, we'll just let that one go :)

I have been seeing conflicting number of days to get the Letter of Acceptance (LOA). I've seen a lot of 100 day waits or more, however, recently there were quiet a few that got theirs in 2 months! I know if you were in the review room your wait would be on the shorter end. We were "pending review", for a looooooong time and I'm not sure where that leaves us....I just know we are ready!!!

The boys and I did some shopping for Mia's care package! We are in the process of printing photos for the baby photo album, I've been sleeping with a baby doll (hopefully Mia will find my scent pleasing!) and we have the camera for the nannies to take some pictures; and a cute ladybug toy that is the same as the one Meaghan Grace's mommy sent in her care package a few months back - thanks Michelle & Meaghan! I still need just a few more things and would like to get it mailed out by the end of the week.

I have my letter all ready to send to the CIS because our fingerprints need to be redone. They expire in November - it would be nice to travel WAY before then, but you never know and I don't want that hanging over our heads.

I am so excited - and scared - and just feel like I'm moving in slow motion these days! I think about Mia so much and it is so hard knowing who she is and not being able to hold her...all I know, is once I hold her I will NEVER let go! Oh, the thought of holding her, puts a big :) on my face ~

OUR DAUGHTER ~

YES, we know who our daughter is ~ our China Princess.!

I want to shout it from the roof and tell everyone I know ( even strangers in the grocery store) that our girl is beautiful and sweet and has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen!


I will not post a picture until we have our LOA, but we just received something equivilent to a PA and I could not wait any longer to share our wonderful news!



Mia is 16 months old, she was born on February 2, 2006;
and is from the Guangxi Province.
Let me share some of how this all came to be:



I fell in love with Mia when I read about her on our agencys WC list on April 27th. She was described as "quiet and gentle", " she likes talking and joking". Also, many of her characteristics sounded like my Anthony as a baby:"If you talk to her in a loud voice, she would be afraid." and "She does not like a noisy environment" all of which could have described my boy - he was always covering his ears or crying when his aunt spoke to him in a loud voice ! They went on to say," She likes to sit in the chair watching the adults talk..." my mother has often told stories of how I would just sit with her and her friends while they talked and I also vividly remember these moments, just feeling so happy to be sitting with all of them.



Mia's SN is that she has a VSD (ventricular septal defect or a "hole" in the heart). My little guy was actually born with two heart defects (VSD & ASD -aortal septal defect), which have both closed. He had his last "checkup" in August of 2006 where they declared that both holes had closed and his new diagnosis is a functional heart murmur!



I will, obviously, blog A LOT more about our new daughter ~ for now I wish for you all to keep Mia in your prayers ~ that we can get to our daughter as quickly as possible (humanly possilbe!)~ and that maybe, just maybe someone else out there will consider a SN child. It is not an easy road and it is a very emotional decision; but if you listen to your heart, as I did, you may indeed find the child that is meant for you and your family ~



This is one of the proudest days of my life ~ being able to share this joy ~ that is Mia

ICE POPS & FATHER'S DAY

We had another beautiful, sunny & warm weekend. I just had to post our Penny-girl enjoying an ice pop! Whenever the boys eat anything, Penny is right there waiting (as is any dog!) ~ we just cannot resist watching Penny enjoy food:

We planned a nice, relaxing Father's Day ~ and the weather cooperated with our plans. Anthony & Eddie started the day by giving Daddy his gifts and lots of hugs. Most of the day was spent in and around the pool.

The boys and I made Daddy's favorite cake ~ carrot cake! We also got some steaks and made some of his favorite sides. He was so appreciative and thanked us over and over ~ no need to thank us ~ we love you and appreciate ALL that you do for our family...

HAPPY FATHER' S DAY!

WE -LOVE - YOU - SO - MUCH!

STEPPIN' ON UP!

The Mad Waver!

Receiving his certificate!

"E" had his Stepping Up ceremony at preschool yesterday ~ boy was that cute!

All the parents were packed into the classroom as the kids sang songs, recited the pledge of allegiance and ended with receiving their certificates.

I think "E" spent 90% of the time waving to me, smiling at me and just waiting for his ceremony to end so he could pounce on his mommy (and give me a huge hug); which is exactly what happened!

I had to bride him to take pictures with his teachers, one with mommy, a few with his certificate . . . some might say I'm a little picture crazy . . . but, some may not. These moments only happen ONCE and I'll be darned if I'm going to miss documenting them!

I'm so very proud of my boy ~ he had a hard adjustment in the beginning, but he came to love his teachers and made many friends.

One down, now "A" has one week of 3rd grade left (well, if you ask him: "Three full days and two half days left" ~ not that anyone is counting :)

ANTHONY'S PORTFOLIO DAY

I have been unsuccessful in uploading the video I shot of my boys' reading . . . so these pic's will have to do. I am so disappointed because he was just, well, so cute!!

Here he is handing out the "programs" to the parents as they walked in. The teacher could not have picked a better guy to do the greeting!

Here he waits for his turn to read his paper...the children chose one of their favorite writings from the year to read...

Since I cannot show you the video ~ "A" read about his love for BASE-BALL! He talked about his favorite players, his favorite position to play. We were so proud of him. He was not nervous at all, unlike his mom as a public speaker!

Afterwards they served snacks and we got to look over the kids portfolio books they had worked on all year long; and also their book of poetry!

Today we have Eddie's "stepping up" ceremony from preschool - should be another adorable day :)

EDDIE & THE LADYBUG

Eddie saved a little ladybug who was floating in our pool and took a liking to her ~ well, a loving to her! This ladybug stayed with him for at least 45 minutes!

He had her crawling up him arm, on his fingers and put her down on our little tomato plant . . . then, quickly picked her up again, for fear she would leave him. I knew it was inevitable - she would fly away home - so I did a photo shoot of Eddie and his ladybug! You are probably wondering why I don't have those pictures on this post...well, somehow I deleted them!!!!

After a long love affair (I thought it was long for a ladybug to stick around) she flew away - and then the water works started. Eddie wasn't just sad or teary-eyed - he was distrought!!! It took me a while to calm him down. The ice cream cone helped and so did my little white lie that she would be back again soon.

I have been seeing a lot of ladybugs lately ~ are they trying to tell me something?!

FUN AT FIELD DAY

"A" had his field day today - it was the perfect day weather-wise - no humidity and a breeze! He really enjoyed himself and he is just getting so big! I see such a difference from years before - he is so independent and is not looking all over to see where I am...at points I was wondering if it mattered that I was there at all! I know differently though - he is the kind of boy who will thank me for being there tonight when I kiss him good-night.

Eddie was bored, tired, hungry, thirsty and of course, no outing would be complete with him announcing, "I have to go poo poo"! Off we went trying to find a bathroom -

3rd grade is just about over - time really does fly by...not the days, but the weeks and months- they seem to disappear. Enjoy the slide show!

Sweet Little Angel
-Shana Rae

Sweet little angel, pearl in the sea
Born to another, but meant for me
Sweet little angel, you don't know why
You're one of a million lost stars in the sky

Sweet little angel in a land so far away
Your new home awaits, where forever you will stay

Sweet little angel, sweet little dove
You will soon have a family
You will always be loved

Sweet little angel, I promise each night
To kiss you my darling and hold you real tight

Sweet little angel, you'll always be warm
I'll be there to protect you and keep you from harm

Sweet little angel, you will smile all day
We'll dance and sing, you'll laugh and play

Sweet little angel, sweet little dove
I'll carry your heart, I'll fill it with love

Sweet little angel, the stars in the sky
Will be yours, so don't you cry
We'll catch those stars
Yes, one by one
We'll dance in the moonlight
We'll live in the sun

Sweet little angel, sweet little dove
Keep faith in your heart, find peace in our love
My little angel, you're not alone
Your family is coming
To take you home

We Love You, Mia