And we’re off, maybe not…okay, we are now

We were starting to get a bit worried.  Our flight out of Nashville was delayed due to bad weather in Atlanta.  We were delayed an hour but still got their in time.  Our Tokyo flight left about 35 min late.  We are on the flight from Atlanta to Tokyo and hopefully will make up the lost time since we are travelling 600 MPH!!!.  We've been up about 4 ½ hours…only 9 more to go.  Madeline is sleeping restlessly.  I took a sleeping pill and slept an entire hour, I guess the Tylenol PMs were better.  Glad the Dr gave the sleeping pills to me and I didn't have to pay for them.  We ate our "dinner", not bad, chicken, potatoes, salad, shrimp cocktail, and a brownie.  We are pretty happy that the flight is only half full so we have a full row to ourselves.  We are hoping it's that way on the way back then Mia can have her own seat J.  I finished reading the 5000 Year Leap and have started Common Sense.  If political books can't put you to sleep then what will???  I keep trying to convince my brain that if I sleep, when I wake we'll be another step closer.  The problem is my heart can't stop pounding in anticipation of meeting her.  I'm praying they call a truce soon. ~A

The bags are packed!!!

We have it all packed and we are even under weight...I think.  Early to rise tomorrow and off to the airport for our day of travel.  ~A

This is really happening!!!

After 4 years of waiting this is actually only a few days away. It hasn't seemed real...until now. It's amazing how you can push your feelings to the back of your head or, better yet, you heart, but eventually they will catch up to you. I guess today is that day. We still have some things to get done before we leave on Thursday but all I can think about is holding our little girl and being a good Daddy to her. Most would assume that this goal is easily achieved but assumptions are usually wrong. I'm impatient (understatement of the year), easily agitated, not a great communicator, the list goes on and on. As men it seems as if we are trained to hide our feelings, not necessarily on purpose, but emotion equals weakness. I often pray for God to give my girls the tools to "translate" my actions to see that they are driven by worry and love. I was in love with each one of them before I ever saw them. I know what it is going to be like for me when we meet her. My heart will be racing, my head will be filled with pressure(the kind of pressure you feel when you are about to cry but are fighting it), my mind will be trying to take it all in and process it. I can't imagine what will be going through her mind. I hope I can always make it clear to her, if not with my words then my actions, that a Daddy's love has no requirements, no limits, and no end. I can't wait for her first laugh, words, steps, even her first date (which should be around the year 2040) but I will wait, by her side, with my heart breaking a little each time because she will grow up too fast just like her sisters. As a Father of 3 and soon to be 4 I often hear how hard it must be to be surrounded by woman. It definitely has it's moments but I wouldn't trade it for anything. As they get older and graduate college, move out, get married (Gulp!), I hope they remember their Daddy as a man who makes them laugh, taught them right from wrong, and loves them like no other can.
It's actually Tuesday now, 1:45 AM. Madeline is sleeping, without a doubt dreaming of our sweet Mia. I'd better join her. -A

Testing 1 2 3

We are testing out how to blog, via email, for while we are in China!!! Hope it works :)

 

I am sending a Province Map of China. Our baby is in Jiangxi. It is colored peach on the map and is toward the bottom right hand side.

 

Okay, off to check the blog and see if this worked - M

 

 

Flights Are Booked!!!

Yep, they are booked and we leave next Thursday, July 30th and return on Aug 15th. We now know just how hard it is to book international flights with only 10 days notice, it's NOT fun!

On Sunday, August 2nd we will meet our baby!! ...goose bumps :)

So, now we are in full blown PACK MODE!!! It is insane... I slept all of 3 hrs and 15 mins last night :} We only have a few more things to add to the pile and I think we are set... now to fit it ALL into 2 rolling duffles and stay under 44lbs each, LOL!!! - M

Care Package

I have been meaning to post the picture of the care package that we had sent to the baby through Ann at Red Thread China! She is a wonderful lady who lives in China and puts together these packages and gets them to the babies much quicker than we could have sending it through customs.

We emailed her pictures and she put together the photo album of our family so that the baby can see all of us before we meet her! We sent a blanket, toy, outfit and disposable camera which we hope to have returned to us full of photos of her with her nannies and friends. All the other items you see are chocolates for the nannies :) Also included was a translated letter to the director and nannies thanking them for caring for our little one!

We have TA!!!!!

A* just called me from work to tell me that we received the email from our agency letting us know that we have received Travel Approval from China!!!!!! Only one more appointment to confirm with the US Consulate in Guangzhou and then we can book our flights :) We could be leaving the week after NEXT..so much to do...so little time!!

Here is a new photo of the baby taken by an adoptive family visiting the SWI just a couple of weeks ago (thank you Robin)!!!!



We will update as soon as we know MORE :) - M