Happy 2nd Birthday, Ashlyn!!

My sweet baby girl, Happy Birthday! Today you turn TWO!!

We were able to send Ashlyn a Birthday cake, lots and lots of candy, fruit and a toy for her to be able to celebrate her second birthday. We sent it at the end of last month so that we would be able to have enough time to get pictures back for her actual birthday, today. We received eight beautiful pictures of her celebrating with her foster family. It was such a blessing to get pictures with them in it. The love they have for her is obvious and this was such an answer to prayer. I do realize that this might make her transition process with us harder. But right now, I'd rather know that she is being loved on every day and we will just pray and help her through the grief that she will go through, no matter how hard it might be. We love this little girl so deeply! I was so sad last night knowing that it was already her Birthday in Ch*na. I was telling my husband that I hope they are doing something special with her on this amazing day that she came into the world. My sweet, incredible husband came over and hugged me and told me that they already did. "Her Mama couldn't be there for her party, so she sent an amazing party to Ch*na for her daughter. What little girl in Ch*na gets that?" Yes, I do have the most wonderful husband in the world!

Ashlyn, we will be there soon my precious little girl. You are growing so fast without us. Please know that we would have already gotten you if we could have. I hope you have a very special peace from God today. I am sending my love through prayers to you today and praying that we will be able to come and get you in September.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I800 Approved!!

I just got an email that our I800 was approved yesterday! That is GREAT news! Please keep praying for September travel for us!

I800 paperwork

I emailed USC*S today to see what the status was on our I800 paperwork. My account person said that it had not gotten to him yet. That it was still getting logged in. It has only been a week since they received it. It is the last piece of paperwork that I can follow. After it leaves them I will have to wait to hear when I get TA (Travel Approval). I just thought that if I knew when it left them I could gauge if it was "on time" or already delayed from the beginning. It is taking about two weeks to get through them, so I will inquire again next week. Hopefully he will say that he has already approved it and it has been sent!

Packing List

This is what I have come up with so far. If you have any advice for me please leave me a comment. I know alot of you have already been there done that so I do appreciate your direction.

Baby Medicine:
-Motrin
-Tylenol
-Dimetapp
-Mylicon Drops
-Benadryl
-Vicks Baby rub
-Desitin
-Pedialyte

Medicine:
-Ibuprofin
-Zyrtec
-Dramamine
-Eye Drops
-Zantac
-Prescriptions

Baby Stuff:
-Nail clippers
-Johnson baby wash cloths
-Bottles
-Sippy cups
-Toys
-Disposable spoons
-Thermometer
-Blanket
-Wipes
-Diapers
-Disposable changing pads
-Toothbrush/toothpaste

Everything else:
-Alarm clock
-Batteries
-2 Cameras
-Camecorder
-Camera memory cards
-Neck pillows
-Bag clips
-Band aids
-Sunscreen
-Back Pack
-Diaper bag
-Notebook/pen
-2 rolls of toilet paper
-Pillow cases
-2 boxes gallon ziplock bags
-Antibacterial wipes
-Hand sanitizer
-Tissues
-Shampoo/conditioner
-Clothes and shoes for all

Prayer Needed Once Again

I just found out that we need to be able to travel by September 10th, otherwise the next date that we can leave to go and get our baby girl won't be until October 29th!!!! The reason for this is because at the beginning of October there is a national holiday in Ch*na and everything is closed for a while. Then there is a Trade Fair starting on the 15th of October and the Consulate offices are closed until November 4th. September 10th is in 8 weeks and this is still a reasonable date to travel. We just need prayer that our paperwork would flow smoothly through the different people and stages that it needs to so that we can receive our Travel Approvel in a timely manner. At that point our agency will try very hard to get us a Consulate Appointment so that we can leave by the 10th at the latest. We desperately want to travel before this cut off. We don't want to have to wait any longer than possible to hold our little girl.

All Papers are Off to Their Proper Places

The last two days have been very busy days. This morning I mailed out our LSC and Ashlyn's Visa application to our agency. I also mailed out our I800 and I864W to Homeland Security, which is Ashlyn's Immigration paperwork. Phew...all the papers are FINALLY finished (well, with the exception of our Visas). I can finally take a deep breath and begin focusing on the next step in our adoption journey....packing! I will post my packing list tomorrow (when I have a chance) so that my sweet bloggy friends can help me with things I forgot, or things I don't need to take. It feels great to say...Hold on Baby, we are on our way!!!

Waiting No More!!!!!!

I guess our agency did not need to check on our papers because they came today!!!!!!!! After 107 days of waiting we have our LSC (formerly LOA)!!!

Pictures and LSC in the same day...God is ssoooo good!!!

We should travel in about nine weeks ~ September!

Checking on our Paperwork

We have asked our agency to again check on our paperwork. We were told it would be a week or two and we are now on week four. We are on day 107 of our wait and we would really appreciate prayers that the news we get back will be that our LSC is on its way.

I did get 8 more pictures of Ashlyn this morning. I am very happy! Maybe that is a sign that this will be a very good week and our LSC will come in.

Our Baby is Safe!

We have heard from the orphanage that the flooding is not near them and all the children are safe! Thank you all for praying!

Torrential Rain and Flooding in Guangxi, China

Please be in prayer for the people of Southern China. The province of Guangxi has been hit the hardest with massive flooding. This is where our baby girl lives. Our hearts are very heavy for her and the people of this area. We pray that God is holding her tightly in His mighty hand of protection. We cry out to Him for her safety. Please join us in prayer!

For more news articles on this, google ~ guangxi flooding 2009

Update: We did find out that the city that our daughter is in, Yu lin, is fairing well. Thank you all for praying with us. Please continuse to pray for the people that have been affected by this storm.