Now with a picture

Let's see if this works with a photo.  This is Max last summer.  Not the best picture I've got, but I'm still so glad to have it.

Testing out remote blogging

Blogspot is blocked in China, so this is a test post using email to post to my blog. Aren't I turning into a techno geek.
I'm assuming I'll eventually get to go to China and use this little trick.
Have I said "I WANT MY LOA" lately.

Waiting too long for LOA

We have now waited 90 days since our dossier has been logged in to receive our LOA (official approval to adopt Max). We are hoping it will be any time now, but unfortunately it's not up to us when it comes. Whenever it is, we'll be celebrating.

A slug bug kind of day

Ellie had a great day today. She went to the Jim Cosgrove, aka Mr Stinky Feet concert with her day care today and got picked to go up on stage and be part of the band while they sang the song "Slug Bug". Ellie is a bit of a Mr Stinky Feet groupy, but has never gotten to go up on stage before. Last night she was telling me that she really hoped she got picked today and lo and behold, she did. She jumped right up on the stage, sang, danced, and played the tambourine like a pro. She was so excited to tell me all about it later. Then, tonight, after I got home we want out to play in the frontyard and Ellie found a slug bug in our yard. She created a great home for him made of plants, sticks, and grass. If you look closely at the pictures, you can see the slug bug on the leaf in the upper right hand corner.

Our second care package

We sent another care package to Max. It's been in the works for quite awhile, but just got sent to him today. Hopefully we'll hear that he's received it in the next few days. We decided to mail a disposable video camera with this one, but it can only be obtained in the US. So, we bought it and mailed it to Ann at Red Thread China to include with our package from her. We have never shipped anything to China before so we didn't realize it would take THREE WEEKS to get there. She got it last night and added it to the rest of our package, which includes a toy truck, a book, some jammies, a letter, and lots of cookies and candy for his foster family.

The choke tube

This is what my daughter made for Max today at day care. It's a "choke tube". I think it is supposed to be something that helps you determine what size of toys are safe for a baby. Anything that fits inside of this tube should be safe for the baby to play with. You wouldn't know that when you hear her describe it. It really sounds like she'll be shoving it down Max's throat and choking him with it. Love.

Coordination

I've never gotten to purchase coordinate children's items before. So far, I've gotten them coordinating night lights. Ellie is loving these. She's had them both in her room every night since we've gotten them. I'm not sure she's going to give one up to Max.

I also got them stools with their names in puzzles. Also a hit with Ellie. I hope Max likes these things as much as Ellie does.

Here are their first matching outfits. Aren't they adorable? I'm having too much fun!

Poolside beauty

Ellie got herself all ready for the pool today. I think she did a great job!

Max's Christmas Stocking

When my brother and I were children, my mom hand made Christmas stockings for us. Eventually, she made them for herself and for my dad as well. When we got married, she made stockings for our spouses. When we had children, she made stockings for our children. These are a very important part of our family's Christmas tradition. Now that Max is joining our family, she's starting a stocking for him too. This is the pattern that she (we) picked out. It coordinates with the other grand-children's stockings and I think it's adorable. I can't wait to see it in person. Even better, I can't wait to see Max opening it THIS CHRISTMAS.

We are now at 75 days waiting for our letter of acceptance (our official approval from China). We are now at the point that it really could happen at any time. It seems like that would make it easier, but I think it's made it harder. I have become a compulsive email checker. It's becoming ridiculous how much time I spend on the computer just hoping to get some speck of information on when it might come. I'm hoping that things will get easier once we have this document since the timing of things gets a little bit more certain (well, as certain as anything in international adoption can be). But, from what I hear, I should anticipate that the wait only gets harder as I get closer to having my son in my arms.

Back from vacation

We just got back from a one day trip to Disneyworld followed by a one week Disney Cruise. We had a great time. Ellie was wowed by the "real princesses" and got to become a real princess herself at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.