Want a "Six" Pack from "Six"burgh?

Just in case you didn't know...

The Steelers are going for #6. 6 Super Bowls.

Here we go Steelers. Here we go!!

Celebrating with friends

We went to a local Chinese restaurant Saturday night with friends. This is Ilayna. She has been home almost a year. Isn't she a doll? Brynn and she really enjoy each other. Hopefully, Nate fits into this little group too. He is only 9 weeks younger than Ilayna.

Maybe we should do an arranged marriage?

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Add a boat and you got our trip.

We are leaving February 13th and will arrive in Hong Kong the 14th.

Valentine's Day in Hong Kong. Never got to say that before.

We will then take the train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou early in the morning to catch our flight to Nanning. We will arrive in Nanning the 15th.

The 16th is the day that we will get Nathan. We will be in Nanning until Friday the 20th. We are then taking another train to Guilin. We will tour the city and take a river cruise. Brynn is excited to see some of the same things that Big Bird got to see in Bird Big in China. Small things excite her, obviously.

We are then leaving Guilin and flying back to Guangzhou. We will be there the 23rd, 24th and 25th. Our consulate appointment is some time Wednesday, the 25th. We will then take the train back to Hong Kong.

We are spending 2 nights at Hong Kong DisneyLand---SSSHHHH. It's a surprise.

We are flying out of Hong Kong on the 27th to Chicago and then home.

Doesn't it just seem like a big circle?

It has been such a whirlwind trying to get this all figured out. I just hope we all have beds to sleep in when we get there.

Only 18 days until we get Nathan. I just can't believe it.

I'm changing my license plate to this:

Want to know why? Because it means Thank God for 4 Wheel Drive. I have had to use my four wheel drive for the past 2 days and I am tired of it. This weather completely stinks. One minute it is snowing, then the sleet comes. Wait, now it is raining. Don't worry, the ice will be here soon. It is just crazy. I can't stand it any more.

Do you know that where Nathan is it is in the 60s and 70s?

I hope it is warm when we are there. Wouldn't that be just the cherry on top?

Happy Year of the Ox

Isn't this how you brush?

Undies and puppy dog slippers.

That's how it's done in our house.

They have to learn too.

Snow Pictures

Kevin took these amazing pictures while riding his ATV. Aren't they great?

We Got TA!!

Yeah!! We got the call this afternoon. Our TA came. We requested a consulate appointment in late February.

We are almost on the final leg of this journey that began in March 2006. I never would have thought that it would be almost 3 years before we would meet our second child.

Nathan, we are almost there.

I can not wait.

Tampa...Here We Come!!

Can we say Super Bowl Party?!?

What I woke up to

This is what greeted me this morning. Only, she wasn't smiling when she walked down the hall from her bedroom.

And this is what I was watching on the tv at the time. Brrrr.

Trying to get a good picture...

All I wanted was a cute picture. That's all I was asking for. Instead, I get her neck, her eyes overexposed, and pushed down to the ground because she was trying to tickle me.

How do these people get these gorgeous pictures all the time? They must have a more willing participant than I do. Can't wait until I have 2 to try to get a good picture of!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

Last night we celebrated my grandma's 97th birthday. She is such an amazing woman. I can only hope to be able to follow in her footsteps. What an amazing Christian life she has led.

Brynn and Great-Grandma
Brynn and Daddy. Yes, she had to take the purple purse with her.
Brynn and Grammy
My beautiful baby girl
Great Grandma and Grammy Jean

Me and My Puppy

She finds the strangest toys to love. A McDonald's Happy Meal toy.

Why did Santa even come?

Here we go Steelers!! Here we go!!

If you don't live in Steeler country, you just don't understand.

Anyone listening?!?

Hello CCAA. You can send out TA any time now. We are ready. The boy will have a place to sleep.



And we have pulled out the suitcases and a whole bunch of stuff that is supposed to go in them.



Yep, any time. CCAA. Any time.

Waiting...

We have been waiting since August 30, 2006, for a referral.

We finally got a picture of our son October 23, 2008. Almost 26 months of waiting.

And now, we are waiting for Travel Approval. It hasn't been that long. Only since December 10, 2008.

But the waiting is driving me crazy.

We have pulled out our suitcases. Just seeing them in the bedroom makes my stomach do flips. We have bought clothes for Nathan and planning on what clothes to take for us. We have toys for Brynn, toys for Nathan. Brynn is willing to share this, but probably not that. She wants to take about 4 dolls and 3 stuffed animals. I can't wait to see who she actually picks. Will it be Mei-Mei, Lin-Lin, Panda, maybe moo-moo? Such an important decision.

We have gifts packed for the orphanage director and civil affairs officer, but nothing for the foster parents. What do you give to someone that says "thank you for taking care of my son for the first 20 months of his life" and it be a wonderful sentiment.

I expect Travel Approval any day. I really feel like I am not ready. We have so much to do and it just isn't getting done. I just need a date so that we can buy the tickets and have a definite date. Everything else will fall into place after that, I hope.

Waiting just stinks.

Updated Measurements!!

We got updated measurements for Nathan from Ann at redthreadchina.com. We think he is a little skinny, but I guess that is normal. My concern has always been that he isn't getting all the nutrients that he needs because of his cleft. I so hope that isn't true.



Here is a picture of some of the stuff we sent him. Sesame Street is everywhere, ha? Wonder if we will get any of it back when we get him?

I hope we get lots of pictures of him. That would be priceless.

Happy New Year!!