Making Travel Plans

We are in the exciting phase of planning for our travel to China. We have tentative dates and plans. We hope to leave for China by Sunday March 15, 2009. Our first stop is Beijing, where we will tour The Great Wall and The Summer Palace, as well as other sites. Susan Ma, one of our guides from our 2005 China trip to bring home Lydia Grace is making arrangements for us. We will then travel to Hunan Provice, where Lydia Grace is from. We will tour in Changsha, where we first met Lydia Grace and then travel to Changning City, where her orphanage is located. We expect to be in Chongqing by Saturday March 21, 2009, where Talia An's orphanage is located. If all goes according to plan, we will have Talia An in our arms on Monday March 23, 2009. We will then travel as a family of four to Guangzhou, to complete Talia An's adoption at the US Consulate. We will be arriving home in early April to begin the next part of our journey as a family of four. We hope to post news of our travel and pictures as we travel through China.

News from Lydia Grace

Mei Mei, we bought new dresses and they are matching for two girls. They have pretty flowers on them that are pink and purple and might be yellow and green. I helped daddy put the crib together. I did the screwdriver and it was fun. Your room has purple and it has a changing table and a mirror. I helped mama buy you a new noisy toy with bright lights on it. I bought you a teddy bear blanket to hold in your crib. I have an Elmo with a paci for you and when you put it in, he will hum. If you take it out, he will sing! Your big sister is excited! Love, Lydia Grace

Travel Approval

Wow, so much has happened since I last posted. I started a Talia An calendar for 2009, like the ones I have kept for Lydia Grace since she came home to us in 2005. On January 16, 2009 we received the important "LOA" a formal document entitled "Lettter of Seeking Confirmation from Adopter." This document is from China, and we respond that YES! we do intend to adopt Futao, now named Talia An. January had other exciting happenings as well. We celebrated Chinese New Year, sent in our Visa applications, and celebrated our baby's birthday--Talia An turned one on January 29, 2009. Lydia Grace blew out your one candle for you. We saved half of your very yummy chocolate cake in the freezer to have with you when you get home. Next year you can pick your own cake . . . On February 3rd our Visa applications arrived at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and came back to us on February 9, 2009. Meanwhile, Mama has been shop-shop-shopping with Lydia Grace to get everything ready. New cushions for the rocking chair in your room, new Easter dresses for two girls, and some other surprises. Your crib is set up, your quilt is hung, your afghan is done. I bought really wonderful Chinese character wall hangings to put over your crib, too. Your sister took a Chinese calendar to Show and Share at her school to show her friends where Chongqing is in China, and pictures from that region. She wants everyone to know where her sister is from. One day, out of the blue, Lydia Grace announced "My baby's name means peach and lucky" and she is exactly right. We feel very lucky as we wait for you. Then the biggest news of all--on Thursday February 19th, 2009 we received our Travel Approval from China. This is the last step before we go to China to bring you home! We think we leave in about three weeks, and now preparations are moving so fast. Aunt Laura is excited that we'll be home for her birthday! Nai Nai and YeYe are coming back from Florida to meet you at the airport. We are all busy and excited and can't wait. It won't be long now, Talia An, until we have you in our arms. Be safe and know that we are coming as quickly as we can.