Mary and Maddy

Thank you Mary and Maddy for coming this weekend. Here Maddy is showing her mom the proper technique to fishing in the creek in our backyard. We finally had water after 3 or 4 weeks without a drop of rain.

Our new stroller!

Well, I finally made our first "big" purchase for our daughter. I just ordered online a new stroller (Peg Perego Aria MT Single Stroller 2005 Metallica). It is actually almost the same one as the 2007 version, but half the price! Yeah! It is even RED. I am so excited to get it! The car seat we'll wait on until we know how big she's going to be.

Congratulations Joel!

Today I went to Milwaukee to watch my brother Joel finish off his Super Week bike races. It ended on a great note. He took 20th place, which meant he actually got paid! (albeit not enough to cover the cost of the race, but paid nonetheless). Great job, Joel! My mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and my cousins Lisa, Rob, Abby, and Ryan were all there to cheer him on.

June is out of review!

Well, we are getting so close! They just finished the reviews of June 2006 dossiers and we're next! I can't even believe it. We are getting there. It's just too exciting for words.

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before June 30, 2006. The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before November 14, 2005.

One Year Down, More To Go...

Well, it has officially been one year since our dossiers have been logged in at the CCAA in China. On the one hand, the time sure has flown by, but on the other, the wait has been excruciating! Right now they are saying that the total wait time could be up to 3 years. I hope not, but at the current pace the CCAA has been placing children with their families, this could be what we're looking at. I try to be optimistic about all this, but some days it's just so hard. I see all the children of my family and my friends, and I think, "when is it going to be our turn?" I hope to say that "our turn" comes in the next year, but I just don't know... It's the not knowing that is the most painful part. I know our daughter is coming - I just wish it was today and not some tomorrow in the future.

To mark today's occasion, Robert and I went to a very nice restaurant and looked out onto Lake Monona and had a really nice dinner. I guess this is the time to cherish our alone time together before our daughter arrives. But, I would rather our lives be crazed with a lovely little girl who exhausts us completely on a daily basis.

I already miss our daughter, and I don't even know who she is yet...

Getting to meet Rachel

Well, my day began yesterday shopping with my friend, Kris, who's also adopting a little girl from China. She bought a crib (very nice convertible crib) and I bought the cutest pair of Robeez with pandas on them. See below. A girl can never have too many shoes! Now she has her airplane shoes that make her daddy happy, and her panda shoes that mommy couldn't resist!


For dinner, I met our friends Darrell and Deborah who just came back from China with their daughter, Rachel (Rui Rui - pronounced Ray Ray). She's 2 and doing very well. She's only been home for 2 weeks. She was amazing especially since she had spent all day at the doctor's offices. Poor thing. And I shouldn't forget about their son, Alex who was also stuck waiting at said hospitals all day. Also in the group were Heather and Dustin who are about 6 months ahead of us in the adoption process and also live in our subdivision. Yeah! Play dates! And of course, Kris, who is about 6 months behind me and helped me spend my money on our shopping date... many more of those to come.

Doctor's Park

Firstly, I'd like to wish Debbie a Happy Birthday today! Happy 21st, again...

Yesterday, I went to Milwaukee to see my brother, sister and their families since everyone was in town. Yeah! I got to spend some really nice quality time with my nephews. We went to Doctor's Park and played on the beach. Joel and Debbie had their rock skipping contest. Debbie won! Tommy enjoyed the water and chasing butterflies. Billy had fun kicking the beach ball around, running into the water and beating up on his big brother. I miss them already!


Right now, Joel and Ellen are on their way to New York City for 5 days. Hope you're enjoying!

Mom, thanks for the yummy Faijitas! Dad, sorry you had to work. I miss you!

Another Baby Step Closer...

Well, we're another step closer. The CCAA has just completed another months worth of dossiers for review. Only two more months worth of reviewing to go. Yeah! Unfortunately, they only placed a weeks worth of dates in the past month. I will continue to keep things posted as developments occur. Read below from the CCAA's website.

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before May 31, 2006.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before November 14, 2005.

Happy 4th of July!

Well, another weekend has gone by. This past weekend we had Robert's family in town to celebrate his mom's 70th B-day. We had so much fun. Everyone came over for a BBQ. It was so nice to have everyone together. Our two nieces were the life of the party. We both got our fills of snuggles, hugs and kisses to last a few days. On Saturday night, we took them to see their first fireworks. It was a bit loud for them, but they'll enjoy it more in a few years.

Caroline and Emily, thank you for the lovely gift of toys. I know our daughter will love them. You put so much thought in picking them out for her. We'll make sure she knows they're from you.

Where we are...

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before April 30, 2006. The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before November 7, 2005.