LID - 2/13/09

We finally received the notification that our dossier was logged in to the CCAA on 2/13/09. Now we can officially start the next wait of 3-5 months. I pray that the wait will be on the short end, but I am preparing for it to be on the long end.

I can't help but get a few things ready now, though. I bought a couple of little outfits (even though we have tons of hand-me-downs from big sis and cousin, Meghan). From her latest measurements, I can tell that she and Gabe are just about the same size. I am using him as my little model to see if things will fit Hannah. He laughs when I put him in a girly-girl dress. I also bought some nesting cups that I saw were a good little toy to bring with us to China, a couple of new sippy cups in girl colors, and a few bottles. I think I am going to use some attachment and bonding advice from my toddler adoption books and give her a bottle each night (even if she has outgrown it). It helps to form that loving attachment between us. This is my biggest prayer - that she will learn to accept love from us and ultimately, learn to love us back. More later.

New Picture of Hannah

We just got a new picture of Hannah from the Love Without Boundaries Gaoming update. This group provides nutrition to several orphanages in China, including our Hannah's. Here's a pic of her and a little friend. The photo's caption in the update said, "The little guy on the left , DOB 4/14/07 now weighs 22lbs and is 31.5 in tall. His playmate on the right, DOB 7/14/06 now weighs 30.9lbs she’s 35 in tall."

It's great to get some new growth data. Eric checked her stats out on his growth curves and she is about 70% ile for weight and 28%ile for height. Obviously, she is being well fed and might be a little chubby. No worries. Once we get her running around with her brothers and sisters, she'll slim right down:-) Many thanks to Love Without Boundaries for feeding our little one so well.

Care Package and Chinese New Year

We sent our first care package to Hannah's orphanage last week. Our new friend, Nan, translated our letter into Chinese for us. Thanks, Nan! Some of you will recognize "Baby," Lauren's favorite lovey. Lauren's Baby is like the Velveteen Rabbit, loved so much that it became real. Here's a new Baby that maybe Hannah will learn to love. We also sent her some ladybug PJs and a ladybug toy. The other items (lotions, baby blankets, candy, and Desitin) are for the orphanage and the nannies. We sent along a disposable camera so we hope to get some pictures of Hannah with her friends and nannies at the orphanage. We hope to send another care package to her before we travel. Pray that she can understand that we love her and can't wait to be with her.

Here we are celebrating the Chinese New Year with paper lanterns and dragons made by the kids and Tif's best attempt at a Chinese meal. I'll definitely need to learn to make a few more authentic Chinese foods so Hannah will feel at home. Maybe Nan will help me with that, too.



We're still waiting on our LID (Log In Date), but we hope that it has already happened and we'll find it out soon. There is a new step in the process before travel (brought about by the Hague), so our travel timeframe keeps getting farther out. I don't know what to tell you. I'm telling myself September so I won't be disappointed if it really is that long. We hope it's sooner, of course. Patience!