I just received the coveted email a few minutes ago. Our Article 5 was issued yesterday, July 28. I assume it was picked up 7-29 and overnighted to C2A2 in Beijing on 7-30. It should arrive in Beijing tomorrow (which will be our tonight--remember they are 13 hours ahead). Let the countdown for Travel Approval BEGIN!!!!
I haven't updated on the status of the adoption because there is nothing new to update. Here is the short version. We are still waiting on Article 5 to be issued by the US Consulate and forwarded to the China~Center~of~Adoption~Affairs. We thought we would already have it by now but no such luck. Once C2A2 receives the Article 5 they will issue our Travel Approval in about 3-7 weeks (how's that for a range). It felt like the process had picked up after LOSC as we were quickly crossing things off the list. Now--not so much--stalled waiting for the last US approval. Special thanks to the US government for always cashing our checks promptly (and then taking your own sweet time). We greatly appreciate your dedication to our family.
"The Waiting Place.....
for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting."
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
-Dr. Seuss
I have a friend who quotes her age in anniversaries and I've decided to adopt her philosophy as my own. Brilliant idea! That being said, today is the second anniversary of my 29th birthday. Would you believe I almost forgot? So much is going on these days I nearly forgot my own birthday. Seriously. I remembered last Friday when a friend asked me if I had big plans for Tuesday. My answer: "What's Tuesday?" HA! You know you are officially old when you forget your own birthday. Anyway, it was a lovely day spent with some of my favorite people. A little shoe shopping. A fancy new camcorder. A delicious dinner single handedly prepared by my amazing hubs. A yummy chocolate ganache cake. Who could ask for more? At this point I would normally attempt to say something very poignant about the past year. The truth is it's been a bit of a blur and for some reason I'm at a loss for words (GASP!). MEEEEE? At a loss for words? I know. Unbelievable! My mind is working overtime these days and I'm fresh out of poignant things to say. The past year has brought so many blessings to my life I do not know where to begin. Maybe in a few months when I can put my thoughts together. For now, I'm off to eat another piece of my yummy ganache cake (birthday calories are free don't you know). I'll worry about the consequences later. Happy second anniversary of my 29th birthday to me! 
We are on a roll this summer in the family fruit picking department. It was an atypical July day today--70's with almost no humidity--so we decided to get out and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL weather. We donned the tennis shoes and bug spray and headed out to The Blueberry Patch for our first blueberry picking experience. 
Wild Man and Little Miss LOVE blueberries but I do not buy them every week because of the the price tag. Now I understand why the tiny container at the grocery store costs a whopping $3.99! These little jokers are hard to pick. Let me rephrase--not hard--but TEDIOUS and time consuming. It is not at all like picking strawberries. The blueberry lady explained to us very clearly. "Always choose royal blue or darker". Ummmm... Okay... Anyone know how to explain the difference between fuchsia and blue swirl--classic blue--royal blue--navy blue to a three year old? 
The Chief and Wild Man did what most typical men would do. Seek out the shabbiest row of blueberry bushes overgrown with honeysuckle and weeds in pursuit of the holy blueberry grail. Rows upon rows of nicely trimmed blueberry bushes and they have to choose the ones in the jungle. Boys--I'll never understand! Little Miss spent most of her time picking "the pretty PINK ones", eating the blue ones from my bucket (because the pretty pink ones are yucky) and playing at the playground. Playgrounds are WAAAAAYYYY better than blueberry bushes. 
14 hours--39,000 feet in the sky--on a very large metal tube...
*Option A equates to about 7 hours above the Pacific Ocean...
*Option B spends over half the flight time above some of the coldest most remote polar regions of the planet...
Where's the Calgon? The brown bag? The happy drugs? I need them all now just thinking about it. The Chief says he would like to have all of the above x 10 since he has to sit beside me no matter which option we choose. I am SURE he will be wishing he could sit on the opposite side of the plane on that big day.
{To the Chief--just in case you are considering it--not a choice--you married me--it was in the fine print--must hold wife's hand and subsequently endure gradual loss of circulation during labor and flights for the sake of love and marital bliss.}
OK--I must stop researching flight options. I can do all things....I can do all things....I can do all things....
Our DS-230 was delivered today, Thursday, to the Consulate in Guangzhou, China. Now all of the documents needed to issue the Article 5 are in the hands of the Consulate. Only two more steps until we receive Travel Approval! Have I mentioned that WE ARE GOING TO CHINA PEOPLE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
VISA's and final homestudy update arrived today. Woooohooooooo! OH MY GOODNESS WE ARE GOING TO CHINA PEOPLE!!!!!!!
We just received word from the National VISA Center that our file was cabled to the Consulate in Guangzhou on Friday, July 10. Only 4 more short steps until we board the big bird to China! I think we're going to make it before September 18. OH MY GOODNESS WE ARE GOING TO CHINA PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of the many things on our summer to-do list was to visit the splash fountains at a nearby park. Courtney and her little man Jacob tagged along with us. I was able to snag TWO photos of the three of them together. They were too busy having a blast to smile for pics.
Little Miss taking a rest like the "big girls"...
Jacob funny: Jacob celebrated a birthday over the weekend. He is now the ripe old age of six. For as long as I can remember I have called him "little man". Why? I guess because I tend to call all little people something endearing like that. Today at lunch Jacob quickly informed me he was no longer a little man. He is six years old! Then Wild Man jumped on the bandwagon and both chastised me for calling them "little". Too funny! Our boys are growing up!
Lucky Little Miss celebrated her 3rd birthday (again) with her Swim Day pals. All one needs are party hats, pink plates and cupcakes to call a weekly playdate a party. ;-) Little Miss was happy, and from the looks on their faces, so was everyone else. Thanks for the great idea Rach! 
I just received word from USCIS of our I800 PROVISIONAL APPROVAL!!!! Our petition was approved late yesterday afternoon and overnighted to the National VISA Center. Many have asked what is left to accomplish so here is a list of what must be completed before we can leave for China...
1. National VISA Center (NVC) cables the file they received from USCIS while our agency simultaneously sends additional paperwork to meet up with our NVC cabled file at the American Consulate in Guangzhou, China. The two files will "get married" and stay together until...
2. Consulate reviews both sets of paperwork, issues Article 5 and sends the info to China-Center-of-Adoption-Affairs (C2A2)
3. C2A2 issues Travel Approval
4. Agency requests Consulate Appointment from the American Consulate in Guangzhou
5. Plan travel and GO TO CHINA!
Due to October national holidays and the Trade Fair in Guangzhou, it is going to be very difficult to travel in October. If we do not leave by September 18 at the very latest we may have to wait until the end of October to leave. We are hoping and praying we make it on a plane before September 18.
Lazy summer day. Fabulous friends. Little people water play. Tasty burgers from the grill. Yummy dessert (made by yours truly). FREE firework show provided by unsuspecting neighbors completely unaware of their generous "gift" :-) Giddy children in fancy attire still smiling WAY past bedtime. A happy 4th for all!
Fourteen members of the Royal Family accepted the invitation to a royal soiree honoring Princess "Little Miss". A "Pretty Pink Princess Party" was her hearts desire and that is, indeed, what she was bestowed. At her request, the castle was decorated in the pinkest of the pink. 
The Princess and the Queen Mum could not have been more pleased...
The royal menu of dainty delicacies was quite superb. Many of the Princesses pink favorites were served: strawberries filled with pink icing, pink butter cookies, watermelon, royal pink fruit dip, ham party spirals, strawberry ice cream and Pinkity Pink Punch. The fairest of all delicacies was the beautiful castle cake made by none other than Queen Rebekah (one of the Queen Mum's besties). It was a table fit for royalty.
Both the Princess in real life and the mini-Princess gazing from the turret window had smiles upon their faces. Everyone in the land was filled with joy at the mere sight of her happiness. 
The Princess smiled shyly as her party guests sang a lovely rendition of Happy Birthday...
She had a tiny bit of trouble blowing out the trio of candles but with several huffs and puffs she was able to snuff them out. 
The Prince was quite proud of her great accomplishment...
After devouring many dainty delicacies it was time to open gifts. The Princess received many wonderful packages of pink. It is quite obvious she is loved immensely by those in the Royal Family. 
The King suggested she was channelling her inner "Punky Brewster" in this photograph. Indeed...
After a lovely afternoon it was time to say goodbye to her royal guests. "What? They must leave? But why?" she asked.
All pretty pink princess parties must come to an end Princess "Little Miss". However, it was agreed unanimously by all members of the Royal Family that a lovely time was had by all.
Love,
I knew our Letter of Seeking Confirmation was due to arrive today. We stalked the front door all morning waiting for Mr. Express Mail to ring the bell. By noon I realized Mr. Express Mail must have forgotten Websters definition of "express". What's a few more hours when you've waited this long, right? Finally, at 2 pm Mrs. Postal Mail shows up.
When I opened the door I audibly gasped at the sight of the stack of mail she was handing me. There she stood holding one of the most important envelopes ever delivered to this address along with our regular mail--here's the kicker--FOLDED and RUBBER BANDED together. Do you know what I'm talking about? Like when you receive one too many catalogs or magazines in your mailbox? They fold the catalogs in half, stick the mail in the middle and strap a fat rubber band around the stack holding it all together? I have issues with paper...I know...I know... 
I flattened it out as best I could and dove head first into another frantic paperwork party. After a very hectic 3 hours and 41 minutes, our I800 petition was signed, sealed and delivered to FedEx with 4 minutes to spare. How's that for cutting it close? It is currently winging it's way to Chicago along with 1/2 inch of supporting documentation (I wonder how many trees we have destroyed in this process?).
The document itself is the first official document linking our family to MeiMei... 
The Chief signing his name on the dotted line. The next time we sign an official document with her name on it we'll be holding her in our arms!!
Our envelope should arrive in Chicago tomorrow morning before 10 AM. We should know in 2-3 weeks if we've been approved. For now, I bet you will never guess what we have to do. That's right. We wait...
WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! WE ARE OFFICIALLY OFFICIALLY APPROVED!!!!!! Day 84!!!!!!!! The call came at 3:01 pm. I'm about to burst with joy! We are going to relish in it before we even think about moving on to the I800 process. Our package will be overnighted to us on Monday. We should receive it on Tuesday and send it out to Chicago Lockbox ASAP. In the meantime, we're off to celebrate...
