Abby's Monthly Updates

November 6, 2005 - Last post before China

Hi all! Well, it's Sunday night and we only have two full days before we leave! Abby will be in my arms one week from today! Amazing... My mom, Kimi (my awesome SIL) and me are freaking out! We're all just about ready. Scott and I went out on our last date tonight before we have 2 kids! LOL I want to spend all day on Tuesday hanging out with Evan. Our last day together before he's a big brother and has to share the attention! I've been so weepy these last few days - scared to leave Scott and Evan, although they'll be in great hands with our SIL Cheryl coming to help out. It's going to be so hard to be away from them for so long! As always, I want to thank everybody for all the good wishes. I'll be thinking of you while I'm away, and can't wait to get back and start our lives together as a family of four. Hugs to all! Next post - from CHINA!

Love, Kristen

October 26, 2005 - Travel Plans

Attended our travel meeting tonight - and it is so amazing to see the itinerary because it feels so real! We're getting the babies a day earlier than we expected. Our flight will come into Abby's province at 4 pm, and there is a good chance that they will be waiting for us when we get there! We leave exactly 2 weeks from today! Abby's bag is all packed - I'm really feeling ready to go now! I'm happy to have the next 2 weeks to enjoy Evan and spend some extra time with him. So excited to go, but really, really just want to get Abby and get home safely with her to Scott and Evan. I'll post once more before we leave on the 9th...

Here's a rundown of when, where, etc.

November 9/10 - leave Newark airport at noon, arrive in Beijing on November 10th at 1:45 pm. Transfer to Beijing Chang An Grand Hotel. Visit the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. Dinner. (They are simply trying to keep us awake to get us on China-time) Very looonnnggg day!

November 11: Turning 36 on the Great Wall of China!

November 12: Visit TianAnMen Square and the Forbidden City.

November 13: "GOTCHA" DAY! Have lunch, then fly from Beijing to Nanchang (1:50 pm to 4 pm) Transfer to Gloria Hotel. We will meet our daughters and sign adoption agreement. On to celebratory buffet dinner.

November 14: Civil Affairs for adoption registration, notarization, and applying for Abby's passport.

November 15: Guides will bring us to local department store (Walmart?) to buy necessities for babies. Free day - or tour will be arranged.

November 16: Visit the Temple of Teng Wang Ge.

November 17: Visit the Park of Badashanren.

November 18: Pick up Abby's passport. Leave Nanchang and on to Guangzhou (8 pm - 9:50 pm) and transfer to the White Swan Hotel. (Whoohoo!)

November 19: Medical exam for babies :(

November 20: Half day tour of Six Banyan Temple

November 21: Appt. at US Consulate at 9 am

November 22: Pick up visas at 4 pm

November 23: Leave Guangzhou - fly back to Beijing - Beijing to Newark and HOME SWEET HOME!

 

October 3, 2005 - Travel Approval!

Today I called my agency to check on a couple of things, and our China coordinator Pauline said, "I have great news!" She went on to tell me that our TA's (Travel Approvals) had come in, and she also had an appointment at the American consulate for us. I was sooo excited, because we only expected our TA's sometime next week - now we actually had travel dates too! We will be leaving for China on Wednesday, November 9 (arriving in China on the 10th) I may actually be on the Great Wall of China for my 36th birthday! Pretty cool if you ask me! I should have Abby in my arms sometime on Monday, November 14th...Our consulate appt. is on November 21st at 9 am, and we are coming home on November 23rd (the day before Thanksgiving!) Something tells me we'll be sleeping through all the turkey and trimmings! We will be incredibly busy these next few weeks, but hopefully it will make the time to hold Abby go more quickly...! Lots of packing to do!!!!! :) :) :)

September 29, 2005

The excitement of receiving our referral is still fresh, and we are more in love than ever with this little baby halfway around the world. We have Abby's nursery finished, and are trying to complete Evan's new "big-boy room". We're almost there, a couple more weeks! Whew! After it's done, I want to start trying to get a grip on packing. I think I'm in good shape, just need a few medications and prescriptions refilled, and I should be able to get started.

Luckily for me, Lori has returned from China with beautiful Juliana, and Susan will be back the 2nd week of October with her cutiepie Lauren. I'll have lots of great advice from two friends that just did the whole trip!

We were hoping to travel the last week of October, but we are looking at delays, unfortunately. Our formal acceptances from our adoption agency went out a little later than we hoped, and the American Consulate in China is back-logged. We may be in China as late as mid-to-late November (possibly Thanksgiving). We are upset because Abby is growing every week and month without us, and it makes us sad. Unfortunately, these things are out of our control, and we just need to wait. I try and put a positive spin on it and it gives me more time to get things done, and gives Evan a little bit more one on one time. But we're anxious and just want to get our baby. Evan is really excited too! Sigh!

As always, your support means so much! We can't wait to have travel dates to post, and we'll update again as we have them!

Please pray that Abby is happy and healthy...she is 9 months old on 10/1.

Love, Scott and Kristen

 

August 5, 2005

Well, the time is flying by! Our adoption agency said we are "NEXT!" We are excited, thrilled, nervous and busy preparing. There is so much to do. I'm panicked that we won't get done, and Scott says, "We'll get done, we'll get done." (Can you tell I don't believe him?)

Two of our China mom friends received referrals last month. Lori and Danny (and big sister Tiffany) have a beautiful daughter/sister named Juliana waiting for them in China. Juliana is 9 months old and is in foster care. She is an absolute doll and is so loved already. Susan and Tom - our first time parents in the bunch - have a beautiful daughter named Lauren Nicole. Lauren is currently 10 months old. I loved hearing that she is quiet, but smiles readily and loves to sit and rip paper. She is so sweet and cute! Scott and I are so thrilled for them and it's been so exciting watch them get their referrals and sharing this with them. So, Amy and Jay, (and big brother Sean) we're next!!!!

Evan is really starting to understand the concept of getting a sister. He tells me he'll help with her diapers and bottles. He is emphatic that she is going to talk to him, too! I was in BabyGap (how unusual) buying some clothes and he said, "For Abby?" If you ask him what his little sister's name is, he'll tell you. I try and explain to him that mommy is going on an airplane and when I get back, I will bring Abby home. Then he asks if he can come too.

We are thrilled that Aunt Jen and Uncle Rupert (aka Uncle Smokey) will be Abby's godparents! We asked Rupert just before he left for Afghanistan. We are all hoping and praying that he returns safely, with any luck by Christmas; if not, hopefully very soon after that! Please keep Jen, Rupert, Alexander and John-Ryan in your prayers.

As always, thanks to all of you for asking questions, being interested in this whole process, and being excited with us! We just can't wait! As soon as we get Abby's picture, we'll post it here!

Love, Scott and Kristen