Yay! My mom made it in safely late Tuesday Evening. No glitches whatsoever. She is one proud nana for sure. Natalie, Ethan (my niece and nephew) and Chandler sure are loved!
We're in the home stretch now. Just 26 hours 'til take off. That's one day of work + one more sleepless night and we're off! :)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Hotel Reservations are CONFIRMED!
YAY! I received confirmation of our hotel accommodations for the trip today. It's really happening!! Okay, so you all know that I'd sleep in a cardboard box all week if I had to just so I can finally meet Chandler but the fact that these places are super cushy doesn't hurt one bit. I just had to google these and here's what I found. Crazy I know, but one of my favorite parts of course is that it looks like most of them have "normal" food either at the hotel or closeby. Phew! No fried scorpion kabobs for Chandler's mommy and nana. Eww!
Here are the four different hotels where we'll stay while in China....
http://www.hoteltravel.com/china/nanning/guangxi_wharton_international_details.htm
http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Henan_Plaza_Beijing.htm#
http://www.holidaycity.com/guilin-bravo/index.htm
http://www.holidaycity.com/white-swan-guangzhou/index.htm
Here are the four different hotels where we'll stay while in China....
http://www.hoteltravel.com/china/nanning/guangxi_wharton_international_details.htm
http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Henan_Plaza_Beijing.htm#
http://www.holidaycity.com/guilin-bravo/index.htm
http://www.holidaycity.com/white-swan-guangzhou/index.htm
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Showered with love...again! Surprise!!!
Another wonderful surprise to report.... a surprise shower at work for Chandler Elise! I had a lunch meeting scheduled for noon on Friday. Much to my surprise, when I arrived in the conference room, it was filled with beautiful pink and brown decorations (Chandler's nursery colors), a full vegetarian spread with all of my favorite foods (and hopefully Chandler's too), loads of generous gifts for Chandler Elise and most importantly, 50+ smiling faces shouting SURPRISE!! I was truly touched beyond words. Many of these folks were there 3 years ago when I first announced my decision to adopt while others have recently joined in this journey. Wow! What a kind gesture beyond words. I was actually speechless.... well just for a few 
minutes, at least! Then came the poem... one of my co-workers, Anna, always writes a custom poem when someone is promoted or leaves the department. This time, she wrote a poem for Chandler Elise, someone arriving and not leaving. Here it is.... grab some Kleenex before you get started: Chandler Elise-Lin by Anna Stone
A gift sent from above
Welcome to a home filled with love.
A long time of waiting, hoping, and praying...
Replaced with you laughing, cuddling, and playing.
You may not share blood, but you share one heart,
Your mommy Nicole has loved you from before your start!
Then came the glorious day in August,
The waiting is over! IT'S BEEN the LONGEST!!
Looking forward to the sweet day in September,
A homecoming to always remember!
minutes, at least! Then came the poem... one of my co-workers, Anna, always writes a custom poem when someone is promoted or leaves the department. This time, she wrote a poem for Chandler Elise, someone arriving and not leaving. Here it is.... grab some Kleenex before you get started: Chandler Elise-Lin by Anna StoneA gift sent from above
Welcome to a home filled with love.
A long time of waiting, hoping, and praying...
Replaced with you laughing, cuddling, and playing.
You may not share blood, but you share one heart,
Your mommy Nicole has loved you from before your start!
Then came the glorious day in August,
The waiting is over! IT'S BEEN the LONGEST!!
Looking forward to the sweet day in September,
A homecoming to always remember!
I just love it and plan to frame it for the nursery. Needless to say, the shower was wonderful and as I watch the video of it, I still cry tears of joy and gratitude. All I can say is this is one loved and anxiously awaited baby girl. We couldn't be more blessed. Thanks, All!
Surprise ~ We're leaving for China in 12 days!!!
Oh my! I returned to my office on Late Thursday Afternoon from a meeting to find the news from my adoption agency that they received approval for us to travel to China AND had tentative travel arrangements for us to leave on AUGUST 22nd! Woo hoo! That's quick. On Friday I received our actual plane tickets and itinerary. Oh my goodness! I've waited three years for this and now I'm freaking out thinking how can I possibly get everything done by August 22nd. Then I came to senses and realized of course I can be ready. I haven't slept but a few hours since I heard the good news anyhow so I have plenty of time. :) So Mom flies down to NC on the 19th to allow time for any "glitches" in air travel. We leave out on August 22nd at 9am and return on September 4th at 9pm. The best part of course is that I meet my Sweet Chandler Elise on Monday August 25th (her 11 month birthday!). I'll have her with me the entire rest of the trip (literally for those of you who don't know me well, I doubt I will set her down once for a very long time!) Here's our itinerary:
8/22/08 Leave North Carolina headed for CHINA!!
8/23/08 Arrive in Beijing for a brief sight seeing tour
8/24/08 Leave Beijing and Arrive in City of Nanning, Guangxi Province
8/25/08 Gotcha Day! – I will finally meet Chandler Elise and kiss those chubby cheeks!
8/25-8/30 Adoption Processing starts
8/27/08 Depart from Nanning to Guilin City for a 4 day sight seeing excurision
8/31/08 Flight to Guangzhou
9/1/08 Doctor's exam
9/2/08 U.S.C.I.S processing
9/3/08 Pick up visas
9/4/08 Leave Guangzou, to Beijing, to Chicago and finally arrive in NC at 9:05pm WOOHOO!
8/22/08 Leave North Carolina headed for CHINA!!
8/23/08 Arrive in Beijing for a brief sight seeing tour
8/24/08 Leave Beijing and Arrive in City of Nanning, Guangxi Province
8/25/08 Gotcha Day! – I will finally meet Chandler Elise and kiss those chubby cheeks!
8/25-8/30 Adoption Processing starts
8/27/08 Depart from Nanning to Guilin City for a 4 day sight seeing excurision
8/31/08 Flight to Guangzhou
9/1/08 Doctor's exam
9/2/08 U.S.C.I.S processing
9/3/08 Pick up visas
9/4/08 Leave Guangzou, to Beijing, to Chicago and finally arrive in NC at 9:05pm WOOHOO!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Showered with love
Wow! Yesterday Chandler and I were showered with gifts from our dear friends and family. It was such a special day and a memory I will always treasure. I can't wait to tell Chandler all about it one day and let her know how much she was truly loved even long before she ever arrived home. I still get weepy with gratitude just thinking about it. My mom and dear friend Kelly Floyd hosted the party at my home. Unfortunately, there was one problem.... Mom's flight was canceled on Saturday night due to bad weather so she was not able to make it. We were so bummed but she was defnitely here in spirit and I can't wait to have her down to visit soon when we leave for China. Kelly made the day so very special. Not a single detail was left o
ut. Her mom Kathy and sister Kristy were amazing too. Kristy made the most adorable diaper cake that I will of course never take apart because its so special. She even placed a pair of little pink tennis shoes on it which is a good luck tradition for new babies in China. Kelly took the time to place special "motherhood sayings" in each fortune cookie for the guests. Mine of course brought tears to my eyes, "Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey"
ut. Her mom Kathy and sister Kristy were amazing too. Kristy made the most adorable diaper cake that I will of course never take apart because its so special. She even placed a pair of little pink tennis shoes on it which is a good luck tradition for new babies in China. Kelly took the time to place special "motherhood sayings" in each fortune cookie for the guests. Mine of course brought tears to my eyes, "Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey"Besides just the sheer joy of having my house filled with loved ones, the gifts we received are just simply overwhelming. As you can see from the photos, I had lots of little helpers to assist with the unwrapping. 
Strollers, a car seat, bottles, bibs, wipes, a baby monitor, matching Vera Bradley purses for Chandler and I, high chair, gift cards, toy box, bath time toys and towels, those yummy baby smelling lotions and soaps and more.... you name it, we got it. This baby is set! Now we just need to get her here. I'm still waiting to hear about travel approval from my adoption agency but it shouldn't be much longer. I still anticipate that our flights will be booked in the next 2 weeks and that we will travel in Early September. I'll keep y'all posted....
Strollers, a car seat, bottles, bibs, wipes, a baby monitor, matching Vera Bradley purses for Chandler and I, high chair, gift cards, toy box, bath time toys and towels, those yummy baby smelling lotions and soaps and more.... you name it, we got it. This baby is set! Now we just need to get her here. I'm still waiting to hear about travel approval from my adoption agency but it shouldn't be much longer. I still anticipate that our flights will be booked in the next 2 weeks and that we will travel in Early September. I'll keep y'all posted....Sunday, July 13, 2008
More news on Chandler ~ She laughs aloud!
Wow! What a week this has been. Certainly its been a whirlwind and one of the most amazing weeks of my life. I've had a permanent smile on my face since 11:43am on Monday when the call came in from my agency and then of course just moments later when her photos arrived in my email inbox. Words can't begin to describe the love I have for this precious baby and the gratitude I feel to God and all of my dear friends and family. I've so much appreciated the phone calls, cards and emails of well wishes and excitement. I also have connected with a lot of families via internet from the adoption community who have daughters from China also. Thank you all so very much, I can't thank you enough!
Before I share too much more about the events of the week, let me tell you what more I have learned about Chandler since Monday. By the way, did you see those cheeks? I have stared at her photos for so long and I just can't wait to kiss that precious face. Anyhow, here's the scoop..... I worked from home on Friday morning to be sure not to miss the DHL driver when he dropped off the package coming from my adoption agency that contained Chanlder's translated medical report and details of her life. Of course in between work emails and conference calls while waiting, I would pace. Finally at about noon the yellow DHL van pulled up in the cul-de-sac. Before I get my camera and get out there to greet him he had left the package near the garage and was pulling away. I was barely back in the house when I ripped open the envelope and started digging in. It was so exciting to see all of her paperwork and the original of those darling photos. Did I mention about those cheeks? :) So I made it to her medical report which was very extensive and impressive. The best part being that all of her tests checked out great and she's a very healthly little pumpkin. Her physical was as of 1/18/08 when she was just under four months old. She was just a few days old when she arrived at the orphanage in September and was very tiny at 4.4 pounds. On the day of her medical exam in January she had already grown to 13.2 pounds! I didn't know that was possible. It was funny when I read the report to my mom and asked her if she thought it was possible for her to grow so fast she said very calmly, "Why yes Nicole, that means they are feeding her very well!" Oh yeah, silly me. I'm turning into one of those panicky moms already. At four months she was eating 8 times a day (sounds like her Mommy!). She was getting up at 8am with two naps and then back down to sleep for the night at 8:30pm. Now that is my kind of sleeping schedule! She could sit and stand up by support. Here's the part that just made my heart melt....."she laughs outloud"! Also, the report said she is excited at the food or bottle, will cry in order to get attention and when she looks in the mirror she will smile. How cute, right? Oh and one more thing, her personality is described as "lively". Uh oh! Thankfully, the box was NOT checked for "obsinate sometimes". Surely that is the truth.
While her report did not indicate that she was in foster care, I found out through a wonderful organization called Grace and Hope for Children at www.grace-hope.org that indeed she is in foster care and when I arrive in China they will deliver copies of her foster care reports to me. I am so happy about this since I know she has one family loving her all day long (and feeding her too, obviously). While this might make the initial transition to me a little difficult for her since she will be grieving the loss of her foster family, over the long term it could make her ability to attach to a new family easier than if she were in the orphanage. I am so grateful to the two adoptive families who posted on my blog earlier this week to let me know about this wonderful organization.
I need to scoot for now but will write again later today. I am in the two year olds nursery room at church this morning. You better bet I'll be sneaking around to get a peek at the 9 month old room as I dream of Chandler Elise.
Before I share too much more about the events of the week, let me tell you what more I have learned about Chandler since Monday. By the way, did you see those cheeks? I have stared at her photos for so long and I just can't wait to kiss that precious face. Anyhow, here's the scoop..... I worked from home on Friday morning to be sure not to miss the DHL driver when he dropped off the package coming from my adoption agency that contained Chanlder's translated medical report and details of her life. Of course in between work emails and conference calls while waiting, I would pace. Finally at about noon the yellow DHL van pulled up in the cul-de-sac. Before I get my camera and get out there to greet him he had left the package near the garage and was pulling away. I was barely back in the house when I ripped open the envelope and started digging in. It was so exciting to see all of her paperwork and the original of those darling photos. Did I mention about those cheeks? :) So I made it to her medical report which was very extensive and impressive. The best part being that all of her tests checked out great and she's a very healthly little pumpkin. Her physical was as of 1/18/08 when she was just under four months old. She was just a few days old when she arrived at the orphanage in September and was very tiny at 4.4 pounds. On the day of her medical exam in January she had already grown to 13.2 pounds! I didn't know that was possible. It was funny when I read the report to my mom and asked her if she thought it was possible for her to grow so fast she said very calmly, "Why yes Nicole, that means they are feeding her very well!" Oh yeah, silly me. I'm turning into one of those panicky moms already. At four months she was eating 8 times a day (sounds like her Mommy!). She was getting up at 8am with two naps and then back down to sleep for the night at 8:30pm. Now that is my kind of sleeping schedule! She could sit and stand up by support. Here's the part that just made my heart melt....."she laughs outloud"! Also, the report said she is excited at the food or bottle, will cry in order to get attention and when she looks in the mirror she will smile. How cute, right? Oh and one more thing, her personality is described as "lively". Uh oh! Thankfully, the box was NOT checked for "obsinate sometimes". Surely that is the truth.
While her report did not indicate that she was in foster care, I found out through a wonderful organization called Grace and Hope for Children at www.grace-hope.org that indeed she is in foster care and when I arrive in China they will deliver copies of her foster care reports to me. I am so happy about this since I know she has one family loving her all day long (and feeding her too, obviously). While this might make the initial transition to me a little difficult for her since she will be grieving the loss of her foster family, over the long term it could make her ability to attach to a new family easier than if she were in the orphanage. I am so grateful to the two adoptive families who posted on my blog earlier this week to let me know about this wonderful organization.
I need to scoot for now but will write again later today. I am in the two year olds nursery room at church this morning. You better bet I'll be sneaking around to get a peek at the 9 month old room as I dream of Chandler Elise.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Here she is.....Chandler Elise Lin
Here she is! After the three year wait I finally received the call today at 11:43am from my adoption agency. She is beyond beautiful. Just look at those cheeks! What's not to love?
Her given name is Lin Ying Lin
Her birthday is 9/25/2007
She lives in the province of Guangxi
at the Yulin Social Welfare Institute (orphanage)
She lives in the province of Guangxi
at the Yulin Social Welfare Institute (orphanage)
Needless to say, I'm a very proud Mommy. We will likely travel in Early September to get her, hopefully before her first birthday. I will find out a little more information about her in the next few days. Thank you all for your love and patience as we waited for this precious little one. What a miracle! That's all I can think to say right now and of course, Thank you GOD!
Tick tock, tick tock
Well, I made it through the long weekend and hopefully it'll be just a day or two before we hear something about the little pumpkin. I spent a good majority of the weekend in full nesting mode. Closets are organized, floors are scrubbed, 1/2 of one of the three books I want to read before the trip is read. Stay tuned, it shouldn't be long now......
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The longest weekend EVER!
Okay, normally I am all about a long weekend but this time, not so much! Referrals didn't come on Thursday but rumors on the Internet are now pointing to Monday or Tuesday. I am so ready for THE call. Stay tuned for the good news coming SOON! :) and thank you all for the prayers and the well wishes....
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Are we there yet?
Any day now?! It shouldn't be long now according to my adoption agency and everything I can find posted online. I will say that every time my phone rings I nearly hurt myself to answer it quickly. I can hardly imagine what it will be like when the number on my caller id finally shows up as a call from my agency.
In case you are wondering, here's how the referral notification works......
Any day now, when referrals arrive in the U.S., my adoption agency will call me with information about Chandler... her age, name, province and orphanage. They will then email me her photo that same day. Within three days they will have her medical report translated and overnighted to me along with the original photos received. I can hardly stand the anticipation. Well, please stay tuned...it shouldn't be long now before we get a glimpse of my precious little pumpkin.
In case you are wondering, here's how the referral notification works......
Any day now, when referrals arrive in the U.S., my adoption agency will call me with information about Chandler... her age, name, province and orphanage. They will then email me her photo that same day. Within three days they will have her medical report translated and overnighted to me along with the original photos received. I can hardly stand the anticipation. Well, please stay tuned...it shouldn't be long now before we get a glimpse of my precious little pumpkin.
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