Still Waiting!!!

Update: WE GOT OUR PA!!!

I just opened our email and there it was!! Whoo Hoo!!! Just two more approvals to go!!

Well, I was REALLY expecting my PA to be waiting at the agency this morning because of the holiday...no such luck. It's been 20 days today, so hopefully it won't be too many more!!! I NEED to get to China!!!

I did find a treasure today. I needed to find a stocking holder for Wesleigh's stocking. I was looking for one just like the boys, but came upon this one with rhinestones! For a minute, I was trying to figure out if it was ok that hers was different from the boys. I even considered changing the boys' to rhinestones too (they would have LOVED that...lol...). Finally, I decided that everything of Wesleigh's will be completely 180 degrees different from anything we have in this house now, that I should just expect it. So here it is... Don't you just ♥love♥ her tutu stocking up there with the boys!!

I almost forgot that I couldn't post her picture yet, but remembered at the last minute. I had to blur her picture in the frame. Hopefully, I'll get to share her sweet face with you all VERY soon!! ♥

A Big Mess and a Big Thank You

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We ended up having a quiet day at home because of a sick child. Oh well, that's the way it goes. I ran to the corner grocery store Thanksgiving morning and picked up a few things, and my mom dropped of some dressing. I still wanted the boys to have a "Thanksgiving meal" so we ate on actual dishes (not plastic), and talked about what we are thankful for. I actually got the biggest compliment I've ever gotten, Cade was looking at his plate after I served it and said, "This looks like it should be on a magazine". Well, I'll take that compliment with a big smile!

We spent the rest of the day putting up Christmas decorations, but seemed to get nowhere. I still have a HUGE mess everywhere. I don't know why I'm struggling so much with it. I guess I'm not very motivated. My mind is more on pink than red and green...what can I say? We haven't even gotten a tree yet. I'm determined to have this other stuff out of the way first. I'll have to get it together soon because I just found out yesterday that I'm hosting Richard's company Christmas party again...IT'S NEXT WEEKEND!!! Oh, well, I'm not stressing about it like I did last year. It will be what it is. That's all I can do.

Wesleigh's room is a mess too. I pulled everything out of her closet, which has been a catch-all since we moved in the house, and now it's everywhere. And where am I? Sitting here on the computer avoiding it all!!! That's my coping method...ignore it all! It's working for the moment ;)

I do have to give a big THANK YOU to my friend Denise. She sent me a package with some very sweet things for Wesleigh. Denise and I met online when we were both just getting logged into China. I was actually ahead of her. She has been home with Maggie for quite a while now, and it's finally my turn. The dress on the right is actually a dress I sent her for Maggie. The dress on the left is the first dress she bought for Maggie when she got her referral. What a sweet and precious gift. My BTDT friends have been such a source of strength and encouragement for me through this. What an amazing network we have!!

Little Tidbits

I have been searching for families who adopted from the same orphanage that Wesleigh is in. It has been very hard to find anyone, but I finally did!! A woman from Australia answered me on Rumor Queen and ended up sending me pictures they took of the orphanage when they went!! They were there last year when Wesleigh was a baby. We both feel pretty certain she is in one of these beds! How wonderful would it have been for her to actually have a picture of Wesleigh? But, that's ok. Having this little piece of her history is priceless! Since there isn't a picture of her, I can share them with you!!

Thank you, Lesley! These are priceless to me!!

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! I know it's awful, but the holidays seem to be more of a distraction than anything else this year. I'm trying to get in the spirit, but really all I want for Christmas is my little China girl!!

I have SO much to be thankful for...Thank you, Lord!!

Shopping for a Girl...so Strange!

I have to say, shopping for a girl is SO strange! The clothes are hard because I'm unsure of Wesleigh's size and when we will be traveling. I don't want to buy a closet full of winter clothes if it will be spring by the time we get home. That will be solved soon enough. The toys, however, are REALLY weird. After being a boymom for 13 years, the pink isle is more than a little foreign to me. I ran to w*lmart today for a quick trip and ended up on the "pink isle". I don't even know where to begin. I am much more comfortable looking at legos and nerf guns ;)I'm sure I will get the hang of it before long ;).

I also got really tickled while I was looking at the movies. I picked up a couple of princess movies for Wesleigh's stocking, and couldn't help but laugh thinking of the boys watching them with her. My boys have never seen those movies. They haven't had a sister that wanted to watch them. When they watch movies in the car, it's usually The Dukes of Hazzard or something baseball. The thought of them sitting back there watching Tinkerbell just cracks me up! I can't wait!! I wonder how long it will take for them to go crazy ;) lol...

ONE MORE DAY!!!

Tomorrow is my last day at school!!! I can't even tell you how excited I am. I have been very happy there and have really enjoyed being in the classroom. That all changed, though, when I saw the picture of our daughter! I have been trudging through each day and counting down the hours. Finally, I'm almost done! I can't wait to get this filthy house cleaned and start on Wesleigh's room!

Thanks to all of you who shared advice about the bed situation. I think I will take it and borrow a crib for a while. I think she might feel more secure in the crib than in a big bed.

What Bed?

OK, here's my dilemma...what kind of bed do I need to get? Wesleigh will be 2 in Feb., right around the time we should be going to get her. I'm assuming she will be in a crib in the orphanage. Do I get a crib? Do I get a big bed? I have a full size bed in her room right now. It was my great grandmother's and I used it when I was young, but it takes up alot of room in there. I would rather have a twin size bed in the room, so we have plenty of room. I'm wondering, though, if I'm going to need the bigger bed. Will I be sleeping in there too? I'm hoping not, but if I am...I'd rather be able to fit in the bed ;)

All of you BTDT moms...help a girl out!

Let the Pink Begin!

Yesterday, I was surprised with a package in the mail! Sara sent Wesleigh the sweetest little pj's, some stacking cups, and the sweetest card. The cups will definitely be making the trip to China! Thank you Sara for sharing our joy!!

Today, there was another package in the mail. One of the boys asked what it was, another said "It's for Wesleigh. All the packages that come will be for Wesleigh now." He wasn't upset about it...just stating a fact. I'm glad we understand each other ;)

It was her Christmas stocking! The boys watched me open it and had to admit...it's adorable. They were very sweet about it and VERY happy that she has a stocking. What do you think? I LOVE it!!

I Can't Stand It!

I'm thinking I might lose my mind before we get to China! The waiting is awful! My agency is submitting my questions sometime this week, so hopefully, we'll get some updated size information and possibly pictures. That would be heaven!

This is my LAST week teaching! Whoo Hoo!!! I am so glad I did it, but boy am I glad I'll be done! I'll be working on Wesleigh's room as soon as I'm done. I can't wait!

Has anyone gone to China in Jan, Feb or March? I know Chinese New Year is in the middle of Feb, so I'm sure we won't be going then. I'm wondering how cold it is. I'm a southern girl, you know...I'm a little worried!

The picture at the top is just because I can't stand to post without pictures. it's Cade during football season. I can't wait until I can share Wesleigh's with you.

Our "Chinababy" has a Real Name!!

After three years of being "Chinababy" to us, and after MUCH deliberation and "discussion", we have finally come to a decision about our sweet little girl's name. We decided on:

Wesleigh Jane

Richard was 100% adamant that her name would be Wesleigh. I love the name, but had another first choice. After a while, it was obvious that he wasn't giving in. I figure...if he cares that much, just give him the name! I am glad he cared that much.

I have so much to share. This week has been a complete whirlwind. Being at school has been miserable!!! Not to mention that I can hardly sleep!

I'll try to start posting everything tomorrow. My in-laws will be driving up any second for the weekend so the whirlwind is continuing. Only one more week of teaching!!! God knew what he was doing...his timing was perfect!

Thanks for all the well-wishes...they are so appreciated!!

Let the monogramming begin!!!!!

We Have A Daughter!

After all these years of waiting...you'd think this statement would be totally natural. Nope, totally freaking out here!!! We are so thrilled. Yesterday morning we locked in the file of a little girl. She is 21 mos. old and teeny tiny. I will share much more later when they say I can. I can't wait to show you her picture!! You would think 3 years of waiting would be long enough to decide on her name, but nope...we're still working on it. I'm looking for a name that isn't over used and is sweet and dainty like her. Any ideas?

The boys are over the moon, especially Braden. That doesn't surprise me, though, he's the lovey dovey one who would ask me about China out of the blue. When I heard for sure that we were able to lock her file, I brought Cade and Braden (they're at school with me) a copy of her picture so they could have and share. Braden looked up at me and got tears in his eyes. SO SWEET!! He has informed me that "Chinababy" isn't good enough anymore. She needs a REAL name!

This story is filled with so many near misses and God ordained details and I can't wait to share with you! One little funny tidbit is that I've taken 2 maternity leave teaching jobs in my lifetime. The first one was 13 years ago for a fabulous teacher named Lauren. While I was in that position, I found out I was pregnant with Bryce! Today, Lauren is Cade's teacher, and while teaching for someone out on maternity leave, I find out I'm having another baby!!! Richard says no more maternity leave positions for me!!

Thank you all for your support!!! Bring on the names!!

Sorry, I've Been Gone

I know I've been gone for a long time! I can't stand it!! Richard just got back in town today. He has been gone for 9 days! That is the longest he's ever been gone from us. He was in Kansas hunting while we were here going through the daily grind. I am tired!! I am still teaching, but only for 2 more weeks. I am happy I took the job, but will be happy when it's over. I find I take out alot on my own kids. I don't yell at the children at school, but I seem to yell more at my own. Not exactly fair, but that's the way it's been. We'll all be happy to get back to our old schedule, I think ;)

We are presently making some really big decisions and hope to have some news to share before long!!! I'm praying for Godly council right now. I am also praying the decision is made soon because this feeling that I'm about to throw up is getting old!!!

I hope to have something to post soon!