24 days

We leave in 24 days! I can't believe it is coming so quickly. I think I've decided what we're bringing for Hanna. Now I am trying to get it all washed up and ready to put into suitcases! I've been working on my to do list and trying to get items marked off.

Saturday was my birthday. We went out to eat with my mom and Jerry's parents at our favorite place...O'Charley's. Then we went shopping and had cake and ice cream at Dan and Tami's house.

Brooks is getting excited about his birthday. I can't believe he is about to turn 10! We need to get his invitations made and sent out. He is getting worried! He has his first soccer practice tomorrow night. I hope he likes it!

Reese is doing well. He is enjoying football and school - he loves his teacher!! ;) He is excited about getting a sister. I hope both boys still feel that way after she is home and getting into their things!

Plane Tickets!

We have our plane tickets (well e-tickets!) in our possession and one for our daughter! It is so cool to see a ticket with our daughter's Chinese name. It seems so surreal, but is finally sinking in. We leave in one month! I can hardly believe it! We will arrive back at the airport at 7:44pm on Nov 1! We will be exhausted, Hanna will be nervous, but we will be so excited to see our loved ones - especially our boys! I can't remember if I've said we received updated measurements. Hanna is about 37 inches tall and weighs 32 pounds. She is probably wearing 3T's and size 7 shoes! One more month!

Answer to questions

We were able to submit a list of questions to China about Hanna. We just submitted them last week or earlier this week and we already have our answers! We found out that Hanna is not on any medication from her heart surgery and she has been healthy since surgery. She knows she is being adopted, but they don't know how much she really understands (hopefully her orphanage has gotten the care package we sent in July and are showing her our picture). She is potty trained and does not take a bottle. She weighs 32 lbs, is 37 inches tall, and probably wears a size 7 shoe. If the online conversion chart for clothing size is right, Hanna will be wearing size 3T. We didn't get new pictures with these answers, but this was a wonderful surprise. 39 days until Brooks turns 10 and Hanna day! God is so Good!

Flight Plans

This is what we know so far... We leave on October 16 (first day of fall break!). We are using United Airlines. We will leave Guangzhou in the morning of Nov 1, fly to Shanghai in the morning then leave in the afternoon for the USA! We hope to get times soon! We still really can't believe we are actually getting Hanna! The countdown begins...34 days!

We are going to China!

We just got the call from our Social Worker that indeed we are going to China! I will get our flight plans tomorrow, but we are leaving on Oct 15 or 16. We'll tour Beijing on Oct 17, 18, 19 and possibly 20. Then we'll fly to Shenyang on the 21 (actually maybe the 20) and receive Hanna on Brooks' 10th birthday! We checked with him to make sure it was ok for us to celebrate his birthday early! We will return home on Nov 1. Looks like we'd better shop for Halloween costumes early this year! The timing (other than missing Brooks' birthday) is really good. Fall Break begins on the 16th, so free days off of work! I will post more when we get more definite plans. Thank you Lord for all of the wonderful blessings you have given us. Your Love is unbelieveable! Thank you everyone for your prayers. God is soooo great! Funny, I kept singing I believe, I believe....I believe in the word of God all day yesterday! Words cannot express what I am feeling right now!

I haven't had a chance to mention that my wonderful friends threw us a surprise shower on Saturday! I didn't have a clue! It was absolutely wonderful. Hanna got so many wonderful things like hair bows, hair bows, and more hair bows! She also got some clothes, many books, and some toys! I'll attach a few pictures. God has given us so many blessings!

LOA

I've forgotten to post the pictures of our LOA! You can tell by our expressions we are thrilled. Now we are just continuing to practice patience waiting for Travel! Come on China!

In Pictures

I've created a power point with all of the pictures we've gotten of Hanna and put it to Alabama's In Pictures. Grab a kleenex if this works! Never thought this song was about adoption before now! It is perfect. We are still waiting on our travel appointment. Keep praying for news soon. Well it won't work. I'll have to keep trying! Have a great week. Don't forget to check back to see when we receive our travel appointment! Jennifer