It's about that time

 

Well folks, we've come a long way since this post back in November 2012. We have filled out mountains of paperwork, been fingerprinted (twice), signed our names more times than it takes to buy a house, told several complete strangers our life stories and had more ups, downs and delays than we can count. Was it difficult? No doubt. Was it worth it? A million times yes. 

See this face? 

This little face is waiting for us and it's time to go and bring him home to his forever family.

We have been very open during our journey and have loved sharing every step, however we have decided not to blog while we are in China.
I tried blogging on the iPad and it was REALLY slow and annoying and due to our already giant packing list, we won't be bringing a laptop with us. Add that to the unstable internet access we have heard about in China and the craziness of becoming new parents to a toddler in a foreign country while staying in hotels and we decided it's not worth it to try.

We also decided it's probably not wise or respectful to the folks helping us take care of our house and pets to advertise all over the interwebs exactly when we will be out of the country.

Just a heads up to any potential burglars out there, many people in our family own guns and know how to use them (or can at least hold one and look scary while doing it). 
And there's also the attack cat...

But, not to worry! We will document every aspect of our trip and post all about it after we get home.

So for now, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and interest in our adoption journey. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts while we travel. We can't wait to get home and overwhelm you with adorable pictures and stories from our trip!

Stuff's about to get real

.

We've known since we started this process that we would be spending two weeks in China to adopt our child. So you would think that it wouldn't have been shocking now that we actually have travel dates that we have to pack.
However, the realization that we have to pack for two weeks in a foreign country for ourselves plus a child that we haven't met is starting to sink in. We have only an educated guess about what size clothing or diapers he's wearing. We have no idea what he's eating or how he's eating. We have no idea what toys he might like or how many to bring. No idea what sort of medications we might need while we are there.
Oh yeah and this all has to be packed in two less than 44 pound suitcases and four carry ons that we will have to carry with us through six plane trips and a train ride....

So obviously we need a packing list. I'm a list kinda girl. Lists make me happy. The only thing that makes me happier is checking things off a list. Thankfully I didn't have to start a packing list from scratch as there are many adoption blogs that give people's packing lists for China and I'm a part of several adoptive parent Facebook groups that have been really helpful. The only minor issue is that Brian and I pack for trips very differently.

If I had my way, this is how we would pack for China:

Yes even the barrels. 

If Brian had his way, this is how we would pack for China:

Sure they look happy, until they get sick and then look to me for the giant bottle of Immodium that wouldn't fit in their teeny tiny suitcases

So we have some compromising to do! Let's hope we can get it together before we leave and I won't find myself trying to sneak two barrels through airport security while Brian pretends he doesn't know me.