Travel Update!

Exciting news! We received quite the surprise today....Our Consulate Appointment is set for November 2nd...which means that we will be traveling to China earlier than originally anticipated. We leave for Beijing no later than 10/20....fly to Zhengzhou (capital city of Henan) on 10/24...probably receive Maya on 10/25....move on to Guangzhou sometime before 11/1 for our consulate appointment on 11/2...we can depart China for home on 11/3 (late in the evening) or 11/4.

Yay! Yay! Yay!

16 days in China....and bringing home the best souvenir EVER!!!!

My walkin and talkin baby girl.....

Got new pictures today! Click on the picture for a bigger view!


















The pictures were taken around September 1st. They sent some updated information but seem to have made a mistake about her current height and weight. They are saying she's 19 lbs...which is what she weighed at 10 months. My agency has a question in to the orphanage about that. However..they did say that she is sitting up, standing AND walking! Apparently she babbles too....(just like here momma!)

I don't know about all that...all I see is a whole bunch of CUTENESS going on!

Travel Approval......check!

Today, my group received our travel approvals. This was the next big step in the adoption journey. A travel approval comes when China has processed all of the referral acceptance letters from the adoptive parents and give us the thumbs up to come get our babies! My agency now (happened today) requests a US Consulate Appointment with the office in Guangzhou, China. They have requested an appointment for November 6th. Once that date is approved, we can begin to build the itinerary by working backwards from that date for travel to Maya's orphanage.

A tentative (made up by me) itinerary looks something like this.

Oct 25-26: Leave the US for China
Oct 26: Arrive in Beijing (tour for 2 days)
Oct 28: Fly from Beijing to Zhenghou (capital city of Henan)
--- spend an agonizing day or two in Henan waiting to get Maya ---
Oct 28 - Nov 3: Hangin' in Henan - GET MAYA - Hang out some more
Nov 4: Fly to Guangzhou - stay at the White Swan with a gazillion other adoptive parents
Nov 6: Consulate Appointment
Nov 8-9: Come home!!!!!

So......there you have it. All subject to change..but should be close to the above.

Hang on Maya...I'm coming!!!!