On a sadder note, received an email yesterday that our adoption agency will be closing on March 1. Yes, that is two weeks away and our Article 5 is to be picked up next week. What does this mean for us? Well, we are being transferred to another agency and being reassured everything will be smooth sailing. I, on the other hand have been drowning my fears in chocolate. We have also been told this will set us back by several weeks. I'm glad the strongest thing I drink is Diet Mt. Dew.

As of Jan.21 we received our I-800 approval and received our NVC letter today (Jan 29). YEAH!! It usually takes about 2 weeks to pick up our Article 5, however with Chinese New Year on Feb 10, our Article 5 will be picked up on Feb 20. Next we wait for Travel Approval. Hoping that comes about 2 weeks later.

Yesterday we received our LOA (letter of acceptance) which is huge. We waited 62 very long days to get this piece of paper from China. One step closer..finally... Hopefully we shall have our TA (travel approval) within 8 weeks or so.

We woke up this morning to the cutest picture and thought we would share....We haven't received our LID yet. Hopefully these next steps will not be too painfully long. Aubrey Grace was enjoying a fun outside activity when our friend visited. How precious is this smile.

Since my last post we have gotten a lot accomplished. With a lot of stress and hair pulling but accomplished. We finished up our home study, got it approved and authenticated, sent off our I-800a, got fingerprinted and waited for approval.....which came and we got that authenticated. Now all documents have been sent to our agency and we wait to DTC (dossier to China) for everyone not in the adoption business. YEAH!!

Comparing photos of our girl with our bio son at the same age: too fun

 As we wait for our home study to come back (which it should any day now) so we can send off our I-800a. We have been so blessed to be connected with a couple who lives in Baotou and is working at the SWI where our baby girl is. This morning we woke up to the best email ever. Pictures and a letter which told us how shy she is and doesn't like loud voices and how much she likes snacks (all kinds). Man will she fit into this family, so does her daddy and brother.