One Month From Today...

...we'll be on our way to get Kacee - or at least mom will. We're still waiting for TA, but our agency assured us it will be here soon, and we'll have no problem leaving as scheduled.

Here's our last group photo without Kacee (I hope).

UPDATE on Kacee

We woke up this morning to see an update on Kacee along with 4 new pictures. This was totally unexpected as this came from our agency without us even asking for it. The update said she is 32 inches tall and weighs 24 pounds. She has 8 top and 8 bottom teeth.

She is growing so big. As you can see from the photos, they even have her hair in a pony tail on top of her head.

This is the traditional dress of the Miao ethnic group where Kacee lives.

In this photo, she is wearing the pink polka dot jacket we sent to her in December.

47 Days Until China

We sent a care package to Kacee yesterday. When we last communicated with the orphanage, they requested we send a doll and a toy cell phone. So we decided to go ahead and send a package ourselves.

Article 5

Our article 5 will be picked up from the Consulate in Guangzhou, China tomorrow, May 13.  Since China is 13 hours ahead of us, it is already Thursday morning there.  It will then be express mailed to the CCAA for Friday delivery.  Once there, the CCAA will look over everything and issue Travel Approval within 2-4 weeks.

Busy, Busy, Busy

We went to our great, great, grandfather's 100th Birthday party.

We went to Keaton's last football game. The church had an inflatable slide for the kids to play on.

We met our China mom adoption group, and the kids played in the fountains.

Kylie celebrated her birthday with her friends. They had a sleep-over and stayed up until 5:15 a.m.

Some pictures from Saturday at the park.

65 Days!!!

Guess what happens in 65 days!!!

The plane tickets have been purchased, Angela has agreed to act as our guide in Beijing, and we are making lists like crazy.  There is so much to do before Kacee comes home.

In The Heights!

For the first time in my life, I actually won something on the radio :) I submitted a piece of writing to the local radio station I listen to, 104.1 KRBE, and they picked my writing as the best, and I actually won!! I won four tickets to In The Heights on Tour. It was a great Broadway show, it won four Tony Awards in 2008, and it was amazing! I took my two frieds, Christa and Mary Anna, and my dad. It was the first, but hopefully not the last, Broadway show I have been to and it was so great. I loved it :)

Park Day

Today we had a fun day at the park. Enjoy some pictures of our day.

We're Halfway There :)

Today we received email notification that our paper work has been cabled to The American Consulate in Guangzhou, China.  (See email copy below.)  This means that half of the steps have been completed so we can receive travel approval (TA). The Consulate will take about 2 weeks to process their part.  Then everything is over nighted to the CCAA for the TA to be issued.  Right now the CCAA is taking about 3-4 weeks to issue TA.  We could probably travel the first or second week of June, but we are trying to use frequent flyer miles, so we will probably travel on July 1.

Email Copy from the National Visa Center:

Dear Sir/Madam:

Your inquiry has been received at the National Visa Center (NVC). The
NVC has scanned and uploaded the petition and has forwarded the petition
to the assigned US Embassy/Consulate General for further processing on
APRIL 16, 2010.

The NVC will resend a duplicate copy of the approval letter via email
and by US mail. Please allow at least 10-15 business days for the packet
to arrive by US mail.

Any further inquiries should be directed to the assigned US Embassy or
Consulate General.

Case Number:                  GUZXXXXXXXXXX
Beneficiary's Name:          FU,MIN WEI                             
Preference Category:          IH3
Your Priority Date:          25Mar2010
Foreign State Chargeability:  CHINA - MAINLAND
U.S. Embassy/Consulate:      CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES,
VISA UNIT
                              1 SHAMIAN STREET SOUTH
                              GUANGZHOU 510133
                              PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Sincerely,
XXXXX
National Visa Center
Written Inquiry Unit
Serco Inc., Support Contractor
NVCInquiry@state.gov

You've Got Mail (Finally)

Today we received Kacee's birthday pictures in an email. We got 14 new photos showing her having a fun time celebrating with her friends.