September 8th

While we were hoping for much more we did move 14 days. Congratulations to all those who will be seeing their babies for the first time this week! For those of us still waiting, hang in there! The only thing that scares me is at this rate we will have to update our papers again next November.

Eight down, how many more to go??????

While I am excited to have eight months behind me I am sad to think about what it means. I know I have told you this before but here I go again! When we started this process we were looking at a six month wait and now, well, who knows!!! I am still happy to have eight months behind us. As I write this we are all anticipating the next batch of referrals. When are they going to be here? When is the cut off date? Why can't the CCAA move faster?? Oh well, I guess all I can do is wait with everyone else.

I also want to give an update on my sisters birthday. I was trying to be nice by not giving her age but she decided to post that she is 38 anyway! Well guess what?! She lost a year! She is actually only 37! Hey DeeAnna, it's one more reason to celebrate!

Happy Birthday Sis!

Happy Birthday DeeAnna!

November 29th

Just wanted to send you a big birthday hug! I hope you have a wonderful day. Don't worry, you don't look a day over *% (HA,HA)!

For those of you who don't know this is one of my big sisters, or should I say OLDER SISTERS!! This picture is DeeAnna with her girls Charlee and Courtney.

Enjoy your day and don't work too hard (just don't tell Mom I said that!)

More Feb Secret Pal Goodies!

Sorry it took me so long to post about my wonderful goodies from my Feb secret pal but it has been one busy weekend. We got home last Wednesday and saw that our good postman had left a package on the front door (I was thinking that I better get him a gift for Christmas with all these packages he has been bringing to my door!). Of course, I ran for the camera and Mike helped open the box. My pal did it again! She send such wonderful gifts. First we got the cutest photo album. The front says Baby Girl, which just made me melt. I can't wait to get to China and snap some photos to put in it! Then we got a babysitter pad that goes on the fridge. I love it! I know one day we will use it but right now I can't think of ever leaving our little Emma! It did make me think of who we would let watch our princess. We may need some more background check papers (hey, they checked me out!). Next WE got POPCORN! As I type this I am snacking on it, YUMMY!! Last but not least, Emma got the cutest matching hat and gloves (my favorite!) I can't wait to bundle up my doll and see her in these. Sorry, Mike wouldn't model it for the picture so Jack had to pose for his little sister.
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I just really want to thank our wonderful pal for all the gifts she has sent. We have loved everything and can't wait until next month to find out who you are! You will always have a special place in our hearts!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

(The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is my favorite!)

We are off to cook for Thanksgiving dinner so I will post more later. Today we will be going to Mike's aunt's house to celebrate and tomorrow we will be celebrating the holiday with my family. Two days of wonderful family, fun and FOOD!! Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will be posting very soon to tell you about the wonderful gift I got from my Feb. secret pal last night, our Thanksgiving dinner, and our big shopping trip on Friday morning. Is anyone else getting up early to fight the madness?!! Until then....

Well, maybe one more!

I have started Emma's shoe collection. Yes, she now has 4 pair. Once again I found them all on clearance. I paid between $2.50 and $5.00 for each pair. She will probably end up like her mother and like to go without shoes. Hope you are enjoying seeing a few of the things in Emma's closet.

One more find

Mike and I went to the Glendale Day's a few weeks back and Mike saw this beautiful plaque. We decided to buy it to put above Emma's closet. It makes me dream of all those nights ahead of us when we tuck Emma in at night and can give her those sweet little kisses.

Look what I found!

While out shopping I went in a store called Everything 4 Kids. I had ran across this store one day while I was out finding material to send to all of my quilting pals. I had decided to go in and fell in love with the store. It is half consignment and half new products. This is the same place I found Emma's bed. Anyway, I had to check out the dresses on clearance and I found these two (brand new) beautiful dresses. I saw the prices and well the rest is history. The one on the left was $10 and the one of the right was $8! Now I have to tell you that I had promised myself I wouldn't buy too many things for Emma but how could I pass up these deals? The original prices were $60 and $54! Can I shop or what?!! I think I posted a picture of Emma closet awhile back but I promise everything inside was bought on clearance!

Good Deals

While shopping at Target (my favorite store) I ran across these frames and fell in love with them. I can't wait to take some black and white photos of Emma and put in them. I love the Dream and Imagine at the bottom of the frames. The deal... They were originally $14.99 and I got them for $3.49! You gotta love the clearance section!

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

This is how we are feeling these days!

The paperwork is here

Well, it came today. I need to call AHSS to confirm what all I need to update but it appears that I have to do the following:
1. Sign all the agency forms
2. Update our aotobiographies
3. Have all 5 of our references send another letter stating they still support our adoption
4. Resubmit a guardianship form
5. Need another copy of our INS paper
6. New copies of all of our investment accounts
7. New statement from our physicians
8. Criminal background checks
Oh, and don't forget the $250 to do the updates and also a new home visit! I guess I better get started as we only have 25 days to get it done. No big deal except we have lots to do with the upcoming holidays.

Starting over!

I'm trying to keep a smile on my face these days. It's not always easy! I got a letter on Friday that our home study will be expiring on 12/12. You know what that means? You got it, more paperwork (yuck!). I contacted AHSS on Monday and they are sending me out the required paperwork to update our home study. I am not sure what all I have to redo but I hope the papers get here soon so I can get everything done by Dec. 12th. I guess I will be calling Amber AGAIN. Poor thing, she has seen so much of us. Hopefully this will be the last trip she has to make out to our house before we bring Emma home. If the papers come tomorrow I will let you know what I have to do.

Our little star!

Our little star! Friday night was opening night for Gage's first high school play. Now I know he looks a little young to be in a high school play but sometimes he just gets ahead of himself! Gage did a fantastic job singing in the production. Michael and I were so excited to see him perform on opening night. You could tell he was a pro as he even refrained from waving to us. Way to go Gage, next stop Broadway!!!

Emma's Feb Secret Pal Gifts!

When we got home on Friday night we were so excited to see a box sitting on the front porch. It was dark so we didn't notice it until we took Jack out. Well, let me tell you, Jack must have know there was something in it for him because he wouldn't leave the box. As you can see from the pictures he was right as there was a big bag of goodies just for him. He has been working on it all weekend. Jack wants to send a big thank you to his secret pal! Emma was extremely spoiled as always. She got the cutest little ladybug bear (of course Jack thought this was for him also). Next she got the cutest dress up tutu and hair band. I can just see her now dancing around the house in it (I can't wait!). She also got her very first CD. It is a CD of Chinese lullabies. I have already had it out and listened to it. I know Emma will love this as it is so soothing. We also got the cutest note pad with a nurse on it with a themometer behind her ear and it reads "Now where did I put my pen?" (how cute!) and the best smelling travel candle for us to take to China. If that isn't enough, did you see our cute card made by our secret pal. We love everything. Thank you so much secret pal for spoiling us rotten. We can't wait to know who you are!! Maybe one day our girls can dance around together in their dress up gear!! Once again you have gone overboard!!

Gifts from the girls

Just wanted to show some pictures of the cute gifts Emma got from Lisa and Melissa.

Thanks girls, we can't wait for Emma to get here and let her play with the toys and wear these cute outfits!

GAGE IS EIGHT!

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY GAGE!

I can't believe that today Gage is turning eight. It seems like just yesteday that I got that call saying Tommi was in labor. He is growing up too fast! Tomorrow night he will be making

his debut in his first play (it's a high school play!). Good luck Gage, we can't wait to see you on stage. Hope you have a wonderful birthday, we love you!

Happy Birthday Mom Kramer

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM KRAMER

(No I didn't forget her birthday, I just forgot to post!)

Sorry this birthday wish is a little late but know that you are in our thoughts

and we love you bunches! BTW, the birthday was the 6th!

What a weekend!

It sure seems like the weekend went by so quickly. It all started Friday night with a trip to Bardstown to watch Holy Cross take on Bethlehem. It was so cold at the game that you couldn't feel your feet. The boys played hard but lost their game. I just wanted to let Chase know how proud I am of him and I'm already looking forward to bringing Emma to watch him next year! It was a short night sleep as we got up at 4am to catch our 6am flight to Chicago. We got into Chicago at 6am their time and took the train into downtown. We got to the hotel, dropped our luggage and headed to meet Lisa and Jeff and Melissa and Darren. Of course we were able to pick Darren our right away. We got introduced and then Lisa and Jeff showed up. Now I guess I should back track. After we dropped the luggage we stopped at Starbucks (we're addicted) and I got a call from Lisa saying she was close and she was a little late. What Lisa didn't realize was that she was on the wrong time, it was only 8:30 in Chicago. Fast forward! We decided to eat breakfast at the hotel and get to know one another. We then headed over to Chinatown, where else! It's the first place us girls thought about going. We enjoyed checking out the stores and decided what not to eat in China. Jeff and Darren did a little shopping. It was then back across town so I could introduce the gang to Garretts Popcorn, (if you haven't tried it you are missing out) and then back to the hotel to clean up. We then headed for a stroll down Michigan Ave and to eat Giodornios Pizza. After dinner I needed to make a stop at the Apple store and guess what?! They had internet access! We had to check out our favorite blogs and the new referrals. I know, I can't go a day without it. I do want everyone to know that Melissa did take a sneak peak at Rumor Queen (we made her!) We spent the rest of the night hanging out talking and sharing gifts for our girls. Lisa got us the cutest matching outfits from Gap and the sweetest ladybug card. Melissa also got us a cute outfit along the cutest dolls. I promise I will take some pictures to show you. We met again in the morning for breakfast. At the next table sat the cutest little China doll. Melissa got the scoop and she had been adopted in January. How funny it was to see all six of us staring at this precious little girl. It was time to get ready to head back home so we said our farewells. I just wanted to let Lisa and Melissa know how much I enjoyed getting to spend time with them and know them better. Oh, BTW Melissa, Lisa's not the only one who figured out the slide show! More later, gotta get to bed.

We're back from Chicago!

Create Your Own!

OFF TO CHICAGO!

WE ARE OFF TO CHICAGO IN THE A.M. TO MEET LISA AND MELISSA. I CAN'T WAIT TO FINALLY MEET! I'LL FILL YOU IN WHEN WE GET BACK. UNTIL THEN.....

Better and better!

The day just got better and better. When I woke up this morning the first thing I did was go check the CCAA site and was very shocked to see the wonderful news. Then I got to see some of the beautiful babies that the stork has brought. I came home to find out that our agency got 10 precious dolls and also that our special needs list will be out tomorrow. To top it off I had a package waiting in the mailbox. It was from my wonderful March secret pal. I was so excited to see that she had changed things up and made it a Halloween theme. First I saw the orange pumpkin toy. On the top of it, it says "my first Halloween". It made my heart melt! Then I opened the package that had the cutest Halloween book and check out how cut the bib is!! Everytime I go shopping I keep looking at the Halloween bibs but I refrained from buying one. You sure know me secret pal, do you have someone watching me??? I also got a wonderful card that I always treasure and a Home Sweet Home Yankee candle. It smells so good! Thank you so much secret pal, you sure know how to put the smile on our faces.

FLY STORK FLY

THE STORK SHOULD BE ARRIVING THIS MORNING SO IF ANYONE SEE'S HIM TELL HIM TO HURRY. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE NEW BABIES!

Huge News!

I AWOKE THIS MORNING TO WONDERFUL NEWS. NOT ONLY DID THEY INCLUDE 8/24 BUT THEY GOT TO 8/25!

THIS WAS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. I HOPE THIS IS A GOOD SIGN

FOR THE MONTHS TO COME!

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT WILL BE

FINDING OUT ABOUT THEIR PRECIOUS CHILDREN!

THANK YOU CCAA!