Cucumbers
Beets
Red Pepper
Short and Sweet Carrots
Had some cherry tomatoes but M ate them so they aren't in the picture.
I try not to think about it but its going to be very hard to leave this little one behind.
Monday, July 13, 2009
24 hours + a little
In a little over 24 hours we will be headed to Beijing. Rounding up and taking care of the little odds and ends. Since we will be gone some time we decided to "tidy up" the garden. This is what we pulled out of it.
Cucumbers
Beets
Red Pepper
Short and Sweet Carrots
Had some cherry tomatoes but M ate them so they aren't in the picture.
I try not to think about it but its going to be very hard to leave this little one behind.
Cucumbers
Beets
Red Pepper
Short and Sweet Carrots
Had some cherry tomatoes but M ate them so they aren't in the picture.
I try not to think about it but its going to be very hard to leave this little one behind.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Yea Hoo! Updates!
I am so tickled and can't stop crying!!!! We received an email full of updated photo's and information about K.
Here is what we know:
Height: 27.2"
Weight: 17.6 lbs
Teeth: 4/2 (?)
Foot: 4.3"
She is eating formula with rice, rice and mashed meat, egg and noodles.
She is sleeping from 7 to 7 with an hour nap.
Her playmates are Chen Yun Yue, Chen Wen Yue, Chen Yu Heng
She is crawling and can walk a few steps.
She is an active and restless baby.
And.... here are the photos!
Here is what we know:
Height: 27.2"
Weight: 17.6 lbs
Teeth: 4/2 (?)
Foot: 4.3"
She is eating formula with rice, rice and mashed meat, egg and noodles.
She is sleeping from 7 to 7 with an hour nap.
Her playmates are Chen Yun Yue, Chen Wen Yue, Chen Yu Heng
She is crawling and can walk a few steps.
She is an active and restless baby.
And.... here are the photos!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Gotcha, not! FIMA, yes.
Within the adoption community the term "Gotcha" refers to the day when you finally get your child. Our Gotcha day is scheduled for 7/20.
I really don't like the term "Gotcha". It is what I usually say when I swat a mosquito. This makes it hard to translate the feeling into something joyous and beautiful.
I've imagined that "Gotcha" day often over the past 3+ years. Imagined the weight of her settling in my arms, the smell of her. Will she be crying or smiling? Will she be confused about the chaos that will be surrounding her and us.
In the end, she will be Finally In My Arms - FIMA day. It's not catchy, no one in the adoption community is familiar with it, but Gotcha it isn't.
Its FIMA for me.
I really don't like the term "Gotcha". It is what I usually say when I swat a mosquito. This makes it hard to translate the feeling into something joyous and beautiful.
I've imagined that "Gotcha" day often over the past 3+ years. Imagined the weight of her settling in my arms, the smell of her. Will she be crying or smiling? Will she be confused about the chaos that will be surrounding her and us.
In the end, she will be Finally In My Arms - FIMA day. It's not catchy, no one in the adoption community is familiar with it, but Gotcha it isn't.
Its FIMA for me.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Seven Days
In seven days we will be on our way to Beijing. I can not wait! We will be that much closer to seeing K and don't get me wrong I'm completely peeing in my pants in anticipation of us being together but also... it will be so sweet to plop my butt on a plane with absolutely nothing to do but watch the clouds go by. It has been a busy couple of weeks getting ready for this trip and I'm ready for it to be over. The gifts for officials, nannies, facilitators have been purchased. Just in case prescriptions for Captain, me and K have been ordered and filled. Clothing for 100+ temp and humidity days are being put aside. The pets will have someone here at the house looking after them and we are pulling together goodies for M to have while we are away.
Among all of this we've been able to spend some time with visiting family during the fourth of July week. Among the fun, water games, fireworks and of course, small town parade.
M and her cousins watching the floats go by..
Sidenote: On the side, go ahead look over to the right, near the top.. We wanted to have a weather bug so you can all follow along with the current weather we will be experiencing in China. Unfortunately we can not figure how to keep it on one location. Our weather bug loves NY and will default to show what you can expect if you are heading out to a Broadway show or Central Park. Until we figure this out, feel free to click on "edit" and type in Beijing, Changsha, Guangzhou or Hong Kong. Just remember you'll probably be seeing China night temps unless you are up at 1am, can't sleep and decided to check on us.
p.s. we don't live in NY.
Among all of this we've been able to spend some time with visiting family during the fourth of July week. Among the fun, water games, fireworks and of course, small town parade.
M and her cousins watching the floats go by..
Sidenote: On the side, go ahead look over to the right, near the top.. We wanted to have a weather bug so you can all follow along with the current weather we will be experiencing in China. Unfortunately we can not figure how to keep it on one location. Our weather bug loves NY and will default to show what you can expect if you are heading out to a Broadway show or Central Park. Until we figure this out, feel free to click on "edit" and type in Beijing, Changsha, Guangzhou or Hong Kong. Just remember you'll probably be seeing China night temps unless you are up at 1am, can't sleep and decided to check on us.
p.s. we don't live in NY.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Posting from email
We just found out a few days ago that we can post from an email. Here's our first time trying it out.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The week from hell
This past week sucked! We started hearing reports of travelers to China being quarantined due to swine flu. Then we read a Department of State notice that in some cases minors were being separated from parents and quarantined. Parents could not oversee what meds were being administered to their children. Before you leave the plane in Beijing your temperature will be taken. You must give the authorities notice of where you are staying. If anyone seated in the 3 rows in front or in back of you has a temperature then all those rows go into quarantine. They will track you down at your hotel. Once in quarantine you will be checked twice daily and have your throats swabbed. If any test comes back negative on someone then ONLY the negative person goes to the quarantine hospital leaving the rest still at the quarantine hotel. The American Embassy in Beijing can speak on your behalf to keep the family together but can not promise that this will be allowed. Bottom line, we decided after much thought that we couldn't chance taking M. This is heartbreaking. She has been studying China, she talks about going and what she wants to do and see and even more, she wants to be a part of welcoming her new sister to our family. She is such a sensitive little girl that I worry she will have feelings of left behind and not part of it all.....
A couple days after this news we got the word that our Adoption Agency was closing. At this point we were just awaiting word of our TA - travel approval from China needed for us to go get K. Our agency was basically a China Adoption only agency. Due to the Hague agreement and the time lengthening between submitting paperwork and receiving a referral, financially our agency couldn't stay afloat. They informed us that if we receive our TA before the end of June they would still handle our adoption trip but if it came after our files would be shipped off to another agency.
A day after this Captain (hubby) received word from his boss that his co-worker, who he has known and was friends with for years, was shot and killed. I never met Joe but Captain came home from work one day with a baby gift for K. When he had heard about our adoption he bought her a gift. I'm sorry I never met this sweet man and thanked him personally.
And finally, before Friday while running around getting last minute supplies for M's birthday party, we received our TA. We will be in China on July 15th or 16th, touring Beijing and heading to Changsha on July 19th. On the morning of July 20th we will be holding K in our arms for the first time. (K's one year birthday was on Friday also!) We stay in Changsha until July 25 when we fly to Guangzhou. Finish up paperwork there and fly back to the U.S. on July 31st.
Flu or no flu, we are coming!
A couple days after this news we got the word that our Adoption Agency was closing. At this point we were just awaiting word of our TA - travel approval from China needed for us to go get K. Our agency was basically a China Adoption only agency. Due to the Hague agreement and the time lengthening between submitting paperwork and receiving a referral, financially our agency couldn't stay afloat. They informed us that if we receive our TA before the end of June they would still handle our adoption trip but if it came after our files would be shipped off to another agency.
A day after this Captain (hubby) received word from his boss that his co-worker, who he has known and was friends with for years, was shot and killed. I never met Joe but Captain came home from work one day with a baby gift for K. When he had heard about our adoption he bought her a gift. I'm sorry I never met this sweet man and thanked him personally.
And finally, before Friday while running around getting last minute supplies for M's birthday party, we received our TA. We will be in China on July 15th or 16th, touring Beijing and heading to Changsha on July 19th. On the morning of July 20th we will be holding K in our arms for the first time. (K's one year birthday was on Friday also!) We stay in Changsha until July 25 when we fly to Guangzhou. Finish up paperwork there and fly back to the U.S. on July 31st.
Flu or no flu, we are coming!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
While we are waiting...
The big question is: When are you going to China? Answer: we are currently awaiting our TA (travel approval) and then our CA (consulate appt) and that's when we will know. Of course with WHO updating the flu to a pandemic level the real question is: Will China hold TA's until this is over? Your guess is as good as ours. But, while we are waiting.... Let's give an update on our gardening efforts. I can feel your anticipation!
We discovered Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew at our last Home and Garden Show and immediately thought Hey, this is something that even we could do! After all Mel promised it was easy and we wanted to extend ourselves beyond our every year tomato and basil bounty. Two crops guaranteed to make even the most inexperienced farmer (hey, that's us) feel proud.
So it started: Early April
We have planted 4 different kinds of lettuce, peas, broccoli, edamame, edible marigolds, cucumbers, brussel sprouts, carrots (two kinds), eggplant, spinach, beets, radishes, strawberries, green beans, peppers, and...... tomatoes.
That Mel! What a genius! So easy! If you'd like to know more about Square Foot Gardening check this out: www.squarefootgardening.com or go to YouTube and search on Mel Bartholomew!
Happy Gardening!
We discovered Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew at our last Home and Garden Show and immediately thought Hey, this is something that even we could do! After all Mel promised it was easy and we wanted to extend ourselves beyond our every year tomato and basil bounty. Two crops guaranteed to make even the most inexperienced farmer (hey, that's us) feel proud.
So it started: Early April
3 x 3 box to hold 9 sq ft sections
Three equal parts of compost/vermiculite/peat moss
Mix Well
Dirt in Boxes and add grids
Oh, and then plant stuff, you know, the stuff that's good for you... veggies
Wow, a few weeks later...
Is it ready yet?
A Radish !!!!
Three equal parts of compost/vermiculite/peat moss
Mix Well
Dirt in Boxes and add grids
Oh, and then plant stuff, you know, the stuff that's good for you... veggies
Wow, a few weeks later...
Is it ready yet?
A Radish !!!!
We have planted 4 different kinds of lettuce, peas, broccoli, edamame, edible marigolds, cucumbers, brussel sprouts, carrots (two kinds), eggplant, spinach, beets, radishes, strawberries, green beans, peppers, and...... tomatoes.
That Mel! What a genius! So easy! If you'd like to know more about Square Foot Gardening check this out: www.squarefootgardening.com or go to YouTube and search on Mel Bartholomew!
Happy Gardening!
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