Trying to get the boys in the Christmas spirit!!!

Ummmm....I don't think Bailey is too full of Christmas joy just yet. (ROFL)


Here he looks just plain disgusted (He actually looks like the dog on The Grinch). :)


Jack refused to look at the camera.


It's Rein-Bo


Either he ate more berries....or he's waiting for Santa

Emilia's Care Package

Emilia's care package is all packed and ready to leave for China tomorrow. I had so much fun putting this together, but when I was finished - and it really sunk in what I had just put together, I balled like a baby. This package is going to OUR child!!! Man, there I go again getting all teary eyed.

Here's a picture of the gifts we are sending our princess. The little orange thing on the bottom is a phone that I recorded: "We love you Ling Cha Ni" (in Chinese) and I taped a small picture of us where the sound comes out. :)

Gifts for the Orphanage Director, Nannies and/or Foster Parent(s)

Picture of the letter we sent to the Orphanage Director thanking her and the nannies and/or foster parents for caring for our child, and asking that the camera be used to take pictures of her, her living arrangements, and the people in her life.

I even wrote Emilia's name in Chinese!!! See - those Chinese classes did pay off (hee hee).

Sweet new ladybug ride, cool new slippers, & HOW am I going to pack that?!?!?

Isn't this just the cutest?!?!?! Doug, Amy, & Baby Chapin sent Emilia this precious little ladybug ride. I never saw one of these before - and I just love it!!!

John wanted to ride it - but I put my foot down on that one. ROFL!!! :)

I just HAD to have these!!! John says I look like a dork wearing them - but I think they're cool!! (And they are soooo comfortable)

I have been picking up stuff that we need to take to China for months, and yesterday I took everything out of their respective Walmart, Target, Kmart, Babies R Us, etc. bags....and my what a pile it all made. Now keep in mind, this is not everything, and there are no clothes here yet!!! I probably have things here that we don't necessarily need - but I'd rather have it and leave it when we get there, then get there and wish we had it. :)

I tend to be a slight overpacker, but I'm not as bad as my mother....yet. :)

Playing catch up

WOW!! The days since "THE CALL" have just flown by. I don't know if it's because I have so much I want/need to get done, but on one hand time is going fast....on the other hand though, it's not going fast enough because I want to get to China and get our girl!!!!

We have decided on Emilia's full name, and here it is: Emilia Dawn ChaNi (our last name here).



On previous posts I failed to translate her Chinese name, and it means:

Ling - a family surname; means clever, effective, quick

Cha - means tea (I love this because I drink tea every morning!!)

Ni - means feminine; a cute name for a little girl

Emily is going to be our Little Tea Girl!!! (is that too cute or what?!)

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Here are pictures from our dinner at Bo Ling's on 11/02/06 where the Grandparents and Aunt Angee got to see Emilia's picture for the first time.



The happy parents (prior to the unveiling)



Grandma H. seeing Emilia for the first time (Grandpa was taking the pics so we didn't get his reaction)



Grandma S. and Aunt Angee seeing Emilia for the first time



The happy parents (after the unveiling)

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ROAD TRIP

We were suppose to go to Wichita on Friday (11/3) to sign the adoption papers, but something got mixed up with Fedex, so we weren't able to go until Saturday (11/4). It was all good though, it was a beautiful day and we had an enjoyable trip.






Emilia went with us - and Daddy made sure she was buckeled in :)



We received this from Kim at our agency. She presented the Chinese takeout box to us, and inside it was the panda bear and an overly large fortune cookie. I opened the cookie and written on the ribbon was Emilia's information: name, DOB, where she is, etc. It was the best fortune cookie I've ever gotten in my life!!! :)



John (aka Daddy) signing the adoption acceptance letter



Dawn (aka Mommy) signing the adoption acceptance letter



The long ride home



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How do we disciple in our household??? HUMILIATION!!! ROFL (just the dogs - and just this once, but boy was it funny).

Two weekends ago I started putting out the Christmas decorations, and unfortunately we have a dog that likes/liked to destroy my pretties. Well, we came home the other day to find that Bo had decided to use my NEW wreath as a chew toy and eat/tear off the holly berries, and I had had enough. I told him that if he wanted it he could have it, but he was going to wear it. I put it around his neck and he looked so humiliated - John and I were laughing so hard, I just had to get a picture. I only left it on him long enough to get the picture, but you know what???? I haven't had any more problems with my decorations. LOL :)



He looks like he's auditioning for the Broadway play 'Lion King' :)

SO IN LOVE

I cannot stop looking at or thinking about this beautiful child!!! I want to be with her NOW!!!

Last night John and I went out for Chinese again (hey - we're still celebrating, LOL) and had a wonderful time. We went to Bo Ling's (the North location - where as on Thursday we had been at the Bo Ling's South location) and when our waiter Kevin brought us our check, I held out the keychain I'd made with Emily's pictures and said, "See our daughter?!" He grabbed that thing out of my hand and had the biggest grin on his face. Then another waiter (Devin) came over to see what was going on and he too broke out in a big grin and started firing away with the questions. Well...I pulled out the untranslated medical and personal info that I just happed to have with us (LOL) and they were more than excited to help us understand what it said.

Kevin and Devin confirmed some things we already knew, but told us many other things - and we are so greatful to them for that.

Confirmation and new info we learned:

1) Confirmation = Her name is Ling Cha Ni
2) Confirmation = She is in the Jiangxi Province, Shangrao SWI
3) Confirmation = DOB 12/25/05 (They loved this - "She Christmas Baby!!")
4) New = All health issues are marked normal on her medical report
5) New = The boo boo on her cheek is/was a mosquito bite
6) New = She was found 12/27/05 outside a building with a half bottle of milk
7) Confirmation = Her favorite toy is/was a doll

The guys were/are so excited for us - and made us promise to bring her in. Of course, we told them we would have absolutely no problem with that request seeing that it is our FAVORITE place. :)

I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by and left such wonderful comments and/or sent an email. They are appreciated and received by a heart that is overflowing with joy and love for a little girl so many miles away - but soon will be home with Mommy and Daddy!!

Happy 43 Brother!!!

Happy Birthday Doug!!! We hope you have a wonderful birthday (and don't forget to give Tony a kiss for Dawn - hee hee). (Doug is in Dallas for the NASCAR races this weekend just in case you were wondering how he'd get to give Tony a kiss. LOL)

Love you,
John, Dawn & Emilia :)

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD!!!!

It is with the utmost praise and thanksgiving that we introduce you to Ling Cha Ni (soon to be known as Emilia Dawn Ni - we think). :) We think she is the most beautiful girl in the world - and can't wait to get her in our arms!!!!

At the time of her last medical (7/18/06) she weighed 13.64 pounds, was 25 inches long, had no teeth at the time, and her birthdate is......CHRISTMAS DAY!!!! 12/25/05!!!!

She is in an orphanage in the Jiangxi Province (and months ago I told John that I had a feeling our girl would be from that province). Did I mention that we think she is the most beautiful girl in the world?!?!?!

In her picture - she appears to have a little boo boo on her cheek, and I think she needs her mommy there stat to give her all kinds of healing kisses. :)

WE ARE SOOOOOO IN LOVE!!!!

We celebrated with our families tonight eating Chinese (we missed you Doug, Amy & Chapin), and the grandparents, Aunt Angee, and cousin Anna went wild for her. The waiter and waitresses were excited for us too. They even translated some of her info for us (we don't have all the translated info on her just yet).

We're off to Wichita tomorrow (road trip) to pick up her file and sign papers. I can't remember if I mentioned that we love her so and think she is absolutely beautiful. :)

OH MY WORD - IT'S REALLY HAPPENING!!

Last night (or actually very early this morning) I had my first dream regarding LID's, but it wasn't a good one. I practically woke up in tears at 2:30 am because in my dream China only got through 8/13!!! UGGGG!!! I forced myself to stay in bed and not run to the computer - but you know what I did as soon as my alarm clock went off this morning?!?!? Yup, ran to the computer and was so overjoyed to see that CCAA had finally updated their site with the awesome news that in fact our date is included in the new batch of referrals that should be arriving at agencies today.

I GOT GOOSEBUMPS ON TOP OF GOOSEBUMPS!!!

The stork is flying!!! The stork is flying!!!

Word on the street is that referrals are on their way. I've had so many ups & downs the past 2 weeks I don't know whether to be happy, anxious, cautious, or just plain sick to my stomach!!!

I'm going to gorge myself with Mexican tonight -and pray that CCAA updates their site and gives us some good news!!!

BRING ON THE TACOS & CHEESE DIP!!! :)