Chasing Kayla

A year in review

2010-08-12T13:04:00.002-04:00

A year in review is what I had planned for my final post to Chasing Kayla. However, time has gotten away from me and as I sit typing in the Atlanta airport...I'll just get to the point. Come see us here for the latest.....www.FamilyBecause.blogspot.comOne day I will do Kayla's year in review, right now, life's to busy to look back.

Seriously...how does that happen?

2009-07-17T10:36:00.016-04:00

A whole month has gone by already? Kayla is talking up a storm. She's starting to be able to tell me what she did in school everyday. Well, it's actually still a bit of a guessing game. Like when she way saying "played in the plinkers...plinkers, Mommy. Got wet. Plinkers!" That was splash day in the sprinklers..duh, I'm the one that packed her swimsuit that morning.Here's a picture from the 4th

So much for Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.

2009-06-04T16:49:00.011-04:00

Let's just start back up as if I never left off. Kayla's now pushing the ripe old age of 2.5 yrs. She can still throw down a serious tantrum when she hears the word "No", but at least now she understands that a two minute time out will follow. Of course, getting to the two minutes may still take up to 20 minutes (any Super Nanny fans out there?).Kayla is chatting up a storm these days. Sometimes

Boo! Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T15:38:00.002-04:00

Kayla's first Halloween was low key and fun. Kayla walked with her Daddy over to a couple of the neighbors to get a lollipop and she was set for the night. Or, I should say very wound up for the night. We sat out in front of the house to pass out candy. Kayla "helped"...okay, she really didn't understand the concept of giving away "her" candy. One time she actually started running after the

Daddy's Princess

2008-10-30T13:54:00.004-04:00

I wish I could bottle up the happiness from days like this and take sips of it years from now like an old vintage wine. Instead, I'll finally post a little again. Kayla is 22 months old and has been at her forever home just short of a year. It feels like we've always been parents and yet still have no clue. Currently we're battling a biting issue (again...sigh) and have made it through two phases

What do I do on Friday's?

2008-08-21T22:15:00.007-04:00

I thought going to a reduced schedule in the summer would give me plenty of time to catch up on my scrapbooking and blogging while Kayla naps. Turns out my little girl keeps me completely occupied and when she sleeps...I'm busy cleaning up from our previous fun (as seen above).These days Kayla is all about doing things for herself. She's trying hard to repeat everything she hears...uh, if she

Easter in June

2008-06-05T23:44:00.005-04:00

Well, at least half of my Easter collage is complete so I'm showing it in June anyway. This scrapbooking stuff is addictive.It's been a little over six months now since Kayla's been home. Sometimes it still feels like yesterday and sometimes it's hard to remember life before she was here. Kayla's running around and babbling away in her own little baby language. I joke that sometimes when she's

Test Run for new software....& cute pics

2008-05-05T23:05:00.003-04:00

Here's proof that we're still very much alive and kicking (ignore the watermarks, I'm testing out LumaPix:FotoFusion before I buy it...so far very cool!). The weekend tax season ended we took a family outing to The World Famous Oasis for breakfast and a walk on the beach. Kayla was having a blast until the icy water touched her feet...yeah, I really shouldn't have called her over there. I tried

Year of the Rat

2008-03-08T20:13:00.003-05:00

The local FCC put on a great event at the Sawgrass Marriott. Kayla was adorable in her purple chinese silks and pigtails. The food was great and it was so nice to see all of our friends and their families. How different and wonderful it felt to be there with our baby this year! My heart goes out to the waiting familes (the wait is now upwards of 27 months from paperwork to referral). Kayla

My Little Valentine

2008-02-14T22:14:00.001-05:00

While I lay sick...

2008-02-12T11:51:00.000-05:00

Kayla showed her Daddy a most wonderful thing (I'm a little jealous that she showed him first, but at least he caught it on video). Later in the night she showed me too. I'm actually sitting at my computer for the first time in a few days, which means I'm on the mend from the nasty stomach flu that seriously kicked my rear. Which also means I should be dialing into the office and doing some

My adorable Kayla...

2008-01-31T11:47:00.001-05:00

Ever noticed how people roll their eyes when you start out a story this way? You can tell they're trying to figure out a way to get out of listening to stories about your wonderful kids, dogs, spouse, etc. but you've got them cornered and they must at least feign interest for a minute while they plot their escape. So while I've got you cornered...Yesterday, I stayed at work for a marketing

Lucky Mama

2008-01-15T21:17:00.000-05:00

I really couldn't ask for more. Well, maybe I just shouldn't ask for more...I'm back at my "outside" job this week. All the mommies in the office tell me it will get easier, or at least less hard. I miss Kayla. How about one small favor from Father Time--please make the evening hours feel like they last longer than the daily grind hours. Who's with me?These days Kayla:Has three teeth, 2 bottom

Picture from 1st Birthday!

2008-01-03T20:42:00.004-05:00

Back in January, we had a small gathering for New Year's Day at Kayla's Great Grandma Mac's house. Since the family was all gathered, we stuck hats on everyone, handed out noise makers, and let Kayla dig into a cupcake. She didn't care for the hat, wanted to eat the candle, and cried when we didn't get the icing off her hands fast enough. Thank goodness the party was short and sweet. Happy

Holiday Cheer

2007-12-27T22:05:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas Bloggy Friends! A few pics from vacation.Miss Kayla in her first set of pigtails. Can you believe she left them in all day?!?Here are a few of my favorite shots from Christmas, Christmas Eve, and Great Grandma Lorena's 92nd Birthday.Getting cousins Kayla, Logan, and Bryce to pose together was no easy task.For anyone wondering how the 5 hour drive went in the carseat...we found the

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-13T20:44:00.001-05:00

Kayla's 1st Christmas PortraitsAnd Daddy's so proud of Kayla's performance he's threatened to make us do this every yearThe calendar says we've been home from China almost a month now and have been a family for over 6 weeks--someone must have made a mistake. It's amazing how life speeds by when times are good. I'm soaking up the holiday season and trying to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of

Confessions from the sleep deprived...

2007-12-04T11:56:00.000-05:00

Okay, if you wondering where all the posts have gone...they're only in my dreams. That is if I was able to catch a wink long enough to have a dream. Until LAST NIGHT!!! Before I confess, let me preface this with I do not believe in the Cry-It-Out method for the newly adopted, but I have become a fan of defining what CRY really means. After 2 1/2 weeks of (can you believe we've been home that long

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T12:12:00.000-05:00

I'm so THANKFUL we are home with Kayla and having our first Thanksgiving together.P.S.-- Great ideas on the carseat. Yesterday, I was a Cheerio dispensing machine while Bobby drove us to Babies-r-Us to blow some cash. Kayla also seems partial to the music of Randy Travis and Clint Black. LOL.

Sleepless and Happy in Jax

2007-11-19T14:57:00.000-05:00

You've probably guessed by now, we're home safe and sound. The 30 hours of travel (flights and layovers) was fairly brutal, especially considering me and Bobby were up the entire night before leaving with Kayla who up to that point was doing pretty good at sleeping through the night. Thankfully, my parents helped entertain her during the flights so we could catch some sleep. None of us are quite

Guangzhou...

2007-11-11T02:28:00.000-05:00

We arrived here yesterday early afternoon. The plane ride was short, but not the easiest trip for Kayla. As we expected would happen, she's cutting her first tooth. Not the happiest baby on the block, but she's trying to put on a brave face. Right now she's very much a mama's girl. This is not so easy on Bobby since it's just come about all of the sudden. Of course, I'm sure this is a phase and

All about Kayla

2007-11-08T00:56:00.000-05:00

I could tell you about Nanning. How green and lush it is here this time of year with temperatures close to that in Florida. But instead, I'll just show you an adorable smile that makes my heart sing....We're learning more about Kayla everyday.She does not like a diaper change and will gator roll at the first chance.She LOVES mashed potatoes (yes, we've already eaten at KFC).Sha could stare at

Hmmm...Not here to see the Great Wall, are you?

2007-11-06T01:40:00.001-05:00

It's been a crazy couple of days. Sunday we went to an international Christian church service that only foreigners are allowed to attend (although our guide said she attends another Christian service for Chinese). We climbed the Great Wall and I have pictures and sore legs to prove it. And, we say an awesome acrobatic show. Of course I was exhausted and since we flew to Nanning at 5:30am on

First day of touring in Beijing

2007-11-03T20:58:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a whirlwind of touring and shopping. We saw Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, the Pearl factory, and the Silk Factory. I think they kept us moving to try and help get us on the time zone. I still zonked out at 8pm anyway.Here are some snapshots from the square. The square is the largest downtown square in the world and a center of political activity in China. In a building on one

We're In China!

2007-11-02T20:06:00.000-04:00

We made it safely here last night about 2:30 am (Florida time)after starting out on our trek 7am on Thursday. We were beat to say the least. Overall the flights were smooth. My Jiffy-On-The-Go peanut butter became a casualty of a security checkpoint first thing (guess I should have read the what not to carry on lists a little more carefully). Otherwise, our luggage made it intact. We felt

I'm testing e-mailing a post

2007-10-31T07:33:00.000-04:00

Not sure how well this will work….but here goes.When we’re in China, family and friends (in real life) who can’t get enough pictures and videos of our joyous adventure from the blog can log on to my hubby’s website here http://www.chasingkayla.com/ E-mail me at shannon.elaine2@yahoo.com (note this is not my usual e-mail) for the user

A Tired but True Analogy

2007-10-29T23:29:00.000-04:00

Excited, "How are you feeling"?!?!?! questions are on the tip of everyone's tongue who have been sharing in our journey.The closest I can come to a description...here's the tired analogy... is that I'm on the upward click...click...click of my first ever roller coaster. I've heard their fun and I'll be glad I graduated to the BIG rides (aka grown up). Click..click...click... I really just wish

6 days and a wake up!!!

2007-10-25T22:30:00.000-04:00

I've barely had time to think over the last few days, much less post. The excitement is in the air. We've had TWO fabulous baby showers given by some of the most excellent friends and family a gal could ask for. We received soooo many wonderful toys, outfits, baby care items, buttpaste, and smell good soaps that I can't imagine using it all before she's eighteen. No, seriously. I'm still putting

Care package sent...

2007-10-17T23:01:00.000-04:00

It's a little late, but I didn't realize sending a care package was an option until a fellow AP posted on the Cangwu Yahoo group. I used Blessed Kids to send the package with a panda bear for Kayla, a camera, and candies for the staff. I also added the letter and short list of questions.There's no guarantee that anyone will fill this out or even take the pictures. But, it's a small amount of

Three Weeks to Go!!!!

2007-10-10T23:58:00.000-04:00

I know...I really should be doing something productive other than making a floating- Kayla-head picture. I will regret my procrastination later. I always do.

What's happening?

2007-10-09T21:12:00.000-04:00

Kayla turned 9 mos old last week. Time flies. Three weeks to go. Time goes so slow. This evening I've been hanging up a huge bag of the cutest baby clothes ever (Thanks Sue!). And, Bobby is getting tired of me running to him with every other outfit...saying, lookie! it's soooo cute! But he might as well get used to it because it ain't gonna stop anytime soon. The infamous packing list that I've

Ta! Da! The Nursery's debut performance...

2007-10-01T19:27:00.000-04:00

Still a little messy and yet probably the neatest it will ever be. Just 31 days to go!

It's official!!! We're making plans to leave.

2007-09-26T10:59:00.000-04:00

We're leaving as a Couple in November and returning as Family.

Travel Approval Received!!!!

2007-09-21T22:33:00.000-04:00

All I can say is that seemed really fast! I have to hand it to our agency for getting the paperwork turned around really quickly. Still tenatively planning on the last week of October.

Pinch me...or am I dreaming?

2007-09-19T21:28:00.000-04:00

We've been given a three week window of possibilities to travel with a likely date of the last week of October. That's sooner than we expected...Yes! Finally something is going faster instead of slower. Uh, yeah...this IS really happening...Ouch! You can stop pinching me now. Maybe we'll have Kayla for her first Halloween!

What I've been up to since last Tuesday...

2007-09-11T21:39:00.000-04:00

SHOPPING!!! Actually, I've been hitting up Moms and Grandmas that have babies Kayla's age for tons of info about what I need to buy. The sizes had me a little confused, but we're just going with it. My SIL wrote out a great get-started-shopping guide. A co-worker sent me a list of cool websites to sign up for freebies and info e-mails. And, I've set a date with my friend, who's a mommy to two

At long last....

2007-09-05T10:39:00.000-04:00

Introducing: Kayla MeiQiao

Baby Kayla...Now we know who you are

2007-09-04T14:58:00.000-04:00

I'm thrilled to announce we have been matched to a healthy little 8 month old baby girl named MeiQiao in GuangXia (southern China) at the Changwu SWI (not sure I caught the right spelling on that). As of July, she weighed 16 lbs. and is 26.7 inches long. Our agency rep described her picture as "spiky hair and chubby cheeks". We'll get the picture and paperwork tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for

We're IN this batch!!!!! Oh happy day!!!!

2007-09-03T08:09:00.000-04:00

We should get a call in the next few days!!!! Woohooo!!!

Maybe next week

2007-08-30T21:55:00.001-04:00

Hanging in there...barely

2007-08-28T22:13:00.001-04:00

A fellow November LID posted this on RQ forum and I thought it fits my attitude to a tee right now. Here's to hoping tomorrow brings good, exciting rumors that come true. Now off to bed I go. Zzzzzzzzz.

Quickie only....

2007-08-27T15:26:00.000-04:00

Rumors still pointing to getting at least to the 24th (that's us! hope they get further for everyone's sake).....and possibly this week...but maybe next....still that's POSSIBLY THIS WEEK!!!!!Okay...I'm going back to bury myself in my job now. Wake me up when I have a kid.PS- Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers from Friday. Your support means the world to us!

All aboard the rumor train!!!

2007-08-18T09:25:00.000-04:00

First Rumors have hit on China Adopt Talk....if you don't want to hear it, stop reading now. The rumor is the cutoff will be Nov. 24th (our LID). This is nerve racking considering the first rumors are usually the too-good-to-be-true pie-in-the-sky kind of rumors. I'm just going to try and focus on the fact if we're not this month, we're definitely the next. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ewwwww!!!!! Gross...

2007-08-14T21:39:00.000-04:00

This is totally off topic...but I was just surfing around on Google because I had "redneck sushi" stuck in my head. More accurately I was curious if there was such a thing and it turns out there is. (That's pork and okra wrapped in rice and collards if you're curious too. Sounds yummy.)Then I managed to work myself over to YouTube through a series of links and procrastination from reconciling my

What's up doc?

2007-08-04T14:37:00.000-04:00

We're up NEXT Baby!!!!At least, most likely, probably, hopefully and all those disclaimers. Keep your fingers crossed that we'll hear something by mid-September. Families logged in through 11-21-2005 were matched last week. Woohoo!!!

Guilty until Proven a Parent

2007-08-01T19:40:00.000-04:00

The following dry script is based on recent encounters with the helthcare system by two different families from our local FCC chapter.Setting: Local children's hospital. Situation: Child needs minor surgery/procedure and parent is filling out typical office formsMedical worker: (Looks at the Asian child and looks at the White parent). Is she adopted?Parent: Yes. Six months ago.Medical worker:

Hold on tight

2007-07-18T17:40:00.000-04:00

It's that time of month again. The referral cut-off rumors should be starting any day now. I don't expect we'll be in this batch...but I'm up for a surprise!

My state of mind these days...

2007-07-10T21:40:00.000-04:00

What else can I say? I'm somewhere between excited and exhausted, but hanging in there. The July referrals went through November 14, 2005 LIDs....I'll remind you once more that we are NOVEMBER 24TH, 2005!!!!! I fully expect a September referral at this point and will be nothing but shocked if we get one sooner and sorely disappointed if we have to wait any longer than that.

Take a test to pass the time...

2007-07-03T21:51:00.000-04:00

Here are my results.You Are 44% CynicalYes, you are cynical, but more than anything, you're a realist.You see what's messed up in the world, but you also take time to remember what's right.How Cynical Are You?I have to wonder if these results would have been the same nineteen months ago.Hope those referrals show up this week. The current rumored cutoff (on the China Adopt Talk site) is November

Where are the Rumors???

2007-06-28T22:38:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile

2007-06-24T19:18:00.000-04:00

Hey strangers! I know, I know...what kind of blogger am I to just up and leave for practically a month with no warning? Well, after the last batch of referrals (that only managed to eek out another 6 days) I was a very depressed blogger, then a somewhat apathetic blogger, and now I'm back on track.Today we pass another milestoneI'm still hopeful we will travel by the end of the year. I doubt we

Odds and Ends

2007-06-03T17:34:00.000-04:00

I had a hot date!!!We receieved a much needed downpoor on Saturday which gave us an excellent reason to skip the yardwork and head out for a matinee date. Of course I promptly picked the Worst Date Movie EVER!!! "Knocked Up"...what was I thinking? Okay, I was thinking it would be a light hearted romantic comedy with a little rough language. Yuck! Yuck! and Yuck! Instead it was a film that left me

Have to Hurry, Have to Wait

2007-05-28T16:59:00.000-04:00

I'm walking in mental circles....hurry....wait...hurry....wait. Sheer panic sets in because I've not prepared much of anything, but pure exasperation when I do try to prepare since so much of the preparations hang in the balance of....wait for it...THE REFERRAL. We've bought a few outfits for posterity. But in actuality, we may be referred a boy, who may be anywhere from 6 months old to a

Star light, star bright

2007-05-21T21:20:00.000-04:00

Star light, star bright,First star I see tonight,I wish I may, I wish I might,Have the wish I wish tonight.

Happy (Waiting) Mother's Day!!!

2007-05-13T19:56:00.000-04:00

Here's a shout out to my little cousin Breanne who called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day...since we are both into technology and stuff. Luv ya kiddo!I'm trying to keep my feet on the ground...but it's getting harder with each passing day. God willing I will have some gooey little crafty Mother's Day project to hang on the fridge for many years to come starting next year. And since she will

November 2005 is in the house!

2007-04-30T20:13:00.000-04:00

Fortune Cookies at CommentReload.comCan you believe it? I thought we would never see our LID month. Now we are *really* *truly* *without a doubt* on the countdown. We can reasonably (if there is any such thing anymore) expect two to four months to referral. Oh, beautiful day! And, yes I know I have said two to four months more than I care to count....but this time I'm about 90% confident that I

Plight of families in China

2007-04-24T19:26:00.000-04:00

It does not escape me that the day bringing me the biggest joy of my life comes at a very great sacrifice of another. From what I have read of China's "One Child Policy", I am amazed that a country growing into the modern age still has such a program. It seems to little-old-nobody-me that other incentives could be put into place to curb the population growth as the politicians desire-- economic,

No (good) news...Stay tuned...

2007-04-21T18:02:00.000-04:00

He is Risen! Happy Easter!

2007-04-08T12:56:00.000-04:00

My Easter prayer for Kayla-- Right now I pray you feel the love of Jesus Christ, and I pray that the families of your caregivers receive the blessings of God in their lives. And, I pray that you come to join our family very, very soon. Amen.

Legacy Of An Adopted Child

2007-03-30T12:44:00.000-04:00

Legacy Of An Adopted ChildOnce there were two womenWho never knew each otherOne you do not rememberThe other you call Mother.Two different livesShaped to make yours one.One became your guiding starThe other became your sun.The first gave you lifeAnd the second taught you to live in it.The first gave you a need for loveAnd the second was there to give it.One gave you a nationalityThe other gave

My new favorite book (for this month at least)

2007-03-24T18:34:00.000-04:00

I change favorite books like some people change clothes. These days I mostly read children's books. (One, because I'm brain-numb from reading too many tax forms. Two, because it makes me feel closer to being a mom.) This book is an absolute treasure...I love the colors. I love the story. I almost even love bugs when I'm reading this book. And, if you know me at all, that says a lot. "For finding

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2007-03-17T17:43:00.000-04:00

This won't be true for our Kayla of course. Everyone will love to have the most adorable, smartest, perfect little angel around.(I'm going to lose all my friends if I keep this up, aren't I?)

Ladybugs Cause L.A. Museum Evacuation

2007-03-10T19:03:00.000-05:00

Did anyone else see this story last week? I can't help but think it was some rogue member on the APC yahoo group wanting to cause a stir about our superstitions that left the bag o' bugs...but the jokes on them! Referrals came the same week. Luck of the Ladybug.Ladybugs Cause L.A. Museum EvacuationWritten for the web by Jason Kobely, Internet News Producer E-mail StoryPrint StoryLOS ANGELES (

Remember the List?

2007-03-10T18:36:00.000-05:00

Click here to see where we started...and below is a picture of where we are now...only 5 groups (in our agency) have been waiting longer than us. It could take anywhere from 3 to 6 months...or somewhere in between. The winds of change are in the air.

This month's referrals arrived on Monday

2007-03-06T08:03:00.000-05:00

It looks like the cutoff for the most part was October 24, 2005. We're LID exactly one month after that. By way of the referral date estimator on Bright Outlooks, if the CCAA refers at least 9 days worth every batch from here until ours...we will receive a referral early in July. If they can squeak out at least 11 days a batch, we may see our referral early in June. Anything more than that would

Tales from the Zebras

2007-03-04T20:00:00.000-05:00

I believe I've mentioned on here that me and Bobby teach a class of three year olds (or should I say try to control the chaos) on Sunday mornings. The young kids have safari themed classroom names. We are head of the Zebras. We started this adventure back in the fall. I thought it might be fun to share some of my Sunday safari tales occasionally if you'll humor me.Lesson learned this week:"Mom" =

Year of the Golden Pig

2007-02-25T19:30:00.000-05:00

The local FCC (Families with Children From China) chapter put on a really nice Chinese New Year celebration dinner. We took a half hour shift at the children's craft table (see our piggie skills to the right...Bobby said my pig looks snobby) while my parents milled around the silent auction tables. The proceeds from the night are going to the Ronald McDonald House and A Heart For China.While we

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T20:35:00.000-05:00

All I can say is I am very, very spoiled...and I love it! Roses at work, daisies at home, candy in a Winnie the Pooh tin, sweet card and sweeter sentiments, perfectly grilled steak, all from one terrific husband. Blowing kisses to my hubby! Thanks for being my Valentine.

Hair Flashback

2007-02-12T20:43:00.000-05:00

How cute is this book? When I was a little girl I had a book with every kind of braid imaginable. I spent hours doing my hair, my friends' hair, the dog's hair and even my Dad let me put some clips in his hair every now and then. I'm on the notify list for when this book is back in stock. So what if it's written in Chinese? I'll use the guy method for reading directions and just look at the

Warm and Fuzzy

2007-02-07T23:07:00.000-05:00

Thanks for showing me the love! I really must have sounded as at my wits end as I feel these days. One good thing is I'm swamped at work. Isn't it twisted how calmly I can write that being buried in my job is "good" thing?There was a point in my life when I tortured myself by training for a couple of marathons...all for the sake of personal goal attainment. You know that list of what to

Eye of the Tiger

2007-02-05T21:19:00.000-05:00

Year of the TigerTiger people are sensitive, given to deep thinking, capable of great sympathy. They can be extremely short-tempered, however. (Can I get an amen?) Other people have great respect for them, but sometimes tiger people come into conflict with older people or those in authority. sometimes Tiger people cannot make up their minds, which can result in a poor, hasty decision or a sound

Giving the finger(s) to Month 14

2007-01-17T21:30:00.000-05:00

That's right, as of next week we've hit the 14 month mark. I picked up this link to Chinese number gestures during my nightly Rumor Queen reading ritual in the thread with the tips on negotiating good bargains when shopping in China. (I think it is very cool they only need one hand to count to ten. It should be much easier shop without putting down whatever purchase I just negotiated with the

I spy...a ladybug!

2007-01-02T19:59:00.000-05:00

I know, I know...It's all superstition.Or is it? Rumors have it that referrals are on their way. Good luck to all the September 2005 families in waiting! You may need to cut me some slack in the superstition department. This southern girl still believes good luck comes in a can of black-eyed peas and a box of instant rice on New Year's Day. (I never claimed to be much of a cook either, so go

Bring it on 2007

2006-12-31T17:25:00.000-05:00

Let's start the New Year with a smile.An old man lived alone in Ireland. He wanted to dig his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison for bank robbery. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his predicament. Shortly, he received this reply,"For HEAVEN'S SAKE Dad, don't dig up that garden, that's where I buried the Money!" At 4

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T18:53:00.000-05:00

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God's Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to say it is guilty. He sent His Son so the world might be saved from the punishment of sin by Him. 18 Whoever puts his trust in His Son is not guilty. Whoever does not put his trust in Him is guilty

Finally! Some holiday Cheer around here...

2006-12-18T22:27:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!!! HO HO HO!!! Click here to see Happy Grandpa Ricky Elf cut loose.Oh boy, am I going to get in trouble for this! Don't blame me for finally cracking a holiday smile. Check out Kristen's blog to see my elfin' inspiration.

What does being paper pregnant feel like?

2006-12-14T22:17:00.000-05:00

While at times during our "Kayla chase" I have been slightly....okay, make that extremely...emotional, at this point it is more like an out of body experience. I definitely still think about her more than I don't. But it's as if WaitingMommy and WorkingWoman are two very different people sharing the same brain. The wait goes on and life goes on. Very excited to be closer and very numb that we are

Some of the stuff I worry about...

2006-12-06T18:44:00.000-05:00

Normally, I'm not really a worry-wort. But, with the extended wait...believe me, I have learned to worry. Along with the, 'will this ever happen for us worry?', at the top of the things to worry about list is 'what kind of mom will I be?'. Sometimes I flop down on the couch after a long day at the office, a fast food dinner, and a glass of wine and think....hmmmm, won't be this easy to relax in

12 months

2006-11-30T20:33:00.000-05:00

Our LID anniversary came and went without much fanfare. Rather than Black Friday shopping, we opted to sit at an open air bar overlooking the smooth, clear Gulf up in the panhandle and watch the birds dive for fish while we downed our own seafood and 'ritas.The realization hit me that even if our wait for a match extends to say 18 months...Kayla is born. She is either a newborn with her parents

Out of the comfort zone

2006-11-12T19:11:00.000-05:00

Saturday night the First Coast Families with Children from China (FCC)organized a "Waiting Families" dinner. We try to attend the monthly FCC waiting family meetings which usually have a speaker or panel of some sort covering an adoption, China, or adoption-from-China topic . That's the kind of forum I typically like. You know, the ones where I can just sort of sit back, blend in, glean some

2006-11-08T20:43:00.000-05:00

Lost Girls of ChinaThis is an excerpt from the National Geographic documentary Lost Girls of China. I highly recommend watching the full movie if you have a chance.

I destroyed a forest

2006-11-05T17:38:00.000-05:00

I've taken out another forest in re-doing the paperwork once again. I'm exaggerating of course. Just stinks to have to redo paperwork and send it off one more time to the USCIS (don't forget it includes another whopping big fee to our govt for their troubles) for no good reason except our represenatives couldn't get off the campaign trail long enough to pass a bill to automatically renew the

Sound the alarm....

2006-10-27T12:05:00.000-04:00

Alert...Alert...Alert...This is not a test.This is an actual GOOD Rumor.A good rumor has been circulating today that an agency not known for blowing smoke has told a Late Oct 05 LID couple to expect their referral in December. This could indicate the long hoped for speedup is about to occur. Do you believe in miracles? For those following this epic baby chase, if you believe, this means you could

Eleven down...??? more to go

2006-10-24T21:13:00.000-04:00

Hmmm...we've hit ELEVEN months since LID today. And, in case you had any doubt that I am totally ready for kids (or absolutely bonkers), I just spent the better part of an hour playing on the PBS Sesame Street site. Little trip down memory lane with the Cookie Monster and the Count. I think Baby Bear was after my time, but his little game was fun too.Since I was strolling down memory lane I

Make a right turn here...on Patience

2006-10-21T09:56:00.000-04:00

Yes, I do believe in God's timing. Looking back over my life, I can see where certain circumstances, both good and bad, happened for a reason. However, it has never (never ever) been the case that I have understood the "timing" until much later. So after a conversation with my mom and in honor of Sunday School memory verses...I Googled bible verses about God's perfect timing. Why use a

Perfect Song

2006-10-14T10:48:00.000-04:00

I heard this song on the radio a few time this week and it has stuck with me. These days we're just feeling tired, numb, and frustrated. I have no idea if we've even passed the halfway point yet. I'm just ready for this wait to be over. chris rice lyricsdownload.comOkay, quit checking the volume...I could not find a site to really hook you up with the music, so you've just

What Do You Do All Day?"

2006-09-28T18:35:00.000-04:00

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded

Social Worker visit is easier 2nd time around

2006-09-26T14:19:00.000-04:00

Just did the update for our homestudy. The social worker was very nice, the questions were super quick, and then we just chatted. This ensures we are still living where we say, doing what we say, and at least half-way able to carry on coherent conversation. Thus meaning, we are still fit to be parents. Hmmm....good thing she didn't check the freezer....AHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!To see how empty it is you

If you love me, you will NOT buy it

2006-09-24T17:36:00.000-04:00

10 Months

2006-09-23T16:16:00.000-04:00

To commemorate this month's LID Anniversary, I'm going to buy this children's book. Looks cute enough and it fits the "ten" theme.Has anyone else read any of Eric Carle's books? If so, please tell me if I'm wasting my moola or making a wise investment in future storytimes.Any other favorite children's books that are a *must have* for Kayla's bookshelf?

Clay Balls

2006-09-20T18:26:00.000-04:00

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out

Running out of ways to say

2006-09-19T20:45:00.000-04:00

Still waiting....Did you even know there's such a thing as a visual thesaurus ? Gotta love the net and its ability to amuse during the seemingly endless wait. My favorite is wait= work. If I was really bored (or a teacher), I guess I would now use each synonym in a complete sentence. Actually, I have kind of done this in my head already, I'm just to lazy to type them out. Is this really what my

Some progress has been made...

2006-09-13T21:50:00.000-04:00

As of September 1st, 2006 we officially made it out of the "Review" Room. The day I read the news on the CCAA website, I heard angels singing and imagined myself running across a field toward Kayla...very Sound of Music. Bobby bought champagne (perk of paper pregnancy) and we ate steak.The next day...Reality set in that we are still quite far off from our little dossier gaining access to the "

Number 9

2006-08-27T20:04:00.000-04:00

Numberland Last Thursday was our nine month anniversary being a "waiting family". This has been an emotional month for us, as every month will most likely be from here on out. (Okay, I'll admit that I've been emotional since we started the process, so last month I was closer to nutty.) Another group of referrals came out last week that matched families up to July 22nd, 2005 as far as we can tell.

How about a story?

2006-08-18T22:04:00.000-04:00

Remember picture stories from way back when you were in elemenatary school? Okay, maybe preschool these days. Anyway, I surfed across this artist's website last night and felt she has captured the essence of our journey thus far. Have a read.... The artist's name is Seonna Hong. I read an interview with her here and the gallery where I lifted the pics from is here.

TV KAREs

2006-08-05T09:36:00.000-04:00

This news team did a short piece on several families that adopted little girls from China and how they've continued their friendship. To view the sweet story, click here.

And Mommy-mush brain starts....NOW!

2006-08-02T10:40:00.000-04:00

I'm useless these days. I'm constantly checking rumor sites, adoption boards, etc. I can't seem to focus on anything else for more than 15 minutes at a time (on a good day!). I'm working invisible overtime just to make up for my lack of focus during the day. I just want to know a date, a hard fast date. At this point, I don't even care if *they* lie and tell me next July 1st, then call me up

July's referrals came...

2006-08-01T20:57:00.000-04:00

They covered through July 13th 2005. Many congrats to the families included!For those wondering what that means for me --since why would you be reading this if you didn't care about me? ((winky wink wink))---, that's only a whopping 15 days more than last month which means we're about as far away from Kayla as we ever were. And, things are continuing to slow down or at least they're not picking

Watch Out! Bobby has a New-to-us Car on the Road

2006-07-23T20:21:00.000-04:00

First, let me just say we fully believe in buying cars about as often as men buy underwear-- only when it takes a major overhaul keep 'em together. At least I believe in this theory and Bobby now believes it by marriage. So, this Saturday a MAJOR decision was made after months of pondering whether the old blue chief could hold out just a little longer.But at last, Old Blue was traded in for......

Ladies...THE invention of all time is finally here....

2006-07-19T17:59:00.000-04:00

Girls, you must go check out the Magic Cone video. (Note, you might not want to watch this if the boss is looking over your shoulder.)Thank goodness Lia Brynn had the foresight to research this before going to China. I will never fear a public restroom again.

Rumors are so bad...

2006-07-17T11:02:00.000-04:00

You don't even want to know. Really. Virtual hugs appreciated.