OK...Seriously...I Am So Excited!

I can't even take it.
On the one hand I am glad for the week and a half we have left to get things together at home, packing and at work...
BUT...
On the other hand...I am ready to leave like yesterday!
I am so excited I can't sleep, I can't concentrate, I just plain don't know what to do with myself.

I can't wait to meet her.
To see what she is really like.
I can't wait to know what she feels like in my arms.
I can't wait to know what she smells like.
I can't wait to get to know her, even just a little bit at a time...
What makes her smile, laugh, what makes her happy, calm, content?
What does she like to do, play with, snuggle with?
What does she know how to do? We saw pictures of her on her hands and knees and reaching up...but does she crawl...does she pull up? Can she stand? Take a few steps?

I just can't wait for this little person to be in my presence.
To just have her there...ALL THE TIME!

It can't come soon enough.
I am ready to meet my baby!

Travel Plans Are SET!

We are officially leaving for Taiwan on Friday, July 24th. We will arrive in Taipei Sunday, July 26th and will meet Hsin-Hua on Monday, July 27th (her birthday!!!).

I can't believe this is really happening.
The excitement, and nerves and emotions that keep rolling around in my head are unbelievable.

It amazes me that two weeks from today someone will hand me a 19 pound little person, who will forever be my daughter and the light and love of my life (in addition to Pauly).

This past weekend was tremendously productive!

-We got all our travel plans booked with the travel agent including flights and hotel.
-We made plans to meet up with my Chinese teacher in Taiwan...although she lives 5 minutes away from us, will be in Taiwan at the exact same time as us.
-We lowered the mattress on Hsin-Hua's crib (it was originally set up for a 6 month old).
-Washed all her linens and got her room all set up.
-Washed all her clothes and put them away.
-Finished purchasing gifts for the TWCA staff, Hsin-Hua's Foster Mother and Birth Mother.
-Our fabulous friends Pat and Rachel helped hang the blinds in Hsin-Hua's room.
-Pat also put the cabinet latch on the cabinet under the sink.
-AND thank goodness...they helped us install both carseats (could NOT have done that without help).
-My Dad agreed to come and stay with the cats so they won't get lonely! This is a HUGE weight off our minds. They are our children, and we know this transition is going to be pretty hard on them to begin with. A little love while we are gone will go a LONG way.

Each night we need to get something else done...but all in all we are in REALLY good shape.
I am obsessive compulsive, and stress about everything...so the fact that I am relatively calm (for me) is a sign that we really must be in good shape!

I did come down with some strange summer cold in my throat and I hope it clears up quickly. I am going to down Vitamin C like it is going out of style and see how that works.

Keep your fingers crossed for some update pictures this week!

HSIN-HUA IS COMING HOME!!!!!!!

We knew it was coming soon...we knew it could happen anyday...but then again, you still kind of think it may never happen.

Well...IT DID!!!

I got back to my office after getting lunch with a co-worker...and the email we have been waiting for over 8 months...well really 3 years for...was in my email inbox.

The email that said OUR FINAL RULING WAS IN!!!
HSIN-HUA is legally and officially OUR daughter!

It is the most amazing feeling in the world to know that our wait to bring her home is almost over.

We have tentative plans to leave between the 23rd and 27th of July!
THAT IS IN 2 WEEKS!!!

Holy Cow but we have a lot of things to get done between now and then.
This weekend we are finishing purchasing the gifts for our trip, we are installing the car seats in the cars, we are hanging blinds in Hsin-Hua's room and lowering her crib so she can't climb out!!!!

YIPEE!!!
HSIN-HUA IS COMING HOME!!!

Ode To My Meepy

No news on the adoption front...just getting ready, and waiting for that final ruling.

Hsin-Hua turned 11 months old this past Saturday...so Happy Birthday Peanut.

Since there is no news to report...I thought I would share some of my more recent, favorite pics of Mr. Peepers (aka Meepy). He is a glorious sight to behold!!!

Somebody needs a hair cut. Look at that dirty belly.

I want to motor boat that hairy chest!

Sometimes the light is TOO much for Meepy to handle!

\

Passed out against the front window. How that is comfortable, I DO NOT KNOW!

Hanging with Daddy!

Giving some love to Daddy. (Meepy can't sit with Daddy without hugging him like this).

Big boy takes up the WHOLE chair. We thought this was Daddy's chair...but we were wrong.

I don't know WHAT this was about...but I'm pretty sure a cat isn't supposed to sit like that.

Trying to get in the suitcase to go to Taiwan with Daddy. Meepy wants his Mei Mei home!

Passed out with Daddy again. Don't miss that dirty, furry foot hanging over Daddy's leg.

Look at that face! I could just eat him!

Just after Meepy's haricut...love the pompom tail! Meepy also will only drink water out of a bowl in the tub.

Do you see that belly! Seriously! It is SO fat...and this picture does not do the rolls justice!

Tired! From what? Cleaning himself for about 5 minutes. 22 pounds of glorious MEEPY!Is there a cuter man (furry man) on earth? I think not!

A VERY Productive Weekend!!!

Well, the organized Heather is back. All I needed was some good news to get my motivation back.

We had taken a 4 day weekend to go to the beach...but since the NE is basically the equivilant of the Pacific Northwest these days with rain 24 hours a day and 7 days a week...we decided to stay home and get some things accomplished.

Saturday morning we headed over to Babies R Us to buy us some baby gates. Now our play room is able to be completely closed in. This will allow us to cook dinner and do some other things, knowing that Hsin-Hua can't get out :-) It looks a little bit like a baby prison if you ask me.

Saturday night we had a fun date night. We drove to NJ for dinner and a movie. We wanted to eat at Joe's Crab Shack...but the wait was over an hour and a half. So we went to a diner and got breakfast for dinner, YUM! Then we saw "The Hangover". FUNNY AS HECK! We figure that sleeping late, and date nights with no babysitter really are a luxary we won't have for much longer, so we better enjoy it while we can!

Sunday after doing some laundry and organizing we went to IKEA to get two chairs for Hsin-Hua's playroom. This way the grownups have something other than the floor to sit on in there. When endless episodes of Baby Einstein and Caillou are on...we will need comfy seats to endure the slow wearing away of our sanity!

We also got the rest of the toys all cleaned and organized. The room is officially ready for a kid to play in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh...and PS...the rocking horse was a yard sale STEAL! $10!!! Actually, Pauly and I were saying as we were sitting in there last night, that MAYBE we have spent about $100 on everything in the room (minus the rug and furniture). Yard sales are a BEAUTIFUL thing!

We also got all the toiletries, gifts and electronic equipment ready to be packed. Right now Hsin-Hua's crib is serving as the staging area for all things going on the trip with us! We are actually prepared enough right now that we could leave within 24 hours and be VERY well packed!

We got so much done this weekend....Mr. Peepers was exhausted on our behalf! He is SUCH a supportive cat!

It feels SO good to have something to do again to pass the time.
Hopefully we don't have much longer to go!!!