July's update...

We've been needing a Ellie fix these past few days. The waiting is starting to become overwhelming at times. I don't want to start whining.... but it's my blog and I can whine if I need to, and oh do I ever need to whine!! We have a waited SO LONG to become parents, and we know we're so close to completing this journey. We're getting very excited to bring her home, and starting the 2nd chapter of our life. We have become stagnant on our "To Do List" ... no pep in our step to get things done! You know if we receive word of our final ruling tomorrow there would be more than a pep in the step. Brian and I are an amazing team when we need to get things done. We just pray we will receive word very soon to bring Ellie, our precious daughter home!

We can't wait to get our hands on our "sweet thing"... she is absolutely beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!! Does she look good in orange too?? I thought pink was her color. I'm a little disappointed she's not dressed in some of the clothing that I sent last month, not even a hair bow!! I'm just happy she looks healthy & happy, and well taken care of. And talk about healthy... check out her charts! This was dated on 6/30 - she is 16.7 lbs and 25.2 inches in height. It was also noted, rolls front to back and laughs during play. We can't wait to hear her laugh... it's coming soon!

July 4th, 2009

I'm sitting here drinking my "early" morning coffee, and Brian is off to run the Peachtree Road Race 10k, and as I sit here,  I just think about all things that we're so thankful for this past year. Today is our 1 year anniversary when we were "officially" on Cathwel's wait list for a referral. The one thing I remember a year ago, and was so heavy on my heart at that time, she was coming sooner than what our agency quoted us and the chatting on the adoption boards.  I knew would not receive a referral in 2008, so I could not wait for 2008 to end!  I kept saying to myself and out loud at times "Come on 2009"!!!   This July 4th, we have been so blessed, and we have come so far.   We have a baby girl, Ellie is absolutely beautiful, and we cannot wait to hold her forever! Were SO close to bringing her home, and I'm getting a little nervous.  I'm having these "gut" feelings that something is about to happen!   It's a good nervous, but I've never realize how well of an organized person I am until this past year.  Maybe it's a mommy thing, now if I can get Brian to be more organize:))  I just like to know "what's coming down the pipeline" and prepare for it.  I guess I just need to go ahead and throw that out the window:))

What a day of celebration?  We have our beautiful daughter that were expecting, and we have wonderful support from our family, friends & new friends in Taiwan.  I've always taken a moment to stop think about our "freedom" and I'm very thankful for those men and women in the military that are serving our country to bring us freedom, and protect our country!  These men and women are amazing individuals, they're away from their families in arms way.  Some return home to their families, and some do not!!!  Thank you for serving our country!!!   God Bless America!!!!

June's Update photos...

Now, we wait for court....

** This is a good outline on how the court proceedings processes. We had our court hearing on May 22nd, but I do not know how many weeks before the first ruling-- which has become a million dollar question for me lately! 2 or 4 weeks or 3 months -- who knows! I just pray that we receive word of the first ruling! SOON :-)


First Ruling -
Once the hearing has been completed and the judge has had time to review all the information, he/she issues the First Ruling. This is a short statement signed by the judge that is forwarded to all parties involved (social services organization on behalf of the adoptive family and the birth family) notifying everyone of his/her decision to finalize the adoption. This first part of the Final Decree must go to each party and there is a waiting period of 10 days before any further court action can occur. The birth family has until the end of this 10 day period to change their mind regarding the adoption. Once the 10 day period is passed however, the judge can make the final decree.

Final Ruling - Once the 10 day waiting period is over (and the court staff finds time!), the second part of the Final Decree is forwarded to all parties. When the second part of the decree is received by your child's social service organization, the court process is DONE! Time line for 2nd Ruling - 2-6 weeks after the 1st ruling

Ellie's journey to us....

I'm so excited this morning!!  I do not need any caffeine this morning!!  We received word that Ellie Pei-Hua's hearing was on May 22nd!!  I prayed that day to be her hearing date, because it was day before my birthday, and it was the last day of the work week!  What a awesome birthday present, that's all I wanted this year and many years!   So, what does all this mean?  Well, we're getting very close ... we're about 2 months out from travel news.  We will have 2 more court hearings (I think) 2nd hearing and final hearing, then we receive word to travel to Taiwan to bring Ellie home!   I'm one happy, excited, over the top mommy right now!  Now, we have some planning to do, pick out a pediatrician, child care, baby showers!

Our last vacation as a couple...

And we wished she was with us on this beach vacation!!!  We can't wait to share our vacations together as a family, there's so much fun for kids at Pier Park and a gorgeous State Park with a beautiful beach!  Of course I did some Ellie shopping!  We purchased "Life is Good" t-shirts, one of them has written "Flower Child" which "Hua" means flower, and a daisy is my favorite flower... Cool, huh?  And Brian chosen the second one "Little chick"- too cute!  And I could not pass up the HUGE Carter's store, which I purchased a outfit for next summer, and her first hair bows!  That was all my Ellie shopping!

If we win the FLORIDA lottery....

Then you will find us at "Alyce"...