This is just a test post to see if I have found a way to finally blog!
If this goes through...
Dinner was awesome last night. We sat in an outside courtyard...it was muggy but there was a cool breeze in the air. We walked around the streets of Beijing and were able to soak in the nightlife. It's still crazy China, where you have to be very careful crossing the road. Cars do not stop!!
We are going to the Great Wall this morning. First stop...the delicious breakfast buffet here!
Hopefully I can post pictures tonight!
We are having a blast...China is so beautiful.

Arrived Safely

"We have finally arrived safely at our hotel in Beijing. Our flight was absolutely wonderful. While we were sitting at the airport waiting to board our names were called to go to the front desk. Guess what? We got bumped to Business Class. It was such a wonderful surprise. We were treated like royalty with 3 course meals...huge seats that reclined all the way down with an ottoman to put our feet up and huge TV screens. we had more room than we knew what to do with. Our 14 hour flight flew by since we were so comfortable. Tomorrow we have to meet early in the lobby to meet our guide for The Great Wall. I am not able to get onto blogger from here...so my brother is posting for me. Hopefully when we get to Ava's province we will be able to get on but I am not sure. I still can't believe we are in China again and that we are so close to our baby girl. But this mama and daddy misses our Lainey Bug so much and are counting down the days until we can hug and kiss her!!

ITINERARY

August 17th - Embark on another journey of a lifetime...flight leaves at noon

August 18th - Arrive in Beijing at 1:45 PM (China Time)

August 19th - Tour the Great Wall and Hutong Lane

August 20th - Orientation meeting and tour Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and visit a Silk Factory

August 21st - Fly to Changchun

August 22nd - GOTCHA DAY!!!

August 23rd - Official Adoption Day and apply for Ava's passport

August 24th - Free Day - Touring will be scheduled at a later time

August 25th - Free Day - Touring will be scheduled at a later time

August 26th - Fly to Guangzhou

August 27th - Visa paperwork check and medical exam

August 28th - Free Day - Touring will be scheduled at a later time

August 29th - Free Day - Touring will be scheduled at a later time

August 30th - Visa appointment and Oath-taking ceremony

August 31st - Visa pick up and taking a train to Hong Kong

September 1st - Flight back home leaving China at 10:25 AM (China time) and arriving home 1:55 PM (our time)

I cannot believe we leave in a few short days. I am nervous and extremely excited. I have so much to do but have accomplished so much as well.

I feel like this trip should be a breeze since we have been through it before. But it is anything but a breeze.

But soon it will all be worth it once I have my baby girl in my arms!!!

FLIGHTS ARE BOOKED

Let the countdown begin.

We leave on August 17th and return home on September 1st.

I will post more as I know more.

I am so excited and a little nervous too!!!

TA

Travel Approval has arrived....YAY!! Wow that was quick...it actually arrived on Wednesday night.

So...where does that leave us in terms of dates?

Well...we cannot leave the US any earlier than August 13th due to Tony's job. And we absolutely want to tour The Great Wall since we missed it when we adopted Halainah. And who knows when we will return to China.

So...that puts us around August 16th or 17th as a departure date. I will have exact dates by Monday.

So...we are so close...I have so much to do...and I can't wait to hold our beautiful daughter in my arms forever!!

ARTICLE 5

Woooo Hoooo!

Our Article 5 arrived on Friday just in time to celebrate during our long holiday weekend.

So now we are waiting for our Travel Approval. Current time frames will put us in China just about 6 weeks from now. So we are looking at the middle of August.

We are so close and the nesting instinct has kicked in full force. I want to throw everything out that we haven't used in a year or so...why keep it? Our first job is the kitchen...than the closets.

I still can't believe that we are going back to China! Oh my....I can't wait to hold my baby girl!!

We also received some more photos of our beautiful daughter!! And I can't wait to see her smile!

BE STILL MY HEART!

Look what arrived in my inbox yesterday!

Oh my....I just want to kiss those adorable cheeks.

I am still waiting for measurements. I am so torn between bringing 18 month clothes and 24 month clothes. I don't want her clothes to be too big because it's going to be so hot there. And I want her to be comfortable.

And I want to bring at least 1 pair of shoes with me. I wish I knew what size she was wearing in the picture below because clearly they are the wrong size. I am thinking about packing a size 5 based on what size Halainah was at her age. But Halainah has such a small foot. At 14 months old she was wearing a shoe size of a 3-6 month old. And almost at the age of 4 she is wearing only one size larger than her 2 year old cousin Vincent.

In the first pic she looks like such a little peanut. In the second pic. she looks like such a big girl.

What do you think? She is currently 21 months old.

Hopefully I will receive updated measurements but there is no guarantee.

Come on Article 5...what the heck is taking you so long!!

My baby girl needs us!!