Thursday, August 23, 2007
Secret Pal Jackpot
I received a secret pal jackpot this month. I got an entire package filled with adorable presents (see below). My GWCA pal sent two months in one and was lamenting that she is a bad pal. So, I just want to say, don't be so hard on yourself! This wait is bad enough. You're great and the gifts are wonderful and much appreciated. 
On the GWCA secret pal front, my pal received her referral from Vietnam last week. I don't know if she has ever read my blog (or knows I am her secret pal) but I think it is great news and am so happy for her and her family.
| posted by Shannon at 11:18 AM
China Girl Broadcast
BBC's Radio 4 aired a series called "China Girl" about adopting from China back in July. I was very eager to listen to the BBC's take on China adoption and the U.K. procedures required to adopt (especially since hubby is a U.K. citizen).There are two segments to the program. You can link here to listen.
| posted by Shannon at 10:41 AM
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Better Late Than Never...
I am a little late in posting photos and details on our waiting families BBQ held at Heather's house two weekends ago but our nieces and sister-in-law came in to visit and we had a jolly good time with them (more on that here). The event was planned and prepared by Heather and was for families in our area who recently adopted or are waiting to adopt from China. Many of us who attended the BBQ found each other through our blogs.
We'd like to thank Heather for bringing everyone together and hosting the event. A good time was had by all and we enjoyed meeting others from the area in the same slow boat to China. I know a lot of planning, shopping, cleaning, etc. went into the event and so we thank Heather for her hospitality. We ended up having to cut out of the event because Chloe was spent from playing and having an all-too brief nap in the afternoon. It culminated in a doozy of a temper tantrum and our exit.
Bubbles!
The water table was a big hit with the toddler crowd.
The party tent. | posted by Shannon at 7:13 PM
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Still Going
| posted by Shannon at 7:57 PM
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Top 10 List
Laughing at the long wait, this list has been making its rounds. Top 10 Ways You Know You've Waited Too Long For a Referral From China:
10. You've stopped telling people you're adopting from China because chances are the next time you run into them you'll still be waiting.
9. When someone tells you a far off date in the future as 12-18 months you think to yourself "wow, that's coming up so soon!"
8. You know people who have had two kids in the time you've been waiting for a referral from China.
7. The last Olympics were happening when you started trying for a family and there's a good chance you'll be in China for the '08 Olympics there.
6. You know couples who have gotten engaged, married and had a baby all while you've been trying to start a family.
5. You try out all the baby stuff on the cat to "practice"-- and you take pictures to post on your website because there's no other news to report.
4. You automatically convert the time to Beijing time in your head because you think maybe the CCAA is working on referrals.
3. Your nursery bedding has been discontinued.
2. You've had to dust cobwebs off the changing table in the nursery.
1. You've gone on your last childless vacation.....5 times!!!
| posted by Shannon at 10:18 AM
Monday, August 06, 2007
21 Miles!
Last night I logged up all my miles walked the past 7 days from my pedometer. It equaled 21 miles!! Yesterday Matt and I walked into town to the farmer's market and back through some of favorite neighborhoods. We like to get ideas for our house and I like to always walk Matt by one house in particular on our street that I love and want. Matt doesn't get the attraction but I hope to convince him by walking by it all the time and pointing out it's fabulous features. When all was said and done and we made it back home we had walked 6 miles rambling around our town.
I was so inspired by my mileage that I went to the running shoe store and bought a new pair of cross-trainers to walk in and the latest version of my running shoes (which are 3 years old) in anticipation of picking up the pace.
| posted by Shannon at 8:05 AM
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Referrals
I was very happy to return home today and to find a message in my "inbox" from Tori, who lives in the next town over and is LID November 2005, that she received her referral. Her baby girl is precious and is waiting in Hunan Province.I met Tori over a year ago through our FCC group. I never imagined when we met for coffee over a year ago that it wouldn't be until the next summer that she would recieve her referral. I am so excited for her as she has been eagerly and patiently waiting for this day.
| posted by Shannon at 7:12 PM
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
10,000 Steps
In pursuit of losing weight and getting fit, I have been walking each morning. I purchased a pedometer to make certain I reach my goal of 10,000 steps a day. It is such a shocker to discover how sedentary I am. I am trying to reach 10,000 each day, which I thought would be easy. It has taken planning to make certain that I reach the goal. And, just in case you are wondering...10,000 steps a day means I walk 4.56 miles a day.
In order to achieve this goal, I have been walking into town and taking long rambles through the neighborhoods with Chloe during the mid-morning. Chloe always falls asleep and I get to listen to some music while she naps.
| posted by Shannon at 7:42 PM
