We got updated pics!!!!

We got updated pictures of our sweet girl! And she's playing with some of the toys we sent in her care package! She's beautiful. She looks very healthy. Her hair is laying down now. She looks a bit older. The earlier info we had on her indicated that she was in foster care. It looks like she's been moved back in to the orphanage. It makes feel a bit guilty and sad for her. So many changes already in her young life, and it's not even over yet. I can't wait to get her home and start the healing and bonding process.

Look at that little grin, oh, and those cheeks!

Those eyes..and that sweet little mouth..

I think she likes the toys we sent

There's that little grin again..

She just makes my heart melt. It's so amazing to think that she's actually real, living halfway across the world, and that in 6 1/2 weeks, she'll be ours and we'll be hers. I know she's going to change our lives, but it's a change I've been waiting years for. You know, it's kind of a funny coincidence that way before we got her referral I decided on pink and yellow for her room, and in both her referral and updated pictures, she's wearing pink and yellow =)

We have Travel Dates!!!

I'm so happy! Our travel coordinator estimates that we will leave on June 11th!! Thats 7 weeks from now! Our advocate e-mailed us on Wednesday and said that they were overnighting a packet to us and that if we could have the paperwork in it filled out and mailed back to their travel coordinator by this morning they could fit us with their travel group of NSN referrals that they got earlier this month. Needless to say we had the paper work knocked out the night we got it and in the mail the next morning. Anything to get to our girl as soon as possible! Our travel group, group #113, includes 17 families. Wow.

I found my USB camera cord that's been MIA for the past few days. You know what that means? A rambling post with lots of pictures. So here goes.

My wonderful neighbor and friend, Amanda, has the sweetest Mother-in Law who made this little quilt for our girl. Isn't it cute?

Jessica and Jamey stopped in for a visit and I got some cute pictures of Jamey enjoying Kerry's room and breaking in some of her toys . Now that it's all set up, Jamey loves to go into Kerry's room and play when he comes to visit. He calls it "the pink room" .

He also had a good time decorating Easter eggs.

Last night I got to meet up with this great group of Ladies and their adorable girls for dinner.

I had so much fun getting to know them and watching all of their little beauties running around having fun.

Left to right are myself, Leslie from My Girls, Becky from Jiang Xi Girls , Marla from Lego's and TuTu's , Felicia from The Fleur-de-lis Cottage, Missy from Live Big and Laugh Often, and Lisa from The Long Road to China.

How cute are these girls!

We Got LOA!!

I got a call this morning at work from Dana, our advocate, saying that they received our LOA!! Yay! It's only been a month and a half (47 days) so I'd say that's pretty good. She says she will request updated pictures and measurements for us now. I am chomping at the bit for those, let me tell you. She is overnighting the letter along with a packet that has some paperwork we need to fill out (no surprise there) and some info we will need for travel! Can you believe that, we're already talking travel?! No dates yet of course, but it sure sounds good.

I'm in love with this stroller

I went to B*aby's -R-Us with Jess and her little guy to submit a registry and test drive some strollers. I had Jamey sit in them so I could see how they would manage with with added weight of a small child and I have to say, this little P*g Perego number is the winner, hands down . It rides smooth and they weren't kidding with the whole "one hand fold" thing. I can easily fold it up and open it back up with one simple action using one hand. Blows my mind. Who'd have known strollers could be so exciting =). Have I mentioned how much fun I'm having finding things for my girl?

How do you like the new look? I love it! It's courtesy of Leslie over at "My Girls".

Still nesting!

We just passed the two year mark since attending a local adoption seminar and starting down this road. We also just marked 18 months since we were logged in with the CCAA. I nearly let these dates slip by without noticing, something that wouldn't have happened a few months back. It's amazing how now that we've seen her, the wait just seems to have nearly disappeared. I did say nearly. We're still (mostly patiently) waiting on the Letter of Approval and then, of course, travel.

I found this old fashioned little tin sign on sale at H*bby Lobby

On a shelf above the dresser I grouped some old family baby photos with my Gramma's Church "Cradle Roll" certificate (dated May 18,1927)



I put some finishing touches on the lamp shades with ribbon and ric-rac






I was so thrilled to find this quirky little lower case "k" to hang in her room. You know what they say about us southerners and our monograms

I got creative and made this little bracelet which she will only wear with supervision. I made it with good strong wire that's not likely to break and prove a choking hazard but, still.



Then I made this photo charm for myself...just because I want to be able to take a peek at that sweet little face whenever I feel like it. It was actually pretty simple; just take a photo charm, glue the photo charm down with modge podge using a small paint brush, more modge podge over that, let it dry, then put some acrylic glaze over that.