Here Comes Maggie - Tomorrow!!

7/27/2011 Matches Arrived!!!
We just received a group of matches for our families who are logged in July 7, 2006. We did not receive any matches for our families who are expedited due to Chinese Descent. We do not know the official cut off date at this time as the CCCWA has not updated their intranet site. Congratulations to our matched families! We will be making match calls tomorrow. We will update this website when more information becomes available.

We will get the call tomorrow and finally hear about our precious girl! If my head could spin, it would right now.

China Update

This update was posted on our agency's website this afternoon:

7/20/2011

Preparing to work on Matches

The CCCWA is preparing paperwork to begin to work on matches. We do not know the log in dates for the next group of matches at this time nor do we have any further information.

We will update this website when more information becomes available.


So, if referrals are finished this week/early next week, we may just see Maggie Rose's face for the first time next week. I'm in a state of disbelief about China right now and about the amazing moment I may be experiencing soon. Maybe it's time I start waking up.

90 Miles in 90 Days

A few months ago, the city put a small gym in the building where I work. The equipment is leftover from the city's recreation facility so the machines are loud and some features don't work, but for me, they're just perfect. I can jog on an old treadmill during my lunch hour (for free) and tone some of my flabby areas.

A few months ago, the city began its 90 Miles in 90 Days program for employees. Employees were encouraged to complete 90 miles of walking, running, biking, etc. in 90 days. Those who completed this challenge were entered into a drawing. Well, I finished my 90 miles a few weeks ago. And I found out today that I won a bike!! I am so excited. Actually, a city employee called me to congratulate me and ending up informing me of my win because I had been in an edit suite and hadn't seen my notification e-mail. I meet my bike for the first time on Friday. Wee!

Now, I haven't rode a bike in ages. Not even sure my butt will stay on the seat. Don't even want to think what the back "bumper" will look like.

Weekend in Review

Last weekend, we attended a family reunion. When I was a kid I dreaded these get-togethers, bu when you get to a "certain" age, it seems like reunions are the only times big families get together besides funerals. My grandmother Mary, my father's mother, passed away many years ago but two of her brothers and one sister are still alive. Since I never knew Grandma Mary, I have talked to Aunt Janet about her in the past. I wish I'd had the time to talk to her brothers at the reunion but I was a little busy watching monkeys run around with their second cousins and one little monkey wanted to keep going where he shouldn't go.

Could it be this little monkey? He can't sit still, although he has been more cuddly lately. Those darn one year vaccinations and teething - not a good combination for a baby. Liam's hair looks really light in this picture. And his eyes - red. :)

Too bad the boys aren't old enough to help Grandpa with some heavy farm work. It would help if this was a real gator too.

Big Shoes to Fill

Someone had a little fun with my shoes tonight. I remember slipping on my dad's shoes when I was a kid. I thought dad had the biggest feet! Sadly, I think Jack has better looking legs than me. :(

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Liam turned a year old today. And to think - a year ago, we didn't know about our special guy. He was still a dream. Meeting his birth mother and grandmother was an incredible moment. And then we were able to visit with Liam. He was sleeping. Our lovely social worker said that he looked happy in my arms. He slept through most of our visit so who knows if that is really true but it was a comfort at the time. Liam also peed on me when I changed his diaper. It felt like an initiation of some sort, like, if you can handle this woman, wait till you see what else I can do.

Liam is an active little boy who never wants to slow down. He's always on the go but he's also shown tender moments like his cute open mouth kisses or his head butts which he thinks are terms of affection. I can't wait to discover more about my little man whom I still call my baby and probably always will even if it embarrasses him. I love you baby!

Mike loving on his boy.

Ready to be a big brother!

Ready to go home.

Maggie Rose's Quilt

When Mike and I began the China adoption process, I learned of a tradition among adoptive parents - the 100 Wishes Quilt. The quilt includes 100 different pieces of fabric, or in our case 130, from family and friends. Family members and friends also provide a wish for the child with a piece of the fabric to be placed in a scrapbook. That way, the recipient always knows who gave each wish and material.

With Maggie Rose's referral nearing, mom has been working hard to sew these blocks together and she has done an amazing job. I can't wait to go home this weekend and touch what I am seeing in these pictures. To me, quilts are a work of art. There is a lot of hard work and love invested in each one. And this one is for Maggie Rose. Isn't that beautiful!