Say it with me: L---O---A!!!!!!!!!!t

Yesterday was a phenomenal day. Our Fedex package with our LOA came! And to top it off, so did a package of hairbows for sweet Tessa, from her cousins McCall and Baylor! This Mommy had a lot of fun opening packages yesterday. So last night I got to work in the office, having Eric sign everything, and me triple checking every document. This is the last big round of paperwork. Now all the work revolves around getting her room ready and preparing for travel in a few months. THEN, the real work begins. We have the honor and privilege of parenting this sweet child.

A little inspiration in the office:

See this folks? This is the long awaiting LOA! This means China has reviewed everything we've sent and we have been officially approved by their government to be Tessa's forever family! BIG news!

Sweet girls passport sized pics to go along with her US visa application. This was her original photo in her referral file.

Did I tell you we finally decided on her full name?

Tessa Ilene Qiaohui Kirsch

Ilene is my maternal grandma's name, and we are so excited for Tessa to share her name. She died when I was in 9th grade, and we were extremely close. I know she's smiling down from heaven as we walk on this journey. We are keeping Tessa's Chinese name as a second middle name. We feel that she should always have that part of her heritage. (I know all you southerners are freaking out about how we'll monogram. It'll just be the first two names. Tessa Ilene.)
This is also being mailed today. It head to the US government to officially approve our family for Tessa. It's kinda like step two to something we did back in April and May.

Another shout out for our agency!
All of the above is being overnighted today. Next: Mine and Eric's visa applications to travel to China. This actually has nothing to do with the adoption, it's something all visitors to China need.
So, What's next?

The I800 takes around 3 weeks to get approved. They then cable the info to the NVC (National Visa Center), and our Article 5 can be dropped off in China. That takes two weeks, and we'll then begin the wait for our TA. (Travel Approval) Once we get that, we can make our consulate appointment and book flights! We are still looking at December or January:-)

You HAVE to read this. Now.

Trust me on this one. Click here, and read this.

Jen Hatmaker is my new favorite person. I want to go buy her book now. I love her blog, and I especially love this particular post. So honest, so real, so transparent. This should be required reading for every adoptive parent.

LOA!!!LOA!!!LOA!!!

Wouldn't you know that less than 3 hours after my last post, I got an email from our coordinator Xiaoqing.....and our LOA is on it's way!!! That's amazing news, and it's coming earlier than expected. We now have our official Letter of Acceptance from China, to be Tessa's forever family. I can't wait to have our baby girl in my arms. Now onto more paperwork. Lots of it. Immigration applications, our Chinese visa applications, her US visa application. The list goes on. The good news it that it all has to end eventually:-)

We're coming Tessa!

In other news, I'm freaking out a little. The boys aren't moved in together yet, and Tessa's room isn't started. I hardly have anything for her. I'm sure once I unpack all these bags and boxes, I'll discover that I do indeed have plenty for her!!!

Waiting...

Still waiting on LOA. About 45 days in. Some get it around now, some wait 120 days. AVerage is around 60. I'll just keep trusting the God's timing is the perfect timing.

NEW PICTURES!!!

Oh baby girl, those eyes. I can't wait to see them sparkle.

Those pouty lips. I can't wait to see them smiling, no GRINNING. I dream of her smile.
Someone please HUG my baby girl. It looks like she's kinda sitting on this ladies lap. I wonder if it's her foster Mom?

I have been waiting so impatiently for new pictures of our girl. I've checked my email obsessively a million times a day. As we were checking in to our hotel last Friday, I got an email (THE email) from Angela of Lady bugs n love. That one little email blew my plans of a nap up into a million pieces. There was NO napping--- I was so excited. I've stared at these three pictures and analyzed every single detail. All I can say is, I'm so ready to get on a plane. We need to get this child home. She needs a Mommy and Daddy. And some good nutrition, lots of love, and a great big family to spoil her rotten. She is so teeny. Even smaller than Drake which I didn't think possible.

Today is exactly 30 days we've been waiting on our LOA. Average wait is around 60 days. Some people get it sooner, which is obviously what I'm hoping for. I need this child home before Christmas and her birthday. Eric and I've been talking a lot about travel plans. We've always assumed we'd both go for the whole two weeks. Until my friend Caroline went alone, and my friend Tammy's husband went for just one week. Eric has two concerns, both which are valid. He doesn't want us to leave the boys for two weeks. I get that, I think it would be awesome if they could only be without us for one week. His other concern is that he owns and runs his own business. He's worked his butt off for 4 years now, and it's really successful. He really doesn't want to be on the other side of the world, and cut off except for email. I get that too. No decision making coming any time soon. We'll leave travel plans for when we need to make them, which is only 2 weeks before we leave. I would be totally fine going alone for the first week. But I have to say it would be nice to have him there for the second week and the flight home:-)

Her update!!!

As part of the care package we sent, we were able to ask ten questions that were forward to the orphanage. The Q&A is below in italics. It is so nice to know a little bit more about our sweet girl. And all I have to say, is we've got some serious shopping to do for dolls. In addition to the ten questions and the care package, we sent a letter that was translated. I hope her foster family reads it to her, and attempts to get her to understand what will be happening in her life.

The other thing we did was send a cake, AKA an adoption celebration cake. The orphanage will have her foster family bring her in to have cake with other kids, and then send pictures to the lady at our care package company. I'm waiting on PINS AND NEEDLES for those. It's killing me.

We also got updated measurements, but I don't think they are accurate. If so, she's gained no weight, and lost two teeth. Uh, I think somewhere there is a mess up with those numbers!

Below is the translated update:

1. What name is she called?

Hui Hui.

2. Does she understand what it means to be adopted and have a family?

No.

3. Does she talk a lot, or is she quiet?

She doesn’t talk a lot, but sometimes she is a little mischievous.

4. Is she still shy, or has she become more outgoing?

She has become more outgoing. She is active and playful.

5. What does she like to do for fun?

Doll.

6. Does she know she's being adopted?

She doesn’t understand it. But we will show her pictures, so she will be familiar with her family.

7. Does she go to the potty, or use diapers?

She is getting potty trained. But she can’t take care of herself yet. She is still using diaper.

8. Is she active; does she like to run and jump around?

She is active, and she likes to run and jump around.

9. Can she stay in her foster home until the day before we get her?

Yes.

10. Will we be able to visit her orphanage and meet her foster family while we are in Changsha?

You will have to send application to the civil affairs office if you want to visit the orphanage. The civil affairs office then will notify us. You can’t meet with foster family. But we can forward your wish to them.

Tessa's Care Package

I had so much fun getting a care package together for Tessa. It was a fine line between sending her stuff she might like/need, and not going overboard. We likely won't get any of it back when we go and get her, which is totally fine. I'd love them to pass it along to another needy orphan.

Cute summer outfit and hat. With layers of course, b/c their culture layers on the clothes.
A super soft lovie.
A toy. I really wanted to send a doll, but was overwhelmed with the choices.
A fuzzy soft blankie. I hope she's cuddling with it.
Yes, I sent some bows and chapstick. Of course.
We sent her this lotion, and we'll have it on when we get her in China. I've read on message boards that one thing that is so strange about us as Westerns is our smell, so I've heard wearing a smell she's familiar with can facilitate attachment.
Tessa's photo album. We put her pic on front so it won't get confused with other children's. I really hope they go ahead and give it to her so she can get used to our faces.

A page of our album. I forgot to take a pic of our other pages when I finished it.