Our TWO YEAR LID anniversary

Well, yesterday was our two year LID anniversary. It's hard to believe it's been that long since we were told we were officially logged into the program with the CCAA. In some ways it hasn't felt like two years, and in some ways it feels like we've been doing this forever. When I look back and see how far we've come, I realize that this last leg of the wait will be over before we know it as well.

We celebrated by gathering with our family at the Chinese Cultural Center. Sadly, Doug wasn't feeling well and had to leave dinner early, but the rest of us enjoyed ourselves. We ate at the Golden Buddha (pictured above) and then walked through the Asian grocery store. I'm always so grateful for the support of my family. They are so excited about the adoption. At times I think the wait is almost harder on them than on us. It's nice to know our little sugarplum is loved already!

Thanks for celebrating with us everyone! And, thanks for the balloons...who knows, maybe one of them will float it's way to China (at least that's what Benji was hoping)

They did it again!!!

I just received notification from our agency that referrals have arrived for the month of March! ANOTHER 8 DAY BATCH!!! It seems almost silly to rejoice over an 8 day batch, but given what the CCAA has been able to do recently, it's an improvement...a step in the right direction. I'm still hoping to get one, maybe two, 10 batches here in the next few months! It would make a huge difference in our wait time.

The other things about this batch of referrals that I feel like shouting from my rooftop is that...."THEY ARE FINALLY MATCHING 2006 FAMILIES"!!!! I can't believe it. Our year is officially in the works. I'm so thrilled! With so little to rejoice over, with regards to the adoption, this past year this is making me so totally excited!

Below is the announcement from our agency:

Document Processing

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documentsregistered with our office before October 31, 2006. The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whoseadoption application documents were registered with our office beforeJanuary 04, 2006. This group of referrals covered the 12/28/05 through 1/4/06 log indates. Unfortunately, Children's Hope did not have any log in datesduring this period, so we did not receive any referrals or Chinese expedited referrals. Our next log in dates are 1/6/06, 1/13/06 and1/16/06.

Congratulations to all the families who are seeing their child's face for the first time!!!

Vienna Elizabeth has arrived!!

I am thrilled to announce the arrival of my new niece, Vienna Elizabeth Lossing!!! She was born on Monday, February 25th (her due date) at 2:30 in the afternoon!!! She weighs 8 lbs 8 ozs and is 18 3/4" inches long. She is absolutely adorable!!!

The labor and delivery went great. Sarah was calm, cool and collected throughout the entire experience. This was one of the funnest births I've ever been on. We were all so excited about welcoming this little girl into the world we could hardly handle it. We managed, however, to wait until after she was born to pop the champange.

Here's how we give birth "Lossing style"...

And, while all this excitement was going on, my cousin was in Florida giving birth to her son!! His name is Anthony and he is one cute little guy! Our family has much to be grateful for!

Tickled pink!

We had Sarah's baby shower on Saturday. It turned out so nice. Wine, cheese, cake....more wine, more cheese!! She has some very generous friends who, I might mention, have great taste. The outfits for the baby were adorable. It was so much fun watching her pull them out of the boxes. I think she had only opened two gifts when she, Norah, Cori and myself all got teary (tears of sheer excitement). My niece Sara Marie was on hand to help with gift opening. She very willing volunteered to test out all of the hooded towels Sarah received...including the bunny one that she put on and bounced around the room in while giggling her little head off. I guess we are all just a bunch of silly girls....and very, very soon we'll have one more to add to the mix. Sarah should be delivering any day now!! Everytime she has called me in the last day or two I'm waiting to hear her tell me that she thinks she in labor.

So exciting!

I felt just like this little girl today. I went shopping for my sister Sarah's babyshower gift with my girlfriend Leigh. We went to this botique on the west side of town called "Daniella Jay" and OMG let me tell how cute the clothes were. They have all these beautiful hand made dresses and little outfits, bathing suits, shoes, hair accessories....I was dying. Sarah is having a girl...very, very soon and the excitement is just about killing me. I can not wait to meet this little person. I'm hoping she'll have dark hair, just like her mommy. Her dad seems to think she'll be a blonde like her older brother. But, what do men know?! Oh yeah, blue eyes...I want her to have blue eyes. Blue eyes and brown hair...that's my official "order". And, for what it's worth, another Sunday afternoon birth would be great! Sarah's first baby was born just after 6 PM on a Sunday! You can't beat that. She called me around noon to tell me she thought she was in labor, she came to my house, we were here for a little while, then we headed down to the hospital around 3:00 and Axl was born just after 6.

So here's my "order"...brown hair, blue eyes, healthy, Sunday afternoon delivery! Although, if she's a blonde hair, brown eyed, born at 3 in the morning baby...I'll still love her to death.

23 Months Behind Us!

Today is our 23rd month LID anniversary. Next month will mark two long years of waiting!

To say that I wish you were here with us right now is an understatement. I can't wait to experience all of the excitement that will lead us to you. Seeing your face for the first time, planning our trip to China, seeing the sights of your homeland, holding you for the first time...we have so much to look forward to.

I know it's cold and snowy in China right now...I pray that wherever you are, or are soon to be, that you are warm and safe.

We are thinking of you constantly!!

We love you,

Mom, Dad, Jacob and Benji

It's the year of the rat!!

So much for our little girl being a pigglet!! The year of the pig is over in China. As of February 7th, it is the year of the rat! I guess, if she was born before February 7th, 2008 she would still be a pigglet, but since I don't know that I'll have to assume that she will be a rat! Sounds nice, huh?! For what it's worth, maybe this is just coincidence...I WAS BORN IN THE YEAR OF THE RAT!! Every twelve years in China is the year of the rat. 1972 was the year of the rat. Maybe my sugarplum and myself will both be rats!! I don't know if I could handle raising myself...scary!!

I just called Doug, who is golfing at the moment, and told him that he may have two rats in his life. His response, "Great...I'll go buy some cheese."