Care packages and more pictures!

I think I am nesting. One of my dearest friends has mentioned this to me. I think she is right. I am a homebody usually. Lately, all I want to so is be in my house. I don't know why. I want to make it perfect for Lauryn. I want to have everything cleaner than clean, pretty, cozy and just give her the wonderful gift of home. There really is nothing better! I have made lists and more lists about what I want to do, what I should be doing and why it has to be done. I think I am driving Kyle crazy. He just takes it all in stride! Such a great guy!

WE were able to send Lauryn a care package. We used Red Thread China and we were assisted by Ann. She is amazing and I can't say enough about her. We sent Lauryn some pj's, a blanket, a couple of books, a pair of shoes, a disposable camera, a baby doll, Kyle chose an Ernie doll for her, some cakes and tea for the nannies at the orphanage, a photo album and some other little trinkets! We were also able to write her a letter. It is still pretty crazy to us that we are now a Mommy and a Daddy! It's all been so wonderful! I don't think we have had a conversation that hasn't included Lauryn!

Just going through all of our adoption paper work. WOWOWOW! We have done a lot of planning. I guess when are in the thick of it, it just becomes part of your day. When I look at the amount of paper we have accumulated... it's crazy!

Ann from Red Thread sent us some new pictures of baby Lauryn. This seems to be the most recent...

What a beauty! She is all ours... I can't believe.

Alright... back to my nest!

Keep Happy!

One more thing... Baby Carter came into the world on Friday morning! 8:02 he was born. Kyle and I went to see our friends and their new little bundle. He is a beauty! Welcome to the world little guy! xo

WE ARE OUT OF REVIEW

HUGE step for the Thomson's!
Our LID is out of review.
The CCAA has reviewed files up to and including December 21, 2008!
Our LID (logged in date) is August 26, 2008.

Now we are waiting for our LSC (Letter Seeking Confirmation). This is sent to us from CCAA and once we sign it and send it back to the CCAA they will give us a TRAVEL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Hang on to your hat baby Lauryn! Mommy and Daddy are coming!

Wow!
xo

LOI approved! Here's a little bit about our girl

We have been in a whirl wind around the Thomson house! On Friday February 19, our SW came and presented Lauryn to us formally. Then our letter of intent was approved by China.

We are now waiting for our dossier to be approved and the ministry of Ontario to approve us specifically for Lauryn. We have our first doctors appointment for Lauryn on March 23 at 11:00.

Here is some information on our girl, Baby Lauryn!

Her birthday is July 12, 2008

She is in Guandong Provice, Shantou City (sp.??)

Her Chinese name is Xiaoxia - pronounced shousha, translates to little shrimp!

She is about 20lbs and 30 inches tall.

She loves the water.

She loves to play outside.

She is cooperative when getting dressed.

She loves company, and will cry when a nanny at the orphanage takes kids away from the playroom (ahhh!)

She is closest to her caregivers. They describe her as a lovely child with a ready smile!

She is a moderate sleeper - interesting... Mommy and Daddy are both DEEEEEEEP sleepers!

She is sometimes impatient and obstinate.

She is active, and can walk when one hand is being held.

She rubs her blanket against her cheek when sleeping. Kyle does this too!

She says "Oh, Oh!" like only a precious almost two year old can!

She knows what NO means! haha!

Her favourite toy is a doll that she cuddles in her arms!

She likes to play on the swings.

She likes to eat fish and veggies, milk paste and congee.

She loves to imitate.

When playing, she will sometimes put a box on her head and giggle!!

She likes to be teased!

Kyle and I are over the moon in love. The support from our family and friends has been amazing! Thank you one and all for making this time so filled with joy!

Thanks especially to my Mom and Dad. We have been up many a night talking about how cute everything she does is.

To my wonderful husband who has never worked harder. You are the light of my life, I am so blessed to be sharing this with you!

Hopefully we will travel in a couple of months to bring our girl home! WOW!

Keep Happy

xo

Kyle and I would like you to meet...

Our girl! That's right. OUR GIRL. Is she not the most precious, sweet, darling, angelic, smart, curious, miraculous, adoring, lovable little thing that you have ever laid eyes on?

We think so.

This is Lauryn! We got our referral! She will be presented to us formally on Friday!

Her birthday is July 12, 2008! She is about 20 lbs and about 30 inches tall.

Sorry to have been so quiet about all this. I can't hold it in one second more...

We have our daughter!

Thanks to our family and friends for the loads of support and all the well wishes at such a special time.

She is healthy and happy and just like we imagined her to be. Cute as a button!
She looks full of spirit. I think our hearts have grown triple in size overnight. We are so full of emotion its very hard to post.

Wanted to let the world know that we are mere months away from travelling to bring our baby girl home. If only I could put into words what this means to us. We have a dream come true.

Keep Happy everyone.

xo

Citizenship Application

I am all a glow today!
We received our application to fill out baby Lauryn's citizenship papers!
This whole journey is becoming more real by the minute.
I wish I could say we have travel plans... but not yet.
However, we do have citizenship papers, documents to notarize and fee's to pay! For this I am thankful... we are getting there, one paper, one notarized document and one fee at a time!
YAHOO! Bring on baby!
Kepp Happy!
xo

A little late…

Just a quick post to wish the best Daddy to be a happy birthday.
Kyle’s birthday was on Friday. It’s been such a busy weekend, that there was just no time to write!
You are going to make one incredible Daddy. I can’t wait to witness the
joys that father-hood will bring.
I really think this is your last birthday without her.
All we have been waiting for is right around the corner! So happy to be travelling down
the roads that we are travelling. The world is right when you are by my side.
The world will be perfect when she is between us and we are each able to hold her little hand!
Happy birthday my love! xo

This just in...

Many of you who follow our blog, know that we are still waiting for Lauryn.

We have made some major decisions surrounding our adoption. Kyle and I couldn't be happier. We have switched agencies and programs. We should receive our new application with our new agency early next week.

We have decided to go with China's waiting child program. Also known as the SN program. These kids usually have a minor repairable medical condition. Kyle and I have always considered this. We were very opened from the start to parent a child that we felt we could help. I have made many phone calls to professionals that could assist us in the future with possible medical conditions. They have all been so helpful. These phone calls only confirmed that this is the way our adoption journey was suppose to go!

I have heard the wait time could be anywhere from 8-10 months. Lauryn could be home this year!

Thanks to all involved in assisting us with our decision. You're a wonderful group of people. Kyle and I are thrilled!

Hope everyone is keeping warm! It's cold out there!

Keep happy! I don't think we have stopped smiling all week!