Good News and Great News!

We hit the jackpot today. First we woke to updated pictures and information about Jaxon. He looks great and is doing very well. This first group of pictures were taken this week. We know this because he is holding two of the books we sent him in his care package. The pictures of the white shirt were probably taken within the past month or so. Notice the difference on how is hair is grown out. Isn't he just the cutest thing EVER! We are especially thrilled with the pictures of him with the books because this assures us that he received the care package and he now has pictures of us and his big sister. Hopefully he will study them hard and won't be so scared when he meets us for the first time. And look, he's a climber. Oh boy!
Second, we got our NVC letter in the mail today. I have already scanned it and sent it off to our agency. It will go to China tomorrow. Only two more steps to go. 1. Getting Jaxon's VISA application approved--no, not a credit card--that will come much later............ His travel VISA issued by the American Consulates office to come into the USA. 2. Our travel approval--once we get this, we will be able to book our flights HOORAY.

Confusion........Oy

So, today I have good news, bad news and just plain confusion. Good news is that we got the official approval of our I-800. Previously, we just had an emailed copy. Bad news--we still don't have our NVC letter. Eric was able to get through to them yesterday and they told him that our documents had been completed and cabled to Guangzhou, China. Hopefully, in the next few days, we will get the official NVC letter. Our agency has confirmed that they are going to be sending our 'stuff' to the American Consulates office in Guangzhou, China on Friday even if they don't have our NVC letter. These last few steps are confusing to us as they are new requirements since I adopted Abigayle back in 2006. We think, through Eric's conversation with the National Visa Center, that our I-800 had to go to their office so they could put a 'stamp' on it and send it to China--like the I-800 people couldn't figure out where to send it. Huh....... OK, well, whatever it takes to get us to our boy. We are sooooooo close. We are still hoping to leave the very end of August. Cross our fingers, toes and anything else we can.

On a separate note, we got some of Abigayle's old toys out of the attack this past weekend, cleaned them and installed new batteries. Most of the toys will be too young for him, but we figure he is missing some basic skills, from living in an orphanage, that he needs to learn. He will get more age appropriate toys for his b-day and then Christmas.

Birthday #2

So, I have been reminded by my MIL that I forgot to load pictures of Abigayle's 2nd b-day party. This one was held at Sweet n Sassy with her cousins and friends. After choosing a princess dress, and getting their hair and makeup done, they danced their little hearts out on the runway. I don't think Abigayle stopped smiling the entire 2 hours. Happy 5th Birthday Sweetie. We love you.

Great Grandma's Swimsuit

Every year since Abigayle was 1 year old, I take her picture on her b-day in her Great Grandma Kreidels swimsuit. It is an amazing way to see how she grows each year. This year Grandma Kreidel turns 90. I wonder how old that makes the swimsuit? Pictured below are the pictures I have taken each year on her birthday. The most startling difference to me is how much leg shows as Abigayle has gotten older.

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old
5 years old

And here they are together earlier this year.

So, PaPa and/ or Grampy need to start digging out their old swimsuits so that we can carry on the tradition with Jaxon.

A Belated Happy Father's Day

To Eric, Dad and Grampy, I wish you all a very Happy Father's Day. Abigayle dressed in her Daddy's favorite cloths--his Tommy Bahama shirt, the gray T-shirt, boat shoes and caps. Doesn't she look adorable. Next year, Eric will have two munchkins to wish him a happy day.

Care Package

We have put together a few things to send to Jaxon. Now that we have received our official LSC from China, we are allowed to do this. We included: books, a family picture album, a stuffed monkey, 'Cars' dominoes, snacks, candy for the nannies, two outfits, a blanket, and a disposable camera. On Monday I will head to the Fed Ex office with the box of goodies.

Jaxon's room has decorations!

We are getting there. Jax's room is coming together.

Abigayle's 5th Birthday

Our sweet, wonderful, incredible little girl is 5 years old. Party #1--Grammy, PaPa, Daddy and I took Abi to Galveston for the day. We did some shopping on the Strand and in the souvenir stores. She had her first Strawberry Margarita--don't mind the onion ring hanging out of her mouth..... Happy Birthday Abigayle!

(Stay tuned for her 5th portrait pics and party #2 pics)

My 40th Birthday

My family and a few friends threw me a surprise party for my 40th Birthday. I pride myself on sensing things from others, but I was completely caught off guard this time. I had not a clue. Thanks all for a wonderful day.

LSC Approval

GUESS WHAT-- We have received word from our agency that our expedite request has been processed by the Chinese Government and we have been approved! We are officially approved to be Jaxon's parents! We are so excited. Unfortunately Eric is in Washington right now, so our celebrations will begin when he gets home tomorrow. To answer everyones question about when we will travel--we don't know. The official word from the agency is that it can take 3 months from LSC to travel, but we are hoping to travel in about 8 weeks. 8 weeks--that is the end of August. Again, these are my projections, nothing official--we may not travel until October. Stay tuned for further updates!

Kendra

wife to Eric

mommy to Abigayle AND Jaxon

PS--It took 39 days from LID to LSC. Adoptive families will understand what this means.