Letter to Ava

Dear Ava,
Today, you are 19 months old. In one week, you will be with us. It's so hard to imagine. Will you recognize us from the pictures we sent? Will you be scared? Will you even like us?

I don't know the answers but I do know that although we've never met, I love you. No matter what.

Mommy and Daddy are busy getting ready for our trip. We leave in just 4 days. Your brother and sister can't wait to meet you -- and I can't wait to give you a great big hug.

Soon, sweet girl, very soon.
Love,
Mommy

We're going to China!

We have Travel Approval! After 412 days of waiting for one thing after another, we're done [insert deep breath]. We're leaving March 2. We'll meet our baby girl on March 5 and we're coming home March 14. I am so excited!

Please pray for safe, healthy travels and a smooth transition for our little one. I can hardly believe it - Ava will be with us in only 17 days!

Letter to Ava

Dear Ava,
Mommy is so very tired of waiting. I pray everyday that you will soon be with us. And you will - probably next month. But, right now, that feels like forever.
I think of you so often. I wonder what you’re doing, what you’re eating, who you’re playing with. It comforts me to know that you have no idea what’s about to happen but, sometimes, that even makes me a little sad. I hope you are ready for us! Daddy and I are so excited to meet you. To hug you. To bring you home. You look so happy in your pictures. We know what you look like; now we just want to know you.

You need to know a thing or two about Daddy and me, and your brother and sister. We’re a little crazy. The good kind of crazy, though. We like to be silly. We like to be busy. We like to have fun. Boy, are you going to have fun! Jackson is your brother. He’s very sweet, and he’ll be very protective of you. He’ll look out for you when you start school and is eager to help you learn new things. Your sister, Molly, will have you speaking English in no time because, seriously, she never ever stops talking. And she loves talking about you! She even pretends to call you on her toy phone. She can be a little snippy, but your brother will have your back. Don’t you worry.

Daddy has big plans for you - and one of them involves golf clubs. Your brother and sister don’t much care for Daddy’s favorite pastime, so you might be his last hope. And, another thing about Daddy: he’s a softy. He tries to act like some hard-core disciplinarian. He’s not. If you want something that you don’t need, go to Daddy. He probably won’t tell you no - especially if you show him that sweet smile of yours. Just ask your brother and sister - they work him over without him even knowing it. Mommy is the one with the patience. Always remember that.

Little Bit, we are so ready for you to be with us. Your bag is packed. Your room is waiting. You have a family who loves you so much. Daddy and I will be there soon. I promise.

I love you,
Mommy

Waiting...

We are so close to traveling, yet it seems so far. Right now, we're waiting for Travel Approval - the very LAST step in this process. The average wait for Travel Approval is 22 days. We're on day 4. Most families get theirs on a Monday so February 27 just might be the day. Or sooner. Sooner would be good. Or later. Not going to think about later.

After Travel Approval, our agency will work on our itinerary while we're in China and, once
that is set, we can get our plane tickets. If I had to guess, I'd say we're leaving mid-March. We'll fly to Shanghai and get Ava in the first few days. We'll spend about a week in Shanghai, and another week in Guangzhou. Then we'll take a train to Hong Kong, spend the night and fly home from there. I started packing Ava's things today. Trying to do as much as I can now because once our TA comes, I probably won't be able to think straight.

I asked for an update on Ava last week so, hopefully, I'll have more to share very soon.
A new picture. A new look at those sweet, chubby cheeks. Now that just might get me through the next few weeks!

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