Our Journey to Annabelle

More Photos

2006-01-27T10:43:00.000-05:00

Apple has come out with new software for their iPhoto program and it changed my web page address for my photos - but being as it's a new year, I figure what's one more change! So to see our new photos you can go to :

http://web.mac.com/shellic/iWeb

Plus it lets me blog there also... so this will just serve as a go between for the 2 sites for now!

Gotcha Day Video

2005-12-30T23:39:00.000-05:00

Very very brief gotcha day video... She was so upset, I couldn't video tape her... much. But EG climbed right up beside her and talked to her about everyone in the photo album. My heart breaks to see AB so sad, but now she's such a happy girl that I can't remember her being this way... She's so brave. We love her so MUCH!

http://homepage.mac.com/shellic/iMovieTheater255.html
(or click on the title of this post!)

Yahoo Group

2005-12-24T09:03:00.000-05:00

I was unable to post from China to this blog so all of our posts are at our Yahoo Group called AnnabelleNing.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnnabelleNing/

Annabelle has been home with us for one week and I have to say she was worth every single second of the paper work, the wondering, the confusion, the re-doing of paperwork, the medical exams, the trips to Raleigh, the phone calls to everyone under the sun, the waiting, the waiting, the waiting, the wondering, the waiting some more. She is everything we thought she'd be and more. She's a feisty little ball of energy - who has made us realize that Toddler-hood is universal. Toddlers all over the world are the same... She sings, dances, throws her food, cries when she's tired and hungry and FINALLY is not afraid of the dog & cat!! (We haven't introduced her to the horses, goats, pigs, alpacas or donkey yet.... LOL in time, in time.)

She and her "twin" sister (both are 2) are either totally in love or in total disgust with each other. Both want Mama or DaDa at the same time... both have to use the potty at the same time. Both have to have the same toy (ut oh, Santa's in trouble.. he didn't buy double.) and both are completely perfect, the way they are.

Thanks to everyone here who helped me pass the time while we waited for Annabelle. Who taught me things I didn't know, who gave me insight I never had and who listened to me whine when I needed to... And to those who are still waiting, it is SO worth it. Don't give up. The day will come when you hold your bundle of joy and it will all be worth it.

This will be a Christmas we'll never forget... our first with Annabelle! :)

Our Schedule

2005-11-28T20:42:00.000-05:00

01 DEC 05 - THURSDAY
Leave Greensboro 7:03 AM to Chicago
Arrive in Chicago 810AM
Leave Chicago 1205PM for Beijing

02 DEC 05 - FRIDAY
Arrive in Beijing 3:40PM

06 DEC 05 - TUESDAY
Leave Beijing 1050AM for Xianyang (Arrive 1230PM), where Ning Ning is...
This is the day we get to meet our darling!!
Stay in Xianyang from 12/6 - 12/14

14 DEC 05 - WEDNESDAY
Leave Xianyang 950AM
Arrive in Guangzhou

15 DEC 05 - Consulate Appointment
16 DEC 05 - Official Ceremony at Consulate
17 Dec 05 - LEAVE FOR HOME!
Guangzhou to Beijing Leave 1120AM
Arrive in Beijing 200 PM
Leave Beijing 530PM
Arrive in Chicago 425PM
Leave Chicago 700PM
Arrive in Greensboro 955 PM
Flight 712 United Airlines

Time...

2005-11-26T12:11:00.001-05:00

We leave for the airport in 4 days 16 hours and 47 minutes! I can't wait.

I'm mostly packed -- I unpacked some last night and re-evaluated what I had packed. Daniel has 4 pairs of pants, 4 shirts and 4 pairs of socks & undies. I hope that's enough. I could possibly squeeze in 2 more pair of each for him and then we'd have enough for a good buffer in case we couldn't get to laundry one day.

We will have 2 rooms in Xian and 2 rooms in Guangzhou because I want to be prepared to have a place if Annabelle feels like she needs to cry and grieve. Plus there just won't be room for us all in one room without feeling like we're cramped up and we want this to be stress free.

Ahh. I need to pack swimsuits for everyone. Just in case we can go to an indoor swimming pool. I just asked Daniel if he would swim and that led him to ponder if Ning Ning has even been in a pool or seen a horse or napped while laying beside someone... What experience will we show her that she may never have known before. It will be interesting to see the world through her eyes.

Okay... now I need to go pack the electronics. This should be interesting. My backpack is going to be HEAVY! Anyone seen the video camera?? We found it yesterday and promptly lost it again. I bought a DVD Video Recorder yesterday - a video camera that records to DVDs. Well, the stupid thing will not record to a format that can be read on a Mac so I had to take it back! ::grumble:: I also need to go get a charger for the old laptop today! I feel like my foot is nailed to the floor and I'm going around and around in circles.

TTFN!

Thankful...

2005-11-23T19:59:00.000-05:00

We here at the Craig Household are very thankful for many things - our family, our friends, our animals, Josh's CAP workers - Mr. Phillips, Carrie, April & Courtney... we're thankful for all the things we have and often take for granted that others do not - food, shelter, clothing and love. We are thankful that in just a few days, we will be holding our sweet Annabelle Ning and loving her for the rest of her life. We're thankful for the things we have been given that have allowed us to follow this dream to China.
We're thankful for our healthy children, our own health and happiness and that of our family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving - spend it with someone you love and be Thankful! :)

I have the best friends....

2005-11-21T17:26:00.000-05:00

Look at what my buddies sent me!!!! We each got tshirts with our entire family on them - including Annabelle! OMG! Aren't these the cutest things you have EVER seen!? We'll have to wear them in China! I could have just cried when I opened the box. SOOO sweet. Thank you Seegal (Annabelle's official FIRST AUNTIE), Joy, Jackie, Jen, Mel, Gwen, Paula, Kim, Lysa, Pat & Lissa! OMG! I am just blown away.

Traveling!

2005-11-19T18:35:00.000-05:00

We leave on December 1st and return on December 17th.
Our first part of the trip has us in Beijing from December 2nd to December 5th. On the 6th we fly to Xian to meet Ning Ning/Annabelle. We can't wait. Then we're in Xian from 12/6-12/13 when we fly to Guangzhou on the 14th and then our consulate appointment is on 12/15. Our flight home is on December 17th!

This is a day that we have been waiting for since the moment we saw Ning Ning's photo and knew she was the one. April - December seems like a lifetime, but it also seems just like yesterday that we first saw her darling chubby cheeks.

Please pray that she has an easy transition - and if she doesn't, please pray for us to have the ability to help her reach that point. I think with 2 sisters to play with, she may have so much fun, she'll forget to be sad?? Ha. One can only hope. We're prepared if she's grieving.. we know this is not something she's old enough to comprehend, but then again, she's old enough to know that things are changing. We wish we could let her know how much we love her and we will do anything for her!

I'm done packing already! I have a carry on for each of us, and a backpack for each of us. The only things not packed are the laptop and a few toys. I'm so excited... I have a bunch of new jeans - but they're all too long. On a whim, I tried on a pair of Daniel's and THEY FIT!!! We're now interchangeable. ;) LOL...

Still have some meds to pick up before we go... have to remember to call tomorrow... ::thumping self in head::

TTFN!

TA!!

2005-11-14T14:33:00.000-05:00

We got our Travel Approval today! I was only off by a week!! :) Woohoo!! :)

beautiful...

2005-11-09T20:04:00.000-05:00

One of my friends on my WC DTC group wrote this to her daughter's birth mother in China. I thought it was so beautiful I wanted to share it with you!

Kissing the Moon

Ever so quietly she tip-toes to the gate, she's dressed you in the
finest outfit. She places you where she knows that you will be
found soon. The tears flow freely down her red cheeks. She kisses
you softly on the forehead and wishes the best for the baby she can
not keep.

She waits, the sun is coming up. There is a man on his way to
work. He sees the tiny bundle at the gate. He motions to the
workers inside to come and open up. They take you inside. She
hurries away, she knows that you are now going to be taken care of.

Somewhere she knows what your real birth date is.
Somewhere she knows what your real name is.
Somewhere she knows how much she loved you and wanted the best for
you.
Somewhere she weeps knowing she missed your first tooth and your
fist steps.
Somewhere she looks at the moon hoping that you will find your way
to a family that will love you as much as she does.

Many miles away that family has made room in their hearts for the
little girl that has touched them in so many ways.
Many miles away, that family is making room in their home.
Many miles away, they talk about clothes, and new names for the
little one they have only seen pictures of. Soon they will travel
across a big ocean. They know this is the daughter that was meant
for them.

If there were some way to let her know how much that family will
love and cherish her beautiful baby girl. They will never harm her,
they will support her and take care of her. She will be loved as
though she is one of their own.

When we look at the moon, we hope and pray that she is seeing that
same moon and will know in her heart that her baby is safe.
We love you sweet one. We love the one that did the hardest thing
she's ever had to do. She shall live forever in our hearts as the
one that brought us together.

Thank heavens!

2005-11-08T23:25:00.000-05:00

No TA yet but the next best thing to TA!

Three moms have recently gone to China to bring home babies from Ning Ning's orphanage! One mom was able to meet her and hear her sing in a little group - she said she was a kick and boy could she sing! That tickled me because I had just shared a video with Sherry at HFS - my kids (years ago) singing Jingle Bells. Sherry said "She's been a Craig all along!" :) (click on the title of this post to see the video)

I just got an email from another mom who met her today!!! She met my baby! She said she was adorable and very friendly! She asked what name she was used to being called and they said Ning Ning! WooHoo! That's all I wanted to know. So I won't feel so guilty about calling her Annabelle.. but you know we do call her Ning Ning here all the time. It has become such a household name, I doubt we call her anything else. The mom also said she brought out her daughter's photo album and Ning Ning came running over saying "Mama Mama!" like she had been shown her Mama's photos! ME! She is waiting for ME! :) How exciting. I can't wait to get there and hug her and love her.

I just want to go get her and love her and show her what it's like to have a family who loves her!

The days are creeping by. Fall is fast approaching and the days are shorter - well, they FEEL shorter - but in reality the darkness comes to early and I sit here and think about what she's doing.. and does she know we're coming? Does she know we're working as hard as we can to get there. We're praying for her everyday! I know she's in good hands and that keeps me at peace.

Hold on Ning Ning.. it can't be much longer. It has to be soon!! We love you and want you here with us!

Poem...

2005-11-02T08:51:00.000-05:00

I saw this on another site and thought I would share - it is so befitting! :)

I wish someone had told me
just how it was going to be
to look at your sweet pictures
and see you looking at me
but not be able to hold you
or hug you so very tight
to hear you call me mama
or watch you sleep at night

I wish someone had told me
I'd have to see you cry
but not be there to comfort you
or to gently wipe your eye
I can't pick you up and kiss you
on your cheek so wet with tears
I can't calm you, say I love you
chase away all of your fears

I wish someone had told me
If I do all that I can do
I'll still just be here waiting
and I'll know you're waiting too
but you don't have a mama
and your room is cold and bare
you have no mattress to sleep on
and there's so few toys to share

I wish someone would tell you
that we are coming soon
you have a mommy and daddy
who think you've hung the moon
there's nothing I can do here
only sit and wait
but I promise you my darling
there will soon be a date

I hope that they will tell you
so that you will be prepared
to meet everyone who loves you so
and all this time have cared
we'll pick you up and kiss you
we'll hug away your fears
and when we meet, you'll know its me
for we'll both be wearing tears.

-by Marsha Roberts, mom to Mia

God is Good...

2005-10-27T23:27:00.000-04:00

We have a LID - log in date for our dossier in China. When you send your Dossier to China you are DTC. When China receives it and puts it in their tracking system, you have a LID - Log In Date. Not many people who adopt a waiting child get a LID. WE GOT ONE TODAY! And it's GREAT news. We were DTC on 9/2 and our LID is 9/19! I've seen some recently who were DTC the same day as us and LID was in mid-October. Heartbreaking. I can't even go there. I had made a prediction of TA on 11/7. Hmm.. I'm hoping I'm wrong and it's BEFORE then, but I won't be crushed if it isn't til after then. I will take my TA anyway I can get it - fried, scalloped, par-boiled, baked, broiled or toasted! I DON'T CARE how it gets here, just get here! :)

Just let me say Thank you God, because I have put this in your hands and all my prayers have been answered so far.

Waiting and waiting and waiting

2005-10-17T22:20:00.000-04:00

While the waiting seems endless, we try to keep busy. Heaven knows with these 3 children of mine, there isn't a dull moment.
Between Josh's Horsepower therapy, MacKenzie's Choir, French Club, Art Class and horseback riding, and Emma-Grace's dumpster diving (hehe.. she tried to eat Josh's breakfast out of the trash last weekend! AGGHH!), we are never at a loss for something to do. But that doesn't satisfy me. I reallllly want to go to China.

Most people gain weight whle waiting - I've managed to lose about 50lbs since early February 2005. I had lap-band surgery (www.inamed.com) and I wonder what I would have lost if we weren't WAITING AND WAITING - maybe it should be called WEIGHTING! :) Today I sorted out all the clothes that no longer fit me - and this was the pile I got (first photo!) I bet I had 100 pieces of clothing - and that's just stuff from the attic. There is more in my closet!

Our 13 yr old Rat Terrier, Rizzo, managed to get under the Suburban as we were driving out of the driveway to pick up MacKenzie today :( His leg is broken and he's in the hospital waiting to have surgery tomorrow. Say a little prayer for him. :( He's my oldest child. We've had him since we were dating - so he's really like my child. (My apologies to the neighbors who must have thought the world had come to an end to hear me yelling! ::sigh:: I'm not good in a panic situation. I could never be a nurse. I scream like a girl. ::Sigh::)

Going out on a limb...

2005-10-10T17:58:00.000-04:00

Okay.. I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict our TA arrival. ;) My thoughts are we will have our TA by November 7th. Hey, I could be wrong, but that's okay... So, the countdown begins. 26 more days til TA...

Waiting Children

2005-10-07T12:49:00.000-04:00

Please take a look at the waiting children on our agency's Waiting Children's List! They are so beautiful and need their families to find them! A couple of them are about to have their files returned to China and that just can't happen! Please take a look and share the information with your family and friends. Even if you don't think they would be interested in adopting, mention it. You never know who you will meet that might find their child!!

Learn Chinese via PodCast

2005-10-02T14:51:00.000-04:00

I've seen it all now. You can learn Chinese via a PodCast! I love it. I'm all for anything techno and geeky and this just ranks right up there at the top. I was curious to see what I could find on iTunes / PodCasts about China and lo and behold, there it was. ChinesePod! I subcribed and I've got some interesting stuff to listen to so I can feel more comfortable w/ the Chinese language... Knowing I won't LEARN it, but I would like to understand some of what I hear being said!

Check out http://www.apple.com/itunes

Moon Festival

2005-09-19T00:03:00.000-04:00

We attended the Triad FCC Moon Festival last night.. it was fun. The girls wore their traditional Chinese outfits that I bought them. We were one of 2 families who were there without their child from China. The other family is waiting for a referral. It was so great to see so many beautiful children. Here are some photos of my girls... and maybe one of Josh if he was behaving! :)

LWB cleft trip

2005-09-11T13:34:00.000-04:00

Click on the title of this section to go to this web page... http://lwbchina.blogspot.com/
Love without Boundaries is in China now - a team of doctors/nurses and volunteers are there doing cleft lip & palate surgery for 150 children who wouldn't have it otherwise! Talk about making you cry! Get the tissues! This is just beyond cool.

Interested in Adopting?

2005-09-08T22:19:00.000-04:00

I would like to encourage anyone who is reading about adoption to take the time to look at our agency's Waiting Children's List. There are some beautiful Waiting Children who need their families to find them. Chao, Jian and Zhong, Li & Yu are all beautiful boys that have stolen my heart... and every one of the children on the WC list is precious and is so deserving of a loving family. Please, take a look. You can join the HFS email group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HFSWaitingChild/ and you can get the password to view the children. I would love to see every child find their family. Tell your friends and family about HFS and their waiting children's list.. we need to help these children's families find them SOON!

DTC!

2005-09-02T22:16:00.000-04:00

WooHoo! We're DTC - which in English means, our dossier - the complete package we've been working on since April - has gone to CHINA! The next step is waiting... and waiting for Travel Approval. According to the Almight Roll Call from WCC, the average wait is 69.82 days. That is from the time that China logs in your dossier - commonly known as your LID - Log In Date. SO, we are anticipating traveling after Christmas - unless we get lucky and get TA in time to go before Christmas. But that is highly unlikely. (Not to say I won't pray that it happens!)

So, tonight, I'm sending kisses in the wind to Ning Ning. She's probably already eaten breakfast and is playing with her friends. Does she even know we're coming? In a way, I am glad she's so young that it isn't worrying her! LIKE IT IS WORRYING ME!

I have her photo here on my desktop and looking at it makes me think how much I can't wait to brush her beautiful black hair and kiss her chubby cheeks. Both of our lives - all of our lives - are about to change. It's exciting, scary and every other emotion all at one time!

We plan to celebrate our friend Tonya's Referral & our DTC day soon! What a great week.. so many QT2'ers with good news. Now we need to get those babies HOME!

WOOHOOO

2005-08-28T22:25:00.000-04:00

Our I-171H arrived in Saturday's mail. I am guarding it with my life. I have to take a copy of it to be notarized tomorrow in Raleigh and then send it to the courier.. I had asked if SN Dossiers go out when they're completed or if they have to wait for a stack of NSN Dossiers to go -- and I think mine will go as soon as it's ready. ::crossing toes, fingers & EYES!::

Wow. now I'm dizzy... no more crossing of the eyes... ;)

So... we could possibly be done by the end of the week? I'm assuming the courier could get our stuff turned around that fast? I have no clue. We'll see.

The other day I was carrying Emma-Grace & I slipped on a slingshot that was in Josh's floor. I went up in the air and down on my hip & shoulder. MAN, do I feel old. I feel like I was in a car wreck or something. Emma-Grace was fine - I think she bumped her head a little but not bad. I was more MAD at myself than hurt... until the next day when I started feeling it! Yeowch.

I have become addicted to digital scrapbooking. STOP ME NOW. :) LOL.. I have probably done 20 pages in a week. This is like a record for me. I haven't touched a paper page in FOREVER. This is what I've wanted to do for so long - I just didn't have the right tools! Now I'm using Photoshop Elements 3.0 and getting kits from all over the web... Here's a link: http://homepage.mac.com/shellic/2005 and look for the Digital Pages links at the bottom.. Then you can see all my babies too... big, medium & small ;)

Night! I need SLEEP.

What a difference a DAY makes!

2005-08-26T09:26:00.000-04:00

Our WONDERFUL Homestudy Agency, Nathanson Adoption Services, called me yesterday to let me know they got the fax I was waiting on and Helene sent it to the USCIS person via fax who then emailed Helene with the info that our I-171H (Approval from Homeland Security to adopt) was going out in FRIDAY'S MAIL!!!!! WOOHOO! We'll either get it Saturday or Monday! I can't wait. This means ... that we NOW REALLY GET TO WAIT. LOL..

People seem to look at me funny when I say "We got our final piece of paper we were waiting for.. and now we get to wait more!" And I'm actually HAPPY about it. :) The average wait for Travel Approval (or TA) is 70 days from the date your Dossier is logged in to China's system (known as your LID - Log In Date) Once you are logged in, you wait for China to invite you to their country to adopt. When they send you this invitation (TA), your agency then can make arrangements for an appointment with the Consulate to complete your adoption. Most people travel within a month of receiving TA. I would REALLLLY like to get TA by Daniel's birthday - November 5th. I know that's asking a lot... ;) But then we could travel early in December and be home before Christmas. ::crossing fingers and toes::

So... as soon as I get this I-171H in the mail, I make a photocopy of it, have it notarized as a true copy, take it to Raleigh to the Sec. of State's Office and have it authenticated and then I send that to the courier in DC who will expedite it through the state department and embassy! Sounds all important like an episode of 24 or something, huh? (mindlessly drifting into a daydream about Kiefer Sutherland...) Oh.. sorry.... LOL

Okay.. so that's where we stand until next week when we get to run all over like crazy people... (wait, we ARE crazy people...)

For those of you in NC, I highly recommend Nathanson Adoption Services. Helene has been nothing but wonderful when it comes to our homestudy and helping us get this process completed. She has what it takes to get it done! (Plus she'll even eat chocolate on your behalf) http://www.nathansonadoption.com

Grrr.

2005-08-23T22:04:00.000-04:00

If I hear this song one more time, I'm going to go postal. LOL.. My DH is playing the song from the last episode of Six Feet Under (where Claire is driving away) over and over and over and over. He doesn't even realize it, I'm sure but I'm REALLY sick of hearing it. That last episode made me cry all night. The fact that our lives are so short and that we all die - just really made me sad. I've felt that way since Emma-Grace was born - the thought of dying & leaving my children or Daniel - or him dying & leaving us - has just haunted me. I try to think of the ways to make life happy and bring joy to others - but then the thought that it all ends and life goes on without us... it just makes me dreadfully sad.

It's almost as hard to grasp as the "infinite space" theory - where does outerspace end? I think of that and my brain just aches! LOL.. (It doesn't take much)....

But this song is making me so sad. I'm STILL waiting on the Clerk of Court in FL to send a letter stating that they have no records for Daniel's "outcome" of his ticket. I overnighted the $$ and the request.. she got it on Monday! Why is it taking so long? I could have written it and just got her to sign it! I just wanted it faxed and I also sent an overnight FedEx package to send it to my HS agency so she can send it to USCIS. I'm SO tired of waiting on people who don't give a (*#$&(#*& about what I need. I just feel so defeated today - like this will never end. We'll never be DTC. We'll never get TA. We'll never travel. It could be SPRING before we travel and then I think I'd just lay in the floor and cry for days if that happened. I feel like everyone else in the world is DTC but us. :( And I busted my behind and had my homestudy done in MAY... and here it is almost September and we're no closer! This just SUCKS.

I think I'm going to say a prayer and go to bed.

Kisses in the Wind

2005-08-22T21:58:00.000-04:00

KISSES IN THE WIND

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.
--- Unknown

Oh man, did this poem just break my heart. It so describes how I feel about this adoption process. I worry that she is waiting for us, wondering where we are. We sent our photos back in June.. and here it is.. September is just around the corner and we're barely any closer to going to China. I hope and pray that the USCIS Charlotte office will get our letter from Florida tomorrow and that our I-171H will go out by Friday. Please, Lord, I'm begging. (But like my new favorite song "Help Somebody" says "If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans." I am not in charge, I guess. For some reason, we aren't meant to go soon... But I have to say that if the wait to be DTC is this hard, then the wait for TA may kill me. ::sigh:: I'm so sad. I don't understand why much of this is necessary - but you give me a hoop and I'm going to jump through it... twice if I have to. I don't like to dawdle or delay when it comes to getting things done - but it seems that everyone else in the world is functioning their own speed... and the faster I go, the slower the world goes at giving me what I need to keep going! AGGGH.

Ning Ning... we are trying so hard to get there. We talk about you 100 times a day. Emma-Grace picks up the phone and says "Hello Ning Ning" and when she sees your picture, she says Ning Ning! It is as if she is waiting, wondering where her new best friend is... and I can't wait to get you two together. I don't expect some blissful meeting - I expect 2 toddlers who will have their moments of toddler-tude... but I know that she will adore you and that you will be loved more than any child could want to be loved. MacKenzie is already such a big help with Emma-Grace. She puts her shoes on and TRIES to dress her (Hard to dress a raging bull... ::grin::)

But this tough spot will be past us soon and when it's all in the past, we will rarely think of it... it's like the last 2 months of being pregnant. It's awful - but God let's you forget so you can do it again.... and NEXT TIME we're adopting a boy - probably a boy with limb differences or hand differences. I know a great OT!! ::grin::