More Photos

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

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

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

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...

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...

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....

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!

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!!

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

beautiful...

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.