Emma Rose is it!

Yep. We finally decided on a name and Emma Rose has won. We think it suits her face in her pictures. Updates this week- We sent her a care package this weekend that contained a teddy bear, blanket, toys, clothes, and cameras. Hopefully, the cameras will be returned when we go to get our girl and will have tons of pictures on them of her and her cribmates and nannies. We sent off our visas as well via courier service. Other couples are receiving their TA's this week. This is the official Travel Approval that China issues before you can go there. After we receive this approval- we can then start making travel arrangements to China. Things seem to be moving very slowly right now! Hurry up!!!!

It's been 1 week!

One week ago we got that amazing phone call that told us that we had a little girl. Last Thursday, we received her pictures, and on Friday we got the packet in the mail containing all of her paperwork. Those 3 days were surreal. We spent all of Saturday showing her off to people and sending emails with her picture attached. Sunday we heard from our doctor that Snow Flower is very healthy and all of her medical charts looked good. We signed the acceptance papers Sunday night and mailed them back to our agency on Monday. What a whirlwind of a week!!!!
Now it is Wednesday again and it is starting to sink in. I have a daughter. I have a baby girl. She is waiting for me halfway around the world. Everytime I look into her soulful eyes in her picture- I feel a longing unlike any feeling I have ever known. A longing to have her in my arms- a longing to tell her that she has a home, and a mommy and daddy that will never leave her. It is a week for reflection and internalization of all of the emotions that I have felt over the last week. I just can't believe she is mine- finally!!!

Jennifer

Introducing "Snow Flower" Brown!!!

Here she is! Isn't she just the cutest thing in the world? Vanous and I are overjoyed, excited, and nervous all at the same time. We think she has a very serious look in her eyes- like she is studying the photographer very hard. And just look at the double chin- she must be eating well. The entire family is just amazed with her and can't wait until we get our hands on her. Now we just have to decide on her name for sure. We have a list, and Rose is definitely a part of her name- but we can't seem to decide on the rest. Well, we've only had 2 years to think about it. You all know us, we are very slow decision makers. For right now she is still- Little Rose or Snow Flower. What a week it has been!

It's a Girl!

We just got the call this afternoon. We have a baby girl, born on January 12, 2007. (only 8 months old- YEA!)

Her name is Xue Hua, which means Snow Flower.
She is in the Sichuan Province in the city of Chongqin.
She is at the Dianjiang Social Welfare Institute of Chongqin.

Her medical report looks good. It says she is a good sleeper and is active through the day. She likes music toys
and likes to talk to her caretakers. (likes to sleep, likes music, likes to talk, yep- she is ours)

We don't have a picture yet but are expecting one tomorrow and our package on Friday.
WE are sooo excited to finally be parents!!!

Map of China

We're Matched!!

The CCAA released today that they have matched families with LID up to Nov. 25, which includes US!!!! Since today is Labor Day, no one is working and the mail is not running, so I will have to wait an extra day to find out anything. But it will be this week!! I can't believe that I wil be looking at my baby's face in the next couple of days. Stay tuned. I will be posting all of the information as well as pictures as soon as I have them. Can you tell that I'm excited? How will I teach tomorrow?