Travel approval has arrived!

We got our travel approval!! I'm a little late in updating the blog, there has been a lot to do! We received our TA on Thursday April 17, and on Friday we received confirmation of our consulate appointment.  I have been busy booking flights, hotels, and trains! The consulate appointment is what your entire adoption trip is scheduled around so we were excited to have a confirmed date so quickly. We will be leaving April 30 and returning May 16.

Our passports have been mailed off for visas, and although my stomach is in knots, we should have them back in our hands no later than Monday. Don't forget, we leave Wednesday... Now you understand why I'm a wee bit anxious ;)

We will start our trip with touring in Beijing and allow our bodies to adjust to the time change. We will get to visit the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and more. We will pick up Chloe in her province's capital on May 5 at which point we will apply for her passport, visit her orphanage, and make her legally a Lyttle. We will then head to Guangzhou to do medical tests, apply for her visa, and US citizenship. By the time our two weeks is over, Chloe's life (and ours) will have drastically changed.

Although everyone is ecstatic to hear the news, I have noticed one child that is having a difficult time with the idea of Mommy being gone two weeks. Poor little girl is just realizing that Mommy won't be able to tuck her in at nght, or be down the hall when she wakes up in the night. She is having rough nights as her anxiety keeps her up for hours after bedtime, and often wakes her up in the middle of the night. It is no fun! Prayers are appreciated for all of us during the trip, including Nana, Poppa, and Uncle, who will be holding down the fort while we are gone. We are very lucky to live close to family, our kids will be well loved and taken care of while we are gone. 

We are so close! 8 more sleeps until China! Hold on Chloe, we are coming soon! 

Proudly wearing their Big Brother shirts.