1 MORE DOCUMENT!!! and projects while we wait...

That is right folks! Just waiting on the I-171H to be authenticated (mailed to the consulate today) and then we can be DTC! The remainder of our docs are at the agency as we speak going through review (hoping they pass with flying colors!)......our last docs to travel through authentication at the Houston Consulate were in and out in 8 days- (and that is counting the weekend).....here's to hoping it is even faster since we are far enough away from the holiday's to not still be feeling that backlog......during moments of sanity I laugh at myself because being a military family we are soooooo used to the motto "hurry up and wait"......boy this process is just like that! I did, however, take up a few projects to make the waiting go faster- problem is I've been a "Martha Stewart on speed" so they projects are taking 2 days max to complete! I'll post pics of the rag quilt I made for Cai Wei's crib......it was my first sewing project- and I'm self taught so be nice! I should take pics now since I've washed it....the "ragging" that happens after a trip through the washer and dryer is amazing!
The next project is sanding down a table the boys had- they have a lot of kid sized tables so bringing another one into the house was not an option (so says Spaceman!) so I've decided to girl up the boys animal table- I'm painting it white and then I'll paint one of the chairs pink and the other purple.......I'll put it in her room with a little tea set on it and hopefully the end result will match the vision in my head!
Any other ideas for projects while we all wait?

Me? White wine?

You Are White Wine

Breezy and casual, you know how to have fun when you're drinking. And even though you can kick back with a few drinks, you never let things get out of hand. Alcohol is not a social lubricant for you... it just enhances your already sparkling personality. You prefer to date a man who is optimistic, friendly, and funny.

found this on Shannon's site (Pickle Chatter in the sidebar).......tend to think of me more as a red wine but hey, who am I to argue with an internet quiz! go check it out!!!!!

What Alcoholic Drink Are You?

Opinions?

Anyone have this doll or has anyone seen one in person? I am considering getting this doll for Cai Wei and bringing it to China- I like that it is a rag doll- I also like that the pacifier is magnetic and that I can get it new for under $20 on eBay!
It is made by Manhattan toys and she is called Baby Stella- she comes in Peach or Beige......they also carry a stroller, clothes and accessories for her- kind of cute, don't you think?

***** only waiting on our NY documents and our I-171H to come back from authentication- How exciting is that!

HOT HOT HOT

yup- that is right folks, the I-171H is hot off the press and in my possession!!!! It feels really good to be over that hurdle........tonight we celebrate.....worry about the rest tomorrow!

God help us........

Bush to order about 20,000 more troops to Iraq

I am in no way a political genious- but...
I'm saddened that more of our countrymen/women will have to lay down their lives for this war.
I'm saddened that Mothers and Fathers will say goodbye to their children hoping and praying it is not the last time.
I'm saddened that wives/husbands will spend endless nights praying for their spouses return.
I'm saddened that some will spend the next few weeks on pins and needles wondering if their loved one will be sent.
I'm saddened that children will not understand why daddy/mommy is leaving AGAIN.
I'm saddened that men will not see their babies be born.
I'm saddened that most of us grew up without knowing war and our children can not say the same thing.......
Today, I'm sad.
Today I pray that God will speak to the leaders of our nation, that they will listen and work hard to find a different way.

CNN, Paula Zahn and the FBI

okay- 2 of these things are related and one is off topic........CNN and Paula Zahn's attempt at ammends was lame and crappy at best- yes, I publically said crappy. That is truly all of the attention I am giving last nights version of an apology.....if you want my opinion on the matter check out any other person with a blog in the Chinese Adoption Community.......done.

FBI- well, my fingerprints should be back today- I should know whether this set was acceptable or not.....but no, the universe has one last laugh at me and decides to "break" the computer at "the ladies" desk- they also ordered the wrong part- so who knows how long I'll be waiting for this to sort itself out- I find it very hard to believe that the Orlando office has one computer to retrieve this information on.......hmmmmm makes me think they'll be asking for more money some time soon!

More Cai Wei!!!!!

I have no idea why the pictures are being posted so oddly but here she is! More pics! This is just what I needed this morning to take my mind off of the latest hurdle and truthfully it gave me the energy and motivation to plug along at warp speed! She is getting so big- and we are so eager to bring her home and love on those cheeks!!!! It was so good to see the picture of her crawling- we have been wondering if she was doing this and it makes me think she isn't going to be too far behind her peers in skills........It is good to see she has the muscle strength needed to do this. Her lip looks great too- I've blown up these pics looking for any sign that maybe she'll need more surgery and although I'm no expert......it sure looks good to me! I can't wait to bring her home! Aghhhhh those eyes!!!!!!

Are you freaking kidding me?

I have been stalking the mailman- seriously stalking him.....I sit in my window and watch him slowly drive down the other side of the street- and when he hits a certain house I know it is time to put on my shoes and get down to the mailbox.........I "just know" every morning that my I-171H is going to be there....well, when it wasn't there AGAIN on Thursday I called my social worker who had an email address for "the lady"....I emailed her not expecting to hear anything back but the typical.....we are processing your application as quickly as possible....blah blah blah......well- NO I WAS WRONG. Instead I heard......well- I just sent out a letter today (Thursday the 4th of Jan) that your wife will need to redo her fingerprints.....WHAT- ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I had them done originally on Nov. 4th- so it took 2 months to figure out they weren't good prints? (digital prints, mind you). and to date.....I still do not have the letter. THANK GOD that the women is kind and compassionate- I told her that Cai Wei is waiting for us and she emailed me to get myself up to Orlando by 1pm on Saturday and they'd find a way to fit me in (wasn't too hard either since we were the only people in the waiting room!) so now we wait again to find out if these prints are good. She promised she'd let me know either way ASAP and no later than Wed. plus, I kept her phone number........I'll be stalking her now!

The only good thing that came from this is I haven't cleaned a thing from Thursday until I came home today- convinced my husband that it was from cleaning products and we really couldn't risk it! He suggested maybe I should get a manicure to help the hands along......but called me out when I suggested that maybe a pedicure too would help even more!!!!!!!
If you are the praying type.....send a few to the fingerprint Gods!