Taiwan Adoption Round 2

We have received more gifts from our friends and family through the registry and it has been so fun thinking about our little girl opening and using the things that so many have sent. It is amazing to us that so many people care about us and our children. What a blessing it has been. I have to say thank you to the Smiths, Miller's, and Barnett's (sorry if we forgot anyone off hand) for the gifts we received most recently in addition to the others we have already thanked and received from. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

We finally added the bathroom set to the registry that we knew we wanted to get but couldn't decide on the actually theme. We know that most likely we wont get the pieces but thought we would let everyone know what we were lacking and hey if she got it then good and if not we will just wait a while to do it. No biggy. Ti loves the Zoo and all the animals so we chose the jungle as the them for her (and Landon's) bathroom. Landon could care less obviously but we chose the one that was not girly but something she and he would both love. It is fun, bright and since Landon thinks there are monsters in the bathroom now, hopefully he won't rub off on her with a nice cheery bathroom!
It is so wonderful to be able to share our journey and have the support we all feel from our Internet groups, friends, and family. We know that we are not going to be able to watch the group most likely as closely once Ti is home at least for a few months. We will have to focus on our daughter and son's adjustment and I feel a small loss and sadness for that. I do know that everyone will be there when I have questions to ask but cant get back to posting how things went when we try your advise. I know that I can count on any of you if I have to make that quick call or email, if I am frustrated, depressed, and if/when I am overjoyed and speechless. Adoption is such an amazing journey the whole way. With ups, downs and unexpected turns. I am brought to tears so often by the entire experience of ours and our friends as we all bring home our children, learn of our kids, and experience parenting first hand. My excitement builds each day as I envision this little girl waltzing through our house with her long beautiful hair, pitter patter feet, high pitched little voice, smiles and tears. I think of our son following her around, bugging her, asking "why her...", copying her as best he can, squeezing between her and us, and calling her sissy. Our lives will change forever. Our daughter is coming home. We will be a family of four. We will try and learn how to juggle 2 kids and our ever changing schedules while we strive for normalcy and adjustment. We can't wait to meet her and find out what makes our little girl tick. What makes her cry, what makes her smile, what makes her laugh. How she has grown and became the child she is for the last 6 years we have missed. How do we make up that time? How we will morn for the life and years we missed with her and how we will morn the life she missed without her parents. How we were not able to protect her when she needed it. We accept it but that isn't to say it doesn't hurt when we think about it and I am sure that pain will come more as we experience so much with her and how happy that makes us, but wishing we had even more. Greed for a time we feel we should have been there for but were not. Not disregarding the love and life she has had for the last 4 years either. So allot of feelings these last few days and many conversations between Greg and I. I think it is all normal to think, fear, wonder and be overjoyed with excitement. I think Greg has cried more times the last week and half than I did all year. My silly, sappy, emotional husband, how I love him and am so thankful that he is our children's father.

Again, thank you all for your support. blessings and your celebration with us. I know I keep saying it but I feel like there is no real way to show our gratitude. I just feel so blessed in my heart :) Love you guys! Woohoo we leave in 23 days!

OHHH, And a HUGE thank you to all the families that are participating in the Chung Yi Christmas drive. We are so excited to be able to do this for the kids of Chung Yi and are thrilled at the families that have choose to help. As we read the letters we are so excited for the kids and know that this will make such a difference in their lives now and when they are older and see and read how a family a world away thought about them!