Riley

Riley wanted to say hello! He is enjoying Texas and loves sleeping outside in the sun. He is getting braver and walking around the hot tub. One night he slipped and got his foot wet! He did not like that! We had to up his thyroid medicine and now he is back to his old self! He likes sleeping on the landing with his feet dangling off the stair. Isn't he just precious!!!

No news to report about our adoption. Greg and I are doing well and looking forward to March Madness! Go Kansas!! Love, Alicia

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year! 2007 is the year of the Pig. Feburary 18, 2007 marks the first day of the New Year in China. If you were born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995 - you were born under the sign of the pig also. Legend has it that in ancient times, Budda asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He said that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in pig years tend to have excellent manners, make and keep friends, work very hard, and appreciate luxury. They are very loving and make loyal partners.

The Chinese New Year is the most celebrated holiday in China. It is also the longest holiday lasting for 15 days. Red is the color of choice as it is believed to signify fire. Fire is believed to ward off evil spirits. People wear and decorate with red. Children receive "lucky money" in red envelopes. Fireworks are a big hit also. It is believed that the loud popping sounds scare off evil spirits also. Families come together to eat, drink, and be merry! Sounds familiar!

On the 15th day of the New Year is the lantern festival. In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon—which might stretch a hundred feet long—is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets.

Last night Greg and I celebrated the New Year by eating at Pei Wei. If we get our referral in early spring 2008 then Mari will be born the year of the Pig! What a wonderful year 2007 will be! Have a great weekend.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Timeline for our Adoption

• September 23, 2005 - Signed with Christian World Adoption
• September 30, 2005 - Greg sends Alicia a list of names he likes...our baby girl gets her name, Mari Olivia
• October 5, 2005 - Contacted Catholic Charities about our Homestudy
• October 12, 2005 - Ordered Birth Certificates and Marriage Certificate
• October 13, 2005 - Elizabeth is our witness to send our initial documents to CWA
• October 18, 2005 - Mailed application and check to CWA
• October 20, 2005 - Received access to China iplanner
• October 25, 2005 - Talked with Virginia our case manager at CWA
• December 10, 2005 - Have fingerprints taken at local police station in North Dakota
• January 25, 2006 - Find out Greg's fingerprints were good but Alicia's were not readable...just my luck!
• February 3, 2006 - Alicia has fingerprints redone
• February 7, 2006 - Alicia turns 31!
• February 16, 2006 - A new niece arrives...Lilly Kate is born!
• February 23, 2006 - Fingerprints are back and they are good! We can begin our homestudy!
• March 6, 2006 - 1st meeting with Amy our social worker for our homestudy
• March 30, 2006 - 2nd meeting with Amy
• April 3, 2006 - Go home to meet Lilly
• May 19, 2006 - 3rd and final homestudy visit, this time at our house
• June 16, 2006 - Greg turns 31! Happy Birthday!
• June 19, 2006 - Multicultural Families training in Fargo, ND required for homestudy
• June 20, 2006 - Alicia has Physical and lab work
• June 27, 2006 - Had passport photo taken and applied for passport...Happy Birthday Heather!
• June 21, 2006 - Mailed our I-600 to USCIS (this form is asking for permission to adopt a foreign born child)
• June 28, 2006 - Received 1-600 back with our FBI clearance appointment date
• July 3, 2006 - Greg has physical and lab work
• July 9, 2006 - We celebrate our 12 year Anniversary!
• July 11, 2006 - Went to Fargo to have FBI fingerprints done
• July 17, 2006 - Our Homestudy is finalized
• August 4-10, 2006 - Went on vacation to see Alicia's parents
• August 12, 2006 - Waiting in the mail was our much anticipated I-171H today! (This form is from the Department of Homeland Security it gives us permission to adopt a foreign born child) Also in the mail are our passports.
• August 14, 2006 - We had our documents Authenticated in Bismarck, ND by the Secretary of State
• August 17, 2006 - Fedex'd our dossier to a courier in Washington D. C. she will take them to the United States Department of State and then to the Chinese Consulate
• August 24, 2006 - FedEx'd our Dossier to CWA!!! All our paperwork is done...it took forever it seems!
• August 25, 2006 - Virginia received our Dossier
• August 31, 2006 - Dossier to China (DTC)
• September 22, 2006 - We have a LID (this is the date that we entered into China's system. All referrals are based on this date!) We are officially "Paper Pregnant"!
• September 29, 2006 - Greg received a promotion...we will be moving to Houston, TX!!
• October 22, 2006 - Received a beautiful dress for Mari from CWA
• November 1, 2006 - Greg leaves for Houston, TX
• November 12, 2006 - Alicia leaves Minot, ND for Houston, TX
• December 4, 2006 - Sold our home in North Dakota
• December 8, 2006 - Bought our new home in Texas!
• December 12, 2006 - Move into our new home...there is no place like home!

Welcome

Welcome to our blog. Greg bought a new XBox 360 this weekend so I set out to create this blog. Please bear with me as I have never done something like this before! I went to find "Blogging for Dummies" but I couldn't find it. I will continue searching!

The blog will mainly have information about our journey to Mari. We wanted to give all our friends and family a chance to follow us to parenthood. I often get bored though so I can see me throwing in tidbits about life in Texas! Which by the way has been great!

The wait for Mari continues. Our case worker tells us maybe sometime next Spring. We will have our Homestudy repeated in the fall as your homestudy has to be from the current state you live in.

I turned 32 this week and let me tell you that was not easy since I am still NOT a MOMMIE!!! I went to our park with my niece Summer and saw all the mommies with their double strollers and I wanted to gag! Is that terrible of me or what! I know God has a plan for us but somedays it is hard to remember that!