Care package sent to Charlotte while we wait

In advance of our arrival, we sent a care package to Charlotte and the orphanage staff using a wonderful service provided by Ann at Red Thread China. Ann runs a service to help families send care packages to their children while they wait for travel. For more information about Red Thread China, please visit www.redthreadchina.com.

In our care package to Charlotte, we included tea and cookies for the staff and nannies that care for her, a security blanket, and a beautiful little dress. We also sent a camera and asked the staff to take photos of Charlotte. Ann also translated a letter we wrote to the director.

Ann sent us these photos of our package before she sent it on its way to our beautiful baby girl. Only 18 more sleeps before we board the plane to our destiny.

Travel Itinerary

August 11--depart for Beijing, China
August 12--arrive in Beijing, China
August 13, 14--free time--shopping and site-seeing
August 15--fly to Changsha, China
August 16--"family day"--meet Charlotte for the first time
August 17--complete the adoption registration and notarization process
August 18, 19--get to know Charlotte and the province she was born
August 20--receive Charlotte's passport
August 21--return to Beijing
August 22--tour of Great Wall of China
August 23--Charlotte's medical examination and appointment at Canadian Embassy
August 24--tour of Summer Palace
August 25--tour to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
August 26--free day
August 27--return home

Getting ready for Charlotte

We're busy preparing Charlotte's room--of course, I chose the hottest time of the year to paint her room. I can't wait to finally take things out of their boxes (some things I've had for 8+ years when we were going through infertility treatments) and make it a real child's room.

It seems so surreal—I can't adequately express in words how my heart feels. This journey has taken us on a very windy road to Charlotte--we were in China's queque for 4 years, 1 month, and 13 days.

I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I just wish I knew the master plan many years ago. However, I know that I have grown from our many experiences--good and bad. Through our most difficult times, my mantra was "that which doesn't kill me will make me stronger." I have to believe that I am the person I am today because of these experiences. I think I'm prepared to handle the challenges that a toddler will bring naturally.

Charlotte has stolen a huge part of both of our hearts. I can't help but play over and over in my mind the great anticipated moment of when our daughter is presented to us in the government office in the capital of Hunan province (August 16--"family day"). I can't help but get a huge lump in my throat and teary-eyed just thinking about it.

We can't wait to share the joy with friends and family once we're home with our precious little girl.