3 years and one more week!!!!

Yep, that's right, yesterday was officially 3 years of waiting. But, now we are just one week away from leaving and twelve days away from getting Jetta. Hard to believe in less than 2 weeks we will finally have her. I still can't believe it's finally gonna happen.

Now that the tickets and hotel are booked, the only thing left is to get everything in order at home before we go. We've been packing, and repacking trying to get (more like cram) as much as we can in a suitcase. We have packed Jetta's bag and boy I had no idea you had to take so much for a baby. However, I think this is unusual because we are basically taking everything to get us/her through for two weeks. So, with that in mind, we are hoping to clear out alot of room in our luggage over that two week period and fill it up with Chinese treasures.

So, now I just have to finish the next few days at work (3 to be exact) and then I'll be off for two months. I will return to work on the 4th of May. So, I'm really looking forward to having that time off to spend with Jetta and to get to know her better.

Surprisingly the last two weeks have gone by fairly fast, which helps things and hope the next week goes by as fast. So, for now, we just wait for the next 7 days (hard to believe we're into single digits with this wait) and then we can finally be done waiting and move onto the next chapter of our lives.

I may not post again before we go, as not much will change, but will definitely try to post once we get to China and start our trip to get Jetta. So, please check-in late next week and see how we're doing and then for sure on Monday the 9th, as that is the day we'll get Jetta and will have our first pictures of her as our daughter. Gosh that has such an amazing ring....our daughter! So, we'll be chatting with you again soon...thanks for following along.

Travel info....

Just a short post to let you know the basic details of our travel. We found out today that we will leave on Wednesday the 4th of March, arrive in China on the 5th. As mentioned before we will spend a few days at Hong Kong Disneyland and then will leave Hong Kong on the 8th to head to Guangzhou and on 9th we will get Jetta. Once we have her we will have a steady stream of appointments and having our final appointment on the 17th, our visa ceremony on the 18th and head back to Hong Kong and leave there on the 19th. Once I've finalized all the details, I will post again. But it is hard to believe that we will be leaving in just a little over 2 weeks and will finally be on our way to our Precious Gem. Someone pinch me, I can't believe we are finally to this point, nearly 3 years and we are finally going to have a baby and be a family.

The Nursery.....

Well, after weeks of hard work, we are done with Jetta's room. As you can see we have went with a Classic Pooh theme, a decision we made 3 years ago and couldn't wait to finally pull it all together. Shannon and I did most of the work, but have to give credit to Jamie for the 100 acre tree mural and the clouds. She did an amazing job and think it complements the room perfectly. Now just to get Jetta home and put her in here.....a very long awaited dream. I can't wait to read her bedtime stories and tuck her in every night. Not much longer, so for now, the room will have to put a smile on my face and know that in just a few weeks she will be sleeping in her bed and I will be able to see her smiling face everytime I open that door, rather that just an empty room.

Pics from the Shower

Below is the post about the shower, but did want to post some pics of the day.

Another Shower.....

Wow....Perfect....and Amazing. Those are three words that come to mind when I think of the baby shower. Wow, all the attendees, Perfect, the decorations and Amazing, all the gifts. This was definitely a day I will never forget. Two of my really good friends, Jen and Kathy, threw me a baby shower this past Saturday, along with help from other special friends. Both of them I met at Peabody while I worked there. Kathy, a very special friend and Jen, well she's the little sister I never had. She has been an amazing friend and I love her dearly. They kept some of the attendees and the decorations a secret from me, so that it would be a surprise. They did a great job and definitely surprised me. My friend Dora made the cakes and they were great. The main cake was Pooh Bear and it was perfect. I still haven't cut it, as I don't want to ruin it. Dora and her family, Jason and Zack, have been wonderful to us. We met them over the summer and they have become good friends and someone we can rely on. Dora's son Zack will be taking care of our prized possessions, Takai, Sam and Peanut while we're gone. Hopefully they don't drive him to crazy. They all love him and Peanut definitely has a new boyfriend.

When I came in, I was very happy to see all the people who came. Many friends from Peabody, neighbors, family and friends that have been a big part of my life since I moved to IL. It was great to see all of them and to have them here to share in my special day. Once we went around the room and introduced everyone, it was time to open gifts. Gifts is an understatment, it was 8 ft of table covered in gifts. I joked with everyone as I got half way through, that I was going to need to take a break and catch a quick nap so I could muster the energy to finish opening everything.

I got so many great gifts, far to many to mention, but everyone was more than gracious in ensuring that I am more than ready for Jetta to arrive. I got several hand made gifts, all with their own special meaning.

The first was a blanket from my very good friend, Dawn's Grandma Rayma. She had been telling me for the past three years that she would make Jetta a blanket and a blanket it was. Along with a pillow and adorable sweater. The pillow has a small pocket in the back and she wrote a very special message to Jetta and I. They all are very beautiful and will always hold a special place in my heart. Dawn's family has always made me feel like I'm one of them and I am very grateful for that and the friendship that Dawn and I share.

The next gift was from my friend Raylene. She and I have been friends for many years and met at the gym. When she still lived here, we made a pact to always meet at the gym (our own buddy system). After she moved away we continued our friendship and was very glad that she was able to make it. She made Jetta and I the cutest fleece Pooh blanket, which will be perfect for some "mommy & me" snuggle time.

The next were two blankets from my co-host Kathy. She and I met at Peabody and developed a very special friendship. She retired and we have continued to stay in touch. She has a heart of gold and I am so glad that I have her in my life. She originally made a blanket that was a bit smaller and then when she saw Jetta's picture, she realized that it was to small. So, she decided, well I better make a bigger one, so she did and hence why I have two. However, the big one is for Jetta and the little one for her dollies. A perfect gift and something both Jetta and I will have forever.

Lastly, I got a blanket from a lady that doesn't even know me. Denny (Shannon's dad) knows a lady, who he calls Weezey, made us a blanket. A very nice, generous gift and one that I will remember always as well.

As mentioned I got many gifts and they all were great. Another very special gift was from my friend Dawn. She is giving Jetta a Longenberger Easter basket....very cute and something I will treasure forever. Dawn and I have been friends for years and she is very special to me and holds a very special place in my heart.

Despite all the amazing gifts I received, the best gift was all the friends and family that attended. It is great to have such an amazing support network. I am forever grateful to all of you and can't wait to take the next step in this process and share her with all of you.

I'll post some pictures of the day, along with a few of the gifts. I don't have pictures of all the blankets that were made, but want to share the few that I do have.

I'll be posting more this week, one to share Jetta's room and two, to hopefully advise of our travel dates.

Picture of the cake from last week....isn't it adorable?

I saved the part with the little booties and plan to freeze it and keep it for her first birthday. Of course she'll have her very own cake, but want to have this one for the memories. I love the message they had put on it "Dreams do come true" and that is most certainly what I believe and can't wait to wake up from this dream and to have my daughter home and as a part of our family.

Surprise Baby Shower

Last week when I came to work on Friday, they were decorating my cube for a shower. I was very surprised to see all the pink streamers hanging on my cube and an adorable cake. It was a great surprise. They gave me several gifts, all of which were great and very much needed. I got my highchair and baby monitor, along with some bibs, a brag book and a diaper bag. I really appreciated them throwing the shower and sharing in my special journey.

This was just the first of two showers. I will be having another shower with family and friends this weekend at my house. One of my very special friends is throwing it for me and has been working hard to get it all together. I know she will do a great job. Even though it's at my house, we are keeping the attendees (those who haven't already told me they are coming) a secret, as well as the decorations. I can't wait. I am so excited. I have never had a shower and am looking forward to seeing friends and family and sharing all the excitement with them. I will post after the shower to share with all of you that couldn't attend.

Still waiting to hear from China on when we'll travel. They have approved us for travel, but now just to get the Consulate appointments and then we'll be on our way. Hopefully I'll have good news to post next week and will have an idea of when we'll finally be on a plane and on our way to pick up Jetta.

So much excitement, I'm so grateful for good friends and loving family....thanks to all of you for all of your continued support....I love all of you.