Deja Vu

It appears we're playing the waiting game yet again. Tick, tick, tick ... is that a TA I hear? Nope, just another "no news today" post from my agency. I can't believe it's been 3.5 weeks since we first heard about Who III and there's still no news.

Admittedly, we were spoiled by our first adoption -- TAs arrived 2.5 weeks after referrals came in. Given that nothing on this adoption train is moving quickly anymore, it stands to reason that we're going to have to wait longer to see our precious bundle.

But in the interest of perspective, I met a woman today who is adopting her first and only child from China. She's 45, DH is 55. She's 14 months into the wait and her agency tells her to expect to have at least that much more to go.

When you think about it that way, I guess a few more weeks is nothing.

Oh, who am I kidding? I WANT MY BABY!!!

Pound for pound

The first three weeks after referral are some of the hardest you'll endure. Now you know your child. You've seen her face. You can feel her in your arms. You worry -- is she getting enough to eat? Is she healthy? What will she need when we finally meet? You're waiting for TA. You don't know when you'll travel. You're trying to plan, yet find yourself running around in circles, waiting for China to say, "OK, come get her."

When we received our referral for Who III, the first thing I seized on was how small she was. She had gained only 2 pounds from birth to 4 months, according to the informaton. She was almost four pounds lighter than the other two babies from the same SWI. So I've worried more about this one, hoping she's OK.

Today we got updates, and they are wonderful! Pictures and measurements taken this week show she's still tiny but has grown at a much faster rate. She's finally knocking on the door of the Chinese growth chart (though still not in the 3rd percentile). Better yet, she looks GREAT!

More good news: Some agencies already are receiving TAs! I think ours won't come just yet, as our acceptances didn't go over as quickly. But they're coming, and I can feel that insane mix of panic/excitement begin to take root. Euphoria, here I come!

Random musings

It's hard to believe it's been almost two weeks since we got our referral. It seems it's been eons, yet just yesterday. Right now we're in that strange state of suspended animation. We're running around like crazy, trying to get the "China shopping list" knocked out, the baby's room ready, finish all those home-improvement projects that have been sitting around for months. Rip out dining room carpet and install hardwoods? No problem. Paint kitchen? Check. Replant entire yard killed by Midwestern drought? I don't THINK so.

Naturally, we're anxious for news of travel approvals. When will we leave? How much time do I have to train my replacement at work? How much longer will I have to feign concentration? And when will I figure out how to use the new laptop and Web cam so I can see my big girls while I'm in China, and they can see their baby sister?

At any given moment, it feels like there's too much time, and not enough.

When I'm not charting out the days between now and blastoff, as my girls call it, I'm thinking how different this trip will be from our first. There are five families in our group, instead of nine the first time. Six babies -- one set of twins -- from three orphanages. Last time, all nine came from the same SWI. Three of us will be traveling without our spouses due to obligations on the home front. Most of us already have children; on our first trip, most of us were rookies.

So, will we bond as a group? Will we be as amazed at our babies' bodily functions? Somehow, I think baby poop just won't have the same mystique it had when I was a first-time mom. Oh, I'll be happy that everything works. But if grandma Mimi wants to change her -- well, she can do the honors!

I've been fortunate to already get to know one of our travelmates via e-mail. She and her husband were trapped in the same limbo we were, coming off hold and unsure whether we'd ever see our daughters' faces. I was so overjoyed when they received their referral too; it wouldn't have been right for us to get the call and them not to.

The bonds you form in China are part of this amazing red thread. Without those bonds, we would never have our second daughter, or some dear friends who I'd trust my girls' lives with. I'm sure we'll come away from this trip with many of the same feelings.

So now, it's off to check my to-do list, hoping it didn't grow while I was typing this.

Comparisons

My three girls all had different looks in their eyes in their referral pix. The Original Who had a twinkle in her eye, a sign of the mischief that is her very nature. Who II seemed wide-eyed and observant, waiting to see what life had to offer. Who III has a look in her eyes that I've decided is much older than her age warrants. She looks like an old soul, one who already knows too much about life's sorrows and not enough of its joys. The more I study her picture, the stronger the connection I feel. I have a fierce Mama Bear need to get on a plane now, to get her out of those clothes, to put a sparkle in her eyes. To hear her laugh in the way only babies can. To see her in her sisters' arms, the three united, small, sturdy testaments to the power of love and perseverance. Survivors, each of them. Joys beyond belief.

These will be long weeks, waiting, wondering.

She's a peanut!!!

We have photos and more information! Miss Bo Qi is an absolute peanut -- less than 9 pounds at her 4-month checkup. Likes music, deep sleeper, active and obstinate (oh no, she's like her daddy!). Doesn't she look MAD at all those Michelin man layers?

Mama has to go shopping for teeny tiny clothes now.

Update: Look closely at her clothes. The word "Happy" is embroidered on her chest. Um, maybe someone should have told her to smile!

Beware, FedEx Man!

To the poor guy who has the honor of bringing me my baby's picture tomorrow:

I apologize in advance for stepping on your feet. For invading your personal space as I jump up and down and hug you. For demanding that you give me your name for her lifebook. For taking your picture if you're having a bad hair day. For all of it.

But you have my baby! Consider yourself the stork in a purple and black shirt.

I had a dream a year ago that one of our office's regular FedEx deliveryman brought me our referral. Won't it be cool if it's the same guy?

T minus 13 hours until we see her face. Delivery is promised by 10:30 a.m. HURRY!

And thanks to all for your wonderful comments on my other posts. I have always believed adoption is the biggest leap of faith I'll ever take. And I believe we've traveled the path we were meant to. I didn't always have directions, but I know the journey is taking us to the place we're supposed to be.

Officially outnumbered!!!

We got THE CALL!!!!

After a journey of more than two years, here's what we know:

She's Bo Qi. She was born Nov. 15, 2006. And she's waiting for us in the Poyang SWI in Jiangxi Province.

We have to wait until Tuesday for full translation of her name, medicals and a photo. But we're told she has chunky cheeks, full lips and no hair in her photos. I think she's beautiful already!

We can't find anything about her SWI on the Web; I'm wondering if it's one that's newly opened to international adoption?

The Two Whos just became the Three Whos. WOW, WOW, WOW!