Matched!
Okay, big news here this weekend…I did warn y’all this was coming, so here goes…
We were officially matched on Friday by our agency with a little girl from Xuzhou with cleft lip/palate. She is currently eight months old. She was born on the only day of the winter this year that it snowed at the ranch, so I am going to refer to her as Snow for now, until I can think of something better.
Xuzhou is in the northern part of Jiangsu province. You may recall that The Bee is also from the northern part of Jiangsu, so the sisters will share a specific regional history with each other, as well as sharing their special need and the fact of their adoption. We hope that will provide them with some additional common ground, above and beyond growing up in the same family together.
Because we are just beginning all the paperwork for our second turn at this, we are thinking it will be late spring or early summer next year before we get over there to meet her. But we are very excited! The Bee has taken to carrying around her sister’s photos and signing “sister” continuously during meals (why this happens most often while she’s eating, I’m not sure…she demands to see photos of her cousins then, too).
I am posting some cropped photos of Snow’s eyes, but I won’t be posting her full photo and her name until we receive pre-approval from the CCAA, and then, only under a password-protected post until we meet her. Same as The Bee. I’ll post informational updates as we get them.
Our hearts are very full, and we are very grateful to…well, to just about the entire universe right now. And we are so thankful that The Bee will grow up having a sister to share joys and fears with, secrets and celebrations. That seems the rightest thing of all….
Nice!
Comment by: Johnny - 10.01.2007 - 12.40 pm
Congratulations! I can’t wait to see her picture!
Comment by: Project Ni Hao - 10.01.2007 - 12.44 pm
Whoa! That was fast! Congratulations!
Comment by: OmegaMom - 10.01.2007 - 1.08 pm
Congratulations! I can’t wait to follow this journey as well!
Comment by: Jenni - 10.01.2007 - 1.18 pm
Great news! Hope the paperwork goes smoothly.
Comment by: m - 10.01.2007 - 1.40 pm
well, I love the eyes. Congrats Linda. I knew this was near!
Comment by: Nicole - 10.01.2007 - 1.44 pm
I just about fell off my chair. Yes, you warned us, but wow! This is so exciting! That tiny little picture at the bottome sure is cute. Congratulations to you all!
Comment by: Jacquie - 10.01.2007 - 1.53 pm
Hooray for Snow!
Comment by: Maia - 10.01.2007 - 1.55 pm
So so happy for you!!!
Comment by: Brooklyn Mama - 10.01.2007 - 2.05 pm
Wow. Absolutely WOW! I’m so happy for y’all, but most of all, for Snow and her Big Sister. Such wonderful news. My heart is singing…
Comment by: walternatives - 10.01.2007 - 2.08 pm
Woohoo! This is excellent news! I’m so happy for you! I hope the paper work goes smoothly.
BTW, Oz did great with his surgery. He’s even drinking water from an open cup! I just hope he continues to do well and we can go home tomorrow! I’ll keep you posted!
Congratulations on Snow!
Comment by: Melissa - 10.01.2007 - 2.09 pm
Wowwwwwwwwwwwww! How happy it makes me to think of Bee signing “sister” & asking to see her pictures at lunchtime. That is sweet. Does Bee know the sign for Snow?
Comment by: wzgirl - 10.01.2007 - 3.03 pm
F.A.B.!!
Comment by: atomic mama - 10.01.2007 - 3.21 pm
What great news! I am so happy for you two and the Bee! Can’t wait to see pictures of Snow! She couldn’t ask for a more perfect family!
Comment by: Jane - 10.01.2007 - 3.53 pm
Wow!!! Snow has beautiful eyes. Congrats to you all.
Comment by: Cavatica - 10.01.2007 - 4.10 pm
Yay!!! I’m so, so, so happy for you all! Even though the photo is tiny, it’s obvious she is gorgeous - just like her big sister.
Comment by: Jessi - 10.01.2007 - 5.40 pm
What wonderful news! Congratulations to you all!
Comment by: Mrs Figby - 10.01.2007 - 6.17 pm
Congrats… that is so great for you all…
Comment by: Felicity - 10.01.2007 - 7.11 pm
I look forward to that feeling one day too. This seems so fast! You must know people! I’m very happy that the Bee will grow up with a sister and that she is already so excited. Congratulations to all of you!
Comment by: christie - 10.01.2007 - 7.36 pm
Congratulations-such wonderful news!!! And so exciting to hear of Bee’s response-just fabulous in so many ways. ~lmc
Comment by: lisa - 10.01.2007 - 9.01 pm
wow!! I leave bloggy land for a little while & when i finally catch up I see such amazing news! I thought for sure that I somehow got to an old version of the web page & it was Emme Lu up there! Can’t believe you are already on your way to a little sister for Emme Lu- what wonderful fantastic exciting earth shattering news for a Monday! So so so excited!!! Congratulations!!! Can’t wait to see the whole girl, her eyes are gorgeous! So sweet!
Comment by: Kelli - 10.01.2007 - 10.26 pm
Wonderful, wonderful news. I’m looking forward to hearing about your growing family. And the Bee signing “sister” - how adorable!
Comment by: Beeb - 10.01.2007 - 11.07 pm
Oh, congratulations! Her eyes are beautiful! I can’t wait to see the whole sweet girl!
Comment by: Allison - 10.02.2007 - 5.11 am
Congratulations! If her eyes are any indication, she is beautiful.
Comment by: Karen - 10.02.2007 - 9.36 am
Oh! Such good news! She looks really lovely. What a pair she and the Bee will be.
Comment by: Sister Carrie - 10.02.2007 - 11.18 am
Congratulations!
Comment by: barbara noblog - 10.02.2007 - 2.34 pm
Congratulations! She has beautiful eyes.
Comment by: Donna - 10.02.2007 - 3.44 pm
HOLY CRAP!!!!
Congratulations. I hope all goes smoothly with everything!!!!!
Very very exciting.
Comment by: Jenny - 10.02.2007 - 6.16 pm
Hot diggity! I guess I must’ve missed the whole warning thing because the news came as quite a shock to me. Good shock. Like really good shock. Snow has beautiful eyes. I’m very happy for you guys and I can’t wait to learn more about her. I feel your excitement. Floyd is already wanting to get back in the game again…
Comment by: Millicent - 10.02.2007 - 8.28 pm
Awww, congratulations!
Comment by: WendyN - 10.02.2007 - 9.45 pm
OMG! OMG! Where have I been! Congratulations! I saw your post at Cavatica and your mention of Snow, was wondering, and now I know. Fabulous news!
Comment by: Anne Marie - 10.03.2007 - 6.40 pm
Jesus wept - look wht happens when ya get busy with a new kiddo. Congratulations! What a wonderful, terrific thing for you guys, and how nice for the little peep that she gets a brand new sister!
Comment by: FDChief - 10.04.2007 - 6.56 am
gotta get my head out of the sand and start paying attention!! congrats a hundred times over!!!
Comment by: mrs. vandertramp - 10.04.2007 - 10.29 am
of course many congrats, and you can tell just from those eyes that she is a beautiful girl. I can’t believe it happend so quickly!! But it couldn’t happen to a nicer family. I am thrilled the Bee will have a sister. Best news I have had all month!!
We will have to send her a pig shirt(right? is she after Feb 18?)
many congrats and I will look forward to hearing more about Snow!
Comment by: jules - 10.04.2007 - 7.12 pm
Oh, many many congratulations! How very exciting.
Comment by: Perrin - 10.05.2007 - 7.43 am
Wonderful! Best wishes for a speedy TA!
Comment by: Shannon - 10.05.2007 - 2.55 pm
Holy MOLY!! That is so wonderful. One of our travel families adopted their son from Xuzhou- which is also close to where Daniel is from. Whoo-hoo! You’re going back to Nanjing, girl!!
Comment by: Carolyn - 10.06.2007 - 2.15 pm
beautiful — congrats and speedy paperwork!
Comment by: hausfrau - 10.09.2007 - 5.34 am
CONGRATS!!! Looking forward to following along on your latest journey (sorry, I lost your page for awhile, but have found you again and need to catch up!)
Comment by: Wendy O - 10.10.2007 - 9.38 am
Just getting around to catching up on my blog reading…. Holy crap!!! That is so incredibly awesome for your entire family!! I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that you have a quick and smooth return on your approval.
Yeah, another baby in the Bird House!
Comment by: Mrs Pushy - 10.29.2007 - 10.23 am
Hi! Found you while searching Xuzhou…we are also waiting on a Xuzhou girl. We were PA a few weeks ago and awaiting LOA. Our girl is cl/cp unrepaired. Much joy to you!
Comment by: Maia L. - 05.18.2008 - 6.19 pm