Meeting Ava for the very 1st time....

Wow, what an adventure we have had in China! Sorry I haven't been able to post to our blog, the Internet has been hard to access here to say the least. Once we are home and as soon as I have a chance, I will post all about our trip.  For now, here's a quick bit about our time here...
 
Our trip over went very smoothly, we met our sweet Ava on May 30 and it was sooooo cute, she saw us waking into the room, yelled Mama, Baba and then ran to pack up her stuff she had with her, she was ready to go! She was a little shy, but she knew we were her mama and baba and she was thrilled about that. That first day with her was so much fun, we learned that she loves anything pink, loved to giggle and be silly and could be very loud....she let out such a loud yell on the elevator that day, that she startled a man getting on the elevator, that was really funny! 
 
Well, I thought I had the energy to write, but I don't. Ava is a very busy girl, and she reallu keeps us hoping.....its almost 10pm here and shes still going strong.  We have to be up by 4 am tomorrow to start making our way back home. Until later, Nancy

In china

Things in China are going good. We have just been taking things easy and trying 
to get over the jet lag. Brian and I each just had an hour long massage, it cost 
$38 (in American money) for both of us. The massages here aren't quite the same 
as the kind you get in the us. It was a bit rough, I think she bruised me in one 
spot, but overall, we both do feel more relaxed.

Anyway, things are still going well. I think we are both getting nervous about 
tomorrow, but I'm sure that's normal. Our guide is meeting us at 10 am in the 
hotel lobby, then we will go to a walmart or grocery store to buy cookies for 
Ava....incase something sweet is needed, suggested  our guide. Later on in the 
week, if Ava is doing well, we will take the high speed train to visit the 
orphanage. The town is 3 hours away by car but the trip by high speed train is 
said to only be an hour trip. We are both looking forward to that, it will give 
us a chance to see the country.

we are in China and will meet Ava in a few hours. cant post to blogger email us at nancy.gehrung@gmail.com

China or BUST!!!

I can't believe the time has finally come, we are LEAVING for China tomorrow!!!! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for safe travels over the next couple weeks.

We will be meeting Ava on May 30th.  That still doesn't seem real to me, but still we are over JOYED!!!

It's been a long couple of days here as we have been tying up loose ends here, packing and preparing to leave the kids behind here (My mom is staying with them....) and planning and packing to meet Ava.  I'm exhausted already.  Please stay tuned for updates...

TA.......TA......TA...........TA....We have our Travel Approval!!! We are going to China!!!

I just got the call a few minutes ago... We have been granted our Travel Approval to finally go meet Ava!  We have a tentative "Gotcha Day" of MAY 30TH!!!  That's 2 weeks from today!!!  We are simply waiting for confirmation from that China Consulate on that 30th date.  Stay tuned for more details!!

Well, no news on our TA yet...............(insert heavy sigh here...)

So, I follow a web sight called chinaadopttalk.com.  This is a great sight for all things China adoption related.  Lots and Lots of other families are on the sight and everyone shares lots of info including significant dates along their adoption process.  I've seen a handful of families who have been waiting for their Travel Approval just like us get their longed for TAs this past Friday and today.... and there's a rumor going around that the CCCWA is sending the approvals out alphabetically according to our adoption agency's name.  Our's starts with a "W"... so maybe we will hear something in the next few days!!!!!!!!

And once again, in the mean time, we have been keeping ourselves busy here.  The painting of Ava's room is for the most part finished.  Our WoNdErFuL FRIEND Jimmy painted a Tree that we saw in Pottery Barn on one of the walls.... Check Jimmy's Awesome tree......... :-)

................................darn, can't upload the pictures currently, will try again in the morning



I ordered us an IPad2 to take with us to China as our means of communicating via email, skype and blogging.  That should be here in about a week and a half.    We are still on the hunt for a car seat and a stroller for Ava too.  I've got a few in mind, now we've just got to make up our minds!  Ha!

Oh, you may have noticed a new song playing as you've arrived here to our blog... Steven Curtis Chapman's "When Love Takes You In".... I've been trying to find this song to but on here since I created this blog.  Tonight, I finally found it!  I absolutely love this song, it gives me goose bumps each time I hear it!