Travel Update & Other Bits

I've been on pins and needles all week. Since the bombshell was dropped that we would not travel in December, I (and the 27 other families from my agency) still hadn't heard about Consulate Appointments or even tentative travel dates.

And then the silence was finally broken. We all got an email from my agency at 6 pm last night saying, " As of now we have a departure date of Jan 11th to return on the 25th. "

So, we're making some progress here. They stated in the email that they will confirm travel dates by next Wednesday at the latest. No word yet on what date our Consulate appointment is (or whether we actually have them yet), but I'm guessing that they must be very close to confirmation to give us a tentative travel itinerary.

I've been putting together a Care package for Libby Doodle Doo since Saturday. I'm sending a blanket for her, candies for her nannies, a disposable camera to get some photos of her in the orphanage, a list of questions to ask about her (thank you Michelle L. for sending this to me), enough hair clips for all the babies and children at the orphanage (I wanted to include something for all the children and this seemed like a practical gift that wouldn't take up too much space. Zo Peep is always losing hair clips -- I buy them almost as often as I buy milk) and finally a photo album of me, Zo Peep, our house, activities we do, etc.

This album will be used by the nannies to share with Libby Doodle Doo and acquaint her with her new family. I assembled the photo album so it should also ease the mind of Libby Doodle Doo's nanny concerning what type of environment her precious charge will live in once she leaves her protective care. I included photos of Chinese art in my home, Zo Peep at Chinese dance class (Photo at right. Zo Peep is the peanut in the middle), Zo Peep at her Mandarin lessons, etc. I want the staff at the orphanage to know that I am trying to embrace Chinese culture into our everyday life and that Libby Doodle Doo will still be exposed to elements of her Chinese heritage.

As Little Zo Peep said recently, "Mommy, I'm 100% Chinese and half American and you're 100% American and half Chinese."

Well said, Zo Peep.