Beach Baby....

Our first day at the beach! Emma loved playing in the sand. I loved watching. She also loved eating the sand. That I wasn't too thrilled with.

She is the BEST!

Life with Emma

Look at that amazing girl! Isn't she cute? I love this picture. Emma is starting to look so much older and grown up. She is so sweet. I look at this picture all day long while I am at work. Yep. I had to go back to work on Monday. It was about the worst day of my life that I can remember. There I was sobbing as I drove away from the daycare. Emma was fine. I was so sad though. Not only do I really think that it is good for babies to be with their mommies when they are this age - but I am sad because I am missing out on all the adorable things she does all day long...the cute faces, the fun sounds, the way she plays and smiles and laughs. I can't stand that I only get to enjoy that for a few hours every day! Doesn't anyone have a job for me where I can stay home....(and still make enough money to pay my bills and save for Emma's college fund?)...or maybe some lottery winner would like to give me a share?....ha, ha.... a girl can dream.

I've not fallen off the planet!!

I've just entered the realm of motherhood and can't figure out where all of those hours in a day go! Sorry that I've not updated this site for two months...I still want to give a recount of my travels to China and the amazing journey of meeting my little Emma. What a joyous time that was for me. When I get a little extra time, I will try to give details of the trip on Emma's website :(www.babysites.com/sites/broberg). But, just for fun here is one picture of Emma and I just a few days after getting together. We visited a local site in Nanchang where they let us pose in Chinese royalty garb. Life is so great and so fun with Emma. I am so lucky!

Let the Countdown Begin

OK...now I have some more confirmed travel dates and details! Only 18 days before I leave!! Woo Hoo! I meet Emma in 24 days! Here's my basic itinerary. I will fill in more, when I know more.

November 29: Me, Mom, Jan & Karen Depart LA

November 30: Arrive Beijing

December 1: Siteseeing (Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Etc.)

December 2: Visit Great Wall

December 3: More cultural/site-seeing stuff. Eat Peking duck.

December 4: Travel to Nanchang, Jiangxi Province

December 5: MEET EMMA LUMAI

December 6: Emma becomes an official member of my family

December 7-10: Paperwork/siteseeing in Nanchang

December 10: Aunt Jan and Aunt Karen go home

December 11: Travel to Guangzhou

December 12: Paperwork

December 13: Appointment at U.S. Consulate

December 14: Get Emma's Visa

December 15: Come Home!!

TRAVEL DAYS AHEAD!!

I just got the word from my agency that we have a confirmed date where Emma and I will be introduced and she will stay with me forever after. . .

December 5th!

Less than one month away and just a few days after her 8 month birthday! This is great news. Of course, I wish it were sooner. . . but it is what it is. We will probably leave for China on November 28 or so (to spend a few days in Beijing prior to going to get Emma). We will come home on December 15th! Home in time for Christmas. The best holiday ever for me!

So Spoiled

I'm so spoiled. . . or should I say blessed? I had the most wonderful baby shower last night. Many friends were there - about 60 or so!! It was given by my dear, dear friends Jan Fryer, Donna Bentz, Mary Kay Stout, Susan Jensen, Andrea Ramirez, Dorothea Williams and Maki Gruninger. I had such a fun time. There was delicious food and best of all, the fantastic friends. Many people had asked, so I told "the story" of my adoption...what led me to this point, the process, etc. (of course I cried while talking about Emma). There was definitely a Chinese "theme" to the evening. I gave everyone a little bookmark that I had made, with a Chinese Knotted ribbon. We ate Chinese chicken salad and even the sugar cookies were painted with Chinese characters.

And, while I doubt I deserve such an outpouring of love. . . I certainly did get it! Check out all the stuff and clothes I got for Emma. She is very loved by everyone, and they don't even know her yet. What a joyous occasion. I am so lucky and blessed! She has many "aunties" here that can't wait to babysit her and hold her and love her.

7 months old today!

Today Emma is 7 months old. How I wish I were with her!

This time between the referral and waiting for final travel approval to come from the Chinese government has been the longest and hardest of the entire process. I see that beautiful girls picture everyday and just ache to hold her and love her. I pray that they take good care of her at the orphanage and that she is healthy and happy. I know my turn to go to China will come and we will be together...but waiting is soooo hard. I really truly can't stand it.

On October 11, My adoption agency sent back my acceptance letter, stating that I would adopt Emma. Since that time they have been waiting for a final document to issue granting final approval to travel to China for the adoption. Once that document is received then the agency will request a consulate date at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China. There the adoption will be finalized and we can come home. Usually the wait inbetween the time that the acceptance letters are mailed back to China and the date of the final approval to travel is about 3 to 4 weeks. Then it will be about 3 weeks after that that I will get on the plane to go. Every day that passes without word means that it could be later and later before I go. I initially thought I would be getting home before Thanksgiving...now I am hoping and praying that I will make it in time to get over jetlag before Christmas. Of course if it gets much later - and into December at all, that may effect my mom and sister's plans to travel with me. Oh, I feel frustrated at this waiting!

Happy Birthday sweet Emma!