For Christmas this year we got the best gift ever…a surprise referral.
Please meet Dang Xin Yi. Soon to be known as Merry Eleanor XinYi.
Xin Yi (meaning Happy Heart) is currently in Nanyang, China under the care of her foster grandma until we are allowed to travel to pick her up. Our LOI (letter of intent) was sent to China just before Christmas. Next step is LOA (letter of approval) from China. Our agency says ~30 days. Cross your fingers, please.
Then for a post-Christmas surprise we received an update with a new picture. This was taken on Christmas Eve. The windburned cheeks are killing me (just like Ava’s when we met her) so I’ve already bought some Aveeno lotion for the care package that we’ll be sending in a day or two.
Today is her 1st birthday. We had a birthday cake at home and Ava kindly blew out the candle for her sister since she isn’t here quite yet. She also sang quite a rousing rendition of the happy birthday song which I (thankfully) managed to capture on video since it was so darn cute. Merry’s birthday gifts today were the official pre-approval (PA) from China letting us know that they have moved our file to be officially matched with her and our I-800A approval which is the beginning piece (and the one that generally takes the longest) of the immigration paperwork and process that will allow us to bring her home.
Okay, fine. And I bought her some socks and vitamins for her care package, too. Since I bought them today then I think they can count as birthday gifts.
We expect travel should happen sometime in late Spring. My prediction is May but I would love to be wrong and it end up being a little earlier. We waited for two seemingly never-ending months to travel for Ava. I sure would like to see that short of a turnaround time now.
We are thrilled, of course, and can’t freakin’ wait to go get her.
So So excited for you guys! Can’t wait to meet her too!
so, so sweet! Love the slippers
A new beach baby! YEY!
Absolutely adorable! Congratulations!
So cute!!!! So happy for your family and for her! Speedy travels!!!
I am so happy for you. She is adorable. Are you collecting squares for her quilt – I would love to send you one if you are.
What a great Christmas gift! Can’t wait to follow, again, your journey to China!! Is Ava going along?
Blessings, Debbie
Congratulations on your referral. Merry is just precious! Amazing to get LOA in jsut 12 days! (Ours took 42 in 2010 and we thought that was fast!)
Best wishes and blessings!
Karen
We submitted our letter of intent on dec 22 and recieved our pre-approval jan 4 for our little cleft lip/palate baby in nanyang. We were told 3-4 months before we get our LOA. the wait is so very trying. Will love to chat more.
Congratulations!!! Her cleft reminds me of my daughter’s…right down to her nose.
Congratulations:) Your daughter is absolutely adorable. Look at all of that hair! Enjoy this time. It is amazing! I was just checking out RQ’s website and ran across your post. Our daughter has a cleft lip/ cleft palate as well. She was 13 months old when we became a family. My husband and I got ourselves plugged into our local cleft lip/cleft palate team before going to China. They gave us special bottles that help with feeding. Stay connected. Again, congratulations she is precious!
Congratulations!! your daugther is beautiful! I love the meaning on her name Happy Heart…my last name in French means Happy Heart as well! We are waiting on our TA to arrive as we got our referral on Dec 20th, after a long 64.5 months of waiting.
Again, congratulations!
I followed your blog from the link on Rumor Queen. Your daughter is so beautiful!!Congratulations on your referral! I look forward to following your journey.
She is absolutely precious! We too have an amazing cleft kid from China- feel free to ask any questions~ we are experts now! She is now 3 years old, but came home at 19 m onths and was 13 mos. at referral~ have a wonderful time on family day!
From one cleft mom to another, Congratulations! Her cleft reminds me of my son’s, although his was repaired in China. I would adopt a child with cleft again in a heartbeat. There are hard moments, but the joy is amazing! Feel free to check out my blog, although I don’t update often.
http://www.powellfamilyadoption.blogspot.com
We traveled in Aug. 2009, and our son had palate surgery in Dec. 09. It’s all there!
Jolene (kccmom on RQ)
She is so cute! I brought my little girl home in July 2010 and she also had unrepaied cleft lip/palate. I was very happy it was unrepaired so it could all be done here in the states. The doctor did one surgery and repaired everything at once. He said it normally would have taken 5 surgeries but being that she was 15 months he wanted to try it all in one surgery. He had never done all procedures at once before but it was extremely successful. Full repaired- minimal scar and ears and nasal passage all working normal. People that didn’t see her prior to surgery have no idea has ever had surgery! Initially it’s nerve racking but the doctors her in US make it look so easy!! Congrats
Wow! Thanks for sharing your lovely story. Our son has the same cleft issues and looks fabulous since his surgeries. Just lots of speech therapy for now. You are truely blessed!
Congratulations! I found your blog on China adopt talk, and look forward to following your journey! We adopted our daughter through the waiting child program as well, and have been so blessed to have her!
First time visitor…found your blog through RQ. You are so lucky to have two beautiful daughters! Looking forward to following you on your upcoming trip to China. We are LID 9/11/06 & are hoping for a spring referral. Can’t wait myself!
Congratulations! She is beautiful! Be sure to talk to you agency about telling the powers that be in China not to do any surgery if you don’t want any done.
I brought my first daughter home last April and plan to travel again for my second daughter in late summer.
Oh, congratulations! She is adorable, and I love that hat. I know she will make your heart very happy. *grin*