Echo

I have kept in touch with one of our guides in China. Today she e-mailed me back with a picture of her. Her name is Echo and she was a big part of our journey to Caroline. Echo was our guide in Nanchang. She was with us when we met Caroline. We really liked her and we talk about her often. I just wanted to post her photo on our blog so she becomes apart of this scrapbook.

Back Home for One Week

I have really been slacking with posting. These photos are of Caroline getting off the airplane in Chicago.
Caroline is doing great! She sleeps all night and is learning new words every day

Tokyo

We have really enjoyed Tokyo and appreciated the Japanese people. Everyone has been so kind too us. Yesterday we visited two different wards in Tokyo, had lunch in a Japanese noodle house and rode on the subway and train system. Nara and Katrina ate cheesecake at a Japanese cheesecake store.
Today we visited two other areas of Tokyo. We went to several different electronic stores and video gaming places. We saw the Tokyo tower and we crossed the Shibuya Crossing. Today we found the Hard Rock Café and had lunch. Rick has become an expert at the subway system. We feel like we have seen a lot of Tokyo but we know we have a lot more to see. One day we hope to return to beautiful Tokyo.
Tomorrow we will do a little more of exploring Tokyo and then we will head to the airport for our flight to Beijing We will be sad to bid farewell to Tokyo but we will be happy to be one step closer to Caroline.

All our best from Tokyo
Rick, Katrina and Nara

We are set to go. Please follow our journey to China and Back

http://www.myadoptionwebsite.com/caroline/

It is 4 in the morning and I cannot sleep. Tomorrow this time we will be getting ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime. It is so hard to believe that we have finally got to this point after so many years of waiting. Rick ask me a few minutes ago if I was ready for our adventures over the next month. I am so excited to be going on this journey to our daughter with him.
I am going to try to make Sunday a low key day! We have a few last minute things to do but I really just want to enjoy the day together.

Ready to GO

Hotels are booked and Plane tickets are bought. Two more days of work until my second baby shower and then we leave.

The walls are painted, the clothes are hung up and Rick is putting together the crib tonight. We still need to pack. One more week until we are headed toward Caroline!

One more week!

One more week of work and then I will be off work until the beginning of June. Then I will go back to work for a couple of weeks in June and then I am off for the summer. That is one of the benefits of working for the school system.
Caroline is not even here and I have already made so many plans for us I have signed her up for swimming lessons, library storytelling and I have renewed our membership to the zoo. Can you tell I am a first time mom?
Nara and I have had the best time hanging her clothes up. I have waited years to be able to make that room her room. I think Nara is just about as excited! Nara insisted that I practice putting on a diaper on her stuffed animal. It was not that hard. I think I will be ok.
Rick has been busy installing new closet doors, and putting together furniture.
I have two showers to attend in the next week and a lot of packing to do not to mention a lot to do at work before I can leave.
The last several days have been a blur of preparing. I could not help but think about Caroline and wonder what she has been doing. We have waited years for her and she has no idea her world is getting ready to change. Well, I guess she will find out soon that we have a lots of love and several adventures ahead.

Caroline's Adoption Website

Please follow us on our journey to Caroline

http://www.myadoptionwebsite.com/caroline/

Travel Plans

We have our travel dates.

On this trip we have a few extra stops. We will begin our journey in Tokyo and end our trip in Hawaii. Rick has always wanted to visit Tokyo so we could not think of a better time to go. Rick and one of his co-workers have a presentation to make at a conference in Hawaii so the girls and I are going to tag along on our way home. So here are our dates!

March 21st Fly to New York
March 22nd Fly to Tokyo
March 26th Fly Beijing
March 27th Tour Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City
March 28th Fly to Nanchang
March 29th Caroline Day
March 30th A day of paperwork
March 31st and April 1st t Shopping and Sightseeing
April 2nd Pick up Passport and Fly to Guangzhou,
April 3rd Medical Appointment
April 4th and 5th Shopping and Sightseeing
April 6th Consulate Appointment
April 7th Oath Ceremony
April 8th Pick up Visa
April 9th Leave China and Arrive in Honolulu
APRIL 10TH, 11TH and 12th Sightseeing in Honolulu
April 13th Presentation and Conference
April 14th Get ready to go home
April 15th Fly Home