Our last full day in HK was great...I enjoyed the gym at the hotel to get reenergized while ray rested then we walked the city again...went to Kowloon Park and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We met Liz and her mom for lunch...yes we actually knew someone in HK. they took us to an authetic local chinese restraunt, ordered for us and it was delicious!! i had to use chopsticks the entire time...and did great i might add. we went back to the hotel for a long nap while it rained, then enjoyed the harbour one last night as well as adventured out into the city to see local night life! i do believe we saw the HK version of the Sex in the City ladies. The fashion here is amazing. I love the different looks and how they just "own it". but today we leave and fly to Changsha...meet our guide, get settled in the hotel and rest up for Gotcha Day tomorrow...and the whole reason are here...little miss Zoey!!!

FIRST FULL DAY IN HONG KONG - and What a full day it was. i was awake at 4am local time and watched the sunrise while ray slept until 6am. By 7:30 we had coffee, showered, ate breakfast and were on the harbour walk! by 8am we were doing Tai Chi with some locals near the Avenue of Stars. We ventured out into the city and though subways to experience "local living". by 10:30 we were back at the hotel for a beer! Quite refreshing! after some lunch and a short rest break we went to Victoria's Peak via the Peak tram. but first had to get to the Ferry and then catch a taxi. A quick dinner for Ray to regroup and then we went up to the skyview for 360 degree views of the city and the harbour. The Peak was amazing...funny thing was within just 10 minutes the weather went from hot, humid and sunny to windy, cool (still humid) and heavy dense fog rolling off the mountain tops...it was amazing! next back to the Avenue of the Stars for the Festival of lights show...it was nice...but when you grow with Disney light shows...it was nothing special!! now we are back in the hotel...9pm local time and going to bed! Just 2 more days to Zoey!!

We made it to Hong Kong...so far its amazing! The flight was long and delayed but no worries, we made it!! i can't seem to find my USB cable to post pics just yet...but i will. Today once we have breakfast and coffee...we need Hong Kong dollars and i hope to go to Victoria's Peak. Talk to you all later...just 3 days from getting Zoey!!

last night before we head to China...packing is complete! now here's the list of what we are bringing for Zoey...(lets see just how much we over packed)
14 jars baby food, 1 box rice cereal, 1 large can soy formula, box of cheerios and 8 pack of powder Pedialyte, 32 diapers, 4 swimmer diapers, 2 packs wipes, 1 bottle bath and shower gel, teether, 1 baby Bjorn, 1 diaper changing pad, 3 bibs, pacifier, toy phone, 1 stuffed puppy toy, pooh toy, 2 pairs of shoes, 5 pairs socks, 2 sweaters, 10 dress/short sets, 6 onsies, thermometer, oragel, 2 sippy cups, 3 bowls, 12 toss away spoons, 2 bottles and 35 drop in bags, 4 nipples, 2 bathing suits, 6 pairs PJs, 1 swim cover up, 2 long pant outfits, baby Motrin, 1 hairband with jeweled flower!!! i think she has more than i do! Cannot wait to meet her and share all our photos with you!! next time i post we will be in China!! Love you all!!

Well its the Sat before we leave to go get Zoey...last time i will wake up on a Sat morning in my bed without her here with us!!! Ray put the car seat in, i have all her clothes laid out and ready to pack...and the nursery is really coming together!! Tomorrow we will go shopping for final items needed for Zoey like bottles and snacks and formula. Also a few more items for the caregivers and snacks for us. Monday i will start packing...we will see how that goes and how much stuff i have to leave behind!

What a SURPRISE we received today...updated information and pictures!!! Did not expect new information before we left much less 5 new pictures...so here she is:
20 lbs
27 inches long
head is 17 inches
and her feet are 4.33 inches...now i wonder what size this is???
definitely need to buy this child some new shoes!!!

Happy 9th Anniversary to Husband and me...we received our US consulate date so that means we officially received our travel dates...To be in Changsha on May 30...receive sweet Zoey Reece in our arms on May 31st. Go to Guangzhou on June 5th, Consulate appointment June 8th, Oath Ceremony on June 9th (she will be 11 months old that day) and get her Visa on June 10th. Leave Guangzhou June 11th!! This is the MOST wonderful Anniversary present ever...and Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

May 4, 2010: Today we received our Travel Approval...we are requesting our US Consulate date for June 1st! If we get it that means we should be hopping on a jet plane in about 2 weeks!! Cannot wait!!! If all goes well Lin Jing says we should receive our beautiful baby girl in our arms on May 22nd!!! what a wonderful day this will be!!!

May 1, 2010: The shower Jenny and Kim gave us Saturday night was amazing! we had such a wonderful time...lots of great friends and family came out to celebrate..we received some beautiful clothes and books, and lots of practical things...swim suits, diapers, cups, bowls, spoons, washcloths and towels! cant wait to share them with my precious baby girl!!

Well we bought luggage Sunday...the oficial first purchase for China travel! Now we wait for travel dates! On Saturday we have a shower being thrown for us by Jenny, Mark, Kim and Jason!! gonna be fun!! Getting excited to see what we get and then we get to go shopping for the rest of the stuff we need so we can start packing for Zoey!!

Well, it's been 11 days since we laid eyes on our beautiful daughter's picture. Now we are in a holding pattern until we get travel approval from China and US. Jenny, Mark, Kim and Jason are hosting a couples shower for Ray and I on May 1st...should be fun! We finally registered at Target...still need to do one at Babies r Us! but for the next few weeks we will be doing the final touches on Zoey's room, getting good luggage and starting to pack for Zoey!! and we wait some more!!!

4-6-10: The stork came..FEDEX guy..with our papwerwork!! The first picture is the actual letter from the CHINA Social Welfare system (CCAA) telling us Zoey is ours...this is the LOA we are to send back to officially accept Zoey into our family...she has long been in our hearts!!

4-8-10: It's been less than 72 hurs since we received our referral for our beautiful daughter and suddenly my life is consumed with thoughts of her. We sent our LOA back via FEDEX yesterday and get re-fingerprinted tomorrow. then I go to Tampa for a visit. when I get back we will start the planning process for our China trip. Also Jenny has arranged a couples baby shower/party to celebrate on May 1st!!! Can't wait!!!

4-5-10: referral received at 1:30 pm...unexpectedly while at work...her name is Yong Xiao E from Changsha Hunan Province! she was born 7-9-2009. she will be 9 months old on friday!! we cannot wait to meet her!!!

Referrals received through the 11th...so that means we have a month to better prepare and should recieve our referral in April!!! WE ARE NEXT!!!

Anxiously waiting...found out on Friday Feb 26, 2010...my 38th birthday...that referrals were mailed and there is a possibility that we are in with a cut off date of 4-12-2006. Having to wait all weekend and not really knowing what to expect in the next couple days as the agency open the doors for the work week is killing me. Wondering if we are in...how will we be notified? Will they call me or Ray? If they call us...when do we get to see her precious face? If we are not in...well thats OK we have waited 4 years so one more month is a piece of cake. but what if we are in?? What is next? well, i will try to sleep tonight and try to work tomorrow!!

Ok i am late in posting again...i just can't seem to remember. but the only information I have is that the CCAA has referred babies through April 5th 2006. Just 7 days away from our LID!!! Guesstimate for referral is as early as late March or as late as late June!! We shall see!!!

Well, It's a new month and only 2 days closer to our referral. On Feb 1st we found out referrals are through April 5th 2006 and as we all know our LID is 4-12-06!!! I have to keep strong, but how much longer?!?!?!

Well I had planned on posting every Wednesday until we get a referral...but i forgot last week!! HAHA. Obviously no referrals yet. Actually not even any rumors that they have begun matching! What gives China?? Why do you make me wait in such anguish?? Well, I will post as soon as i hear something!!

I think I will make a photo album to send to Zoey once we get the referral with pictures of our family, home, puppies, friends and life here so her caregivers can show her as she waits for us to come and get her!!!

Well I was asked by a friend why I have not updated my blog...well there is nothing really to post. Still waiting, and no news from China yet this month. But I have been in contact with our adoption agency and social worker to get information on what things will be like once we get the referral. They sent me the actual letter that they will send with our referral. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed and a bit freaked out. Its been 4 years this month since we made the decision to adopt from China and started the "paper chase". Therefore as you can imagine, I had forgotten ALOT! So in light of this I have a "to do" list started for things I can do before the referral comes. Luckily I was reassured that we will have a travel agent make ALL our travel arrangements from the flight to China to intercountry travel to hotels, train, bus, sight seeing etc. Pretty much all we have to do is show up to the Charleston International Airport with our luggage (guess i need to get some decent luggage now)and they take it from there.
My first task at hand is to get mine and Ray's immunization up to date. I am good except for my Hep A but Ray needs to complete his Hep B and get his Hep A. This should be an easy task...make the appointment and its done!!
Bye for Now...Shannon

1-6-09
Well I ran across this while looking at friend's blog on photography...its been so long I had forgotten I created it. It has been 3 years, 8 months and 5 days since China accepted our request to adopt a baby girl from China. The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) is very methodical and refers children to families in chronological order as they received them. We were "logged in" (LID) on April 12,2006. Our file has been sitting in China waiting to be touched and ultimately matched with our daughter. The CCAA has referred children to families with LID dates of April 3, 2006. Just 9 days away from us. Lately they have only been referring about 2-3 days a month. At this rate we are still looking at another 3-6 months before our referral.
Over the past 3 years we have had time to complete her room. I will try to post pictures if i can figure out how to do it.
So i guesss just keep checking in on my Blog and I will keep it updated.

Thanks for checking in...Shannon and Ray