Sometimes I have a really hard time imagining the size of Ellery. She is two but very small, she is in the 3rd percentile on Chinese growth charts which means she probably doesn't even show up on America's.
So today I looked up her measurements again, converted them and then marked them on the wall in my room. I stood next to it so I could imagine what it would be like to have her by my side.

I know that's weird isn't it?

I showed it to my crew and they got so excited because it finally sunk in to them that they are really getting a "little" sister. They all stood against the wall to see where she would come up to on them.

So....weirdness runs in the family.


She is nearly a foot shorter than our youngest. I just can't wait to get my hands on that  little girl and hold her. I wish I could post the updated pictures but we signed a paper that we swore we would not post any pictures of her on the Internet. I figured I would leave the others up, damage done. But I am a rule follower and would not want to jeopardize my daughters adoption in any way.

This week we will come to our 50th day of waiting. John feels certain this week will be the week we get our LOA, I am a little less optimistic but hopeful!

Today I am home all alone. I have big plans for the day and they mostly involve preparing for Miss Ellery's arrival hopefully later this year! We plan to have a big garage sale soon and are cleaning out. Also we are moving her into John's office temporarily so that she will be near us at night so we have a lot of cleaning out and furniture moving to do. I am convinced even if though she will be nearly three that she still needs to start out in a crib. As far as I know she is in a crib in China and I feel like she should be in one here until she gets used to everything. Even a few of my boys stayed in their crib until 3ish.

So it is exciting to start making room for her and planning her space. It will occupy my mind and pass time. It's not unusual in this waiting game to have days of feeling like it will never happen. I know it will but it seems so far away. All this "nesting" is good for my soul! My husband is pretty excited too to see some messes getting cleaned up and is being a good sport about losing his office.


COME ON LOA.....!!!!!!!

Days waiting for Letter of Seeking Confirmation from China: 38

Unfortunately not long enough. Average wait is 50-60 days.It could take much longer. (sigh)

Please come soon!! We want to go to CHINA!!

Last night was family night at Camp Barstow, our local Boy Scout camp.We are huge supporters of boys in scouting and Noah loves scouts. I was a honorary scout growing up because my dad was a scoutmaster for many years. I always wanted to be a Boy Scout instead of a Girl Scout because they had more fun. Noah is totally at home at camp enjoying the outdoors. He has learned many useful things and his favorite thing this year he is learning is Lifesaving. Never know when you will need that! Although it was great to see him, it gets more obvious each year how much he is growing up and needing us less. I thought about that on my ride home last night. There are difficult stages we go through with our kids but realizing that they need you less and are becoming independent I think is one of the hardest. Although I really don't want him clinging to my leg begging me to take him home because he's homesick I do wish he would just miss us a little bit. For the first time last night I think I realized how much I am going to miss him when he is gone. Thank the Lord I have four more years, I better treasure them!!

At the beach the kids were playing Hide n Seek while the adults were watching the USC Gamecocks win the College World Series (again!!). They were taking turns counting. As one little O'Cain was counting it went like this...

1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi.... Don't you remember counting that way?

My Sister in law asked this little O'Cain what was Mississippi? His reply was, "a second".
Amused she told him it was actually one of the states of the United States not a word meaning a second in time.

When Bobo came to count I thought I would ask him. I thought he may know since he has one of those United States interactive maps. So I ask, "do you know what Mississippi is"? He looks at me puzzled and then a little light bulb goes off and he says very matter of fact, "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi". We laughed.

We repeated this with each and every kid present and every single kid answered the exact same way. First a puzzled look then a matter of fact answer of "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi".

All Tammi could say was, "poor Mississippi". Time for a little US Geography lesson.

Check out www.beapieceofthepuzzle.blogspot.com for our lastest update.