Last week we went to the Getty Museum, one of our favorite things to do on a Sunday.  The building itself is a work of art, and it has some decent Impressionist paintings, but not enough of my favorite, Renoir... It's also a wonderful place to bring a picnic and enjoy the view and the sun.  This Sunday we visited the Getty Villa and felt as if we were stepping back in time as we gazed at mummy portraits and at Greek and Roman statues... I wonder if any present-day sculptors could reproduce such evocative and lifelike images, or if it's an art lost to time?  On the way home we stopped for a late lunch at the place where we were married... all in all, a perfect day.   

We missed Kavanna, who was sleeping through the night as we looked at art... Sweet dreams, Kavanna!

Where in the world is Kavanna?

Kavanna is living in the Guangxi province of China, which is in southern China.   It's known as the "green bright pearl" of China because it is so lush and beautiful.   We'll spend a few days in Beijing (to the north) and then meet Kavanna in Nanning.  From there we'll fly to Guangzhou, where Kavanna will officially become a member of the family.  We hope to leave in about seven weeks!

Smile!

Looking at Kavanna makes me smile... and beam... and laugh with delight.  And as Ellen, who's waiting for Flora, reminded me, this photo belongs at the top of every post.

We got our renewed I-171H yesterday.  Hurray!!  One last thing for which I do not have to wait!

A few weeks ago I posted on RQ that after this Long Wait, I wanted immediate gratification from now on, for everything.  I think everyone who survives The Long Wait for China deserves never to have to wait again.   I jest (but only sort of).

Welcome Song...

We got Kavanna's translated growth report today.  The mystery of the meaning of her name is solved!  

Yingyong means "Welcome Song"...  

That makes me smile.  Then again, since last Tuesday, all I do is smile!

Kavanna's cool new stuff

A stroller that gives her a higher view of the world... a very versatile highchair... and one of the world's safest carseats.  We waited three years and one month to go shopping for these particular items... and wow, did it feel good!!!!!!!

The mind of a...OUR...baby...

What is Kavanna thinking?  

1.  How would I go about securing world peace, given that I am an infant and have limited powers to effect change in the international stage?

2.  About Einstein's theory of relativity... Hmmmm....

3.  What's for lunch?  Congee?  

4.  What is that sound?  Oh, it's my tummy.  It's rumbling.   (see #3)

5.  You looking at me?  Huh?  You there.  You looking at me?

6.  And with thanks to Erin, who also just got her referral for her daughter:  My mommy and daddy and my big sister Ariel are coming to get me soon... Yay, they're coming for me soon!!  

We received Kavanna's medical report yesterday and emailed it to an international adoption specialist who proclaimed her to be in excellent health!  We were very impressed that he got back to us in a matter of hours.  

When we read the paperwork we realized her Chinese name is Yingyong, not Ying Yong.  

We signed the Acceptance Letter for the CCAA and sent it via FedEx this morning! 

Head circumference:  50th percentile

Height:  50th percentile

Weight:  90th percentile

90th percentile!   Kavanna is one chubbilicious baby (thank goodness!).  Ooooooh,  I just want to pick her up and kiss those adorable cheeks!  

About Kavanna's name

CHINESE NAME:  Lin Ying Yong

The "Lin" is her surname.  We're still awaiting her paperwork so we don't know what "Ying" or "Yong" means.

Since she comes from the Yulin SWI, all the children have the last name "Lin".   In China, the surname is placed first, so her first name is "Ying" and her middle name is "Yong".  

Although it is unusual for adoptive parents to make their child's surname the American middle name, we decided that "Kavanna Lin Rocklin" just sounded more right.  Interestingly, the last three letters of our surname are the same as hers.

Hopefully this is making sense.  Today I bolted awake at 4:45am and I'm now so sleep deprived I feel as if I cannot form cogent sentences (hey, I thought this was supposed to happen AFTER she arrived home, not before!).

AMERICAN NAME:  Kavanna (pronounced Kah-VAH-nah) is not an actual name but we thought it was so pretty and meaningful we decided to make it a name.  Kavanna is a Hebrew word that means "intention and focus and joy of life".  To us that sounded very Tao, as well, and so her name represents a bridge to both her cultures.

Kavanna Lin Rocklin... we can't wait to meet you!!

More information about Kavanna

According to the report: Kavanna is a deep sleeper (so they say). She likes to roll and tear up paper. She's fond of imitating others. She can eat a biscuit without help.

Clearly, this child is a genius, in addition to elevating bright, happy cuteness to a whole new level. I don't think the term uber-cute even suffices. I need to make up a new word. Kavannalicious? K-Cute (nah, too much like K-Fed). Gotta think on that one... I'm loopy, since insomnia struck again last night. If only I could sleep like Ariel, who sleeps like the teenager she is (the loudest metal band on earth could play in her bedroom and she would not stir) , or like our new daughter Kavanna, the deep sleeper.

I almost still can't believe that I can finally write, "our new daughter".

Wow. I just want to pull her into my arms and kiss those adorable cheeks!!

Seriously. How cute is this - OUR - baby??

Here she is!!!

Okay, I'm slightly biased but I think she's unbelievably cute!!  In fact, in the smiling photo she looks a lot like Ariel when she was a baby!  We are completely in love!!!!!!

(click photos to make them larger so you can see more of the chubbilicious cuteness that is Miss Kavanna Lin)

We got the call!!!

Our new daughter is:

LIN YING YONG

Born 10/29/08  (10 months old)

She's been in foster care since a couple of months after she was abandoned.

She's apparently REALLY CUTE!

We're expecting photos later today....

I can't stop crying with happiness.  I'm so thrilled.

Today!!!

Referrals are starting to arrive... We thought we'd see Kavanna's face tomorrow but it's looking as if the big day is TODAY.  

I've been up since 2:30am... can't sleep... can't think, can't eat, can't wait to see our baby's face!!!

UPDATE:  It's now 10:30 am and still no word from my agency.  Despite my lack of sleep I am wired as can be.  I feel as if I just drank 22 espressos.  My heart is jackhammering.  I can't think or focus.  Ring, phone, RING!!

UPDATE #2: Got an email from our agency.   The stork has landed!  They have our referral!   Now we just have to wait (still) for that call!!  The Call. 

 

This week!!

Happy Labor Day! This year "labor" has a special meaning for us, because much to our surprise, the CCAA has referred through February 9th and (this is the surprise part) referrals will arrive THIS WEEK instead of next! This has been the longest paper pregnancy in Chinese adoption history and we hope the labor is relatively short in comparison.

Fly, stork, fly!!  

First day of (high) school!

My baby is growing up.   Here's how she looked just before she left for the first day of school.  And yes, she colored her hair fire-engine red (it definitely matches her personality).

Back to school shopping!!

When I'm thinking about The Wait, time seems to slow to an interminable crawl.  

When I'm shopping for First Day Of School Clothes with Ariel, time goes by as quickly as Usain Bolt on the 200 meter race.  Or any race, for that matter.  I know this because we spent five hours - yes, FIVE HOURS - at the mall yesterday!!    

We had a goal in mind.  Our thoughts were focused.  Our mission was to find the perfect outfit for the first day of high school.  We succeeded in our mission.  This photo was taken at the finish line - er, the end of the day.   

Can you tell I watched wayyyyy too much Olympics??

Shameless bragging

Ariel has recently gotten interested in photography.  These are a couple of her recent self portraits.  I'm so proud of her! 

The blue wall is the color of her bedroom.  When we had Kavanna's room painted I didn't want Ariel to feel left out and asked if she wanted her room painted as well.  I let her pick the color. Her first pick was a deep magenta (and dark blue ceiling), which I didn't approve of, but this one is beautiful!!  It's such a happy color, for a happy, vibrant kid.

Where are you? What are you feeling?

David, Ariel and one of her friends are at an all-day concert listening to metal bands (not for me, thank you very much) which means I've been catching up on bills, puttering around, cleaning the garage... and thinking about... well, what else do I think about these days?

I'm thinking about Kavanna. It's 5:45 in the morning in China. She's probably sleeping. At least, I hope she's sleeping! Is she in an apartment with a foster family? Is she in a vast room crammed with iron cribs? What is her life like? What will the day bring her?

I hope there are people in her life who love her and make her feel special. I hope she knows the safety of a warm embrace. ... that she has enough food to eat and that she gets to play and laugh. At the same time I fear she is deprived of too many of these things that so many children take for granted.

It's disturbing and disconcerting to hear about what life in the orphanages is like, or read how some foster parents are loving and some are indifferent. So I am hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. No matter what Kavanna's circumstances are now, in a few months she'll be coming home to a family who loves her, unconditionally and absolutely.

In the meantime all I can do is wish her a happy day, a good day... and send her a kiss from my heart.   

I'd like to think that somewhere on the other side of the world, a baby is smiling in her sleep.  She doesn't know it, but she can feel those kisses from the heart.  She doesn't know why, but she's happy.  

Sweet dreams, Kavanna.    We're coming for you soon!

What to do while you're waiting...

Sick of waiting?  Can't get your mind off the wait?  

Finding yourself going a little bonkers??

Read a book!

Read this book.

Adoption Parenting gives an excellent overview of the emotional and physiological issues that parents may face.  The authors explain issues of attachment in a manner that is acceptable and understandable.  I've read a plethora of books about parenting an adopted child.  Many of them are excellent, but often written for professionals rather than parents, or  geared only towards children who are clearly extremely traumatized.   This excellent book covers many issues - sleep, attachment, language, food, discipline, siblings, transracial issues, and other challenges - in a way that is readable, understandable and helpful.

When?????

Referrals are almost here!

Congratulations to everyone who will see their baby's face soon! We are thrilled that this day has finally come for you! I can't wait to see all those baby-licious referral photos!!

Ta da!

We're rocking our new blog - and loving it! Thank you to Diana, who made it happen!

SILENT TEARS provides a glimpse into life in a Chinese orphanage between 2004-2007. I found it heart-breaking to read about the needless suffering these children experience. It was heart-warming to recognize how the human spirit can prevail, both in the children themselves and the people who come to care for them and improve their lives.

If you are adopting from China, read this book.

New look coming soon...

You know how painting a room gives it a new, fresh look? And then you feel so much better in that room, as if it's brighter and better, somehow?  

Well, with the help of an expert we're giving this blog an update.  The basic format we've had for three years has got to go.  A new look is called for, as we're entering a new phase of our journey... and moving toward the beginning of a new journey (Journey WITH Kavanna).  Stay tuned!

2.5 Year LID Anniversary

(HAPPY MUSIC)  Sounds filter in.  Voices saying things like:  "Whoo-hooo.  Two and a half years, baby.  Yeah!  That's what I'm talking about!

And another anniversary - three years to the date since we started the application process.  Wow!!!!  Par-teee."

Wait.

SCRATCHY SOUND OF MUSIC COMING TO ABRUPT HALT.

This is not an anniversary that I want to celebrate.  Not at all.  

And yet there is much to celebrate, nonetheless.

During this two and a half years/three years (two anniversaries in one day, wow) I've learned just how connected David and I are (not that I had any doubts) and how we help each other through anything, no matter what.  I'd like to celebrate some wonderful new friends that I've made through this process, who I'd never have met otherwise.  I'd like to celebrate how inclusive and supportive the adoption community is, which makes me really happy.   I'd also like to celebrate that soon referrals will come and new families will be created and expanded.

CUE HAPPY MUSIC AGAIN!

There are no words... Wait. Yes, there are.

We heard today that our date is not included in this referral batch.  This is the smallest referral batch ever, less than half of what they normally do (the new normal, that is) and about ten percent of what they were doing not so long ago.   The only silver lining is that we are next.  Or not.  There is a remote possibility that there will be no September batch due to the Olympics.  This all leaves us:

Angry.  Flabbergasted.  Speechless.  Angry.  Astonished.  Enraged.  Confused.  Disappointed.  Angry.  Helpless.  Angry.  Outraged.  Hurt.  Worried.  Anxious.  

AGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

That about sums it up.  I hope to hear Monday that referrals are on their way and expected to arrive Wednesday.  I hope to hear Wednesday that the CCAA referred at least through 2/06/06.  Those are my hopes du jour.  

Oh, and I hope for world peace, an end to global warming, as well as the health, happiness and prosperity of all my friends and loved ones.  Goes without saying.  But I'm saying it anyway.

Anxiety makes me sleepless, which makes me loopy.  I should be one loopilicious mama by the time Kavanna makes her arrival.