Stash from London

London, our neighbor, made us a smoke-out stash the other week filled with goodies! Can you believe Chris never had Mentos before?!?

Thanks for thinking of us, London! We love you!

China adoption stats

As you all wait along with us to hear news of our adoption from China, allow me to offer the following stats on adoptions in China (taken from Rumor Queen):

U.S. State Department (number of immigrant visas issued):
2005 7,906 (per month, 658)
2006 6,493 (per month, 541)
2007 5,453 (per month, 454)

China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) numbers (includes special needs children):
2006 (Jan - Aug) 6,690 (per month, 836 : per year, appx 10,035)
2007 8,600 (per month, 716)

These stats show the number of Chinese children being adopted has been decreasing. China remains the top sending country (5,453 children out of 19,292 children adopted abroad in 2007). Now, also keep in mind that there may be around 25,000 applications "waiting" at the CCAA. Popular program, eh?

Also, over the past year, the number of days of applications referred each month has been 7. If it continues this way, we should expect our referral in March 2010 - nearly a 4 year wait from the time our application was received by the CCAA (ooooo, DH is going to be upset that I'm not "thinking positively")!

Well, I find I've got nothing else to say today. Except Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

3,200 U.S. Marines and 1 Sailor

"President Bush has approved the deployment of 3,200 U.S. Marines to Afghanistan to help the NATO-led security effort in the south and to increase the number of trainers for the Afghan army and police." I have to credit our friend Cathy in China for coming up with the silly subject line.

Chris' orders were changed: he'll be going to NATO's International Security Assistance Force (instead of going to Combined Security Transition Command). So far, June 7th is still the date he'll leave for one week in Norfolk then on to training at Ft. Jackson and then Afghanistan.

Precious quilt in the making

At Christmas, our niece, Lauren, bestowed on us the start of a quilt for our baby. Just look at the magnificent swatches she choose for this masterpiece! I couldn't have chosen a selection of swatches that I love as much as these. This gift is really dear to my heart (as is her ambition to attempt quilting)!

The quilt is based on the concept of a 100 Wishes Quilt which, according to ancient lore, is an Asian tradition wherein friends and family members provide swatches of cloth and wishes for the new baby that were then stitched together into a quilt.

Thank you, Lauren!

DH heads out on June 7th

When I say "heads out" I mean my dear husband (DH) is off to Norfolk then Ft Jackson to start preparation/training for his 6-month deployment to Afghanistan. It's about a month earlier than expected. Do you have any suggestions for a spring vacation for the two of us?

Adoption Status Update

The CCAA has "finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with their office before December 19, 2005." Another crushing blow from another month of only a few days worth of applications receiving referrals.

Welcome Baby Nathan!

Congratulations to my niece, Jill, and her husband, Chris, on the birth of their baby boy Nathan Christopher!

Nathan was born on December 31st at 6:34 in the morning, weighed 6 pounds 5 ounces, and was 18.5 inches long. Mom & baby came home last night and are doing well.

Chris and I now have one great-niece who is 3 1/2 years old and a great-nephew who is 3 days old.