Packing!

With approximately 7-8 weeks to travel (we're sooo close!!!),
we've started the arduous task of packing....and repacking!

4 people, 15+ days of travel and 
strict international luggage weight restrictions...

proving to be a real challenge!

All the luggage but NOT all the stuff!



Every little boy needs a ball and a backpack!!

Love the bubble blower fish toy! Can't forget the Panda!....or the GAP hat!

Trail Mix and Cliff Bars (for us) +
gifts for the notaries, officials, tour guides and nannies: 
Victoria's Secret lotions and perfume, Burt's Bees products, Jelly Bellies and Fish Oil caplets! 
(Yes, Fish Oil caplets - a hot commodity in China!)



Meds of all kinds, Sam's red-white-blue shirt for US Consulate day and our new Ergo child carrier.

Hiking the Great Wall with a stroller....not so good!



Benjamin's bedroom

Jack is getting a new roommate soon....

and he's VERY excited!

He and Ellie decorated the bedroom door:

Regarding the new room arrangement:
Jack was VERY specific.

He wanted Benjamin's bed directly next to his...

We purchased a new video monitor for the room

so we can keep on eye on them!

We've been told by another parent who adopted a child
from Benjamin's orphanage that toddler children
sleep in little wooden beds on the floor with wheels.
We hope he likes his new room!

We can't wait to have you home BenBen!!!

XOXOXO

Name change: 西刚

After much consideration, we are changing
Benjamin's middle name:
(see original post: http://journeytoganggang.blogspot.com/2010/11/us-homestudy-approved.html) 

to Xigang
pronounced "shegung"
(his first and middle names combined)

Benjamin's given name is Yu Xi Gang
(as assigned by the Orphanage)
Yu is the surname.

Xigang in Mandarin:

Xi = West

Gang = Strong

Benjamin is heading west for a strong life!

It just feels right!

Benjamin Xigang

Sadly, Benjamin will have no knowledge of his birthparents 
and likely no memories of China.

We are so proud of his heritage and culture and hope
his middle name is always something he'll treasure and appreciate.

By the way, our blog: journeytoganggang is a reference
to the orphanage's nickname for Benjamin:

"GangGang"! 

Playing with Benjamin!

A few nights ago, Ellie and Jack were playing trains

and eating popcorn at the kitchen counter.

Greg, Sam and I were in the family room (watching Idol I think!)...

anyway, Greg walked in and found them talking to Benjamin!!!

They had taken Benjamin's photo off the fridge

(a handmade Christmas ornament with magnet),

propped it up against the popcorn containers and

were "playing" with him!

Telling him about the trains and how much fun it will be

when he's home!

Awwww......LOVE THEM!

LOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agency called and we received our LOA today!

Monday, March 7th, 2011!!!
** Day 41 **

Approximately 12 weeks to Travel!!!

We're coming sooooon Benjamin!!!!!

Next step?

Overnighting our I-800 application

"Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative"

to the USCIS department with approval in apprx. 3 weeks.



LID!!!!!!!!!!

We received notification from our agency today:
Our Dossier was Logged Into China on
01/26/11!

So, (counting today!) we're already 34 days into our 60-75 day
wait for our Letter of Approval "LOA"!

Updated Photos!!!

We received our 3 month update from the Orphanage today!!!

Seriously, could he be any cuter?! 
We are soooo in love......!!!!
LOVE the cheeks and his hair how grown out so much! 
He is such a stinkin' cutie!!!

The Orphanage report states:

"He can read book on his own.

He can tell different animals and characters in the book.

He can run and skip.

He has 2-3 vocabulary of words." 

He's a genius!!!

I love the Chinese and English saying on the wall:

"Experience success be self-confident"....

His height is 33.5" and his weight is 30 lbs. 
He is 2 years and 4 months old. 
Jack (4 on Feb. 28th) is 39.5" tall and weighs 32 lbs.!!!
We LOVE you the whole world Benjamin!!!

Documents to CHINA!!!

It's official!!
Our Dossier is on a flight to China today!!! 
A courier will then deliver it to the CCAA (Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs). 
Yipeeee!!! What a whirlwind!!

We hope to receive our Log In Date (LID) before
Chinese New Year (February 3rd -18th).

Fingerprints Approved!

We received our official document from the USCIS:

Our fingerprints have been approved! 

Next step: have all documents authorized

by the Secretary of State's Office. 

I will drive round-trip (7+ hrs) to Indianapolis on Wed.

in time to photocopy the documents and overnight them

to a Courier in Chicago for Thursday delivery to the

Chinese Consulate's Office in Chicago!

Whew!

The Courier will pick up the documents on Mon.

and overnight them back to me for Tue. 1/18 receipt!

Each document will then be photocopied twice

 and delivered to our agency on Tue. 1/18!!!!!!

Our Dossier will be reviewed by our agency and

hopefully on a plane to China Thursday, 1/20th!!

China will then "Log-In" receipt of the Dossier within

a week or two and then the countdown begins! 

We should expect our "Letter of Approval" within 2-3 months

(depending if Chinese New Year slows down the process). 

Upon LOA approval, it's another 3 months until travel!!!

While we wait for LOA, we need to visit the
International Travel Medical Clinic for shots...

and apply for our Visas but nothing major....just waiting!!!

We will receive updates on Yu Xi Gang (height, weight)
and a few photos every 3 months until we travel....

so, the end of January will be 3 months!!

We can't wait to see how our little guy!

A picture is truly worth a million words!!

Christmas Care Package

Christmas is 2 days away.
We're sad Benjamin won't be home with us.....
but, we're so grateful for the MANY blessings in our lives. 

I was asked recently how many children we have.
Without thinking I answered "four".....
and then it really hit me.....we have 4 children!!

It's difficult having Benjamin so far away....
yet so deep and close and LOVED in our hearts. 
We love you BenBen!!

We are sending Benjamin a beautiful care package.
A lady who lives in China operates a care package service.
We wrote a letter to the orphanage and Benjamin & she translates.
We're also emailing her 20 photos to print and label in Chinese.
She'll send them in a beautiful keepsake silk photo album! 
Our hope is the orphanage will share the photos with Benjamin.

She's also including:

* a pillow with our family photo (holding Ben's photo!),

a soft blanket,

* a disposable camera (for the oprhanage to take pictures and return to us),

 * candies for the nannies,

* a donation of pajamas for the children

* and a bag for Benjamin to store his care package items. 

We think he'll receive the package on Christmas Day! 

Next step, we are driving to Louisville, KY on Monday, 12/27/10
for our biometric fingerprinting appointment!
This will finalize our preliminary approval to bring Benjamin home as a US Citizen.

Santa will be visiting Ben at his Indiana home this year and his stocking will be full! 

We cannot wait to hold him and kiss him and love on him (especially those cheeks!!).  

Merry Christmas and many Blessings for a wonderful 2011!