I didn't want to post until Donna told everyone first, (even though I've already showed her off to all my friends), the day after Christmas, Donna received her referral for her daughter.

She is a beautiful little thing, in her pictures, it looks like she has brown hair and the biggest brown eyes you've seen.

Donna should be able to go and meet her in January and then bring her home 2 months later. I can't wait to meet little Payton, I'm sure she will help in the long wait for Gracie to come home.

She was born February 26, 2006 (born on her sister's birthday)

I haven't been an "Auntie" to a little princess since Taylor! What a cutie she was! I never get to see her. They are currently living in Clemson country! I certainly hope that Payton and Gracie will be close.

Let's take a ride. . .

I drove to Columbia today to have our papers certified by the state! I get to go back tomorrow because 3 of them were not worded correctly! Thank goodness I am on vacation this week!

One document I have to send to Nashville, lets pray it makes it back and does not sit on someones desk.

How Cute is This?

It's a Christmas present from Adam & Payton (Aunt Donna & Uncle Matt). She is gonna need a room soon, really soon.

My mom also gave Gracie books for Christmas, she got several books of color and 3 other books.

I'm going to Columbia tomorrow, and then Thursday I will send them UPS to a courier service to have them hand delivered to Washington. I am so excited, we'll soon be DTC, unless our agency finds a problem with them, lets hope not, lets hope all is well with them.

Dear Gracie,

It's Christmas Day, and although I don't think you are born yet, I wanted to wish You a Merry Christmas. I pray that things speed up in China and you never have to spend a Christmas alone.

You are always in my thoughts and prayers, and I can't wait to have you home.

Maybe this is a sign of good luck, Granny Winge gave us a ornament this morning, a Baldwin Ladybug, it is so cute!

I love you baby girl.
Momma

Our family will be here today for dinner at 5:00, the room never seems quite complete anymore. Time goes by and this is our second Christmas without you Devan. You are in our thoughts and prayers every day but especially today. Merry Christmas Devan, we love you!

It's Christmas Eve and I wanted to post what my oldest DS just gave me for Christmas. He is so sweet and thoughtful! Take a look . . . .

He got me a Chinese cookbook (I'm really gonna try) and a Chinese Dictionary.

Then he also gave me 2 pcs of fabric for Gracie's quilt. He found 2 things that he knows I love - Frogs and Elvis. How sweet is my child! Brandon I love you!

It's almost Christmas . . . . .


My Dear Friend Trina gave Gracie a really cute gift (we both love frogs). Both are for the tub, one is soap and the other one is a puppet!

My best friend Bonny and I do breakfast together with each other and the kids each year, well that was today! Look at my gift, I just love it. My first diaper bag! How Cute!

That's Bonny's daughter Ashlee Gail holding the bag!

Friday, December 22, 2006


My DH is another year older! But with each year he is getting sweeter and sweeter. Happy Birthday Paul Ray! I LOVE YOU and YOU ARE STILL MY BIGGEST DREAM COME TRUE and you always will be!

I really feel that Gracie's "birth mom" is pregant with her right now. I pray for her safety during this time and that she is taking care of herself. There was a big discussion on one of my yahoo groups about what they tell their children about their birth mothers and if they loved them. I personally will tell Gracie that her "birth mom" loved her but was unable to keep her.

The following is an article from China.org.cn It doesnt relate to that topic but with being pregant in 07!

'Golden Pig Year' Baby-Boom: Auspicious or Suspicious?

Maternity hospitals in Shanghai have been busier than usual over the past few months as many young women try to have babies next year, an especially auspicious time according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

"I found there are many pregnant women this year," said local resident Jiang Yan. "I know friends, co-workers and other people working in my office building that are all going to have kids. Some of them did tell me they want to give birth to a 'golden pig baby' for the good luck."
The lunar calendar gives each year one of 12 zodiac signs with years rotating through the five elements - gold, wood, water, fire and earth.

Children born when the Year of the Pig coincides with the element of gold, occurring once every 60 years, are said to be blessed.

However, the expected baby boom is causing headaches for doctors.
"Pregnant women will be given a number first every morning and wait for a check-up," said a doctor from Changning District Maternity and Child Health Hospital, adding that every day the hospital had welcomed 20 newly pregnant women coming for their first check.
Normally, women don't need to take a number to get a health exam, the doctor clarified.
A pregnant woman identifying herself as Yueyue said she learned about the "Golden Pig Year" from her mother. "I cannot tell whether it is true or not," Yueyue said. "But I chose to believe it rather than miss a good opportunity."

The Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission predicted that 131,000 babies will be born in the city this year, up from 123,901 last year. This number will rise to about 137,000 next year and peak in 2015 at 160,000.

City officials are concerned that this baby boom will trigger a spate of generational social problems, such as over-crowding in schools and in the job markets, problems that could stay active for several decades.

(Shanghai Daily November 8, 2006)2006-11-08 16:28:10'Golden Pig Year' Baby-Boom: Auspicious or Suspicious?

IT"S HERE!!!! OUR I171H ARRIVED TODAY 12/19/2006!!!

I am so happy it is finally here! I will drive it to Columbia next week and then overnight it to Washington DC after that. You know I am on vacation, its only a 8 hour drive, we'll have to see???? It will be at our agency's office early January.

On another note, I opened my email today to find a note from our agency saying they are concerned with my medical history (?) and we need to have our dossier in by April 13. Well that is not a problem but now my nerves are working overtime, and what if the CCAA decides at the last minute not to grant us a daughter. I don't think they understand, this child is a part of me. I am still waiting on a call from our agency.

UPDATE

I just got off the phone with Jamie in the Dossier Dept, she is working overtime tonight. I just love her to death. I would have never slept tonight. She answered all my questions, and we are good! She had sent the email just to make sure!!!

WHEW!!!! Now, where does that dance line start? My DH told me all day not to worry, I should know to listen to him by now.

Latest Update:

Here is the latest info from our Agency. We hope to be DTC first part of Jan (depending on how long it takes to get that magical form) and LID should follow in a month. Either way I think we will be ok!

My nerves will be much better once we are LID (log in date)!

The China Center of Adoption Affairs held their 2006 Adoption Agency China Liaison Annual Information Meeting at its office on December 8, 2006. At the meeting the CCAA announced some upcoming adoption policy and practice changes.

According to our Beijing staff who attended the training, these changes include the following:

Effective Jan. 1, 2007, the CCAA will raise its service fees: $820 for a traditional program adoption (a $210 increase), and $590 for a Waiting Child Program adoption (a $170 increase).
The following non-retroactive restrictions will apply to applicants whose dossiers will be received at the CCAA after May 1, 2007:
Adoptive applicants must be under the age of 50 at the time the dossier is logged in at the CCAA.
Applicants must be married for at least two years at the time the dossier is logged in. If either applicant has been previously married, the current marriage must be at least five years old at the time the dossier is logged in.
Applicants’ Body Mass Index ( BMI) must be under 40.
Applicants’ net worth must be at minimum $80,000.
Applicants must have no criminal record or history of domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abuse, or substance abuse.
Applicants must have no severe health concerns such as cancer, mental illness, or physical impairment, etc.
Applicants must have a minimum education of high school or equivalent.
Applicants must be a married heterosexual couple.

Single applicants will not be accepted.
We have not received any official written documents from the CCAA on the above restrictions. Therefore, the information we received and interpreted so far may not be 100% accurate. We will keep you informed as soon as more information is made available to us.
Once again, we believe that these qualification changes should have NO impact on families whose dossiers have already been logged in at the CCAA. For families who are still in the dossier compilation process, we will contact every individual family should any verified changes affect your adoption. Our goal is to help you get your dossier to China before May, 1, 2007.

Villanueva Christmas Dinner . . . .



We had my dad's side of the family Christmas Dinner last night.



First, Congrats to my cousin Jarrett and his wife Dolly. They just found out they are expecting in Aug. No one knew when they arrived, and Dolly asked if I would read a poem to my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Moe (Jarrett's parents). I was trying very hard not to cry. It was a beautifully written poem thanking them for all their help and how exciting Christmas 07 will be since they will have a new grandchild!



Second, My Aunt Mary and Uncle David gave us some things for Gracie. How sweet!

She got 3 pcs of fabric for her quilt, and a really cute bow holder. Thanks Aunt Mary and Uncle David.

Paul Ray is back safe and sound (until Monday morning when he heads off to Nashville).

Here is the first thing that he has bought for our Gracie!

He bought the boys hats! They look a little goofy (boys not hats)!

PaulPaul has the phone stuck to his ear as always!

Update. . . .

Our agency just posted an update from CCAA(China Center of Adoption Affairs) which just held their annual meeting. They are suggesting that everyone get their dossier in as quickly as possible. All we are waiting on is our I171H form, I'll call that office again on Monday. Once we get that I will have to get it to the state and then to the Chinese Embassy before sending it to our agency. We still need to take pictures, so over the next week, Paul & I will be visiting people to take pictures.

There will be some changes.

1. Beginning 1/1/07 the CCAA is raising its service fee. (OK, not a problem)

2. No single dossiers accepted after 5/1/07 (does not affect us)

3. Changes to the waiting child program (does not affect us)

4. There is no date listed and there was not a lot of detail to go with any of this. I hope that none of these will affect us. They are:

a. weight restriction

b. minimum net worth requirements

c. substance abuse

d. health concerns

The CCAA also predicted that the child match wait time will not get shorter in the foreseeable future due to the influx of adoption dossiers. However, the CCAA did not say how long the wait will become.

Let me say, my daughter is in China, I can wait as long as it takes (as hard and painful as it is)

but until my dossier is logged in I may be having issues, serious ones. I love this child that I don't know, so please don't suggest that I look at another country.

Time for another happy dance! I got a letter in the mail from DSS today. It was a copy of their approval letter they sent to the immigration office on Dec 1.

OK, now once we get the form from immigration it goes with the dossier to the state first, then I believe to Washington and then to our Agency. Once our agency gets it, it is there for about 15 days, it goes through critical review and then translation. Once all that is done, they will send it to China. Then once we are logged in, we begin the wait!

Gracie, we are another step closer babygirl. I'll continue to pray that God will keep you safe and that the wait time will decrease.

On another note, my DH comes home tomorrow, I cant wait to see him!

I have to share this, I have the best boss ever!

My DH is coming home early, he is arriving on Friday at 930 (he has to go to Nashville Monday, but he is home for 2 days) I am so excited, I have missed him so much! Did I say, I have not been sleeping well. Anyway, I called my boss to see if it would be ok to leave and pick Paul up at the airport. He said, Do you have to ask? Then he said I could take the rest of the day off! A year and half later, I'm still amazed at what a great job I have.

Update:

I just heard from our SW. DSS called her about 5 days ago needing something else on DS since he is an adult. She faxed that over to them the same day. She said I should be getting something from them anyday now, which means my I171H should not be tooooooooo long in coming. Hopefully my agency can send off our dossier first of the year. I was really hoping to be logged in by the end of the year.

Cybershower - One of my Yahoo Groups did a Cybershower (my first).

Whats a Cybershower - A group of people sign up and the moderator hands out names. You send one gift and receive one gift.

I'm so excited. I got my gift today! I have made a lifelong friend. She took the time and included a letter telling about herself, a gift for the cybershower and another bonus gift that I can put up for Gracie. She seems like such a sweet person. I wont be able to thank her enough.

On to the gifts . . . . .

She got the cutest outfit (its pink), some food containers, nail clippers and a Princess picture frame!

Now for the extra one . . .

It was a purse with her very first pair of chop sticks (PaulPaul wanted to try them out), a fan, a necklace, a bracelet and a bookmark. How Awesome. I will put this up for Gracie and put the letter in her book of wishes.

A very BIG Thank You to The Weaver Family! Randy, Laura, Nell and Ann

There is another CCAI family in Goose Creek! Glenda & Bo / They are leaving on Thursday to bring home their daughter from China. They will be home on Christmas Eve. What an awesome Christmas Present. Let's keep them in our prayers for a safe trip. God is gonna have Gracie surrounded by little playmates that look just like her.

I just left Homeland Security a message as well as our Social Worker, trying to find out our status! I guess my patience has worn thin.

There is another CCAI family in Goose Creek! Glenda & Bo / They are leaving on Thursday to bring home their daughter from China. They will be home on Christmas Eve. What an awesome Christmas Present. Let's keep them in our prayers for a safe trip. God is gonna have Gracie surrounded by little playmates that look just like her.

I just left Homeland Security a message as well as our Social Worker, trying to find out our status! I guess my patience has worn thin.

Our youngest son is so funny! This past Saturday, he and I (and my mother) went to Myrtle Beach to do some more Christmas shopping. This is the second year we've gone and he seems to enjoy it, and it's nice spending time with him, he'll leave the house before long (he's in a hurry to spread his wings). Our first stop was at a little gift shop in Pawleys Island, I have been wanting to stop there for 2 years! I found Gracie another book - Ruby's Wish. It is a true story! Paul Paul decided then for everything I bought for Gracie I would have to buy him something! She only got the book and 2 pair of PJ's. (That was only because they gave me a coupon the week before)

I was having Paul Paul hold up Gracie's PJ's and Peanut saw the camera, he is so funny, he knows when its time to take a picture.

Notice the PJ's on the right have cute little frogs and their PINK!!!! A girl's favorite color.