Prediction

Ok, I lied, I'm posting more than I planned to this month.  A few of my adoptions friends and I are making predictions of when we think we will receive our phone calls.  I've placed my prediction in writing and snapped a photo of it.  If anyone would like to join in the fun and predict, do so in the comment section and maybe I will give a prize to the person who wins.  :)

I've had this feeling she was born in September or October, so I am predicting her birthdate to be October 13, 2009. 

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Skype

Grandparents...would you like to talk to us, while we are in China for FREE? If you have a webcam, would you like to see Emma before everyone else and talk to us for FREE? lol. If so, download Skype 4.2 and you can do all of that!

I downloaded Skype on our laptop Friday, which was incredibly easy. Once you download the program, add us to your Skype contacts by searching for Jen's name and we can practice before we travel.

No-go for May

It is semi-confirmed that the cut-off is 4.21.06...families are receiving their calls this morning and no one past the 21st has said they are in.  Last night I looked on our agency's website and appears we are the only family remaining at our agency from 4.22.06 thru May 5th.  Maybe we will get lucky like others have, where China has a few remaining files and we get picked up.  Every few months, a few people get a surprise referral this way.  We are keeping our fingers crossed, but not holding our breath.

For now we will continue to tackle/purchase items on our agency's packing list so we aren't scrambling at the last minute.  Emma's crib has become a storage facility of items that will eventually go into the suitcases.  We opened up our agency's travel guide a couple weeks ago and realized how much there is to do at the end of the process and panic creeped in.  When we finally get "the call", we will have 6-8 weeks to file all the final paperwork, apply for Visa's etc. but the time is going to fly quickly so any item we can check off now is going to be helpful in the long run. 

One of the craziest things we have to do at the end is order "new" money.  We have to carry over $9,000 in cash, but none of the bills can have ink marks, dogears or folds because China will reject it.  When you order "new" money, the banks don't always respect your request and families have literally been washing and ironing money to make it clean/crisp.

We probably won't post again until we near June unless something earth-shattering happens, so "Ciao" for now!

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