It’s been a while. Things have been crazy and hectic, so I have not been able to update as often as I would have liked. So here we go… It has already been a month. Like I said, things have been busy, so that does make the time go so much faster. Although there is never a minute that she is not on my mind. What I would not give to leave tomorrow and bring her home!!!
At this point, our agency feels we will be traveling by the end of the summer. We will probably be leaving in July or August. Sometimes July feels right around the corner, and other times it feels like a lifetime away. We will be in China for approximately 2 weeks, and Aidan and Cameron will be staying here with their grandparents. This was a difficult decision, but we feel this is best. The trip can be very exhausting and emotional. There are several steps of paper work that we need to wait on before we get our TA (travel approval). I will not bore you all with every little step, but for those of you that have been though this process or are currently going through it, we are now waiting of our LOA (Letter of Approval) from China.
This past week, I was very excited to receive an email with new pictures of our Hayley! That definitely made my week. :-) The boys ask almost every day when we are going to go get their sister. They are so excited to meet her. It is really sweet to watch them. They are so interested in anything Chinese that they see. I think it makes them feel some connection to her. They are very proud big brothers already!
There was two reason that I decided to start this blog. The first was to keep everyone up-to-date with all that is going on throughout this process. The second is to have all of this documented for Hayley, as her story that she can tell someday. Then hardest part of the waiting is that I can't hug her right now, or pick her up when she falls down and gets hurt. I can't hold her when she is sick, or rock her to sleep. So here is a letter to Hayley from her Mommy, telling her how much I love her. This is so someday she can look back at this, and know what I was thinking.
My Sweet Hayley Grace,
There is not a minute that goes by that I am not thinking about you. I wish that I could pick you up, and love you! You are a beautiful little girl, who is already lighting up the faces of your family here that loves you. We love looking at your pictures. My favorite is the one where you are smiling and clapping. You look so happy!
We are working on your room, so it will be all ready for you when you come home. Your big brothers are soooo excited to meet you. They ask almost everyday when you will be able to come home. They love you and are so proud of you already.
I cannot wait to know more about you...what makes you smile, what makes you laugh, what you like to eat, what you like to do. I know that when you come home, it may not be easy for any of us at first. Everything will be new and a little scary, but know this....We love you, we are your family, and we will never leave you.
I can't wait till the day I get to hold you for the first time...I am longing for that day. I am praying that day comes quickly, and you can be home with us forever.
I love you!
Mommy
