Neat Thing We Have Done Since LID #8

Neat Thing #8 - Star Trek Museum!

Ok, you all know that I am married to a wonderful man who is a computer geek - a computer geek that loves Star Wars and Star Trek. This was our third trip to Vegas, and Doug and I were looking for something different to do. We decided to check out the Star Trek Museum at the Hilton. I have to admit, it was a lot of fun! We waited in long lines to get on the two movie rides, but the rides were so fun - it was totally worth it. It was neat eating in the restaurant that looked like a spaceship. I guess deep down, I am a bit of a geek too, and I don't mind at all!

Tagged - 5 Reasons Why I Blog

I have been tagged! I was tagged by Terri to write on the five reasons why I blog. Hmmm, why do I blog? I think I can rustle up five reasons.

1. Well, the reason I started a blog was because Mick and Kathy made me. LOL! Just kidding girls! Seriously, I never considered starting a blog until they told me that they had blogs and that it would be cool if I started one too. I was really hesitant at first because I honestly didn't think anyone in the blog world would really want to read about lil' ole me. I knew that Mick and Kathy would be interested in reading it, so I said what the heck.

2. I blog to record my adoption journey. I was 17 years old when I scrapbooked for the first time, and I recorded all the important and fun events of my senior year in high school. I enjoyed it so much that I have chronicled my life ever since. I can look back at my scrapbooks and remember all the events that shaped my life and who I am. Blogging is an online form of scrapbooking in a way. When Briana comes home, I can look back at my blog and remember all the things I did and the feelings I felt before she arrived.

3. This blog updates my family and friends on my adoption journey. I often get the questions, "Do you have the baby yet?" and "Why is it taking so long?". Now everyone can check out my blog and follow along with the process without having to ask me what is happening with the adoption.

4. When I started the blog, I didn't realized that I would meet all the amazing people I have. I had no idea that I would actually make online friends and that I would become so involved in reading about their lives and adoption journeys. It opened a world to the China adoption community that I didn't even know was there. I love sharing in their excitement, their yearning and sometimes their heartache. I truly care about all the people that are sharing this experience with me and that is why I continue to blog. And I have learned so much from the people who have already traveled to China that have brought home their children. I hope that I will be able to offer that same knowledge to those who will travel after me.

5. And the last reason I blog is because it is cheaper than therapy. No seriously, way cheaper. The roller coaster ride I have been on the last six years between my four year battle with infertility and this almost two year long adoption wait has been really, really tough for me and Doug. I found a support system out in blogland that has been unbelievably kind to me. It is really nice to know that I am not alone and that there are many (many) people out there that are anxiously waiting to start their families too.

Ok - I am tagging Kathy, Mick, Michaela and Georgia!

Consignment Shopping Day

Hello, my name is Lisa, and I have a consignment shopping problem...it is not that I go all that often, but when I do, I go a little bit crazy as you see...

This is the laundry basket of clothes that I came home with after visiting two consignment sales with Kathy, Mick and Amy yesterday. What you don't see here are the few toys that I bought at these sales as well. I just can't help myself when I see rows and rows of little girl clothing that say $2 and $3, and on Saturday they are half off too! I admit, I do have a problem. But look at all the great stuff I got!!!

We all met around 9AM in the morning and shopped at the first sale until about 10:30. What was really neat was that Amy has her referral for Emily Grace (who is such a cutie) and she knows exactly who she is shopping for now! After the major damage I did at the first sale, we all headed over to the second sale and shopped there until about 11:30. Amy had to get going after shopping but Kathy, Mick and I went out to lunch and split a delicious pizza (which took us about 45 minutes to get because the guy that took our order punched in the order incorrectly) at Mellow Mushroom. After pizza and several hours of girl talk, we all headed home. It was such a fun day!

Amy, Kathy and Me

Amy, Kathy and Mick

Just look at the rows and rows

of girlie things!

Neat Thing We Have Done Since LID #7

Neat Thing #7
Atop the Stratosphere on July 4th!

My number 7 out of 10 neat things Doug and I have done since LID was at the Stratosphere Hotel! On the first night, Doug took me to eat at the Top of the World Restaurant. As we ate, we watched fireworks go off all over Vegas. It was so romantic and really amazing. And the food was delish!

Neat Thing We Have Done Since LID #6

Neat Thing #6 - Vegas & the Wynn Hotel (Vegas Take Two!)

For my birthday last year, Doug gave me a wonderful present. He put together a booklet for me of a trip he planned for the week of fourth of July. In this booklet, he told me he was taking me to Vegas and revealed the exciting things he had planned. When we went to Vegas in January of '06, I spent most of the trip by myself while Doug attended the CES Convention. He wanted to go back again so we could spend time in Vegas together. We did so many great things in Vegas that I am going to address each thing in a different post. So neat thing #6 is The Wynn Hotel. We actually arrived in Vegas on July 4th, and the Wynn was so beautiful! Of course, Doug was most excited about the flat panel TV in the room and the TV in the bathroom.

Childhood Friends

Yesterday, I had lunch with my high school friend Julie and her four year old daughter Olivia. Julie and I have been friends since the ninth grade. It was so nice catching up with her. We graduated from the same high school. We were in each other's weddings. She has had two children and now I am finally getting close to adopting my daughter. It seems unbelievable that we have know each other for twenty years.

And on Saturday, I spoke with my friend Debra who lives in Frederick, Maryland. Debra and I have been friends since the fourth grade. I moved away from Miami, FL to Georgia when I was 13, but through letters, phone calls and e-mail, we have kept in touch for twenty-five years. We have not seen each other in person in fifteen years, but she, her husband David and 1 year old son Spencer are coming for a visit for a few days in March. I can't tell you how excited I am!

Good Fortune

On Sunday, Doug and I celebrated the Chinese New Year by having dinner at a Chinese restaurant. At the end of the meal, we of course got two fortune cookies.

Doug's said, "You will travel to many exotic places." Mine said, "You will obtain your goal if you maintain your course." Those sound like great fortunes to me!

At The Aquarium

Coldwell Banker had their big yearly "kickoff" last Thursday, and it was held at the Georgia Aquarium. Basically, a "kickoff" is an awards ceremony/ motivational meeting rolled into one.

I thought about not going because I only work part-time, and I had like a billion things to do at work that day, but my boss really wanted the staff to attend (there are four of us), so I went. One of our our favorite agents (yes - the staff has a favorite agents) offered to drive us to the aquarium. Not until we got in the car and started driving did I realize that this agent may be the worst driver on the planet. And it was Atlanta rush hour, which made the ride even scarier. But this agent is so funny that I literally laughed the entire way there and back.

Since the breakfast and kickoff started early in the morning before the aquarium was open to the public, they allowed the CB employees to go in a back entrance and enjoy part of the aquarium before anyone else was allowed in. We got to see the beluga whales, tiger sharks, otters and penguins. We had the whole place to ourselves! It was really, really cool! And in the ballroom where the kickoff was held, there were windows to the fish tanks.

The kickoff keynote speaker was Stacy Allison who was the first woman to reach the top of Mt. Everest. She was very interesting to listen to, but you have to be a little crazy to want to climb Mt. Everest! She actually didn't make it to the top on her first try, and during that attempt she got stuck in a tiny snow cave with three of her male climbing mates due of a blizzard that lasted four days. Doesn't sound like fun to me!

The aquarium is really beautiful, but I will not go back until I have Briana. Then I will get to visit the entire aquarium and I will get to experience it through her eyes. I can't wait!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year to all of my blog pals! Welcome Year of the Pig! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

My Valentine's Day

Doug and I made an agreement with each other that we would not give each other anything for Valentine's Day this year except a card and that we would just have a nice quiet dinner somewhere in the evening. Well, Doug broke his promise and the night before Valentine's Day he brought home these beautiful pink roses. It was such a nice surprise! He is so sweet! I did buy him a small heart filled with Reeses Pieces to go with his card, so I guess technically, I broke my promise too!

Doug had to go into the office on Wednesday and I had the day off, so my mom and I went to see my grandmother (my mom's mom) who now lives in an assisted living home here in Georgia. Grandma used to live in Florida, but she has Alzheimer's and cannot live by herself anymore. My mom and I took her out for lunch and spent the afternoon with her. She seemed to really enjoy our time together. I am so grateful that my grandmother still knows who I am. I am preparing myself for the day when she looks at me and doesn't recognize me. Her memory gets a little worse every day, so I am grateful when I do get to spend time with her. I know that she has probably forgotten that I visited her on Valentine's Day now, but I know she was very happy in the moment. Here is a picture of me and my grandmother when she moved here in October...

Doug got home a little early from work that day, and we went out for Japanese food at our favorite Japanese restaurant. I can't even describe how good my shrimp and chicken dinner was! Yum!

Thank you Doug for being my Valentine for the past 15 years! I hope all of my blog buddies had very happy Valentine's Days too!

Neat Thing We Have Done Since LID #5

Neat thing #5
Wicked!



Doug and I went to see the musical "Wicked" when it came to the Fox Theater in Atlanta in May of last year. We caught the show on the very last night of the Atlanta run. I went to buy a program during the intermission, but the Fox ran out! I couldn't believe it. I guess that is what I get for coming on the last night. (On a side note - my very sweet sister knew I wanted it, found it online and bought it for me for Christmas!)


Before the show started, it was announced that the two understudies were going to be

performing the two main roles that night. I was a little nervous when I heard that. But, the show was absolutely amazing! One of the best musicals I have ever seen! I even bought the soundtrack the next day! If the musical ever comes into your town, I highly recommend it!

Neat Thing We Have Done Since LID #4

Neat Thing #4
Chateau Elan!

Doug and I celebrated our ninth anniversary last year on May 3, and we had some friends who got married at the Chateau Elan Winery and Resort in Braselton, Georgia on May 6. What perfect timing! We were able to celebrate our anniversary at Chateau Elan! I pampered myself with manicure and pedicure the first day we were there. The next day we attended the wedding (of Alicia and Felipe), which was beautiful. The bride's family is from Argentina and the groom's family is from Columbia (South America). There was all sorts of awesome latin flava going on! The last day of our trip, not only did I get a facial, but Doug got one also (after I did some MAJOR convincing). He really didn't want to do it, but I told him how relaxing it was and he gave in. I think he enjoyed it, but I really don't see him doing it again! Ha!

Goodies From Chinatown

While Doug was on his business trip to New Jersey, he decided to drive into Philadelphia one day and visit Chinatown. He said it was a large Chinatown and very crowded. He went to a few stores and look what he brought home! He bought a pop-up Chinese New Year book for Briana and some really beautiful red envelopes. He also bought Briana a gold dress and for me, a beautiful blue top. After shopping, he wanted to get something to eat. He started to head into one Chinatown restaurant, but when he saw snakes in the window, he decided to eat at a different one! Isn't my hubby sweet? I am a lucky girl!

And I want to say another big "Happy Birthday" to my very dear friend Mick! Have a happy and fun-filled day! I hope all your birthday wishes come true!

Renewed I-600A - Check!

Doug worked from home today, so he was the one who retrieved our mail this afternoon. After two months of waiting, our new I-797 Notice of Action (I-171H) was in the mailbox. Doug knew that I had been anxiously awaiting for it to arrive. I have been hearing that the Atlanta USCIS is very backed up, so I expected to wait about 90 days for the renewal. Luckily, it took less than 60. Doug called me at work immediately to tell me the good news. I was so happy! Now, I am not happy we had to renew our I-600A in the first place, but since we had no other choice, I am happy to have that little piece of paper in my hand!

I also want to say a big "Happy Birthday" to my sweet friend Kathy! I hope you had a wonderful day!

A Trip To Chinatown

Kathy, Lisa S. and Maisie and I headed to the Chinatown Mall in Atlanta today for some lunch and shopping. It was a pretty chilly day, but it allowed Maisie to show off her adorable pink coat! Chinatown in Atlanta is small, and the mall has a few little shops, a couple of restaurants, a grocery store and a food court. Lunch was very good, and I couldn't help taking pictures of beautiful Miss Maisie the whole time. Kathy and I had a lot of fun walking around the Chinese grocery store. Maisie enjoyed walking around the Chinese bakery (with the help of mommy!).

I want to give a big thank you to Lisa S. for sharing lots of tips about traveling to China and tips on what to do when I first get home. Here are a few more pictures of our fun day!

Shopping, Superbowl and So Cute!

We did it! We ordered Briana's crib (without the bottom drawer), a dresser and a rocker with an ottoman on Saturday. It is going to take four to six weeks for everything to arrive, so here is a picture of the crib off the internet to show what it will look like. I can't wait for everything to come in so I can get Briana's room all done!

Then Sunday, we headed over the Kathy and Matt's house for Superbowl. We had a lot of fun, and we munched on pizza, buffalo wings and Kathy's to-die-for peanut butter and chocolate brownies. To top off the night, the Colts won! My brother-in-law Andy's (my sister's hubby) brother played offense for the Colts for 7 years and left the team a couple of years ago. He now plays for Denver, but we are still big Colts fans! Yeah Colts!

Lastly, I want to send out a big congratulations to my friend Miranda and her hubby Doug on their new baby boy Dylan who was born on January 30. I visited Miranda two weeks ago and took pics of her 16 month old son Jacob who is such a cutie and will be a big heartbreaker one day! Here are a few pics of Miranda and Jacob...

15 Months

We have been logged in 15 months today! Hopefully we only have 2 or 3 months to go!

A big congrats to Amy and David who received their referral for Emily Grace on Thursday!

Doug finally got home last night after being gone two weeks! And today we are going to buy a crib for our little Briana. Tomorrow - Superbowl!

It Really Is Getting Closer

Wow - it is looking like the CCAA matched through October 13, 2005. There are only three weeks of log in dates in front of us now. I really try not to get too excited when there are new updates regarding referrals, but I have to admit, this time it really does feel like we are finally getting closer. I am starting to get nervous and excited all at the same time. Could we possibly get a referral in late March? Will it be April? I guess only time will tell!