Monday, October 20, 2008

Packing Excitement... 3 Days!!


Well with THREE days until we depart for China, we have begun to pack! (Actually last night.) We have the little girls' suitcase packed and our Philip Hayden suitcase packed. The girls' suitcase weighs 47 pounds! We have 12 outfits for each girl, bibs, socks, tights, bows galore, and toys. For Kate, of course, there are bottles, diapers, wipes, lovies, and Robeez, among other things. For AnnaClaire, we have night time diapers, shoes, lots of panties (AC loved picking out PRINCESS panties the other day! All of her panties have been plain HannaAndersson, so it was fun to get PRINCESS panties!) and milk (not risking anything with the milk issues in China... we are bringing Horizon Organic boxes that don't have to be refridgerated!) We have a bunch more stuff packed, that's just what comes to mind. I think we have thought of everything. We have quite the weather changes! Beijing is supposed to be chilly (50s), Jiangxi is supposed to be similar to our weather now (mainly 60s, maybe low 70s), and Guangzhou is supposed to be HOT (80s and 90s!) That could all change, of course.

When we were in China in 2006, we bought a suitcase in Guangzhou to bring souvineers back. It is not a nice suitcase and to be honest, I'm not sure why we still have it. However, we decided to fill it up with things to bring to Philip Hayden and then we can just leave it in Beijing (also because we are allowed to bring two suitcases to China, but have to pay to travel in China with two... so this will work perfectly!) So we went shopping and filled that with nanny gifts, candy, supplies, and little packages for Katherine and Emily. (Our family sponsors Katherine and I sponsor Emily.) I do not think we can fit anything else in there!

The diaper bag is ready, too, with diapers, wipes, a bottle, and little toys for gotcha day. On top of all this packing, we have had to get some things for Boo since we will be in China for her 3rd birthday! I can't think of a better way to spend her birthday than as a family in China! A few of her gifts are for the plane ride, so she gets to open them early. We have a few things to bring with us to China and she can open them on her actual birthday. (The 27th... a week from today, my baby sister will be THREE!)

I have let all my teachers know (don't worry, I let them know before now!) and have gotten work to do while we are gone :(. I will miss 11 school days total. We have a fall break Thursday and Friday of this week, so that's two less days! I'm not going Wednesday (a girl has to pack! Besides, do you really think I would be concentrating the day before we leave for CHINA?) so tomorrow will be my last school day until we get back.

Things are coming along and it is starting to feel INCREDIBLY real. We are going to China THIS WEEK. It really is just amazing to think that we are ACTUALLY going to bring Kate home... THIS WEEK!

On another note, we went to the Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith concert on Saturday night and it was AWESOME. If they are coming somewhere near you, GO. You will not be disappointed. It was an amazing night with a sell our crowd! The music was great (of course!) and the stories were heart wrenching, yet very good. SCC will never cease to amaze me that he can loose his daughter and still sing his songs. It was AMAZING and a perfect way to send us off to China!

Lastly, I promised I'd show a picture of AC and Kate's new stroller. Grandma got this for us. It's a Joovy sit and stand and so far, we are LOVING it! Can't wait to have both AnnaClaire AND Kate riding along together in their stroller!

3 days until we leave for China... 5 until we are holding Kate!


18 comments:

jeanette said...

what a cool stroller!

you guys are really coming along on the packing -yay for that! it's such a hard trip to pack for -especially with your weather changes (we had that too!)..don't envy you on that part! :)

Amy Jo said...

OK, the stuff in the suitcases look TOO cute!!! You're so great to help your Mom out by packing the girls! Sounds like you're just about ready to go. So exciting! Your Mom said the concert was amazing. So glad you got to go. Hopefully getting your schoolwork done won't be too difficult in the midst of all of the fun and change you'll be experiencing. Can't wait to see your pics. Thanks for bringing us along on your journey! :-) Blessings & JOY, Amy

Lexie said...

Oh my goodness! Can you believe it!?! Yikes, I am so thrilled for you!!!!!!!!!! Wow. Wow. All of the packing, and such really sounds dreamy to me! I don't know if our day will ever come...but if it does...ohh....I JUST CAN'T WAIT! Ok, i know it will come. Slowly, but surely. You are making it feels so real to me!!

Whoo Hoo China in 3 days baby!
Lexie

Dawn said...

WOW, I still cannot believe that you are leaving in a few days. I will be praying for you all and watching your blog faithfully!!! As I am sure many others will be too. Your two sisters are so blessed to have you as a part of their lives Miss Emily! ;-) What a great big sissy you are.
Love you!
Dawn

Wolfes Home said...

Yea! So exciting!!

Catherine said...

Wow! Only 3 more sleeps! Exciting!

Great to hear what's in your suitcases. It really is amazing what we can fit into suitcases!

Great stroller. Praying for your family.

Anonymous said...

So excited for you!

Valerie said...

I'm so excited for you guys! I wish I were going with you :-) I'm so glad to hear that Kate has stayed at her current home and you'll get to pick her up from there. I'll be thinking of you all and praying for your family and Kate as we celebrate our own Gotcha Day on the 25th. It won't be long!

Wife of the Pres. said...

Emily, Pam and Family, We'll be watching with excitement and anticipation! Can't wait to follow your journey and to pray alongside you that all will go so well. How very special for AC to celebrate her third birthday back in her birth country! I think that is amazing too! Enjoy every exciting moment of last-minute packing and anticipation! PTL, you are leaving for China THIS WEEK!!!
Leslie

Dave said...

Amazing good news for you guys. We leave for China soon too (two or three years to go and counting). Will be watching for updates and adding you to our prayer list.

Best wishes for a safe journey
Dave & Sheri

Robin said...

Very cool stroller! I can't believe you all are heading to China AGAIN! I mean, I know you've been waiting but... I can't wait to follow your journey once again!

Blessings to all of you for safe travels if I don't get to blog again (having computer issues) :0(

Holly said...

Oh Emily I am so excited for you guys!!! Only 2 more short days!! The new stroller is adorable!!

Debbie said...

We are praying for your family down here in FL. We can't wait to see Kate with her forever family. We're counting down the days with you. :-)
Love,
Debbie

Jen Barbee said...

We were there Sat night too! I wish we had known so we could have met you...
We will be following your blog and watching Lainie's Chenzhou sister, AC, as she becomes a big sister !!!

Jenn said...

Getting more excited for you by the minute!! I wish I could look through the girls' suitcases...looks like lots of goodies are in there!

We are praying for you and are anxiously waiting to watch you on your trip!

Blessings,
Jenn

Table for Six said...

Emily, (and Pam), please give my baby boy a hug for me and tell him I will be there in 5 weeks!
have a great trip!
jill
Drew's mommy (house of blessings)
sheltoncrew6@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

You are going to LOVE the Sit and Stand Stroller! We had one when we had our youngest...she and her brother did wonderfully in it! A huge help for Mommy!

You have a wonderful website...I have been following along for quite a while now..but only commenting for the first time. Thanks for letting me follow along..

Praying for you and your family, and a safe trip for all!
Tracy
South Dakota

Anonymous said...

You are going to LOVE the Sit and Stand Stroller! We had one when we had our youngest...she and her brother did wonderfully in it! A huge help for Mommy!

You have a wonderful website...I have been following along for quite a while now..but only commenting for the first time. Thanks for letting me follow along..

Praying for you and your family, and a safe trip for all!
Tracy
South Dakota