It's time to Par-tay! ~Ava style.

We ordered Ava and her friends a celebration cake when we received LOA. The cake said in red chinese lettering - We love you Ava!  I love the cake- it is decorated as an underwater scene and the candles are amazing! I think the middle one is a gas lantern of some sort. Well you know how the Chinese love their fireworks! So funny, I would have been nervous with all of those toddlers around... Here are the pics!

Oooh Pretty!

Wow, what a cake!

Picture's blurry but that looks like a smile to me!

Hey, can we eat yet?

Love the fact that she's wearing the dress I sent her and the little girl next to her is wearing the watermelon dress I sent!

The star of the party!

Digging In!

What is this I'm eating with? These aren't chopsticks?!

Hmm.. This tastes good.

Really good- I don't need help anymore- thanks!

OK, I'm a little messy.

Do I have anything on my face?

Rollin' rollin' rollin' keep those wagons rollin'.

Ok so we've been cabled and I have the National Visa Center (NVC) Letter. A pretty boring step, but a step closer nonetheless! Now we need Article 5, which is far as I can tell means the US Embassy says everything is in order and we will officially be waiting for Travel Approval. Article 5 takes a standard two weeks to process. TA is anywhere from 2-6 weeks later. Patience is a virtue....Patience is a virtue... No, really, it is...right?

Nesting... time to make Ava's space.

So last weekend we decided it was time to set up Ava's toddler bed and make some space in Aidan's room for her. They will be sharing for a little while, which Aidan is more than happy to do! It will be good for her too, coming from an orphanage where she slept with many other little ones she will not feel so alone with her brother next to her.  Yeah, and we know she may end up in our bed for awhile too (I am so ok with that) ;-)
So here are a few pics:

Aaron and Asa cleaning the crib that has been stored in the garage since Aidan used it. Aidan is on the chair supervising.  To the right is our wood flooring that needs to be installed in the living room. One project at a time....

The pictures I bought for their room laid out and ready to be put up... Aren't they cute?!

Such a good Dad!

Toddler bed! Still need sheets/pillow/blanket but hey it is together! We did end up moving it to the other wall though so that she can get into her little play nook better.

The play nook with a couple things I've picked up for her along the way. Aidan and I have loved playing with, I mean organizing, the dolls (wink, wink).

Hmm... Look who I found in baby bear's bed...

And another step bites the dust...

I-800 PETITION TO CLASSIFY CONVENTION ADOPTEE AS AN IMMEDIATE RELATIVE...
WE HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN

EFFECTIVE AUGUST 15, 2011

What are the remaining steps? Within 7 to 10 days after the I-800 approval we will get a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC). Once the I-800 approval and NVC letter arrive our agency will then send them over to China to the Consulate because they need to sign off that everything is in order for the adoption to be completed. This is called the Article 5 letter. The Article 5 takes 2 weeks. Once it's picked up from the Consulate, it will be delivered directly to the CCAA for Travel Approval which takes between 4-6 weeks.  We are on the home stretch now!

We have another update!

Imagine my joy when I opened up my inbox and there she was! My little Ava Mei. Outside. Active. Getting bigger. Oh, getting bigger... how bittersweet that is.... She is absolutely beautiful! We can't wait to go get her!

Head: 46 cm; Chest 50 cm;

Foot 14 cm; Weight: 21 lbs

Height 2 ft 4 inches

"Dong Yue is doing well and she has opened up a lot.  She likes outdoor activities, especially the swings.  She is not a picky eater.  She likes to eat sweets and fruit."