travel dates

We're leaving Sunday, June 3rd, arriving in Taipei on the 4th.  I'm working on where to stay in Taipei that week.  I have several leads on apartments within a 5 minute walk of MRT stations.  We'll head south most likely on Friday.  I have a place picked out to stay on the beach at Kenting.  There's also some places that we want to visit in Ping Tung.  We'll spend the night in Tainan Tuesday and meet Hudson on Wednesday, June 13th.  We'll take the HSR back to Taipei that night.  I'm working on another apartment that has two beds that is close to an MRT stop once again.  AIT appointment Thursday.  Sightseeing in Taipei Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Go home Monday, June 18th.

I was on the phone for a little over an hour with the airline tonight reserving our flights and getting Hudson's one way ticket back.  Complicated stuff!  The representative on the phone apologized over and over that she had to put me on hold so much.  I laughed.  Lady, we've waited a long time to get to this point.  Being on hold with you for an hour is the easiest part!

Hannah said a few really sweet things today.  She told me that Hudson can sleep in her bed if he's scared because he doesn't know us yet.  She also offered to teach him how to ride a tricycle.  I get all teary-eyed thinking about what a great big sister she's going to be.  I'm also relieved that she'll have someone to play with at home.  There's only so much hula-hooping, jump roping, hide-and-seek, and ball throwing that I have patience for.

Update 4/28/12 - Serviced apartment in Taipei secured for beginning and end of trip.  Great location.  Yippie!

Sunday 6/3 - Depart
Monday 6/4 - Arrive in Taipei late, check in to apt and zzzzzzz.
Tuesday 6/5 - Sleep in!
Wednesday 6/6
Thursday 6/7
Friday 6/8 - visit Ping Tung, spend night in Kaoshiung
Saturday 6/9 -Kaoshiung
Sunday 6/10 - Kaohsiung
Monday 6/11 - beach house at Kenting
Tuesday 6/12 - beach house at Kenting, travel back to Tainan for the night
Wednesday 6/13 - Hudson day in Tainan, travel back to Taipei, check into apt again
Thursday 6/14 - AIT appointment
Friday 6/15
Saturday 6/16 - go to Jade and Flower Market in Taipei
Sunday 6/17 - Father's Day
Monday 6/18 - Fly home

Hudson's finished room

Dream, Discover, Grow! I finished Hudson's room last night by hanging up the wall art and applying custom vinyl decals. Christy at Graphic Spaces was wonderful to work with.  I put all of the vinyl decals up in less than two hours. They were very simple to apply in comparison with another product I'd previously purchased at a Target.

Sunday Snaps

 Yes, it's a lot of pink.  Isn't it?
 I've stopped trying to tell her that these are weeds, not flowers.

 

She tells me, "Mama, they're WEED FLOWERS!"

spinning seeds

 simple things  tiny moments  amaze me  and take my breath away  anything but discarded put here for a purpose  new life, renewal, growth

Video: Let's Talk about Taiwan

four year old 我愛你 translation troubles

When I put Hannah to bed I try to keep the same bedtime routine.  We put on jammies, potty, brush teeth, floss, and then get tucked into bed.  I tell her, "Night night.  I love you.  Wo ai ni!"  One night as an afterthought I asked Hannah what wo ai ni means.  She responded, "It means go to sleep!"  I cracked up so hard.  It means "I love you!" not "Go to sleep!"  Hahaha!

Hudson fotopalooza

After waiting for what seemed like forever for meaningful updates on Hudson, here's what we learned about him in March. He was 81cm tall and weighed 13kg. He loves to play with others. Once he sees anyone playing the game, he will jump in right away. Sometimes he wont cry if someone takes the toy away from him. He has a good appetite, he is sweet, and not afraid of strangers. He loves to see himself in pictures and wants to take a look at the camera after shooting. Hudson loves to play ball and is extremely happy when someone plays ball with him.














Still waiting for travel dates. I've got apartments picked out in Taipei that would work if they have availability, learned that airfare prices are pretty stable for mid-week travel in May, have selected a beach house in Kenting to stay at for a a couple of few nights. Hudson's and Hannah's things are packed. I have a list of what clothing I'll be bringing. The kids things will be in my suitcase and Kevin's taking care of everything he needs in a large backpack. We'll bring a duffle bag with us to put clothing in on the way home to make room in my suitcase for things we buy in Taiwan.

breakfast date

  I had a breakfast date this morning   with my BFF before going to story hour at the library.   I love how she wrinkles her nose.  We don't do this enough!

growing up so fast

This photo of Hudson is dated December 29, 2011.
He's twelve months old here.

Every photo is a treasure.

Hudson's final decree is in!

I made the mistake of looking at my cell phone at a red light on my way home from work.  It was a message from our adoption agency.  It wasn't an emergency, but they'd like to share with us some news before the weekend.  Of course, I called it right away!!!  I was blown away to hear that our final decree was in.  That means that the adoption has been finalized in Taiwan!  I was really surprised, and so overjoyed!  I started crying.  It's a good thing that I was almost home and was turning off the state highway.

The adoption facilitator in Taiwan is working on travel dates already.  We might have these as soon as next week.  I'm anticipating leaving for Taiwan in 3-6 weeks, but we'll see what happens when we get this information next week.  We'd like to do some sightseeing in Taiwan before picking up Hudson, like we did before getting Hannah.  I've got a couple of apartment rentals picked out in Taipei, and I'm really excited that airfare costs are at an excellent price in May.  All three of us could fly to Taiwan for less than the price of one of our tickets when we went to bring home Hannah over Christmas and New Year's.  That's a blessing!  There isn't extra money in this adoption budget for super fancy hotels and business class airfare with this adoption like there was for Hannah's.

I'll be starting to post photos shortly.  That's what you're all waiting for, right?  :)

We went out for Chinese food at our neighborhood restaurant to celebrate.  This was Kevin's fortune.

Meet our son! - referral photos

Meet our son!

More photos to follow. Not many, but we have a few more. :)

Redirect: Rethinking Tikki Tikki Tembo

This is an important read from Taiwanese American children's author Grace Lin regarding the book Tikki Tikki Tembo.

seven months

Hudson Ray, It was seven months ago we first heard of you, little man. Thinking of you, every day. Trusting in others that work in your best interests to bring us together. I hope you feel loved tonight. You are from afar. Love, Mama

so loved

We went out to dinner last night with two other adoptive family friends. We met one family online and the other at while shopping at Target. What do we have in common? Little girls that are SO LOVED! By the end of the year we'll add THREE little boys under age 2 to the mix of this group from China and Taiwan.

I'm laughing so hard right now.  Kevin was just talking to Hannah about our upcoming trip to Taiwan and told her all about going to the Hello Kitty Cafe with desserts that look like Hello Kitty.  Hannah asked if they had cupcakes and strawberry cake.  I find this so funny as last time we were at the Hello Kitty Cafe in Taipei Kevin made it known that he was not having a good time and enjoyed stabbing his gelatin Hello Kitty with a fork repeatedly.  This time with a four year old little girl, things are different.  Kevin's looking forward to going there because he knows she'll love it.  That's my man!  :)

Hello Kitty Cafe - January 1, 2009