Then off to Guangzhou! Time for the 'medical', US Consulate appointment, and some sightseeing. Best of all....seeing Tamzyn's personality continue to come out, as she became more and more comfortable with us!

 

We spent a few days getting to know each other.....and also celebrated Tamzyn's 2nd birthday (belated) and my parents' wedding anniverary!

Gotcha Day, Feb 9th, went very well! No tears, just odd sideways glances for a start....then she shared her orange with me, and all went well from there!

Finally, we are packed, ready to go tomorrow, the 6th Feb. "Gotha Day" will be the 9th Feb.
I am truely giddy with excitement!! Tomorrow will be the last time we are together as a family of five......

Today our travel approval (TA) came from China!!!! Our appointment at the Consulate was made for the Feb 22nd. Now we can book tickets, and get packing!!!! Soooo exciting.....I will soon be holding our little girl, and she will soon know the family that already loves her so very much!
Added bonus, this means I also get to see my parents soon, as we will meet up in Hong Kong before travelling into China!!

Our precious little girl is two today. This is the last time she will have a birthday without a family. She most likely has not been told it is her birthday. We have requested an update on her, so we'd have an idea of her size...but nothing came. No new pictures, nothing.... We sent pictures of our family to her, but I cannot help but wonder if she was shown them..... Still, we wait for our Travel Approval from China.....and we wait... and we wait......

Thanksgiving came and went. My husband is in Afghanistan, so the three kids and I decided not to cook and stay home by ourselves, so we ate out! It was fun, and we had no dishes to do afterwards! One of the downside of being so far from home.
Christmas......well, we were on our own again! I did cook Christmas dinner though.....Kiwi style! The kids had a great day, and so did I....but I really missed my family back home :-(