A Treasure In My 'In Box'!!!

I was checking my in box this morning when I received an email from Ann at Red Thread China. My parent's ordered a Mooncake Care Package last evening to be sent to Hannah so I wasn't too surprised to see something from Ann. Thought it might just be a follow-up confirming their order.

You can imagine my delight and surprise when it was updated information about my sweet baby girl!! Included in her original care package I had asked the Director some questions but it didn't even cross my mind that I might receive the answers before we meet. I was shaking when I realized what I was about to read!

I found out the name of her nanny and that Hannah is very attached to her. Thanking God for this as it is something I pray for often - that she will be loved and attach to those who are caring for her now. I know that many of you have been praying this for her too and I thank you! God is answering our prayers and I am praising Him!!

They also shared the names of the 3 babies that share her room in the orphanage and are her friends.

Her feeding schedule and some of her daily routines were also included. She wakes up at 6:30am and likes a bath before her bottle and breakfast. Guess my work alarm will happily be replaced by a new one that wakes me about the same time. :o) Cannot wait to make that switch and also to have a great amount of time at home to get to know my sweet baby girl before returning to work.

Her personality is outgoing, active and smart. She loves to sleep in her rock chair (might need to go to 'Once Upon A Child' and see if I can find a 2nd hand one of those) and, she loves her musical toy. I have a few of those so it's all good. They also said, 'if someone take her toy away from her hand she will be very upset.' That's ok sweetie. Mommy won't take your toys away but am pretty sure your cousin Makenna might have different thoughts about that. Oh how I cannot wait to see the two of you together!!

There was one part of her update that made me smile and at the same time gave me goose bumps. I love this!! 'When she is not happy, give her some toys or hold her. She loves to be holded'!! My girl is a cuddler and I am thrilled to hear this!!! Once again, this is something I have prayed about time and time again.

Lord, thank you for this precious gift of more information about my sweet baby girl. As my Grandma loves to say, 'Each new day holds some lovely secret waiting to unfold.' Today's secret was updates on Hannah and I've had a smile on my face ever since!! God is SO GOOD to provide this gift of information today!

Hannah's Care Packages

I've dreamed of sending a care package to Hannah for years! I'd think of what I wanted to include in it with the thoughts of helping her prepare for Family Day. I made her first taggie back in 2006 and it's in her room waiting for her. I made another taggie this spring intending to include it in her care package. Once I received her referral I embroidered her name on it (at least I think that's what I embroidered on it! :o) and began sleeping with it about 6 weeks before referral. I understand that a baby's sense of smell is acute and hopefully the taggie will help her when we meet. I packed it in a ziploc bag and included it in the package I mailed to Ann at Red Thread China.

Also in the care package are a couple of photo albums that include pictures of myself, my parents and my friend Norma as we'll all be traveling to China together to meet Hannah. Friends helped me with the Chinese translation of the words Mommy, Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie so that the nannies could 'read' them to her. Two of the pictures also read, 'Mommy loves you Xiao Fen!'
I mailed this package to Ann a week and a half ago with the intentions that she would include it in the package she's putting together in China but my excitement got the best of me. Rather than asking Ann to hold off Hannah's China portion of the care package I asked her to mail that package off now and then paid for her to forward my package to Hannah when she receives it so Hannah will receive 2 different packages a couple of weeks apart. I was also excited to get updated pictures and information about Hannah as quickly as I could!! This is one of the free services that Ann offers to those who purchase care packages through her company. I cannot tell you what those pictures mean to me!!!

This is the care package that Ann put together for my sweet baby girl!! Hannah will receive a new sleeper, a blanket, squeaky shoes and little toy. It also includes a 27 exposure disposable camera that I hope to receive back on Family Day along with a letter thanking the Director of the SWI and nannies for taking such wonderful care of Hannah. The letter also containes questions of her care givers that I hope they complete and also return on Family Day. It will be wonderful to learn who she is closest to and some of what her life is like now before we meet.

I cannot say enough about Ann and the amazing service she offers to adoptive families!! Being able to have contact with those caring for her is a gift but the updated pictures...PRICELESS!!! Thank you Ann!!!!!!!!!!