We Received Our Travel Dates!!!

We are leaving 12/14/07 and returning 12/29/07. We are so excited it is just two weeks away!

We've got updated pictures!!!!

Isn't she adorable??!!! According to the information received with the pictures, she is 70 cm tall (27.56 inches), 10 kg (22.05 pounds), and she has one tooth. We believe the pictures were taken yesterday (11/28/07). She looks so happy!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......."

We have received tentative travel dates from our agency. We will be leaving for China on December 19, 2007. We will fly into Beijing where we will spend a few days before flying to Chongqing on Christmas Eve to get the best Christmas present ever! We are so sad about leaving our family during the holidays, but so happy that Emmaline will not spend her first X-mas in an orphanage. We should receive official notice from our agency in the next day or two, but it is not likely the dates will change more than a day or two either way.

I can already taste the Christmas duck!

It's Christmas Time Again......

We started the adoption process in August 2005. Two Christmas' have passed since our journey began and we are hoping we will not have to go a third Christmas without her. Please enjoy this video Bob and Jacob worked on to show our little Emmaline how much she is loved and wanted. We have been dreaming of her for over 2 1/2 years and now we are just a plane ride away from becoming a forever family!

Travel Approval on the way!!!

We received an email from our agency today saying our travel approval was signed 11/18/07 and on its way to our agency. They hope to get it before Thanksgiving break. This is an amazing turn around time and quite unexpected!!! What this means is we could be traveling much sooner than previously predicted. Once the Travel Approval (TA) arrives at our agency, they can schedule our consulate appointment in China. As soon as we have the date for the consulate appointment, we can book our flights. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in China for the Akers Family and we could not be more excited!!! As soon as we know the exact dates we will post the information.

Home for Christmas???????

Probably not, but we're hoping. We have returned our paperwork "accepting" Emmaline, which initiates the start of our travel arrangements. The length of time between referral and travel has been six to eight weeks, but we're hoping it will be sooner since we are in a small travel group. The most likely scenario has us traveling to China right after Christmas. What a way to ring in 2008!!

Finding Photo

This is the first photo of Emmaline which was taken two weeks after she was born. According to the finding ad, she was found at the gate of Huadeng Plaza of Xiushan County, Chongqing City in the early morning of February 28, 2007. She was wrapped in a quilt with green flora pattern on it and placed in a bamboo basket. She had a feeding bottle with her as well.

If you are in the adoption process and are interested in obtaining a finding ad for your baby, go to www.research-china.org/cityphotos/index.htm It's fast, easy, and inexpensive.

The Stork Arrived Today!

Federal Express delivered our referral packet today. I have included the photo of the poor Federal Express driver as I ran to the front yard to meet her. The referral packet contained a ton of information and I will try to share some of the highlights:

She weighed 7.5 kg. and she was 65.0 cm. in height on August 10th 2007. She had no teeth in August. She is a moderate sleeper. She holds her head up while lying on her stomach. She can locate the direction of sound/voice and she can visually follow moving toys. She laughs aloud. She is active, restless, fond of listening, and quick in reaction. Her name Xiu Hua Yu means China Rain and it is pronounced as follows: Xiu: ("shee-oo" say it quickly) Hua: ("hua" blend the "h" and the "w") and YU: (u) She is outgoing. She smiles a lot, She is a little bit afraid of strangers. She is cute and easygoing. She can play alone. She always smiles at people. Finally, she gets up between 7 and 7:30 a.m., naps from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and goes to bed between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. So, she will fit in our family perfectly!

WE HAVE A DAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. ---1 Samuel 1:27


Bob and I are thrilled to announce the referral of our daughter Xiu Hua Yu soon to be Emmaline Catherine. Xiu Hua Yu was born 02-13-2007 in Chongqing city, Chongqing province; Xiushan Tujia and Miao groups SWI. Please celebrate our joy with us!

Friday Update..

A few people who live on the west coast in the U.S. are reporting they have received referrals around 4:30 p.m. eastern time today. I called our agency and they stated they did NOT receive a package today, so our next possible day is Monday. Here's to a speedy weekend. (Never thought I would say that and I hope to never say it again!)

The latest news

The rumors state the cut off date this month is our date 12/8/05. We feel confident we are included and will be getting a call soon with details about Emmaline. Several adoption agencies are expecting "packages" from the CCAA (Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs) either Friday or Monday. Those packages could be the referrals (photos of the babies and details). We hope and pray it is tomorrow, but understand it could be next week. (It's going to be a LONG weekend again for our family if we don't hear tomorrow!) Thank goodness for NFL football on Sunday to take our minds off this crazy wait!! Go Colts!!!