What's New? Not Much...

We are still waiting for the U.S. Consulate in China to issue our Article 5 letter so the Chinese adoption authority (CCAA) can start working on our travel approval.  I thought for sure we would hear something this week, but our Travel Coordinator told me that the consulate now only allows agencies to pick up Article 5's on Monday and Thursday.  Well, Thursday has come and gone in China, so it looks like the soonest we will hear anything will now be Monday.

Why does all this matter?  Even though we were being told February for travel, I was really hoping for a miracle and we'd get through this last bit quickly so we can travel before Chinese New Year (CNY), which is February 14th.  CNY is the biggest holiday in China.  Everyone travels from all around the country and the world to be with their families for several days (weeks!) of feasting and celebrating.

All of the adoption appointments are scheduled in order throughout a two week period.  The CCAA, Consulate and provincial offices will be closed the week of Feb. 14th.  This means no one can travel the week before, during and after CNY.  So, the difference between leaving Jan 28th and Feb 25th.  May not seem like much but to be so, so close...and have to wait even longer is torture!  Because of the holiday delay, the appointments directly after CNY will fill up very quickly...this may even push us in to March.  We are really, really hoping that won't happen.

I am still working on Sofie's room.  There are some really cute Etsy art pieces on the way and a few more accessories to purchase and it will (should?) be done!

The drapes are up, armoire refinished and I even painted a little elephant for a wall:



I stenciled some butterflies on the wall and re-purposed some mirrors I had:



And there might even be some faux fur accents...!