One Step Closer

Today we got one step closer to our adventure of a lifetime.  We received our travel itinerary today.  It is exciting to see it all written on paper.  It looks like we are going to be staying in some nice places.  They have a few tours planned and one thing I am excited about is a trip to the Guangzhou Zoo where we will hopefully see pandas.  We have our final travel meeting tomorrow to ask any remaining questions.
 
One of the things we have to bring are gifts for different people from the orphanage and officials.  We need at least 6 girl themed gifts.  Any ideas?  If anyone has any, please email me.  I've been looking for something that seems uniquely Texas, but so far everything seems to be made in China.  Do you think they can buy Texas stuff there?  And remember it needs to be small and light weight so as to not take up much room in my suitcase.

People keep asking me what Chloe's room looks like.  It looks amazingly similar to Caleb's nursery!  We are using the same room, furniture, bedding etc.  Kevin is calling this second child syndrome.  We are making it hers by putting wood letters on the wall that spell her name and while we are in China we are hoping to buy some kind of unique Chinese art to hang on her wall. 

I am a swirl of emotion.  It is so exciting, but on the same token a little scary too.  I guess it is like any pregnant mom/dad for the first time when they don't really know how dramatically their life is going to change.  Except, I have had a child and I know how dramatically this will change our life!  I have also been feeling an immense amount of stress.  From arranging travel details, getting things ready to pack, preparing to be gone from work for an extended period of time, etc.  So to help cope with the stress (as if I don't have enough to do already) I made an appointment for a massage and pedicure.  I got a gift certificate for my birthday from my brother and his family and I figured this was just what the doctor would order!  So Sunday afternoon I am going to be in relaxation mode.  A good way to start a vacation!