Do they really need a letter?

Our acceptance letter (like we would NOT accept this child) is now on its way back to China!!! Wooo Hooo!!! MAJOR hurdle crossing! Now we wait for TA (travel approval). The FedX man finally delivered our referral package today - hmmmm only 2 weeks after the Stork left China! That stork needs to be retired ;) We did a quick turn and got the signed letter back on the FedX truck this afternoon - boy I didn't think I would get all emotional over more paperwork but handing that package over to the guy got me all misty eyed and giddy. Our baby is one step closer to being ours forever!

In the referral packet there were lots of letters - most of which I've shared already (the medical and developement reports) and the original photos with Jaiden's chinese name written in Chinese characters on the back (which I plan on getting sewn into a tapestry while in China) I do plan on preserving her Chinese name too - it is a special part of who she is.

Here is another quick review of her developement report:
- Deep sleeper
- Holds head up while lying on stomach
- Rolls from supine to prone position by herself
- Grasps toy near hand
- Locates the direction of sound/voice
- Visually follows moving toys
- Holds blocks on each hand at the same time
- Looks for the dropped toy
- Reach and grasp a toy beyond
- Follows you with moving head from one side to the other
- Laughs aloud (there are belly laughs in there! I just knew it!)
- Distinguishes between acquaintance and strangers
- Sounds directed at someone or something
- Active
- Restless
- Fond of imitating
- Fond of listening to music
- Fond of playing with toys
- Quick in reaction
- Having a ready smile :)
- Closest to caretaker

This last one is a heart tugger because I know with all my heart that this miracle from God has not gone a day of her entire life without love. It took her birth mother 6 days to give her up and she is not living in an orphanage but rather in the care of a very special foster mother that devotes her every waking moment to the care and nurturing of this amazing child. She is happy, she is healthy and she is loved. What greater blessing can a mother pray for her child? I know as we prepare for her to come into our lives, there is a special family preparing their hearts to give her up and preparing her for the journey ahead. I pray that they somehow know that this beloved child will always know love and happiness, she will always be warm and welcomed into our family as the blessing she was born to be. I pray that they are blessed beyond measure for giving so selflessly to this child. They had her only for a moment but you can feel the love in the words that are written in the reports. She will not forget; their memories are sealed into her heart snug and tight and will unfold in her dreams as she sleeps soundly into the night. We will remember them often and pray for them much and maybe someday our paths will meet and we can express to them how much their care truly meant to us and our daughter.

Until then, we gaze upon her precious photos and fall deeper in love with her every day. We pray that she is having an extra special day today and that somehow she knows that we are here. Waiting for her to come into our lives. To bring a joy that we didn't know was missing. To light our lives with her amazing love. And maybe as she dreams tonight her dreams will unfold... and be of the family in the west that loves her more than they ever imagined possible....so much more that words cannot describe. I knew it would be easy to love her; I loved her deeply before we ever saw her face - but I never knew it would feel like this...it's like falling in love for the very first time and looking into the eyes of my children for the first time - it's deep and it's real and it has a strength and a bond like none other.