Last Updates on Our Daughters! UPDATED!

We are waiting for our TA!

BUT, because we need TA for three treasures it is taking longer than usual.

At first we thought that would be okay... but as we look at the calendar we realize how dangerously close to Chinese New Year we are getting.

We are PRAYING to leave on the 11th! Please pray with us!

If not the 11th then the 18th. We need to spend 3 weeks in China to get all 3 girls. Those dates are the only way we can get to China and back before CNY. Even the 18th would have us flying home as the holiday begins.

Praying we do not have to wait until after CNY to get our daughters.

This weekend we will get the bags backed and prepare all that we can for our China trip.

God is so GREAT we knowHe has a plan- we are putting our trust in HIM! 

For  Mia's update we got three new pics BUT we did not get measurement.
We have partial old ones from September and we know of 2 girls about her size that have come home in September and December- so are bringing sizes similar to what those families brought.

From what we found out previously Mia at 11 yrs old is 2 inches taller than Ava (who is 7) and a couple pounds heavier.

Honestly... let's just GET TO CHINA!

Measurements or NOT!

She is small. I have been recommended to bring a size 7 for her.

I have packed size 8's...

then I put in a couple of 7's...!

She is supposedly 11 yrs old???

To us right now she is 10...

and to us,

 once we are home she may be 9!

We will see?

Melissa's update include some measurements and a pics we already had.

Not complaining AT ALL!

Just so thankful she is our daughter!

120cm， 20kg， waist 45， pant length 65cm， shoes  32

 

Which translates to 47 inches - taller than we thought! 
She's one inch shorter than Ava.
44 lbs - about what we thought.
Abby's weight.
waist 17.5 - skinnier than we thought 
 Anna size waist.

The shoe size threw us? This would mean she has a size 1 foot but that seems kinda big for her? 
So we are bringing size 13. 
Yes, we may be shoe shopping in China??

Melissa is 7 yrs old! (above)

Madeline is 6yrs old (below)

It was quite exciting to get new pics of her!!

She is 109cm, 51cm head, 51.5cm chest, 16.5cm foot.
No weight?

This translates to  almost 43 inches tall- a little over an inch shorter than Anna and Abby.
Chest- smaller than Anna.
Shoe size almost 10.5- we are bringing 11's.

I cannot wait to get these sweet girls in my arms! 
OR just even be in the same room as them! 

Oh my, May God Bless them and protect them!

You probably think I am a little odd as I analyze the measurements ;-)
It's part of the bonding for me- I like to gather all the info I can and just have an idea on what to expect.

Now
it's packing and prep time!

Praying the TA comes next week. It's a goofy week in China. Our agency is closed in the 31st and 1st and CCCWA is closed on the 1st-3rd.

Whenever it happens we will be ready!

I thought I would answer this question from the comments-
Why do we bring clothes for our child and not just buy them there?

We always bring clothes and only buy a few toys, snacks, traditional Chinese outfits and small items while in China. We like the clothing from the USA much better! The quality is better. Then when they come home they have clothes like there siblings. Plus we are bringing some gently used clothes for the kids, too- it's not all new. They love to go through their suitcase and see what we have brought for them. It would be hard to take 3 new children in China shopping for clothes, sizing them and saying yes and no in regards to style and what we feel is appropriate. The walmart type stores have very few clothes- depending on the city. We could go to a higher end store but every time we have been in China we don't seem to be near stores like that. 
We will shop if we are completely off on sizes but from what we are bringing (leggings and dresses and jeans with adjustable waists)- the clothes are forgiving and should work out okay.
One time we forgot underwear and bought it in Hong Kong- it was outrageously priced.
Getting clothes and planning outfits is bonding and FUN. I can picture the children in the outfits as I place it in their suitcase! Plus we are dressing Melissa and Madeline alike some of the time- that is bonding for them! Mia will have outfits not matching Sarah but more like Sarah, as they are the older two girls that will be with us. 

After traveling to China as much as we have we are pretty happy doing it this way! It has worked well for us!

How about you? Do you like to shop for your child's clothes in China or bring them with you? I'd love to hear others thoughts!