Kate's Care Package

What fun we had today, as we assembled Kate's first care package! Our agency told us we had to limit our package to a regular-sized shoe box and we crammed it full!
















Above: Kate's care package, empty
Her chinese name, HaiYang, is spelled out in ladybug stickers!
Above her name is the phrase "We love you."
Below her name it says "Hugs and Kisses, My Angel."

Here's what we included:
~Soft photo album with family pics
~Musical nursery-rhyme fun toy (after I took it away from Papa)
~Pink blanket I've been sleeping with for a few weeks
~Blocks
~Rattle with a plush puppy on one end
~Lipstick and Clinique lotion for foster mother
~Hershey kisses (popular item to send, I've heard) for foster mother

~2 disposable cameras we hope will be used to take pics of Kate-the-Great
~A long list of questions we're hoping the orphanage director / foster family will be kind enough to answer

A special xie xie ni to Kristen Hu, our translator, a former student and current friend of Melissa's, who is here from China to study (and hopefully to stay)!

Who says it doesn't pay to have big feet?!!

The first two pages of Kate's soft picture book. The center note, which you can't really make out clearly, has the chinese character and English word "Family."

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Thank you, everyone, for your sweet comments and congratulations. We didn't think we could be any happier until we get our daughter, but your thoughtfulness proved us wrong. Sharing this joy increases it tenfold.

Xie Xie! (Thank you!)

~The Lucky Ones

Two More Pictures!

Each of these pictures, as well as the original pic in Saturday's post, was taken on March 31, 2005 when Kate was just over 9 months old. I can't wait to see what she looks like now. I also can't wait to peel all those layers of clothing off and put her in something cute and comfy! Just wait 'til Grandma and Mama get a hold of this child.... :-)

Meet Kate-the-Great!

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

~ "Blackbird," John Lennon

With unparalleled joy, humility and gratitude for all that has brought us to this moment, we introduce you to

Kathleen (Kate) Hai Yang ("Ocean") Braun.

Birthdate: June 25, 2004

Province: Guangxi (City of Guilin)

In foster care since March, 2005.

She loves playing with toys, rattles, anything that makes noise. She is described as active, lively, independent. She loves crackers, to play with her foster parents, and to tear paper.

How have we lived this long without her? I can't even imagine!

More later, this lucky mama and lucky papa have phone calls to make. We love you all for thinking of us and supporting us.

Tomorrow Should Be the Big Day!

Just a quick update: Our agency received the huge envelope filled with our babies information this morning. They will spend today confirming information and translating it, as well. At 11am tomorrow (9 o'clock their time), the phone calls will begin. I'll post her beautiful face and vital stats as soon as I get them.

Thanks for your continued prayers and love. We are so lucky to be getting Kate and so lucky to have people like you in our lives.

~~Melissa & Scott (aka, The Lucky Ones)

PS: If you haven't particpated in the "Join the Guessing Game" post, scroll down and give it a shot!