C.J. Redwine

I wanted to take a minute to update you on our adoption journey as we get ready to leave for China in less than a week.  First, I'd like to extend our thanks and gratitude to all who donated to help us finish our fundraising. We now have all the money we need to complete our trip! You are all amazing and I can't wait until Johanna is old enough to read over the blog post and comments on her fundraiser and see how many people reached out to help bring her home.
Second, I'd like to thank those of you who've had experience with adopting from China and who reached out to us with emails full of wonderful advice and encouragement. We'll definitely be better prepared as a result!
Next, a big thank you to those who've sent baby gifts. I'm unbelievably touched that someone who's never met me would make something beautiful for my little girl. What a warm and generous online community I have.
Finally, friends of ours who traveled last year were unable to access Blo…

1. Just dropping by for a few minutes to tell you that:

2. We leave for China one week from today.

3. I currently have a sinus infection.

4. The pretty green stuff on the side of a box of sushi is not, I repeat NOT guacamole.

5. Which means eating a mouthful of it by itself is not a good idea.

6. Even if it is pretty.

7. Lesson learned by this first-time sushi-eater.

8. On the plus side, wasabi does make for an excellent sinus douche.

9. So if my supply of antibiotics, prescription nose spray and prescription decongestant don't do the trick, I'll be carrying some wasabi with me on the plane.

10. I'll be blogging throughout our entire 2 1/2 weeks in China for anyone who wants to follow our journey.

11. I can't promise there won't be a few international incidentsinteresting things to discuss.

12. Yes, we're taking a camera.

13. No, I won't let my hubby take a picture of me seconds after I've foolishly filled my mouth with the oh-so-pretty but holy-crap-sp…

1. I don't even want to look at the date of my last blog post. I think it's probably been more than a week.
2. Naturally, my reasons fabulously illustrate the glamorous life I lead.
3. I was busy invading a little-known dictatorship off the coast of South Africa, subduing entire armies with nothing more than some ostriches, a pair of smoking hot stilettos, and my firm belief that Pluto is still a planet.
4. When I wasn't wreaking havoc and causing nightmares for totally sucky dictators, I was working overtime, dealing with a bout of the stomach flu, trying to get everything in order so I can leave my kids behind while we travel for two weeks in China, and wondering how long I could let the laundry go before going nekkid in public was our only option.
5. You see? The glamour, it BURNS.
6. My oldest son informed me yesterday that he doesn't go for super model looks like most boys do. He wants brains.
7. He then hastened to add that while he didn't want super model looks,…

Horror: (noun) The condition one finds oneself in when one realizes the song stuck in one's head for the last hour belongs to that memoir-writing teen sensation Justin Bieber.

Bonus Word:

Mortification: (noun) The result of admitting in public one has unwittingly memorized part of a Justin Bieber song.

Our adoption packet arrived on Friday and with it were two additional pictures of Johanna!


Isn't she precious? We went to Target over the weekend and registered for what we need. Between now and leaving for China, we have two baby showers in the works. And naturally, I spent an inordinate amount of time combing the internet for gorgeous little baby girl shoes. ;)