I800 Approval...

As of 9/23.

Well, this is the next step in our last few paperwork hurdles.  It's so exciting to be getting closer and closer.  But it's also hard not to be obsessively checking on paperwork and the adoption message boards. 

So what are we doing to pass the time?  Lots!

Homeschooling, first of all.  That takes up a considerable amount of time. 

Making packing lists and buying all sorts of things needed to travel to China.  Pricing out hotels and flights and seeing what we can get with points.  Getting Jia's room ready for her. 

She will share with Erin.  We took our triple bunk bed and made it into a regular bunk bed plus an additional bed.  The thought of a five year old climbing to the top of a triple bunk was freaking me out a bit.

Something else that helps me keep my mind from racing and constantly thinking about when we will finally get to hold our daughter is this....

Furniture refinishing!

This piece was given to us a few years ago and it was dreadful, but I could see a lot of potential in it. 

It was soooo beat up.  The finish was cracking.  It looked awful.  This picture doesn't show nearly how gross it was.  (My husband thought I was a bit crazy.)

It took a while to completely sand it down and give it a thousand coats of paint (the red stain kept seeping through, even after lots of primer).  Then I stained the top and applied paste wax for a not-too-shiny finish.  I am thinking about adding an antique glaze, but I haven't worked up the nerve to possibly mess up my new finish.  I also repainted the hardware in an oil rubbed bronze. 

As you can tell, I got rid of the wallpaper too.  That was last fall.  I hated the stuff since we moved in, but for some reason, Mike and the girls thought it was wonderful. (?)  After a realtor came through the house and said it might look better without it, I started ripping it right off the walls!  Once it was gone and was replaced with a more neutral "buyer-friendly" paint color, I could finally relax in that room.  That wallpaper made me cringe! 

This summer, I also refinished those chairs in the first picture.  I got a table and six chairs for $75 at a thrift shop!  The table was broken, so I thought I'd just refinished and reupholster the chairs, but we managed to fix the table (yay) and now we have a set.  The table is still in a garage awaiting more paste wax and polishing.  Not sure when I'll get to that. :)

Kelly