Thursday, December 21, 2006

WE ARE ON OUR WAY!

We had our "travel meeting" this past Tuesday and we know we will be leaving for China either on the 12th or the 19th of January! The travel date depends on when they can confirm our meetings with different officials and consulats once in China.

We will fly from LAX to Hong Kong. We leave on a Friday and arrive on a Saturday. We spend one night in Hong Kong, then fly to Guangzhou where we will stay for 2 weeks. Our "Erin day" will be our second day in Guangzhou!! That's when we pick her up, and begin the actual adoption process. She will be with us from then on.

We'll have appointments with the US Consulate, family interviews, get her visa, and so on for the next couple of weeks. When we arrive home with her -- wich will be either the 27th of January or the 3rd of February -- she will be ours!!

Several friends and family have asked if we are registered anywhere -- and we are. We have registered at Target -- and hope to do the same at Babies-r-Us and perhaps Penney's (or something similar). If you would like to help out with clothes -- we suggest about 12-months (or older). We need pajama sets, little onesy tops, and everything else babies wear. Little hippie-chick dresses are welcomed! :)

All of her growth and health information has been translated and the pediatrician says she is right on track for her age! She is healthy, normal, and growing. Her paperwork is updated and thorough, so we feel the orphanage has taken very good care of her. Her favorite thing to do is "sit in her walker," and her favorite toys are bright colored balls. She is on a good eating and sleeping schedule and we were shocked to learn she gets up at 6:30 am. That's about 4 hours earlier than we're used to getting up, so there will have to be some changes made. We hope she doesn't mind sleeping in!! :)

More baby room pictures will be loaded up soon -- we've been off-line for about a week (Earthlink problems). We'll keep you updated. THANK YOU so much for your calls and letters and gifts and well wishes. She is a lucky, little girl to come into such a wonderful circle of family and friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Have a wonderful Christmas and holiday and we wish you a happy new year...which, of course, will be filled with lots of pictures and updates of Erin Cassidy!!

Much love, Steve and Sheila

Friday, December 08, 2006

Special Pics!


Here's our cat, Bert, as he waits next to "casey" the monkey. As you can see, he is so excited about Erin's arrival. He's been very patient. Erin weighs almost as much as he does now!!





The Baby Room!

Many of you have been asking about "the baby room!" Here are some pictures of her room -- the walls are green and blue, and she will be surrounded by pictures and blankets and toys and stuff and things stuffed -- given to her by loving family and friends as we all waited for her. Enjoy!

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Erin Is Healthy!

As if you couldn't already tell by her pictures, Erin is a healthy little girl. We received an update today -- and she is 27.17 inches long; 17.6 pounds. One of our good friends said she thought we'd have to get second jobs b/c "she looks like a healthy eater!"

If you need a reason to celebrate tomorrow (Friday)...other than celebrating the fact it's Friday -- you can celebrate with us! It will be Erin's birthday -- she'll be 8 months old. Woo-HOO!

Pictures of the baby room to come very soon!
love, Steve and Sheila

Tuesday, December 05, 2006


ERIN IN SCOTLAND! Sheila's brother, Rick, took Erin's "mug" shot and placed her in Scotland! We love this b/c her names (Erin Cassidy) have Scottish roots. Enjoy!
Love Steve and Sheila

Saturday, December 02, 2006

WHO IS SHE?

Here's a little about Erin -- based on the information packet we received with her pictures.

She was born 8 April 2006. She currently weighs 17 pounds -- we think much of that must be in those dimply, adorbale thighs!

The literal translation of her Chinese name is: Jiang=River; Cheng=Honesty; Guo=Fruit

She has been well-cared for by the orphanage and her diet consists of baby formula with rice flour porridge, supplemented by vitamins, calcium, cod liver oil, and juice. When in an unfamiliar environment she looks around with curiosity but when strangers approach she is frightened and begins to cry. We hope she won't cry much when we meet her!

The oprhange writes that "she is an adorable baby with a very sweet disposition." We could see that by just looking at those beautiful eyes!

We are already so in love with her and we can't wait for her to meet all of our wonderful and loving family and friends.

We will continue to post -- and let you know when we leave for China!

LOVE,
Steve and Sheila

Friday, December 01, 2006

Introducing Erin Cassidy Coghill

Here are her photos! We'll send more info soon - just wanted you to see her.


Thursday, November 30, 2006

SHE FOUND US!

Dear friends and loved ones. WE GOT THE CALL! Thursday morning, 30 November 2006 our adoption agency called and said, "congratulations, we are looking at the picture of a beautiful, little girl -- and she's your daughter!"

She was born 8 April 2006. Her Chinese name is Jiang Cheng Guo. That's all we know so far. We go in tomorrow to pick up her pictures, sign the papers, and learn more about her. We will update the blog then!!

We are thrilled and numb and so very happy right now. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and calls and love through all of this. She'll be home soon!!

Next step -- we sign papers and then head over to China (probably in mid-January) to pick her up and then bring her home.

Love, Steve and Sheila

Friday, November 03, 2006

Welcome!

Welcome to "Where's Erin?" We'll do our best to keep you updated on this final phase of our long journey to bring her into our life...and to bring her home!

Here is the latest news -- and it is good news! Families who have LID's (log-in dates) up through 25 August 2005 have just received their referrals. Our LID is 8 September -- and we were told by Heartsent (our agency) that we "are next!" We don't know when the referral will come in...but the next round will have OUR NAME on it! As Sheila's brother (Kenny) said when he heard the news -- "hey, you're not number one...you're next!!"