Mei Mei's room

For the most part we're done pulling together Mei Mei's room...we'd better be 'cuz we've run out of time, right?!  We used the same rug that had been in the Noodle's room and used that as the "jumping off" point. We also knew we wanted fun, bright colors, but since she is a little older, we wanted something not quite so baby-ish.

The room had been Uncle's growing up and there was paint on top of paper.  That had to be ripped off down to the bare walls.  Living in an almost century old house means that the walls aren't exactly smooth--a bit of a challenge for J when it came to painting, but it adds character.  The bottom layer of wallpaper was a pretty, vintage flower print.  I was sort of sorry to see it come down!  The carpet was pulled up and the wood floors sanded down, new windows were installed (there use to be a door onto the roof, so that came out and a window was put in), and then came the fun of adding the decor.

The mirror was a garage sale find for $3.00 which got some pretty green spray paint.  The name bunting and colorful fabric hanging balls were Pinterest inspirations.  I had some serious trigger-finger issues from my glue-gun making those balls.  Ouch!  At the last minute, I figured I better put on the flannel crib sheet, so it is a throw back from the Noodle as well, but we'll need it for warmth.

Grandma has cross-stitched a beautiful Beatrix Potter sampler for over the dresser, just like she had done for the Noodle--once we get home, and we're sure of all the dates, we'll get it framed.  Lollie and Papa had this darling plate painted for Mei Mei by an artist that they know...the Noodle's looks similar but has a different verse.

I found the verse from Jeremiah here.  There are so many beautiful ones, it was hard to pick, but this one certainly spoke to my heart!

 

 In a short time the most important addition to the room will be here--Mei Mei!

Making a list and checkin' it...twice?!

The adoption packing list.  It is long.  It is extensive.  It is filled with all sorts of things that you might need, or could need, or probably won't need but better take...just in case.  Whew--you've got to gear up mentally just to look at it!

I think one of the things that is so challenging is that you have this small snippet of information about your new child (size, weight, eating habits-bottle? sippy cup? straw? cup?, toileting habits-diapers? pull-ups? big girl panties?, sleeping-crib? cot? bed?, health?! etc., etc.) and you have to plan accordingly...for 2 weeks.  Add to the fact that you're in a different country, and well, you can see the confusion!  This of course doesn't even take into account the other people who are also traveling and their needs.  Yes, I realize that W@lmart has come to China and that we could certainly buy something if we didn't have it.  I'm sure we will--but still you want to be as prepared as you can!!

When we adopted the Noodle back in '08, I spent quite a bit of time looking at lists at what others who had BTDT had taken and created one for ourselves.  Thankfully, a few weeks after returning home, when everything was still fresh in my mind, I went back into our list and made notes...didn't use but definitely take again, take 2 instead of 1, waste of space--keep home.  When it was time to start gathering up for this trip, I printed the list off again and have pretty much stuck to it.

Most of the "stuff" has been collected--when I would think of something I would grab it and place it in a centralized location up in our office, or what we affectionately call 'the treehouse'--sidebar:  The Noodle gave it the name because right outside our addition (the office) is a HUGE tree and she always felt like the room was a treehouse :)  It's all piled on the table, just waiting to be packed away.  Now it is on to the clothes--thankfully we'll be leaving snow and the polar vortex behind for mid-'60s.  So glad we don't have to wrangle sweaters, heavy coats and the like!

Only a few more days!!!!