Donna,

Let me just say that it was an HONOR to be your Secret Pal. Donna, you're a girl after my own heart! You are sweet, kind, loving, crafty, bloggy, and TOTALLY talented!!! I love all those things about you! I wasn't just picking out gifts for a fellow adopter, I felt like I was picking out gifts for a forever friend. It was FATE that I was matched with you, my JAN-DTCer, my EAST COAST PANDA, and my AHH TRAVEL BUDDY! It seems our paths just keep crossing!! Maybe our daughters paths are crossing halfway around the world? Wouldn't that be amazing!

Just to let you know, for every gift I picked out for you, I had to get one for myself and it KILLED me not to put it on my blog!!! Ha. Ha. It was worth it! Trust me when I tell you I enjoyed every minute of the shopping or creating. And yes, I am CRAZY!! (but in a good way)

Love ya lots!!!

Stephe & Pirate

SP REVEALED!!!

Finally, my wonderful Secret Pal has been revealed!!!

It's Jodie, Brian, Madison & Dalton Rencher!

I want to thank you for making these past months just so much fun and something to look forward to. I knew that if I had my gifts sent to my office that it would just make it even more fun. (plus, I would never get them if they were sent to my home...seriously) Anyway, I have been the envy of my company! (the girls..that is) I would get a call when the box came in and I had to open them right there. They had a hard time at first grasping the concept of someone that you don't know would send you presents. They get it now and "we've" all had a blast. I'm so glad to have had you as my Secret Pal and I have just LOVED ALL of the special things that you've sent to me!!!

Below are photos of some of the super cool stuff that I got on this last month of our Secret Pal Swap! Look at this AMAZING CHINA DOLL.

She's beautiful and I LOVE her outfit! This will be one of those "look but don't touch" kind of dolls. Giorgi will just have to admire from a far. (Not as far as China, so hurry up referrals!)

Along with the doll came this little snow globe! It's just the CUTEST! It's so precious! It reminds me of my latest addiction....the mommy and baby panda at the Atlanta Zoo. I am addicted to their WEBCAM!!

I also received this BEAUTIFUL Asian Photo Album. Photos are my life so I will definately have this filled with photos of Giorgi! Now look at this totally cute jacket and hat!! LOVE IT...LOVE THE FLOWERS. You definately know what I love!!!Plus my SP sent me more red envelopes!! Now I think I have enough for my trip to CHINA!!!! Yippee!

Honorable mention (not pictured) is another HUGE Chinese Takeout Box of Candy!!!! I have a candy addiction too....they were gone within the hour...and it was a LOT of candy!!!!

Here is a stroll down memory lane... (click on the months to see my SP gifts)

February - "Happy New Year of the Dog"

March - "Books for baby"

April - "April Showers bring Mei Flowers"

May - "Special Treat for Mom-to-Be"

June - "Summer is Here...Fun in the Sun"

July - "Fun on the Long Flight to China"

August - "Something to Keep Baby Safe"

September - "Something to Pack for the Trip"

October - "Celebrate the Bounty of Fall"

Jodie, Brian, Madison & Dalton... You've been the BEST SECRET PAL EVER!!!!

(((BIG HUGS)))

SP THANKS!

Thank you Secret Pal!I love ALL of my goodies. I just love getting presents in the mail! Anyway, my secret pal gave me a whole bunch of stuff. The theme was “Something to pack for the trip”. I have started to acquire things from my packing list and I must say that have not gotten any of the items that I received. It was just too exciting. In the box was a Disposable feeding kit that was for on-the-go meals which included placemats, cups & lids,Bids, and silverware. There was also a box of 3 space savers (I SO NEED THOSE!!!), Rubbermaid snack cups, set of Pink Luggage Tags, a Formula Dispenser, and Graduates Cookies for Giorgia! I also got a great big Chinese Takeout Box filled with candy! Candy that I am eating right now asI type this! Yummy! Thank you so much Secret Pal. You’re the BEST!!!

SP THANKS!

I just want to Thank my Secret Pal so much. My "Keep Baby Safe" Gift was just awesome! It all came in the cutest ladybug bag! I got a child-proofing kit big enough to do my WHOLE house, a travel Medical Kit, and a rubber duckie water temperature tester! How cool is all of that! I am in the process of getting all the stuff together for my packing list and I haven't gotten any of the medical kit stuff, so this is perfect.

Here is a close up of the Hula duckie...how cute. Did you know that it matches Giorgia's Bathrooom Decor? Check it out!

Ok, I was bored so I was playing with the duckie in my kitchen!!!

Thanks so much again! This is just soo much fun!

SP THANKS!

Okay, so I got my Secret Pal gift yesterday and I just died. It was so cute. I LOVE the Ladybug Tote! I've never seen anything like it! Both the HR director and I were like kids wheeling it around in the office! TOO CUTE! Plus she sent me some things for Giorgia to have fun on the plane with! An attachable JUNGLE PAL Elephant that jiggles and wiggles, a teething ring, and those handy dandy LinkaDoos.

A Big THANKS to my Secret Pal! I love my gifts!!!

Can I tell you how great LinkaDoos are. They are the one product no parent should be without. If you are a resourceful kinda person...you'll love them. As a matter of fact, if you have a Useful Linkadoo tip...put it in the comment section.

Thanks SP!

Thank you Secret Pal for my June Gift. It was Summer fun. I've got lots of little toys for the beach and the pool and the most awesome beach towel. Look at the ladybugs. Too cute! Thanks! :)

I only did ONE yard sale this weekend. It was a busy weekend so I couldn't do my usual fun Saturday Mornings. I stopped by this one on the way home from a meeting (can you believe a meeting on a Saturday? Yeah, me too!) Anyway, the yardsale was still going on. Check out Giorgia's Enchanted Garden.

Thank you SP!

Thank you so much for my May SP gift. I have been feeling very under the weather this past week and this just brightened my day! This is my first Mother's Day Card! How great.

My grapefruit scented candle. This is great. I have been soaking in the tub everynight trying to make the pain go away and I have to tell you that I have been lighting this candle as I soak and it's been truely theraputic! :)

I also got the cutest "adoption" neclace and a little ladybug clip-on watch. The wings open up. It's just too cute. Thank you Secret Pal. You were the best thing about my week!!!

Thank you SP!

Look what my SP sent! They are beautiful tulips! They are in on my desk at my office and I am getting more comments!! "April showers bring Mei Flowers!" Yup, they sure do. Thanks so much for the flowers, they are beautiful! :)

Secret Pal - March

Thanks so much to my Secret Pal. I LOVE my books. I have seen this ladybug book but have yet to get one! Now...I HAVE ONE! It is just too cute. Everyone should have one. I also love the little photo album. This will be perfect for Giorgi's Care Package! Now, I just have to get those photos in it!! Thanks so much to my Secret Pal!!

February Secret Pal

What a great day! I got my first secret pal gift! This is so cool. THANK YOU! I got the neatest books, Dragon Dance and My Chinese New Year! I LOVE 'em. I will put them in Giorgia's room as soon as I get home. Now, the candy...that's ALL MINE! Yummy! Plus, I love the red envelopes. I have been looking for some unsuccessfully. They are all different designs. I was told to use these for tips in China or when I give money for gifts here. Thank you! Thank you!

CYBERSHOWER

My first Cybershower! It was awesome and I FINALLY got to open up those gifts. My gifts were from Adriana Hutchings! She is from the other side of the country in Washington State. Come to find out Adriana is also in my DTC group. How neat. Back to the loot-boy did I make out. I got great little fortune cookie card. "Live simply, laugh often, love deeply." And a personal note from Adriana. (A. - What a long journey that you've had, but it will be a reality very soon! Thank you for sharing and I will be thinking about you.) Nancy, the box we kept shaking and couldn't figure out was, was an awesome toy for Giorgia. Little People - Discovering Animals at the Farm. Sonja Lee is who I saw first in the toy. It also comes with a video. It's too cool. Then, a baby Einstein book of dogs. I can take this to China and try to get Giorgia used to the idea of dogs before she comes home and meets Pirate. Now, the best for last...A Disney Movie for my collection. Sleeping Beauty. I LOVE it. I don't already have it! Thanks so much. Adriana, you made my day! :) Thank you! Stephe

Cybershower

Yup, I am having my first Cybershower (Paperchase2000 Group)!! How cool. Except that it is killing me. My secret pal has sent me a bunch of presents and they have been sitting in my dining room for over a week...UNOPENED! Are you kidding me!! LOL. I have done a lot of shaking!!! I think one is a video...can't I just rip it open now...PLEASE? Okay...I won't. I still have to wait til Saturday, Feburary 25! I GUESS?? I can do that!