Back to the Hotel

Well we signed the 24 hour custody agreement and headed to Wal-Mart to buy some supplies. We spent 120.00 dollars on toys and snacks for our 2 girls. Kaylee has been very helpful, but does not understand why Madelynn doesnt know her name yet. After Wal-Mart, we went to back to the hotel for some bonding time. Initially she did not want me to put her down. Poor girl, she kept whimpering and pointing to her privates. I managed to put her on a little potty we bought at Wal-Mart-and wa-la she went pee pee. I was amazed. Poor baby, she had to go and did not know how to tell us.

She drank some of her milk and we ordered takeout. She did eat some rice but her favorite was an oreo cookie bar that her daddy offered. Nothing like OREO to help bring a girl around to her daddy. As I am typing they are laying on the bed. He is holding her bottle and she is looking around. She is really doing great. I will write more as I can.

We love and miss you all

GOTCHA DAY IS HERE

We went to the civil affairs office this morning to meet our daughter. We were both very nervous and it still did not seem real. We were there early. So we had to wait about 15 minutes for the girls to get there. (I say girls because we are traveling with another family who is adopting a 5 year old girl) The moment finally came and they both arrived. Madelynn clung to one of the nannies and cried(which is what we had expected) She was not interested in any of the toys, candy, noise makers that we brought. The nanny finally handed her over and she was very upset. I walked the halls with her and she cried off and on. She kept pointing so I walked where she pointed. In the van, she was like a little koala bear clinging to me. At this point, she was not interested in letting anyone touch/hold her except for me.

On the other hand our friends new daughter, Hayley, was ready to be adopted. She came in and went right to him. She had the biggest smile on her face. She is hearing impaired and does not speak. However words were not necessary. The expression on her face said it all. "It is finally my turn and I am ready." She was all dressed up and had her new pair of sunglasses on and her bracelets to match. She is a little princess. You can tell she is very bright. She watches everyone and takes cues from them. I would not be surprised if she reads lips.

We are in Hefei

We arrived in Hefei yesterday after a 2 hour flight that did not feel like the air conditioner was on for the first of the half of the flight. When we were getting on the plane we had our pictures taken by several Chinese people. Thinking back, I remember this from the last time we were here.

The hotel is very nice and our room is very spacious. It has a crib for Madelynn and they even gave us a stroller to use. Thank goodness, Madelynn is going to be smaller than Jackson, because he would not fit int the crib.

Kaylee was falling asleep at dinner in the noodle shop that is in the hotel and almost had a melt down over being tired. She worked through it and we were able to go walking around and check out the town after dinner. Everybody stares at you and they are not the least bit discreet about talking about you. It is kind of funny because you almost feel like a celebrity. Heads turn everywhere you go.

It is about 6am here and we are getting ready to go eat breakfast at the revoloving restaraunt at the top of our hotel. After that we are going to come back and get our paperwork ready to go meet our daughter. I will post again later today. We are excited and nervous. I don"t know why but it has really sunk in yet. Which is strange. You would think if you traveled half way around the world to meet your child that in itself would be enough of a reality. Oh well--it will all be real very soon. Like 3.5 hours soon.

We are in China!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well we finally made to China after a very long day of traveling. We arrived at the Guanghzou Airport at 11:00 pm. We were all exhausted. The worst part of the trip was the last 5 hour flight from Toyko. The three of us could not keep our eyes open.

This morning we were all up by 7am. We headed to breakfast at the White Swan. This hotel is great. They have a breakfast buffet in the morning and it is the gathering place for all adoptive families. It is really fun to meet other families and their children. It is unusual for families to come to this hotel before they get the child they are adopting. So everyone keeps thinking Kaylee is new to our family and trying to speak Chinese to her. She just looks at them like they are crazy. She has been very shy towards people since we have been here. Kaylee and I took a picture in front of the waterfall at the hotel. It is very similar to the one we took 4 years ago when we were bringing her home.

After breakfast, we headed out to look around. Many of our favorite shops have moved. One store owner told us that a large company bought their building and they had to relocate because their lease was not renewed. While we were out shopping, we ran into 2 groups of school children age 5-7 who were on a field trip looking for Americans to practice their English with. We were happy to help out and had so much fun with them. Kaylee was shy and would not talk, but some of their students were the same way. Above is a picture of us with the school children.

After shopping, I took Kaylee to the pool and David set off to the electronic store. Okay, he was gone for a little over 2hours. I started to panic. What would I do if something happened to him. We will not be going our separate ways anymore on this trip.

We had lunch at a thai restaurant. It was very good. We walked a little ways from the hotel, so we were the only Americans in the place.

Well I just wanted to drop a quick post before we take a nap. Tomorrow we are off to Hefei and on Monday we get our little princess.

Justin, Bo, and Jackson---We miss you and love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We Are So Excited

Well we are counting down the days until we leave for China. We leave on July 31st and I have such a mix of emotions. I am so excited to meet our daughter and so anxious at the thought of leaving our other children with their grandparents. I know they will be fine but I still worry.

I am most concerned about the little one because he will not understand where we are going. He is so funny, because I ask him, "Who's going to get Madelynn" and he will say "Mama, Daddy and Kaylee". Then I will ask< "Who are you going to stay with?" and he will say "Papa".

I know in my heart all will be fine. We are doing what God meant for us to do--Love his children. I pray that Madelynn can feel how much we love her and that she will allow us to comfort her. It is so much for a little one to leave everything and everyone they know and go with strangers. I also have said many prayers for the foster family that has raised her for the past 2 years. I cant imagine what they go through when a child they have fostered is adopted.

Well I am off to do more packing.

We Have Our Consulate Appointment

Well it is official. We are leaving for China on July 31. We will meet our new daughter on August 4 and on August 13th we will be heading home. YEAH

A friend of mine, who is in China now, adopting Madelynn's foster sister sent us this picture of her. She said she is very tiny. Probably a size 2 or smaller. Jackson is going to look like King Kong next to her.

Our TA

Well strangely enough we received word from the agency that is arranging our in country travel in China that our Travel Approval has been sent and should be here very soon. We are feeling a huge burden lifted off of our chest. This is the last piece of paperwork we need to go and bring home our baby girl. Excitment is building as we prepare to get all of the last minute things done. We are not sure when we will be leaving but it will be soon.
Tracey