Three weeks home!

Wow. 

I didn't mean to take a big break from blogging. Facebook of course is an easier way to document everything and so often the short, easy snippets of life go on Facebook. But here's a little bit of the happenings over the last few weeks...

We've been getting accustomed to life at home with a toddler and pets. Ella loves the dogs. Loves them. They tolerate her. Seeley (my dog) loves to help me go get her out of bed in the morning. And just to prove he hasn't been completely neglected, photographic evidence of his haircut yesterday:

Life at home has definitely come with some changes; Ella has handled them with incredible flexibility. She loves to try new foods, go for walks, play with her toys, and read books. 

I have been trying to keep her world somewhat small, although she's handled meeting new people mostly very well. She tends to be shy at first but warms up. She prefers me over others - which is a very good thing. That indicates that she identifies me as the primary caregiver and comforter in her life right now, and that's exactly what she needs to do. That also means that I'm the one she pushes boundaries with, and that's okay. We are working on setting boundaries but also giving her grace. She's been through the biggest transition and yet is handling it extremely well. 

Ella has a very playful and funny personality. She loves to interact with and entertain people. She's also picking things up pretty quickly. She doesn't say many words, but she signs please, all done, help, eat, and gentle, and gestures for a lot of things as well. She remembers everything and loves to copy. 

This has been a challenging month, an exciting month, and an exhausting month, but in all the best ways. I am so grateful to be home with Ella. She's a pretty great kid. 

Shamian Island and Consulate Appointment

Tuesday morning we got up And went by taxi to the Pearl Market. It's basically a big mall full of jewelry stores. I bought myself a pearl necklace full of irregular pearls (I just like them!) and Ella a nice necklace for when she's older. Next we went by taxi to Shamian Island. It's a small island that was colonized by Europeans at one point in history. I should know more. But two things are important about Shamian Island. Lucy's is an American restaurant on the island. It was so good. We all had fish and chips and iced tea. Emphasis on the iced. 

The other important thing (to me) about the island was this one particular statue. Some adoptive parent at some point started putting their child in the space in line and now it's a tradition. Ella got a kick out of it. 

Today (Wednesday) was our Consulate Appointment. I had to wake Ella up as she for once slept through me getting ready (she's still not feeling super great). We went to the beautiful Consulate that is in a newer part of Guangzhou city. There is a huge line outside of Chinese citizens waiting to get in, but because we had American passports we just zipped right past. (First we stopped for a picture outside - no cameras inside!)

Maw-Maw came but Paw-Paw stayed back. 

Once we got through we took a number and waited. Then we as a group swore an oath that everything in our child's visa application and documents was true. Individually they looked through some papers and then we were done! We should get the kid's visas tomorrow, then we are free to leave the country. Adopted kids are unique travelers in that they only have permission to enter the US. Once we do and go through immigration at the airport, Ella will be an American citizen and her Chinese passport will be null and void. 

Tonight we have a group dinner at a local restaurant and then tomorrow we will spend some time preparing to go home! We are very, very ready. 

Medical Appointment

Ella had her medical appointment/physical for her visa application today. Basically any immigrant coming in to the US has to pass a physical before they can be granted a visa. I had some concerns because she's had a little cough. But she passed with flying colors. The doctor even said, "Oh goodness she's cute!" And he sees babies all the time. 

Ella also had her visa photo taken. I've only noticed this when it comes time for her to sit on a stool for these types of photos, but when she's unsupported her head leans to the right. This bothers them to no end. I kept telling them today "She can't hold it upright!" Nicely of course. Finally they got an acceptable picture. (This is just a muscle tone issue and will be addressed. No biggie. Except for official photos.)

Ella has seen lots of doctors and hospitals in her little life so she knew what was up and she wasn't super thrilled. She didn't howl or scream, she just whined and buried her head in my shoulder. Puffs and board books however cured everything. 

The lobby of this building has a wine vending machine that has become quite famous with adoptive parents. I don't know anyone who has used it but I had to snap a picture. 

Tuesday is a free day and Wednesday is our Consulate Appointment. Please pray that the computer system will be working correctly and that we will receive Ella's visa on Thursday. We are very excited to get home, see everyone we love, eat our own food, and get back on a schedule. 

First Day in Guangzhou

We made it to Guangzhou! 

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong province and is in southern China. It's a port city and is very different than the city/province we just left. Henan is a very industrial province, and Guangzhou has some laws in place to prevent some of the industrial pollution like you'd see in Henan province. Like no scooters. That's nice!

We got in late last night and Ella had had it! Luckily she slept well. She has been eating/drinking a little better today than she has the last couple of days so I'm glad for that! This morning we had to be downstairs for a group outing at 9:20. It was optional, but when in China...

Our first stop was the Six Banyan Temple (a Buddhist Temple).

It was a beautiful place but felt very sad to me. It was rather poignant to be at a Buddhist place of worship on a Sunday morning. I was definitely missing 9th & O! (Even though I know it was Saturday late when we were there, I kept picturing church happening at the same time.) 

This was how Ella felt about it. 

OVER it. She wasn't thrilled there but she was hungry. Anyway. Aside from the faith part of it, it's a beautiful building filled with impressive sculptures. And it's just right in the middle of a city street. It always impresses me that everything just builds up around these old, old places. 

The three big Buddhas:

After we left here we went to the Guangdong Folk Art Museum. It has several different names so hopefully I'm remembering this one correctly. :) It was beautiful. The building itself is incredibly impressive and it houses some amazing art. 

These are all carved in.

A beautiful embroidery. 

Here I got for Ella a scroll with a picture of a lotus, her Chinese name, and her new name written on it by "Mr. Chen." The Chen family owned the building and the grounds and sold it to the government for the museum at some point. 

The last stop was shopping! I got myself a jade pendant, a silk outfit for Ella for Chinese New Year, a little doll wearing red silks, and a magnet. It was a cool place. 

We have a paperwork meeting at 4 and then the big debate is what's for dinner. We have options here so it's either Mexican or American. :) We are all excited for variety. Tomorrow morning is the medical appointment for all the kids, and then Wednesday we have our Consulate appointment. Super exciting! We are ready to be done but not ready to fly 15 hours to be done. :)

The Rest of Zhengzhou

I would apologize for not updating but I have a good excuse. :) I don't know how other parents do it. Jet lag combined with instant toddler parenting plus me not feeling well have me barely keeping my eyes open by the time Ella goes to bed. But I'm going to try to update quickly. She's stirring so we'll see. 

Tuesday:

Tuesday was the official adoption day. We went back to the civil affairs office and waited for paperwork to be done. After 30-45 min, they came out, handed us our adoption certificates and "blue papers," and we were official!

Then we had to go to the notary office to get stuff...notarized. Do you watch Parks and Recreation? Imagine the fourth floor, but it's on the sixth floor and no stairs.  Ella weighs about 28 lbs. It was a workout. But we paid a fee, got something notarized, and back to the hotel we came. 

We had an hour to get ready to leave for Anyang, the city where Ella was born. It was a three hour drive in the rain for a 20 minute passport application visit. Because of the weather, we would have arrived home two hours later (and past Ella's bedtime) if we did the orphanage visit, so I elected not to go. I feel bad because I have friends whose babies I really wanted to check on. But someone needs her sleep. 

Wednesday:

Wednesday was a free day but it was rainy. We decided to play in the hotel. We had fun playing with friends, getting to know them, and being on a leisurely schedule. It is safe to say we are all getting tired of hotel food, but no agenda was nice. 

Thursday:

Thursday was another free day and it finally stopped raining so as a group we went to the aquarium. It was just okay as far as aquariums go. 

There was a cute sea lion show and a slightly disturbing mermaid show. But it was nice to get out. Ella had a very slight fever and wasn't feeling super awesome, and then fell asleep on the bus and missed her nap at the hotel. So the afternoon was full of trying to entertain a child who needed a longer nap. You all are probably laughing at me right now because you've been there. 

Friday:

Friday morning we made a Walmart run. It was interesting. We bought a stroller and we are all happier. I'm still feeling a little yucky so my parents took Ella for a couple of hours while I napped. This was helpful. 

Ella came with a suitcase full of toys. She thinks this IKEA veggie basket makes a much better hat:

We were going to go out to dinner but Ella wasn't having it. So we ate fried rice at the hotel restaurant and went to bed. 

This morning we are packing up and leaving for Guangzhou, which is in southern China (think Florida). We are excited for the change in scenery and the Mexican restaurant close to the hotel. We are also thankful to be one step closer to home! 

I've been caught awake. :) Gotta run!

A Little Catch Up

Sorry for the delay in posting.  To say it has been a long, draining few days (I don't really know what day it is - the 17th?  So I guess 5 days) would be an understatement.  

We made it into Beijing for one night and left early the next morning (Sunday 9/14) for the airport.  Once we got through what could only be described as intense security in Beijing, we flew to Zhengzhou.  Sort of.  We tried to land in Zhengzhou amidst terrible, terrible rain, and the pilot did an abrupt re-ascent.  My dad is a pilot and I have flown many flights with him.  "Touch and gos" were my least favorite thing ever, but there is a reason they teach pilots to do them and that is why, I guess.  Anyway.  We ended up having to fly to Wuhan, Hubei province (the next closest major airport) to wait out the weather.  So what should have been a 90 minute flight ended up being us on a plane until 2:00.  We arrived at the hotel at 4:00 and had to rush to change enough money for the adoption fees as the bank closed at 5:00.  Finally Mom, Dad, and I found some dinner and went to bed.

I slept really well but woke up at 4:30 Monday morning (jet lag, I wish I could quit you).  I finally got up around 7:15, got ready, ate breakfast, and we had to be in the lobby at 9:30.

An aside.  We are one of the largest groups CCAI has had.  We are very thankful they crammed us all in before the National Day holiday October 1-7, but that means we have 16 families adopting 17 kids.  Plus all their travel companions.  It's so large they've divided us into two groups for logistical purposes.  

The time came to board buses.  Group 2131 boarded their bus.  Then those of us in Group 2132 were told that our bus was stuck in traffic, and that it might be 20 minutes, might be an hour.  (It has rained NON STOP since we arrived in Zhengzhou.  Apparently this causes more traffic issues because people who would normally walk or take a scooter drive or take a taxi.)  I don't know how long we waited.  I think it was an hour, but I was chatting with a friend about our adoption processes when they said, "Okay, it's time!"

The drive to the Civil Affairs office is supposedly 20 minutes.  On Monday it felt like five. Suddently we were there, and because we were so late, most of the babies were already there, Ella included.  

I will have to write a whole other post about the amazing people who cared for Ella before she came to me, but she was with two volunteers from the Baobei Foundation and someone from the Anyang SWI. She was very quiet and shy but she did let me take her and snuggled in.  It was BUSY in that room.  I cannot imagine how completely intimidating that was for her.  Thirty families (other agencies included) were getting their babies/kids.  Crazy.

The first thing I said to her was, "You're SO big!" I knew her weight, but she's just heavier than I thought.  She's got a little less muscle tone than I expected, so I think that is part of it too.  

Anyway.  I had to immediately sign some papers (I assume it was the guardianship agreement, although they didn't tell me that), and then we just sort of chilled until it was time to go back to the hotel.  

The afternoon/evening was full of paperwork, and Ella is used to an early bedtime, and jet lag was hitting me hard, so we went with it.  Bedtime for all.  It was great.  

Speaking of, she is napping now so I am going to rest.  She's a pretty happy, well adjusted, playful baby, as long as she gets her rest. And that rest had best be in a crib or she's not really thrilled.  

I'll try to update more soon and more frequently.  But we are well.  Send sunshine though.  Please and thanks. :)

It's time!

Dear Ella,

Let's do this.

Love,

Mommy