We Have a Daughter

It is official...she is ours! We got up this morning and drove over to the civil affairs office and signed all of the paper work.

We had a good night last night. We have two twin beds in our room so I started out with Ava and Derek slept in the other bed. She is a little squirmy and actually fell off of the bed at one point in the night. The beds are really low to the ground though and she made a little noise, I picked her up and she went right back to sleep. After that, I was worried she was going to fall out again so I kept my arm around her. Sometime in the night Derek and I switched so I could sleep. She likes to rub the sheet between her thumb and index finger while going to sleep. She woke up happy as can be!

After the civil affairs office, we celebrated with a trip to Walmart. Their walmart is huge! A lot more food then we have. Charlene, I saw a package of chicken feet right by the register. I guess that is one of their impulse shopping items! I can probably go back if you want me to pick some up for you!

When we got back, we ordered room service and again, she ate like I have never seen a child eat. She can put away a lot of food for a little person!!! The only thing she doesn't seem to like (other then toothpaste) are sweets. After lunch we all took a much needed nap! We then went to the swimming pool. I don't think she has ever had a bathing suit on. She couldn't seem to figure out the top. She kept trying to pull it down. She really had a good time in the water. We'll post some pictures in a little bit.

She is so funny. She gives everyone a smile and makes funny faces all of the time. She loves to give kisses and she loves to try and feed us or give us her sippy cup. There must have been some younger babies with her in foster care. She and Derek are in bed now...he could hardly get her to sleep b/c she kept wanting to give kisses. I think we have another good one!

We are having a great time getting to know our new daughter!

Our Prays Answered!

We arrived at the office of Civil Affairs for Shanxi Province in Taiyuan City a little before our 2:30pm appointment. Up the elevator to the 5th floor down a cold, dark hallway to the room where we were to get Ava. The doorway was locked because the officials had not arrived yet. There was another mother there with her sister ready for her second adoption. Unfortunately, their flight had been delayed so they literally just arrived from the USA and had not even been to the hotel.

The room was sparsely furnished except for 2 desks and a large black leather couch. We were given some paperwork to look over and sign then without ceremony Ava was led into the room by two ladies. Marcia and I had both prayed (though not nearly enough) for Ava to have a peace at this time. She had more than peace and in fact shared in our joy of the moment.

As I was sitting on the couch closest to the door she immediately walked up to me smiling and raised her arms for me to pick her up. She was all smiles and we spend the next 15 minutes passing the happy child back and forth between us while trying to simultaneously capture the event on video and in photographs.

We would find out that she had received a care package we had sent months earlier. In that package was a photo album of our families labeled in Chinese with our names (mama, daddy, grandpa, brother, etc.) so she must have recognized us. She also had a well loved, very dirty pink stuffed bear which we had sent.

Back at the hotel we removed 5 layers of clothes to reveal she was wearing a pair of pink pajamas we had sent. They had been cut and sewn into "split pants". Soon after the undressing she signaled to us that she needed to go to the bathroom which she did both "numbers" without incident.

She happily took a bath (and believe me she needed one). The only thing she didn't like were some small plastic pig toys which she insisted we remove from the tub. We clipped her nails, brushed her hair, brushed her teeth (with some resistance) and ordered room service.

She immediately began to eat noodles, steamed bun, and even vegetables (a first for one of our children). After supper we dimmed the lights and she lay between us as she fell asleep.

We cannot describe the ease of the whole event and the peace and joy we all have at this moment. I had not cried until I wrote this but now God has blessed my family even while I'm on the other side of the world as he has at every step of this journey.

-Derek

Happy Girl is With Us!

Here are some pictures. Will give details later.

Last Day in Beijing!

Great day today. The rest of the group left for their province so we were on our own today. Marcia and I got up early today and after breakfast walked to the local market for a look around. Many interesting foods, dried herbs, etc.

We visited the Llama temple and then got a tour of a historic "traditional neighborhood" (can't remember the name right now). Climbed to the top of the drum tower.

We just arrived in Shanxi province and we get Ava tomorrow about 3PM our time.

Stairs, Stairs, Stairs

Today's Events!
Great Wall, Friendship Store, Summer Palace, Olympic Stadium Drive-By.

We are tired tonight because we have walked a lot today, including climbing way up the Great Wall. I'll keep it brief and insert a few pictures.

Jet Lag

Well, we discovered the best time to get on the internet....3:00am! And unfortunately, we have been up at that time both nights. We are having a good time thought. We are actually here with about 10 other couples so the site seeing tours have been fun. We met in the lobby yesterday morning with our group and headed to T Square and The Forbidden City. We were swarmed by vendors the the whole time we were there. If any of you wanted a General Mao watch, you should've told me...they had some great deals!

We got back to the hotel around 1:00 and went to a large department store next to the hotel. It was really nice, but really expensive. We didn't buy anything. One couple bought some Crocs...they were about the same price as in the US. We went with another couple to a Thai restaurant for lunch. We had communication problems there, but the menu was huge and had pictures of everything they served....which wasn't to their advantage. They serve roasted duck and chicken with the head on!!! They also had a dish called chicken gristle!!! Derek had some kind of chicken that I didn't try and I had shrimp fried rice. Mine was very bland, but I felt safe eating it. The only thing we knew to say in chinese to our waiter was that we wanted our drinks with no ice. BTW, chinese coke tastes different.

We were suppose to meet back with the group at 4:30 to go to an acrobatic show, but something happened with the tickets and we couldn't go. They arrange for us to go to a Kung Fu show instead at around 7:30. I SO did not want to go...I was tired and just ready to go to bed. Derek guilted me into going. He thought it would be lame to stay in the hotel room while in China. I personally didn't care about Kung Fu and thought there would be a much better show on the back of my eyelids!!! When we finally met again to go to the show, they told us that we were going to get to go the acrobat show. It was just going to be at a different location (it was actually at the public library theater). The show was not very good. We have seen the chinese acrobat show at Epcot and that is amazing. We decided those must be the best of the best. I also think we probably missed the good show. When we finally got back to the room, we were exhausted. We decided to take some Ambien to make sure we slept. We both took only half a pill and slept pretty well for awhile, but we both woke up at around 3:00. So, now Derek is reading his John Adams book (and if that can't put you to sleep....) and I'm here on the computer.

Today we go to the Great Wall...will talk later! I only have 5 hours until I have to meet everyone downstairs!

Oh yeah, our pictures from yesterday are all weird. So, unless we get them figured out, no pix!

We're Here

We've made it but have had some trouble posting the the blog. It is 7:15am 11/2/07. We are getting ready to go downstairs for a free buffet breakfast at our hotel. Marcia has slept some but I have not but feel ok. We're to meet up with about 10 other couples for a trip to the Forbidden City this morning and then for an Acrobatic Show in the afternoon. The hotel (what we've seen of it) is nice with a great view of the Beijing Skyline. We will post as possible.

We received some more "personal information" on Ava yesterday. She is staying with a foster grandma and grandpa but is especially found of her foster grandpa. So Don and Pedro get ready. They said she can speak in short sentences (in Chinese, we cannot by the way) and eats well. She even eats vegetables unlike Ben and Pete. For Jim (who likes to nickname each of his nieces and nephews) we have learned she is often called Ting Ting.

Magi! having trouble with emailing but wanted to know the deal with fruit. Safe to eat?