What a beautiful Christmas picture!!
December 15, 2006
Guangzhou
This afternoon we flew to Guangzhou. Sophie was very good on the plane...she had a lot of energy but no crying or fussiness. We are here at the White Swan and it is the bomb!! WOW is all I can say. Nicest hotel we have ever been to. Tomorrow we go for Sophies medical exam..and then I am not sure what we will do the rest of the day. We are ready to come home...we miss Tyler, Micah and Elizabeth Grace sooo much.
December 14, 2006
Enjoy
Dads not too bad
Love my momma
Just a few random shots..it will only let me post 2-3 at a time. Thanks to everyone who has commented on the blog. Please know I read every one of them even though right now we are just too tired to respond. I am so glad you are sharing "the moment" with us.
Love my momma
Just a few random shots..it will only let me post 2-3 at a time. Thanks to everyone who has commented on the blog. Please know I read every one of them even though right now we are just too tired to respond. I am so glad you are sharing "the moment" with us.
Shoes!!!
Yeah mommy finally bought me new shoes!!
My friend Kara, also adopted from Chengdu
Today we went shopping..I only bought...8 pair of shoes for Sophie!(1 for EG) It was soo fun..I dont think we spent more than $30.00 total for all of them. I also bought EG a beautiful coat!! After we came back to the hotel for a nap we went out to a park. It was very neat seeing people practicing Tai Chi, playing mahjong, and generally just enjoying each others company. Several people with babies came up to meet Sophie. It was very sweet. After the park we went to the silk embroidery factory which was really amazing. On the way to dinner we stopped at Sophies finding place. Then we all went and ate at Peters then back to the hotel. Sophie has opened up so much today! She is very smart. She is responding to daddy a little more too! She just had tons of giggle fits today..it was awesome. I can tell she is going to be quite the stinker.
Tomorrow we leave for Guangzhou.
I am only posting pics of Sophie...but we are taking pictures of all the cool stuff we are seeing. If anyone is interested we would be more than happy to share them.
Christie do you recoginze Sophie's outift? It is 18 mos and fits her pretty well! Thanks so much.
My friend Kara, also adopted from Chengdu
Today we went shopping..I only bought...8 pair of shoes for Sophie!(1 for EG) It was soo fun..I dont think we spent more than $30.00 total for all of them. I also bought EG a beautiful coat!! After we came back to the hotel for a nap we went out to a park. It was very neat seeing people practicing Tai Chi, playing mahjong, and generally just enjoying each others company. Several people with babies came up to meet Sophie. It was very sweet. After the park we went to the silk embroidery factory which was really amazing. On the way to dinner we stopped at Sophies finding place. Then we all went and ate at Peters then back to the hotel. Sophie has opened up so much today! She is very smart. She is responding to daddy a little more too! She just had tons of giggle fits today..it was awesome. I can tell she is going to be quite the stinker.
Tomorrow we leave for Guangzhou.
I am only posting pics of Sophie...but we are taking pictures of all the cool stuff we are seeing. If anyone is interested we would be more than happy to share them.
Christie do you recoginze Sophie's outift? It is 18 mos and fits her pretty well! Thanks so much.
December 13, 2006
December 12, 2006
Technical difficulties
I cannot get my pics to upload so I am emailing them to my friend Kim Mintz and she is uploading them for me. And since it is obvious I cannot get the captions right she is helping me out there too!! Thank you so much Kim...I would be in big trouble if I just posted and there were no pics. Your a gem!!!
Sophie day 3
Today we went to the Panda reserve it was very cool. The pandas were very active and eating. Sophie was not very interested in the pandas. I wore her in the mei tai sling and she and I had more good bonding time. When I would tell her in Chinese to kiss me, she would!! She has definitely opened up more today. Right now she is napping and then tonight we are going to eat hotpot and then on to the sichuan opera.
At the panda reserve I got to see my friend Jennifer and her family along with her beautiful new daughter Hannah. Jennifer and I met through the adoptchengdu yahoo group.
Last night at bedtime Sophie would not let me put her down. After she fell asleep I tried several times to sneak her into her crib but she would wake up mad and screaming. She slept most of the night on my chest or right up next to me in the bed. She woke up screaming several times like she was having some kind of night terrors. Her cough still sounds yucky, I am hoping the amoxicillin will kick in soon. Several people have emailed me to ask me her size. 12 mos fits her perfect. She wore a gymboree outfit today that was 12-18 mos and the pants are a little big. She looks sooo cute. She does not mind keeping her hairbows in at all!! Good thing b/c she wasn't going to have much choice..hee hee.
Tomorrow we are going to her finding place...and the some shopping. (still no new shoes). Then Friday we fly to GZ. White Swan here we come!!!
At the panda reserve I got to see my friend Jennifer and her family along with her beautiful new daughter Hannah. Jennifer and I met through the adoptchengdu yahoo group.
Last night at bedtime Sophie would not let me put her down. After she fell asleep I tried several times to sneak her into her crib but she would wake up mad and screaming. She slept most of the night on my chest or right up next to me in the bed. She woke up screaming several times like she was having some kind of night terrors. Her cough still sounds yucky, I am hoping the amoxicillin will kick in soon. Several people have emailed me to ask me her size. 12 mos fits her perfect. She wore a gymboree outfit today that was 12-18 mos and the pants are a little big. She looks sooo cute. She does not mind keeping her hairbows in at all!! Good thing b/c she wasn't going to have much choice..hee hee.
Tomorrow we are going to her finding place...and the some shopping. (still no new shoes). Then Friday we fly to GZ. White Swan here we come!!!
Pictures from our Chengdu Angel!
Can you say "Gorgeous"???
Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Did you take one of my goldfish?
"Angel Baby" is fun, but she is no Elizabeth Grace! I am ready to go home and meet my brothers and sister!
Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Did you take one of my goldfish?
"Angel Baby" is fun, but she is no Elizabeth Grace! I am ready to go home and meet my brothers and sister!
Day 2 with Sophie
Today we had our civil affairs meeting and notary. Sophie did excellent for both. She is such a trooper. Little by little we are seeing her personality. She definately loves her mama!! I almost...ALMOST feel bad for the hard time she is giving Bert. She will not let me put her down and believe me I have the sore arms and back to prove it. This morning she pigged out on the breakfast buffet. Then for lunch we made her this fish/vegetable cereal mix..and for dinner we had tex-mex. So far in China we have had Pizza Hut, Mcdonalds and tonight it was chicken fingers and fries for me and filet mignon for Bert. We would like to eat more provincial food but the smoking and spitting hockers can get to you. Sophie had mac n cheese tonight and she loved it. I also let her have a little of my coke light, she loved that too...obvious by the HUGE burp she let lose!(Elizabeth would have been so proud!).
We also went to the brand new Super Wal-mart store here in Chengdu...that was very cool. Tonight our friend Monica and her daughter Alana came and picked us up at the hotel for the tex-mex dinner. Monica is the angel that sent us the pictures of Sophie back in July. She works at the US consulate/embassy here in Chengdu. Her daughter "angel baby" is a gem and she gave Sophie alot of hugs and kisses! Sophie really likes other children. I cant wait to see her with her siblings. She is now fast asleep from our busy day...and I am right behind her!
We also went to the brand new Super Wal-mart store here in Chengdu...that was very cool. Tonight our friend Monica and her daughter Alana came and picked us up at the hotel for the tex-mex dinner. Monica is the angel that sent us the pictures of Sophie back in July. She works at the US consulate/embassy here in Chengdu. Her daughter "angel baby" is a gem and she gave Sophie alot of hugs and kisses! Sophie really likes other children. I cant wait to see her with her siblings. She is now fast asleep from our busy day...and I am right behind her!
December 11, 2006
December 10, 2006
Wow..
How do you describe the moment you see your daughter for the first time? Awesome is the only word that comes close. Sophie is just precious.
When we first got to the orphanage we took some pictures and video of the outside. After that they took us up to the second floor. The other family we are here with received their 6 yr old daughter first. About 3-5 minutes later they came in with Sophie. She is sooo tiny. They gave her right to me...she thought about crying and then changed her mind. I held her for a while and then Bert had a turn. She is very stoic and serious and we know we will probably have to wait several days to see her "happy side". They gave us a book with pictures of her all throughout her life. They also returned the 2 disposable cameras we sent in July. Then we had a tour of the orphanage. It is a very beautiful facility, and VERY clean. We were able to see Sophies bed and she went to one of her nannies. Her nannie told her to say "BaBa" (daddy) and she did. So Bert thinks he is one up on me there. After the tour we headed back to the hotel. Sophie was very good in the car. She ate gerber puffs the whole way to the hotel. When we got in the room she was starving!! Bert and the guide went to the supermarket to get some food. She is now asleep with her full belly. She does not like it if I put her down or try to give her to Bert. She is a gem and we love her. Thanks so much for your prayers. Also, as soon as we got to the room I got on the computer and tuned on the webcam so Tyler, Micah and Elizabeth Grace could see their new mei mei. They were so excited...and thought she was awesome. It was 12:00am for them and they were waiting so patiently. I cannot wait for them to meet Sophie face to face. We are so blessed with our 4 wonderful children.
When we first got to the orphanage we took some pictures and video of the outside. After that they took us up to the second floor. The other family we are here with received their 6 yr old daughter first. About 3-5 minutes later they came in with Sophie. She is sooo tiny. They gave her right to me...she thought about crying and then changed her mind. I held her for a while and then Bert had a turn. She is very stoic and serious and we know we will probably have to wait several days to see her "happy side". They gave us a book with pictures of her all throughout her life. They also returned the 2 disposable cameras we sent in July. Then we had a tour of the orphanage. It is a very beautiful facility, and VERY clean. We were able to see Sophies bed and she went to one of her nannies. Her nannie told her to say "BaBa" (daddy) and she did. So Bert thinks he is one up on me there. After the tour we headed back to the hotel. Sophie was very good in the car. She ate gerber puffs the whole way to the hotel. When we got in the room she was starving!! Bert and the guide went to the supermarket to get some food. She is now asleep with her full belly. She does not like it if I put her down or try to give her to Bert. She is a gem and we love her. Thanks so much for your prayers. Also, as soon as we got to the room I got on the computer and tuned on the webcam so Tyler, Micah and Elizabeth Grace could see their new mei mei. They were so excited...and thought she was awesome. It was 12:00am for them and they were waiting so patiently. I cannot wait for them to meet Sophie face to face. We are so blessed with our 4 wonderful children.
GOTCHA!!!!
We've got her!!! Everything is going great. She is soooo beautiful! She has a chest cold and they started her on antibiotics this morning. Her cough sounds pretty bad. We're feeding her right now, so gotta go. We'll post more later.
10 mins till we leave...
AHHHHHH it is almost time. This is so surreal. We are excited and nervous....Keep us in your prayers. We will post pics as soon as we get back to the hotel.
December 9, 2006
Less than 20 hours...
Bert enjoying breakfast
view from our room
view from our room
In less than 20 hours we will be holding Sophie. AHHH we cant wait.
Bert is out right now with our guide, Susie, looking for a webcam. The one we brought will not work. We will post pics of our girl as soon as we get them. Keep my friend Cynthia in your prayers, they are getting their daughter today at 4:30. Check out her blog http://goingbackforromy.blogspot.com/
view from our room
view from our room
In less than 20 hours we will be holding Sophie. AHHH we cant wait.
Bert is out right now with our guide, Susie, looking for a webcam. The one we brought will not work. We will post pics of our girl as soon as we get them. Keep my friend Cynthia in your prayers, they are getting their daughter today at 4:30. Check out her blog http://goingbackforromy.blogspot.com/
Pictures of Chengdu
View from our van
view from our van
Our hotel lobby(better picture tomorrow)I forgot we took these on our way from the airport. I am not sure if I can upload pictures from here but we will see. My dear friend Kim Mintz has been uploading all our pictures so far. THANK YOU KIM!!
We are in Chengdu!!
We made it here around 2:30 this afternoon. Wow..this is a big, busy city. Bert and I are definitely the minority in this city of 10 million. I think we saw all 10 million on the way from the airport to the hotel. The driving is sooo crazy. (Misty your kids would be sooo car sick..whether I was driving or not). We met our guide and came to the hotel. After we checked in we went to a sichuan restaurant where we had smoked duck, some kind of steamed cabbage, REAL kung pao chicken and fried rice. Bert loved it!! Then we went to the Chinese supermarket and grabbed a few things. It was really cool. We forgot the camera in the hotel..so I will wait until tomorrow to post pictures. We did find out we will get Sophie on Monday morning around 10:30. So for you at home that is Sunday night around 8:30. As soon as we get back to the hotel I will get the pictures uploaded. So maybe around 10ish Sunday night you will get a glimpse of Sophie Ru!! The guide said she saw Sophie about a month ago. She said she is a very happy baby and very smart. She said she looks like a doll. She said her skin is very white and tender...(I think she meant soft). AHHHHH I cannot wait to get my baby girl!!
December 8, 2006
Touring Beijing
Today was very cool learning about some of the history of China. I felt bad, our tour guide knows so much about China, and I would probably flunk Alabama History!! :)
We started off with a yummy breakfast here at the Holiday Inn Beijing. I finally got to meet my friend from Kentucky that I have told many of you about, Cynthia Farley. She and her husband and ADORABLE daughter Keegan are here to get their second daughter. Well, my plan was to bribe Keegan with candy so she would let me hold her. Well, she took the candy but she loves BERT instead of me! lol. It is soo cute. She wants Bert to hold her and play with her all the time!! She is very smart, great manners and just so well behaved. Cynthia and I are going to plan future trips to Gatlinburg with our families.
After Breakfast we went to the Great Wall. Want buns of steel? Come climb the Great Wall today! I am ashamed to tell you how high I did NOT go. Bert made it higher than any of us. I probably would have went to the top and all but it was a little cold, and I didn't want to show anyone up. :) After the Great Wall we went to lunch. Then on to the Ming tombs...it was very very cold. I would have given anything at the moment for a pumpkin spice latte. Then on to the acrobat show that was totally awesome. By the time that was all over we were all exhausted. Bert and I just came back to the room and ate a granola bar and went to bed. I woke up at 2:00am here. It is now 3:20am here.
We fly to Chengdu today, Sophies home. Wow...not too much longer until we have our precious baby girl.
Tyler, Micah and Elizabeth Grace, we took some great pictures for ya'll today and bought you all a small animal made of Jade. Grandma said you are being very good. I am so proud of you three. We miss you and love you soo much!
We started off with a yummy breakfast here at the Holiday Inn Beijing. I finally got to meet my friend from Kentucky that I have told many of you about, Cynthia Farley. She and her husband and ADORABLE daughter Keegan are here to get their second daughter. Well, my plan was to bribe Keegan with candy so she would let me hold her. Well, she took the candy but she loves BERT instead of me! lol. It is soo cute. She wants Bert to hold her and play with her all the time!! She is very smart, great manners and just so well behaved. Cynthia and I are going to plan future trips to Gatlinburg with our families.
After Breakfast we went to the Great Wall. Want buns of steel? Come climb the Great Wall today! I am ashamed to tell you how high I did NOT go. Bert made it higher than any of us. I probably would have went to the top and all but it was a little cold, and I didn't want to show anyone up. :) After the Great Wall we went to lunch. Then on to the Ming tombs...it was very very cold. I would have given anything at the moment for a pumpkin spice latte. Then on to the acrobat show that was totally awesome. By the time that was all over we were all exhausted. Bert and I just came back to the room and ate a granola bar and went to bed. I woke up at 2:00am here. It is now 3:20am here.
We fly to Chengdu today, Sophies home. Wow...not too much longer until we have our precious baby girl.
Tyler, Micah and Elizabeth Grace, we took some great pictures for ya'll today and bought you all a small animal made of Jade. Grandma said you are being very good. I am so proud of you three. We miss you and love you soo much!
December 7, 2006
We are in Beijing
Well we made it..we are DOG tired. I thought I was going to die the flight was sooooo long. We are off to bed. Thanks for the prayers. Ok Im NOT off to bed just quite this second. I wanted to post a few pics...but them ambiemn is making me tyoe drunk.,..amndd the rrrommo is spinnning too. So juys ignore those facts, . All the flight and connections went well. But we are going to have to buy a seat for Sophie on the long flight home. Karla if you are reading this,,can you plese help me. I need 3seats for th GZ to Toyko to Detroit.NW Bert and I's are boked we jusst need to add a seat we are using NW and we will pay whatever if they can get that fixed, . They have really have you crammed in there. All the airline food was great. Ok...I am just soo waisted to not ever remembeing feeling so tired. BUT tomorrow the fun starts and we will be feeling rejuventated. I wanted to send a BIG thanks to the Kings for the early morning ride to the airport. She sure didnt look like a CA then..we are corrupting her with our Alabama ways. More news tomorrow.
December 4, 2006
We leave tomorrow!!!
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!! We are actually going to China tomorrow!!! WOWOWOWOWOW. The kids are at my moms and very happy to be there. We got out of there without any tears on their part and I know the kids are going to have a wonderful time with grandma and grandpa. She told me she has a lot of fun things planned for them to do together.
Unles something else comes up my next post will be from Beijing. Thanks for all your love and prayers!!
Unles something else comes up my next post will be from Beijing. Thanks for all your love and prayers!!
December 3, 2006
Itinerary Change
Well, we bought one way tickets from Detroit home. Just couldnt handle that 9 hour layover. So instead of coming in after 10pm, our flight will be arriving home at 6:40pm on the 20th. Cant wait to get our Sophie girl!!!
December 2, 2006
3 more days.
This is scary. I am very excited, scared and anxious all at the same time. I was going down the baby aisle at Walgreen this evening...Thinking "what am I doing", "have I lost my mind?" They have changed so much in the baby world since I had Elizabeth Grace. I mean I would just be flat out lying if I didn't say I wasn't scared. My daughter and I sat in the bathroom this evening and we just cried and talked. She kept telling me, " I am not prepared, I am not prepared." (she is 7) I was like what's the matter baby, and she said" I am not prepared to not have a mommy and daddy for 2weeks". Ok at this point I am crying. Then she throws out the ole' "why do we need to adopt". Which is totally interpretable as...I am not going to be number one anymore and I am scared...What if she doesn't like me, what if I don't like her...This is a lot for a 7 yr old to have to think about. She has been asking me questions all week about who my favorite girl is and I assure her she is my favorite girl and Sophie is my favorite baby. I know there are so many of you praying for Bert, me and Sophie. But please don't forget my other 3 at home. Pray God gives them peace while they are at grandma's. And that they will understand our love for them will not diminish but only grow stronger. I know they are going to just fall in love with Sophie and our lives are going to be so richly blessed.
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