Day 8 - Zoo and Walmart - Pics

Yes, we finally went to the zoo and got to go to Walmart. We got some more formula, clothes and a very loud noisy toy Mikayla can not get enough of. The toy plays music, moves across the floor, speaks numbers, abc's, colors and shapes and animals. It speaks in English and Chinese and roams around the floor, changing directions when it bumps into things. Walmart was interesting nothing like home, has 2 floors but is on the second so you travel 3 floors to go shopping. Things in Walmart for the most part are in english and chinese but if only in chinese you can usually tell the item by the packaging. As for the zoo they told us it was very hugh so we just visited a small portion of it. We mainly went to see the Panda's which are considered the State Treasure. We got some really good pics of the Red Panda which looks more like a raccoon and we even got some video of the black and white panda playing with some branches eating. Mikayla fell asleep just before we got to the zoo and woke as we were walking out the gate, needless to say she never saw any of it but that's okay we can see ours after we are home and she understands more. After the hot walking at the zoo and the craziness of shopping we all went back to the hotel to relax and I think all the families took a nap and ate in their rooms. This evening we just nibbled on snacks and wondered the hotel just to occupy Mikayla and have her out and about and not just stuck in the room. Mikayla had fun as she loves music and there was a piano player and a singer in the lobby and she got to listen and watch and the singer and piano player came and talked to her and play a bit she was thrilled. Tomorrow we get the photo album from the notary and get Mikayla's passport so we can head off to her first plane ride and arrive in Guangzhou to wait for our appointment to get her visa and have her become a US Citizen. We will be there for about 7 days and that will be where we get our traditional chinese clothing for Mikayla and maybe for me too, along with the famous squeaky shoes. Well, I better go the little monkey butt needs changed and get ready for bed. Catch you all in Guangzhou. Blessings

Day 7 - Site Seeing and Shopping - Pics

Today we did go to the "Peoples Hall" and The three Gorges Museum I believe it was. Both were very interesting. It did start out raining but turned out to be sunny and very hot. Since the old city was in a flooded area and the pandas do not come out in the rain we did not go to the zoo or the city. We are to have sun and heat again tomorrow so we are supposed to try the zoo again. We did go walking and shopping a bit in an area where there were many street vendors, who had yummy things cooking and ready to buy and or eat like pig snout and chicken legs. No I was not brave enough to try any of it. Beef intestines and frogs, along with some other fancy food were definitely not on our plates but on most menues. After that we came back to the hotel to try another shopping adventure at a department store near here we did not go to Walmart since they decided we would do that with the zoo as they are near each other. That trip went a little better then the day before but still was not a good time. They say the best shopping for the things we want for memories etc are to be had in Guangzhou. We will go there on Friday only 2 days away. So we shall see. I don't know about anyone else but I am ready to find out. This 5 star hotel has much to ask for so there really is nothing calling my name to stay here or write home about, well, I guess I just did, huh? :) For anyone who thought this was going to be one of those usual blogs about adoption with all the fluff I guess you came to the wrong page. Here I am going to give it to you like it is and how we see it, in our opinion and I guess if it was the second time around, always had a translator 24/7, knew the language better or they knew English then it might be different. That is not the case so I can not see it as a fun trip, an experience, adventure (not of the best kind) or just a special journey for Mikayla, yes, but fun, no. I know it is for her (Mikayla's) best interest but all it is doing for me is to say she is better off in the USA. China has its history and we have our memories but I am sorry to say that the longer I stay here the worse the opinion is becoming. Today is day 3 with Mikayla and the day went well except she did not get but maybe a 20 min power nap today and tonight she is a terror. She is fighting sleep like crazy and the minute she finds she is in her crib she is not a happy camper. I guess my sweet quiet day 1 and 2 just caught up with us here on day 3. G and I both agree she is to miss no more naps. Although the one she missed today was not due to us but the guides keeping us out through their naps which they stated we would be back for at the hotel... although none of our schedule has been on time or as scheduled except when it had to do with paperwork for the babies. The best thing I can say is that at least we are with some really nice couples that are in the same boat as us that have been very willing to help us and loan us clothes, wipes, bibs and shoes and comfort. In this process you have all walks of life adopting. You have the stand offish ones, the talkers who know it all. the ones who want to be the mommies of us, the nice ones and the like. No matter which ones you run into, or if it is all of the above no matter what, they all seem willing to help when and where they can. I can also say the guides are extremely good at not losing any of us and giving us history of the places and things we see. "J" as some of you may know was extremely helpful in helping us track and pick up our luggage. "J" and I got to know each other pretty well in the journey surrounding the whole luggage venture even when "J" got cursed out by a taxi driver and we both got kicked out of it and had to track another taxi from in the middle of the street and the one who stopped to pick us up got in trouble with the police for stopping where he shouldn't, we paid the police payoff in the taxi fee but "J" and I grinned and bared our adventure and had a good time together. Now I must go find the camera as Daddy and Baby fell asleep together on the bed. Hopefully when Mikayla is moved "G" won't wake, oh I mean hopefully Mikayla won't wake. ;) This pic will be up for bids on ebay starting at $20 bucks a piece.... just kidding. Good night all and catch you on Day 8.

Day 6 - Official Mom and Dad - New Pics

Today was the day we officially became Mikayla's mom and dad for life. We were sworn to love and cherish, never abuse or abandon her and all three of us were finger printed. Then they say I now pronounce you legal mother and father. They took pics and gave us a bronze and 24 karat gold plate as a gift for best wishes and that everything will be doing well. We will get a small photo album of Mikayla and passport for her on Friday. Today was a very rainy day. Many places were flooding. We drove down roads that people were walking across that the water was up to their knees. Tomorrow we are to go to the zoo but that might change if it is still raining and the zoo apparently is in an area that floods. They say we may go to the building that is on our gold plates which is called "The Hall of the People" I believe along with maybe some museums if it does continue to rain. We will find out tomorrow morning where we go for site seeing. Then afterward we will go to Walmart. The reason we will go to Walmart is because the shopping today was pretty bad in the rain and the stores were not what we expected nor did they have what we wanted for a price we were willing to pay. It was sort of like shopping in Frontenac or a mall verses Walmart. Trying to find what you want, sizes you want and have anyone understand you was pretty frustrating for all of us. We all came back to our rooms and relaxed until tomorrow. Mikayla woke about 6:30am still as sweet as can be. We did have our first messy diaper which was not much of a mess but we could have used a clothes pin or two. :) She loves to walk. We walked her all around the hotel on 3 or 4 different floors (we are on the 15th and there are 27 I think). We checked out the 3rd floor full of restaurants, the 11th floor for the tennis court, the 7th floor where the pool and spa is and also the lobby with restaurants and bakery where you can get sandwiches, chocolate and danishes. She does well with naps, eating and playing with us or alone. We even had those full deep belly laughs at times. She sleeps through the night at least so far. The only time she got a bit crabby was when we were in the store but I am sure she sensed everyone was on edge plus we were standing still a lot and she likes to keep moving. All in all it was a busy day and we were all ready to crash to start a new day tomorrow as Mother, Father and Daughter, as an official Family. Catch you all on day 7...

Day 5 - Mikayla - New Pics Added

We have Mikayla!! She is so beautiful. She is more than I ever expected. She has been laughing and smiling and babble talking constantly. She walks on her own from mommy to daddy and loves walking while holding mommy and daddy's fingers. On the way back to the hotel she slept and woke up shortly after we arrived still happy and being so sweet and adorable. Once to the room I got to change my first diaper...sorry to disappoint but it was just a wet one no surprises. We are getting ready to eat as soon as I am done here and then we will be seeing about bed. Tomorrow we will be doing the finalizing whether we want to keep her or not. I think... yeah I think we will keep her for a little while. :) I am sorry I do not have any pics but I am unable to do so on the blog yet. If you would like a peak of us you can email me and I will try to send you a pic or two via email if that works. Well, have to run daddy is starting to doze and someone is hungry. Talk more tomorrow after we go shopping for toys, bibs, clothes and stroller for the zoo on Wednesday. Blessings, AJ

Day 4 - Luggage

WE HAVE LUGGAGE!!!!!! :)

Day 4 - Chongqing - pics

We made it to Chongqing!! This is the province where we will be receiving our daughter at last. On the ride over to the hotel we got some reassuring news... We received a call from the airport telling us our luggage SHOULD be at the airport here in Chongqing at 6pm China time. This is good except we will have to drive the 40 minutes by taxi back to the airport and hope we find where to go and get it if it is indeed there. I will let you know how it goes. We arrived at the hotel which is interesting. Its a fairly new 5 star hotel called the Sofitel Luxury hotel. Shortly after settling in a bit the crib arrived. You can not imagine the feelings you can have when someone comes to your room and fixes up a crib with down blanket and pillow right in front of you with such loving care. I am sorry to say we are having some issues posting pics but we are working on that and will post some when we can, if we can. After our crib showed up we were rushing off to go fill out more paperwork that never seems to end. We heard about some things the babies are doing and things they like but not much. We were told the paper now was so we can focus on the baby tomorrow. Right now I am here while "G" so kindly went with the group shopping for some snacks and beverages. When they return I will probably be off to the airport via taxi with our Coordinator for translation and comfort purposes. I hope to come back with luggage which carrys all the gifts for everyone, necessities and clothes for us and toys and things for the baby. Once finally back and able to slow down and relax a bit we will be off to find some dinner. Tomorrow will be the big day! Tomorrow about 3:30pm China Time we will meet our baby for the first time. It still seems so unreal. Its even hard to believe we are in China at times. It all seems like a dream. I just can't wait for the wonderful day to have the proof it is a reality. I can not wait to touch her, hold her, smell her and just spend the rest of my life with our "Beautiful Gift From God" we will receive tomorrow. For those of you who do not know or remember Mikayla means "gift from God" while Xiu means, "Beautiful". Well I am going to let you soak that up for a while as you celebrate with us that we are one step closer to luggage and our baby. Blessings to all and thanks for all the prayers I know that is the only thing keeping me sane through all that we have been through so far.

Day 3 - Site Seeing - new pics added

I am sorry to say I do not have any pics to post at this time. I will start by letting you know we still do not have any luggage and will be leaving this hotel to go to Chongqing tomorrow to go get our baby girl and I have nothing for her but us and our love. We did go see the Forbidden City and the TianAnMen Square and some really good lunch. I am sorry to say that I did not make it to the Great Wall but as I type this "G" should be there now. Myself and another person from our group opted to Taxi back to the hotel after lunch as we did not feel up to another 3-4 hours of heat and walking. It is very hot and humid here and as some of you know I do not have a very good stomach. I did not want to put my health at risk at this point in the game, so to speak. Especially when we fly for 3 hours tomorrow and do lots more site seeing in the Province. As for the Swine Flu its really interesting how they have things set up here. They have infrared cameras set up at the airport so coming and going you are checked and they will stop you if you are running a fever of 100 or more. Not only is this done in the airports but also at the Hotels. So every time you go into the lobby you get checked. Can you imagine. I know some of you following would probably freak out. I would to if I think about it. So needless to say I don't thing about it. Well, got to rest I am pretty worn out from all the walking and heat. Catch you soon and hopefully "G" took some good pics.