Going to Chicago!

We are so excited that we are taking a last minute trip this weekend to Chicago to get together with our China family buddies AND...now here's the REALLY COOL part...visit our social worker from Nanning, China!!! We just found out she is in the States for some training with Holt and that she will be in Chicago over the weekend. So, of course we are going!!!

I think this is her first trip to the US and the first time she has seen children she has placed in forever homes after they have been home! How totally awesome is that? And how lucky that we are part of that:)

Now, all I need to do is some laundry so that we will have clothes, dig out the winter duds (heard Chicago is gonna be cold this weekend - YAHOO!), and head off for the windy city!

Growing Up So Fast - AKA First Day of School

So yesterday was Hannah's first day of high school and Governor's School! Sounds like she had a blast, but I am still a bit freaking out. What am I doing with an all-grown-up high-schooler? Am I really that old? Ah well, I guess so...

Lilly started kindergarten yesterday, too. That was a bit hard for me as well. She is so ready and so excited, but I have not had time to mentally prepare myself this summer. She is going to a private school because she misses the county cut off by 5 weeks and I guess I haven't wrapped my mind around the fact that she is at school all day, everyday. Fortunately, she loved it and could not stop talking about it all last night! That makes it a bit easier to take.

And Emmett began preschool this morning. He was so excited about going to "Emmett's school" and using his back pack. He even insisted I pack his lunch when I packed Lilly's last night (he will still eat it at home, but he just had to take it with him!).

The only sad part was when he actually went in the room and I could tell he was a bit unsure of what was going on. He went and sat down like he was asked, but he was sucking his thumb and pulling his ear. I almost took him home right then because he looked so confused! Maybe it was bringing back some memories of institutions in China...I don't know. I called Eric to ask his advice and we agreed it will be good for Emmett to have me drop him off, and then come back to get him. I think after 1 or 2 times, he will understand that I always come back for him! Then I am sure he will be his normal lively self! I guess we will see...

China Reunion

We had a great time getting together with 4 of the families we traveled to China with. It was so fun to see all of the kids four months after coming home! They all have adjusted so well and have picked up the language like linguistic pros!


We spent the weekend visiting an Amish farm where we saw all kinds of animals and had fun feeding them, eating at an Amish restaurant, swimming at the pool, enjoying (or in some of our cases, enduring) a catered Chinese dinner, and just hanging out together. It was so wonderful to share memories and swap stories. And our friends the Heckys have just announced they are adopting their third child - a boy just a week younger than Emmett! How exciting - but not too surprising because they thought Emmett was so much fun in China that they kept kidding around that they needed to get a boy, too. Looks like they weren't bluffing! Congrats Hecky family!!!

But the best part of the trip was that all the kids had friends to play with. Two of the families had teenagers - the Kruits and the Hecky's. So, Hannah had a great time hanging out with Melia, Brienna, and Ryan. They have all become texting and Facebook buddies.

Lilly and Mariah (formerly known as Jon Jon) had a blast playing together. They played house and school, but Lilly's favorite activity was swimming in the pool for 5 hours straight! We seriously had to force her out of the pool to eat lunch and dinner.

And Emmett had Mia and Mikenna to play with. But, in true Emmett fashion, he was more interested in running around playing with as many things as he could in the least amount of time! He is such a busy little mess maker. If we leave him alone for five minutes he will have the whole play room in shambles!

Lilly's First Haircut

I am so happy to announce that Lilly (and I ) have taken the plunge! She had her first haircut a couple of weeks ago. For several weeks I had been tossing around the idea of cutting her hair into a chin length bob. I know it will come as a shock to all of you who have always admired Lilly's long curly spirals, but I have to say, those curls were a chore! It took about 10 minutes every morning to comb out the previous day's tangles and even longer to decide how to style it. Then there was the yelling fits when I tried to do something different that Lilly didn't approve of. So much drama over such a little thing!

Then, I found a picture of the exact cut I had in mind in a PB Kids catalogue. The little model had curly hair and everything. So, I showed it to Lilly and she loved it. Her first response was (and I quote) "Does this mean I don't have to wear pony tails anymore?" So, with a deep breath for courage, we went to the hair salon.

Now, I have to confess, I tend to choose my hair stylists based on their appearance. I know it is judgemental, but I can't help it. When I walk into a new salon, I look around for the person with the best hair - usually something a bit funky and modern. That is the person I have cut my hair.

Ironically enough, the person who came forward to cut Lilly's hair that day was the exact opposite of what I usually look for. She was - no joke or exaggeration - stuck in an eighties time warp. She had - are you ready for this?- a mullet!!! Her hair was short and feathered in front with poofy bags, and the back hung to the middle of her back. I told her I was really nervous about Lilly's first haircut and she reassured me that she has been cutting hair for 23 years - which is about the time her haircut was fashionable - and that she was very good at cutting hair. Then she told us that Lilly's hair was long enough to donate to Locks of Love. That sealed the deal. I told her I was ready and before I could change my mind, she whacked off Lilly's ponytail!

Obviously there was no going back...and Lilly's hair looks beautiful. The stylist really was pretty good - a point she proved when cutting Emmett's hair next. As you can imagine, Emmett does not sit still for haircuts and this lady just moved right along with Emmett never missing a beat! It was pretty fascinating to watch. So, happily both children look adorable after their haircuts. And Lilly can not be happier to have short hair that is tangle-free and practically self-stying!

Where Oh Where Has The Time Gone?

Well, we have been home for over two months now and I am amazed that it has just flown by! So much has happened. Emmett is doing so well, it feels like he has been with us forever. It is so fun to see his personality coming out and watch him learn more about his new world every day!

Here is a quick update of the past 2 months for all of you have been wondering:

1.) Emmett had his first emergency room visit a week after we got home. Yes, it is true. And for all of you who knew little Qi Fu in China, I am sure you are not surprised! He fell off a chair that he was standing on and hit his head on the corner of the wall. The cut was superficial and didn't need stitches, but we took him in anyway just in case. Hope this isn't a foreshadow of the years to come!!!

2.) We went to the Temple and were sealed as a family on May 2, 2009. Eric's parents, his two sisters, Kelly and Sandy, his brothers, Craig and Brian, and our sister in law Crissy were all able to attend. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! To be in the Temple with all three of our children was something I will never forget nor ever be able to fully put into words. Almost too good to be true.

3.) Emmett saw the orthopedic specialist and we were happy to learn that the surgery he had on his feet in China looks good! The only continued "therapy" he needs is wearing a corrective shoe at bedtime. And, surprise of all surprises, he loves to wear it! Go figure.

4.) And speaking of his feet, they are giving me much trouble! He has the smallest, fattest, WIDEST feet I have ever seen!!! I have looked everywhere for shoes for him. We went to Stride Rite and they measured his feet ( he was a 3 baby/toddler) but could not find any shoes that would fit. They even tried him in a 51/2 - 2x wide and his foot wouldn't go in! I am now looking into custom shoes and have begun to rethink our future retirement plans and Hannah's college fund as I plan ways to siphon money from them. What can I say, we all have to sacrifice? Hopefully, his feet will even out as he grows...

5.) Emmett's circumcision was a success. And by that, I mean he had very little discomfort or complaints. You wouldn't even know he had anything done by the way he acted. Yeah!

6.) Emmett has picked up English so quickly! It amazes me everyday. He is now putting together 3-4 word phrases. My favorite is "I dub dew" (I love you) and "Ninny, no!" (Lilly, no!). He begins every day with asking to "eat dereal" and have a "dwink". I actually forget that he has only been speaking English for 2 months because he sounds like any average American 2 year old! He and Lilly talk my ear off all day long. It's a wonder I am not insane yet...Or maybe...

7.) As has been the situation since we first picked up Emmett, everywhere he goes he is Mr. Popular. People at church, at stores, at doctors offices, at the gym, etc. can not resist his charm. He is the life of the party and usually the center of attention. He loves it...mostly. Sometimes he gets frustrated when other kids try to mother him and treat him like a toy. But, he usually just tells them no and runs away when he has had enough.

8.) Emmet has seen more doctors in the past 2 months than I have seen in my whole life. He has been to the pediatrician twice (for check up and shots), the urologist several times, the pediatric orthopedic specialist, the lab for blood work and both urine and stool samples (let me tell you how fun that was!), and the orthopedic shoe guy (don't know what his official title is). We still have a plastic surgeon (to remove the skin flap on his ear), another round of shots, a follow up orthopedic appointment, the dentist, and one more urologist visit to look forward to this summer. Whew!

Well, I think that sums up our busy lives with Emmett. Of course this does not include all the events revolving around Hannah and Lilly. I could go on and on...but let's just end with a reminder that we are so blessed to have such a wonderful family and great friends who love and support us. Thanks to everyone!

Our First Day Home

Let me just start by saying: I love my bed! I guess it's the little things like nightly comfort that you take for granted until it is taken away. For the past two weeks we have been sleeping on the hardest, pokiest mattresses ever made. And for the 6 days in Nanning, we had 2 twin beds for the three of us (Emmett had a crib that we would move him to after he fell asleep). So, every night we would rotate so that someone got a bed to her/himself. That was the worst. The night in Hong Kong was the exception. There we had a huge bed - I swear it was larger than a king, or maybe I was just desperate after the twin beds - and a crib. It was very comfortable and we all slept well. But, still, doesn't compare to home.

And speaking of home, Emmett has done really well. We did not get home until after 10pm and we were all exhausted, but he still walked in the house and began to explore cheerfully. I think he was amazed at the size of our house compared to what he has been used to.

He did not, however, relish the idea of sleeping alone in his new room. The poor guy cried in his new bed even though Eric slept with him (at least until he fell asleep). I can only imagine how confusing it all is for him. And he woke up several times during the night crying and disoriented. I had a very disrupted night, but I actually expected it. Kind of like coming home from the hospital with a new baby. The funny thing is, Eric slept through it all! Once he fell asleep, nothing woke him. He was surprised the next morning when I was describing the night to him! Go figure.

Emmett's first day home was great. He and Lilly ran around laughing and playing all day. He ate well, and even took a 4 hour nap (after his initial crying - this time Lilly volunteered to lay down with him). I think he is getting used to his new surroundings and life. Our only problem is finding clothes that fit. Today I put on him some 18 month sized jeans and they fell off! Luckily, my friend, Heather, loaned me a box of clothes and there was a pair of 12 month jeans in there that fit perfectly. It was kind of ridiculous! I mean, come on, the boy is almost 3 years old!

Lastly, I just want to say thanks to everyone who has supported us and encouraged us over the last 4 years - especially Kathy, Jana, and Nicole. You guys were there when I started talking about adoption and I could never ask for a better support group. My only regret is that both Jana and Kathy moved away this summer and were not here for our homecoming. But, I know you both were here in spirit and love. So, thanks! And a HUGE thanks to Nicole and her family for happily and lovingly keeping Lilly while we were gone. I can not even express my gratitude for friends like you guys. It was so nice not having to worry one moment about Lilly while we were gone. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has given us friends that become our family. And thanks to everyone for the balloons and banners when we got home. It was fun to know people were routing for us!

We're Going Home!

We are now officially finished with our adoption! Yesterday we went to the US Consulate to pick up Qi Fu's passport and Visa and swear our oath. And now we are heading home after a 2 hour train ride to Hong Kong. And speaking of Hong Kong, this city is amazing. We opted to not spend a day here, but maybe someday we will make it back here to explore. But, our hotel here is the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in and that includes the Hilton Time Square and the Ritz! It is very modern with lots of chrome and frosted glass - very posh...I love it!

Today is a day of mixed emotions for me. I am so happy to go home - especially to see Lilly, but it is so sad to say goodbye to people that we have become so close to in such a little bit of time. It is amazing how quickly you bond when you share such an emotional journey together. We have cried, laughed, complained, toured, and eaten with our group of families everyday for the last 2 weeks. I am thankful that we are all on the east coast so that we can have reunions and get togethers. And "yahoo" for the Internet and facebook! Makes the world a lot smaller.

Now we are on our way to the airport to begin our 19 hour journey home. It should be an adventure that we will never forget - especially considering we will have a very active little boy to try to keep in a seat! And I am not happy because there was a mix up with our seats and I have a window seat - I know a lot of people like that, but I am an aisle girl all the way. We'll see what we can negotiate...

See you all in a little while:)

Photo on The Red Couch at the White Swan

Guangzhou and The White Swan

Well, we finally made it to Guangzhou and the White Swan! The White Swan Hotel is amazing. It is the mecca for adopting families from the US - the place is just crawling with us. It is really neat to meet families from all over the States and to be reunited with our friends from Beijing. I am amazed at how many people are here for their second or third adoption. Maybe we will be back in a year or two...

We are on the last leg of our trip and I think I speak for everyone when I say we are so ready to be done! We have all really enjoyed our trip to China, but it sounds so good to go home, see our Lilly, get Emmett started on his new life, and not eat out for a very, very long time (especially Chinese food). Last night we went to the "American Buffet" for dinner and we were all so excited. They even had chicken nuggets and mini-cheeseburgers!

Yesterday was our last paperwork day! We (ie Eric - I am, so sick of papers that he took over the task) did the papers for Emmett's Visa. On Thursday we will go to the consulate for an oath taking ceremony and then we will be COMPLETELY finished with the adoption. YAHOO! We also had to take him for his physical yesterday. He was not so happy about that. Actually, he was doing fine because our friend Vipa (she is the woman that is on her 4th adoption and who is super prepared) kept giving him some cheerios. But, when they left he broke down - not because of the impending exam, but because his supply had dried up!

Well, that brings me to the next topic - Emmett's mooching ability. I am not exaggerating when I say that he gets goodies from people all the time! All he does is go up to them and smile and they give him whatever he wants. It's like he has some mystical power or something. Yesterday alone he got cheerios (from Vipa), a tomato from a lady at the park, a barbie phone from a vendor, 4 flags from some man in a store, a box of blocks from the girls in the Holt office, a balloon from another mom, and of course candy from random strangers. I think that completes yesterday. I tell you, he is a charmer so you better hang on to your valuables when we get home or you will magically find yourself giving them to him. Man, I sure hope he uses his powers for good and not evil as he grows up :)

Emmett and two of his friends spent some time at a playground after their physicals. It was so cute to watch him climbing up and going down the slides. You would never guess that he has anything wrong with his feet - they do not limit him in anyway. We also got to see a Chinese school in action yesterday as we walked around Guangzhou. They were out in their courtyard practicing something. We did not know if it was for some type of performance, or if they were doing a gym class of sorts. But they were standing in formation reciting and dancing. There were a couple of girls that kept looking at all of us and smiling and covertly waving. I think they enjoyed having an audience.

Another great thing about being in Guangzhou is the shopping. Hannah and I spent the afternoon going to a lot of fun shops. We did our first bargaining and it is kind of addicting! Hannah even got into the act. And we met this really nice lady. Her name is Ju D. She told us she has been a Christian for four years (pretty rare for China)and that it was some Americans who told her about it. We talked with her for about an hour and during that time another American woman came in to tell her good-bye. So, obviously she makes friends all the time. We exchanged e-mails before we left and she actually had a whole book of people's e-mail addresses. It will be fun to see if she keeps in touch!

Our Days At The People's Park In Nanning

Yiling Village and Humble Pie

Today Jane took us to a local Zhuang village. China is made up of 56 different ethnic groups. The majority for all of China is the Han people. But, here in Guangxi the majority is made up of Zhuang. The first time we met Jane she told us that she took one look at Qi Fu's picture and knew right away that he was Zhuang by his features. She said he is very Zhuang. She also claims that at least 2 of the girls in our group are Zhuang also.

The Zhuang people are known for their ability to do fine embroidery and sing. They have festivals where there are extemporaneous signing competitions and the boys ask girls out by singing to them! We seriously hope Qi FU has inherited this singing ability! They are also pretty small people - very slender and shorter than most - totally explains his size.

Yiling village is a very typical village for rural China and since all but one of our children came from rural orphanages, Jane really wanted us to see what life is like there. Let me just say, it was a very humbling experience. But it was also very eye opening for me. I just kept thinking that these people had very little, but their children were still loved and taken care of. There is no crime - everyone in the village trusts one another and they never lock doors. The children run around the whole village by themselves because everyone looks out for everyone else. The sense of community is very strong. It is too bad we have lost these traits. I think church is probably the closest thing that remains.

Most people in China live on about 1500 Yuan a month (about $200), but people in these villages live on a lot less. They still adhere to very traditional practices. Jane warned us that we would see the women working very hard doing their laundry on rocks at the watering hole, farming, carrying heavy loads, etc, while the men will be sitting around playing games like chess and checkers. She was right. (But to do the men some justice, she did point out they too work hard during the week days in the cities or on farms, but after work they get to come home and relax while the women's work is never done!) And the men help out with children very little in public. The men think that carrying a child or changing it, etc, will make them look weak. So, it is left up to the women - although they may help out in the privacy of their own home. As matter of fact, Eric went up to some men playing a game to take their picture and they laughed at him because he had Qi Fu on his shoulders! It was pretty funny.

We were also told to bring candy with us for the village children. Chinese people are constantly giving children candy - Qi Fu always has a piece or two stored in a pocket that some random stranger gave to him. And it is usually hard candy that he tries to bite. I really don't like this practice! Anyway, I do not know what we expected, but it certainly was not the mobbing we got when we showed our bags of candy. There were children everywhere grabbing and laughing and running away and then coming back for more. At one point we had to shew them away so that we could walk.

After we started walking again, we noticed a little boy about Qi Fu's age standing with his grandma watching us. He looked very shy and would not come over even with his grandma's prodding. Qi Fu noticed him and took one of his own candies from his pocket and walked up to the boy and gave it to him. It was so touching! I hope he keeps this type of compassion and generosity throughout his life.

I wish I could describe the smells in the village. They were...not that pleasant - a mixture of animal, fire, cooking flesh, and typical farm life. Trust me, I did not do it justice. And the flies were something from a horror film - they were EVERYWHERE. I have never seen so many flies in my life and I grew up on a pig farm. And speaking of pigs, we visited the home of a lady in the village who was the "richest" person there because she raised pigs and sold them. She had a typical 2 story home where her adult children and their families lived on the second level, and she lived on the first with the pigs. No joke. (Note: here in the countryside - especially among the Zhuang - the people are allowed to have more than 1 child, that is why this woman had 3 children - 2 daughters and 1 son.) Her house was made of cement and was still very humble by our standards, but a mansion according to theirs. It was pretty neat to see and she was very gracious.

Since a picture can say a thousand words, here is a slide show of our visit. I really hope you can get a feel for the village and the people there.

Green Mountain

Our big excursion of the day was a trip to Green Mountain. It is a state park type of place about 30 minutes outside of Nanning. The weather looked a bit dicey, but it held out until we were walking around one area of the park (we visited 3 different areas), and then it poured! Qi Fu loved it, of course. As a matter of fact, he was already soaked by the time the rain started because he discovered a rain puddle about ten seconds after we got off the bus and promptly not only jumped in it, but also sat! Yep, that's right, I said sat - full bum right down in the middle. Of course everyone laughed and that only encouraged more!

After the rain started, Jane - aka super prepared woman - produced a dozen huge umbrellas from her secret pocket or something. And Qi Fu insisted on being the one to carry it. Do you know how hard it is to stay under an umbrella carried by a two foot high person? Not so easy my friends. Eric, Hannah, and I opted for the soaking over the back aches. But, man did he look cute holding this giant umbrella. Brought to mind Alice in Wonderland and the giant mushrooms.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a local store that sells jade and pearls. Some really pretty stuff in there. Jane told us that it is traditional for men to wear the female Buddah. It is supposed to make them lucky with the ladies. We bought one for Qi Fu - to be kept until he is older, though I suspect he won't have any problems attracting girls with his wit and charm. He already has the ability to make one of the other little girls in our party smile and giggle. And that is saying a lot because she is having a really hard time and will hardly smile for anyone else. He's a little lady killer in the making!

Big Trip To Walmart!

Ok, what a joke! The place is called Walmart, but it DOES NOT look anything like what we are used to. I am embarrassed to admit, but I was so excited to go there this morning. We had a whole list of things to buy - including clothes for Qi Fu. We have only 2 outfits that fit and the pants he wore today kept falling off - literally- and they are a size 18-24 months! But when we got there, we soon realized that there were very few boy clothes - only one tiny rack with the same outfit in three colors. I am not kidding...that was it! So, we bought 2 of them in different colors and I hate them! But, I will keep them forever as a memento (although, he will never wear them again as soon as we go home:))

After our "big shopping trip" Jane took us to Pizza Hut for American food. It was very good!!! Qi Fu had his first pizza and spaghetti and loved it - along with every other food he has tried. I swear that boy eats and eats. Maybe he'll grow so his pants will fit:)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Tonight, we had our first really sad moment. After his bath, he went back into the bathroom and slipped on some water and hit his head. He started crying and I picked him up. He wanted to go to the bed, so I laid him down. Then he did not want me to comfort him. He kept crying, pointing, and saying "Mama, mama, mama, etc." Obviously, he wanted his foster mom, not me. I just sat next to him (but didn't touch) and sang to him. After a few moments he stopped wailing and pointed to his ear and said a few words in Chinese. Obviously, that is where it hurt. So, he let me rub it (for only a second!) and kiss it. Then he cried again! But it only lasted a minute or so, then he popped up and crawled off the bed and went back to playing. However, a moment later he hit his head on the TV stand and came to me rubbing it and pointing. This time he let me kiss it and rub it! BREAKTHROUGH...

To end the day, I pulled out the wikki stix and Hannah and I made him a bunch of accessories. It was funny. He would laugh, then take them off and put them in his cupboard with the rest of his stash. (We have discovered if we are missing something, that he probably has stored it in there!) The funny thing, however, was that I made a necklace and put it on him without his noticing. When he finally discovered it, he laughed hysterically and kept pointing to his neck and talking. He was surprised to find it and thought it was the funniest thing. It was so cute!

Test Post - Trying out a slideshow program

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Getting to Know Qi Fu

Man, this kid is CRAZY! But he is officially ours now!!! We finished the Chinese end of the adoption this morning after 2 brief interviews - one with a Civil Affairs official and the other with a notary. We still have to stay a few more days in Nanning, however, while we wait for his passport to be finalized and delivered. Then it is off to Guangzhou to visit the American consulate and prepare him for his US Visa.

In the meantime, we are having lots of fun getting to know Qi Fu (or Little Man Fu as I have started to call him). Today we walked to the park with our friends. We thought it was just a playground, but it was actually a minnie amusement park. He loved to ride the electric cars - although he did not like that he needed an adult to ride with him and help steer. After all, he is Chinese and thinks he can drive well on his own, but trust me, we know how they drive and there was no way we were going to let him behind the wheel by himself! After the cars, he got to ride in this three man bike with Eric and Hannah that circled the park about 20 feet off the ground. He was so cute waving from up there! Then he rode this minnie roller coaster where the cars were all shaped like cars. He rode in the firetruck one and really loved it because he could "steer" all by himself.

After the park, we had another group dinner at a Cantonese restaurant. It was very good. We have started to notice that Qi Fu hordes food - very common in orphanage children. He will keep wanting food until his plate or bowl is overflowing. He won't eat all of it, but I think he takes comfort in knowing it is there. Once he even hid a piece of beef on the ledge behind our booth and got it and ate it as we were leaving - kind of gross, actually. His favorite food is congee - a rice porridge that is kind of like bland rice soup with various meets. The only problem is, it is usually SUPER HOT and he hates to wait for it to cool down. He gets very upset if he can not have it right away! We have started to ask for an extra bowl to mix a little at a time with cold water to make him happy.

You would think with all the food he eats he would be bigger - but he is so tiny. He is wearing a size 18-24 month and they are even a bit big. We forget that he is almost 3, so when he does something a 3 yr old would do, we are surprised because he is so small. It is quite deceiving. Later today we are going to Walmart as a group to shop for necessities. And believe me some clothes are on our list because I only have 2 outfits that fit him. He wore one yesterday and he will wear the second today! And then, we will be in trouble because all the 2T clothes I brought are way big!

But, trust me his size does not slow him down one bit! The kid is a maniac. He never sits still and he is just bursting with talking and personality (reminds me A LOT of Lilly - I think I am in big trouble with those two!). The other families laugh at him and think he is so cute, but I think they are secretly relieved it is not them chasing him all over as they walk around with their sweet little girls :)

And speaking of the other families, it has been so awesome to be here with them. There were 5 families that hooked up in Beijing (there was a total of 7 families, but the other two were more to themselves). But only 2 came to Nanning with us - the Heckys and the Kruits. We also have the other 2 families with us, but again they are more on their own. One of those families is on their 4th Chinese adoption and is so helpful to the rest of us. They know everything and are always stocked with things that we do not think about because we did not even know we needed them! They have shared many things with us: cookies, fruit snacks, bibs, spoons, etc. We are all so grateful for them! But, the Heckys and the Kruits have been our constant companions and support during all of this. We are already making plans for a reunion in a year or so because we all live on the east coast (Ohio, Chicago, and VA). It would be fun to see these kids in a year speaking English and feeling like regular family members! And we will hook up with the other 2 original families in a few days in Guangzhou. We are excited to meet their new children. One has a boy about the same age as Qi Fu. Hmmm, wonder if he is crazy, too?

(Author's note: By the way, that cute little panda shirt in the photo was a mess by the end of the day. I am not sure it will ever be the same again. What a pity.)

Gotcha Day!

(Caution! This is a long post! I am using this as my personal journal, so I have included everything. Proceed with caution.)

Let me just start by saying that now I know why Qi Fu (Emmett) was tied to his crib in one photo!

But I'm getting ahead of myself. So, let me back up to the beginning...

March 24, 2009 was the most emotional day of my life. It was like getting married and having babies all in one. It is hard to describe how I felt, but let me just say it felt like an emotional whirlwind inside my head and stomach!

I finally fell asleep around midnight and woke up about 3am because I was so excited and nervous. Our day began with a gathering of the 5 Holt families in the hotel lobby at 5:30 am. We were then taken to the airport and were soon on our way to Nanning where we would meet our children.

I have to digress here and tell a little bit about our flight. It was a very unique experience that I do not want to forget. First of all, the 11 of us were the only Caucasian people on the plane. I think this was my first time being a true minority...I kind of liked it. The other passengers were very curious and friendly to us. I really enjoyed watching them. It was the loudest plane ride I have ever taken - people were standing up and yelling to people across the plane, laughing and gesturing as they settled in. And no one payed any attention to seat belt signs - they moved around whenever they wanted and when we finally landed, people were up and getting their stuff before the plane even slowed down! Oh, the shock of it all!

After landing, we met our Holt guide, Jane, who is a local of Nanning, at the airport. She is very kind and most helpful. She explained to us the procedure for getting our children and what we needed to prepare ourselves for. We had 2 hours back at the hotel to get ready and eat lunch.

Now, let me tell you about Nanning. Nanning is in the Guangxi Province (pronounced "Gwan-see" we found out after all of us had been saying it wrong for weeks). Guangxi is where all of our children are from. Now, this is what I expected China to be like - older, more gritty and rural than Beijing. (Beijing is a very westernized metropolis like NYC and caters to English speakers. It is very modern and elaborate. The area we stayed in was like 5th Avenue - only cleaner and nicer!) In Nanning, very few locals speak English and we have to do a lot of pointing and gesturing to be understood when Jane is not around. It's actually quite fun!

We had our first lunch in a restaurant across from the hotel. It is nicknamed "The Baby Restaurant" because there are babies painted on the front and it is where adopting families often eat. The food was really good (oh, by the way, we can say goodbye to any westernized food for the next week), but I learned after 2 meals there that I do not want to eat chicken while here. Every part of the chicken is used in the food - fat, gristle, bones, and all. I really don't like that. But, the beef and shrimp are yummy. Maybe I'll even get brave enough to try some of the other "sea food" available. We'll see...

After lunch, we were off to the civil affairs office to finally meet our children. Can I just say, I was so nervous that my hands were shaking and I don't think that has ever happened to me before! When we got off the elevator at the CA building, our children were standing in the hall with their nannies. They took one look at us and all started crying and running away! We were taken into a room to wait for them to be brought in individually, but we could hear them outside crying and one (we were told) kept saying "I don't want to go in there!" Of course all the moms were crying by now and we were all nervously laughing and joking. Then, after a brief welcome, they were escorted in one at a time to be met by their new families. Qi Fu was the third one brought in.

I went up to Qi Fu and handed him a car as I smiled at him. He took it with a smile and then turned around and walked away! I guess he thought I was Santa or something! But, after a few moments he realized what was going on and began to cry with all the other children. It was the saddest thing to hear - all these little people wailing and terrified! Qi Fu's nannies stayed for a few minutes. They had a bag of items from his foster mom for us (Jane translated the conversation for me). She gave us some extra clothes, diapers, a package of his favorite crackers, a photo of them with Qi Fu, a letter for us (which Jane will translate later) and his foot braces (which he hates and I don't blame him because they look torturous. They said we do not have to make him wear them. We can wait until we visit our doctor at home and get her recommendation. Phew!!!) Then the nannies left and we were on our own.

Poor little guy cried and cried. I could distract him for a few minutes by taking him to the window to see the cars and the elevator. But, it was the red balloon we blew up that made all the difference. He loves that balloon and has carried it around all day with him - I really hope it doesn't pop any time soon!

After a little while, he would let me hold him and comfort him. It was really adorable, he wanted his tears and nose wiped every few minutes. They said he likes hugs and that is true! He would let me and Hannah hold and hug him. Eric was a different matter. He didn't want Eric at all. (Of course most of you know little kids LOVE Eric and always go to him, so it was a bit of a surprise. Maybe the red hair did it?)

Eventually, it was time to go back to the hotel with our children. Qi Fu was so cute because when he heard we were leaving, he started to help clean up the toys in the room! By then he had stopped crying and was resigned to his fate. He walked with me to the bus (his little walk is so cute - he has a slight limp, but trust me it does not slow him down!). He climbed the bus stairs (which were huge) with my help and went straight to the back seat and snuggled up in the corner by the window with his balloon. On the ride he did not want us to touch him. He kept pushing us away and glaring at us. But, when I began to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" he sang along in Chinese! SO CUTE!!!

Once we got back to our hotel, his curiosity and naturally cheerful disposition got the better of him. As soon as he walked in our room, he plunged in. We began with stickers (which I put on his forehead and he proceeded to put on all of ours) and then it never stopped! He played with EVERYTHING and began laughing and talking. Our really big breakthrough came when I gave him markers and a coloring book. He took out the markers one at a time and would pull off the cap, scribble a bit, then put the cap back on and place the marker in a neat little row on the desk. He had a hard time taking off the lid and putting it back on at first, so I showed him and every time he did it on his own we would cheer and he would giggle.

Since I know this is super long and you may be getting bored, I will list a few things we learned about Qi FU on our first day:

1. He has been taught very well and is very neat. He put his shoes in the closet with ours when he saw them there and always cleans up. He knows how to do most things for himself and seems to follow rules very well.

2. He learns very quick! He has already began to mimic our words correctly and even started using sign at dinner when he wanted more food. It is quite amazing to witness!

3. He LOVES water. Seriously. I have NEVER seen a child love water as much as him and I already have 2 water babies! The first time he went potty and needed to wash his hands, he stuck his hand under the faucet and squirted himself in the face. He laughed hysterically and kept repeating it over and over. Then when we went to the lobby, he saw the fountain and I had to catch him before he dove in! I did let him splash in it a bit until I got some stern stares from the locals (bad mommy!). And last night after dinner we gave him his first bath and you would think we were at Disney World. He loved it that much! (They usually recommend not changing your child's clothes or bathing them for at least 24 hours, but with Emmett we knew he would have no problem as long as water was involved!)

4. He loves his veggies! Hopefully he can influence Lilly a little bit.

5. He did indeed have surgery on his little feet a couple months ago - he has the scars to prove it. We are waiting for more information to be sent over to us to take back home to our doctors.

6. He is a great sleeper (so far). He curled up with Hannah on the bed and was out in minutes. He did not want to be in the crib, so we let him fall asleep in the bed and then moved him. He has been asleep for about 11 hours now. We don't know how he will do when he wakes, but I suspect he may cry when he realizes we were not just a dream!

7. He is a BUSY little boy! Perhaps it is all the excitement, but I do not think he stopped for 10 seconds since we got back to the hotel. He loves to go on walks and ride the elevator.

So, that sums up our first day with Qi Fu. You may be wondering why I am not referring to him as Emmett yet. The reason is because we have not started calling him that yet. Over the next few days we will make the transition. Until then, he is our little Liu Qi Fu...

Finally We Get to See New Pictures of Emmett

Today we went to Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City. Now, I knew the place would be big, but I was not prepared for how HUGE it was! It seemed like it just went on and on and on...I really loved the Forbidden City- especially the Emperor's Palace. Being a history geek, I loved hearing about all the dynasties and emperors, especially the "baby emperors" who were coached by their mother's from behind a screen. You know what they say, "Behind every great man, is a woman!" But the most amazing fact I learned today was that the emperor was allowed up to 3,000 concubines!!! Imagine if each of them had only 1 child...but chances are, they each had several. The emperor could have several thousand children! Now we know the REAL reason why there is a population issue in China!

This evening our travel group all went out to see the nightly "Snack Street" here in Beijing. The street is lined with vendors selling the most bizarre foods - all skewered on sticks. If you can imagine it, it was being cooked on a stick! Squid, octopus, snakes, scorpions, silk worms and animal genitalia just to name a few. Really fun to see, but quite stinky and in no way edible in my book!

As cool as all of that was, it could not compare with our morning Holt orientation meeting. We learned a lot of important things to prepare us for the rest of our trip and adoption. But, the highlight came at the end when we were all given a scrapbook with updated photos and information on our children.

Things I learned from our update:

1. Emmett is tiny!!! He is still only 23 pounds and just about 21/2 feet tall even though he is 2.9 years old.

2. When it comes to clothes, gender is paid no attention. In one photo, Emmett is wearing a pink ruffled turtleneck!

3. Emmet is apparently quite rambunctious because he is TIED to his crib in the same photo!

4. He likes to play outside and take baths. He and Lilly should have lots of fun together.

5. He was sent back to the hospital for "surgery" in December and just returned to the orphanage in February. We are still trying to figure out what "surgery" means in his case. Our social worker believes it means recasting and braces. We'll see...

6. He loves hugs! Yeah!!!

7. He has the CUTEST smile and sweetest littlest face.

8. It is almost unbearable to wait until tomorrow to finally meet him and make him ours!

So, tomorrow is the big day - Gotcha Day! We leave Beijing at 5:30 am and will meet him around 3:30pm. Right now we have been encouraged to go to sleep early to prepare for our big day tomorrow, but come on, who can sleep?

Climbing The Great Wall

We had one of the coolest days ever! We met up with four other Holt families and went on a tour of the Great Wall and Old Beijing. The wall is everything you can imagine! We climbed up 850 meters to the uppermost part of the Wall in our area. It took about 11/2 hours and was one of the hardest climbs we have ever done. There were times when the grade was so steep, you were practically walking horizontal! And there were more pushy tourists than you can ever imagine! I finally just had to laugh when I was pushed around by two old Chinese ladies that were about 6 inches shorter than me...and that's saying a lot. It was pretty funny. Hannah even had one family request she take a picture with them! She was kind enough to oblige. But, the best part was the view. It was gorgeous! The Chinese terrain is different than anything else we have ever seen...very Mulan-like!

After the Wall, we went to a factory where they make copper and enamel pottery (I can't remember what it is called...I will have to look it up later). I could not believe how intricate the copper work was! We watched a couple of artists create and I can say they are VERY patient people!

Old Beijing was pretty neat, too. We rode in rickshaws to visit a local family and see their house. It was typical of homes in Beijing where 3-5 people live together. It was about 100 square feet (the size of our bedroom) and did not even contain a bathroom. There are public baths on each street that everyone shares. I can not even imagine waking up at 3 am and having to go down the street to use the toilet! It was fun to see how local people live, though. Now I know why our airport escort thought our house was a villa!

Also at the house, the niece was working on glass bottle painting. She actually paints inside of these teeny-tiny bottles. It was gorgeous work. She let me and Hannah try it...I kinda of made a heart and Hannah made a deformed smiley-face. Trust me, it was harder than she made it look!

We had our first chinese meal this afternoon. It was a group meal with our tour. We all sat at this huge round table with a lazy suzan in the middle that was crammed with plates of food...sweet and sour chicken, peanut chicken, vegetables in suace, ham and beef slices, dumplings, and fish (whole with head and eyes still intact). It was delicious. Unfortunately, one couple had already experienced stomach problems, so they barely ate more than rice. Made me wonder if we will be in their shoes sometime soon!

Check out some more pics of our day along the side of the page. We will make slide show links as soon as we are not too tired to spend time figuring it out!

We Made It!!!

Finally...it is 9pm Saturday night China time (9am Saturday morning for you!) and we are settling in for bed after a very long day. The flight over was a tad bit eventful. We were scheduled to leave Dulles at 12:30, but after sitting on the runway for about an hour, the pilot announced that we would all have to leave the plane due to mechanical difficulties (some technical thing about a tracker that is used when you fly over the North Pole not working...don't ask me!) So, we were all told to go to another terminal and wait...after about an hour of waiting, we boarded another plane. After that it was business as usual. We were really luck because the plane was not full, so we could spread out a bit. Trust me, it helped a lot!

Beijing is interesting. It was 4pm when we arrived and the city was covered in a gray fog...um, actually pollution haze, I guess (gross!). And it is HUGE! One block takes about 15 minutes to walk! We didn't venture too far from the hotel tonight because we were all so tired. But we did have a fab dinner at the hotel. You won't believe it, but it was a French buffet! Yes, that's right. We couldn't resist the lure of chocolate mousse and crepes. And besides, we'll have 2 weeks to experience authentic Chinese cuisine.

So, tomorrow we meet our tour guide at 8 am to go to the Great Wall. It is a dream come true. Can't wait to tell you all about it! And on Monday we were told we will get new pictures of Emmett (Qi Fu). Seriously can't wait!!!

Itinerary

For all of you out there who are curious about what we will be doing in China, here is our schedule. Just Remember, we will be doing everything 12 hours before you!

Day 1     Depart for China (15 hour plane ride to look forward to!)

Day 2     Arrive in Beijing (Finally!!!) and go directly to hotel to pass out.

Day 3     Take a tour of the Great Wall (HAnnah's dream come true)

Day 4     Meet other adopting families and have group orientation
Group tour of Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

Day 5     Travel to Nanning
Meet Emmett at the Civil Affairs Office at 3:30pm!!!
Paperwork

Day 6     Adoption registration and notorization
Group dinner

Day 7     Shop

Day 8     Touring

Day 9     Visit Yiling Village

Day 10     Touring

Day 11     Touring

Day 12     Get Emmet's passport
Travel to Guangzhou and stay at the world famous White Swan Hotel!

Day 13     Paperwork check and Visa medical check

Day 14     Visa Appointment

Day 15     Oath Taking Ceremony
Travel to Hong Kong

Day 16     Go Home!!! (Just a mere 19 hour trip!)

And there you have it. This is what we need to do in order to bring Qi Fu home as our very own. By the time we leave China, his adoption is final and he will become a legal US citizen when we enter the US. Seems so easy, doesn't it?

Packing

Dilemma:

How to fit enough clothes for 4 people for 2 weeks into 3 bags 40 pounds or lighter, plus add in a mini-pharmacy, daycare, and toy store.

Solution:

Still working on it.

As our final days come upon me, I find myself struggling with the age old problem of packing. Not only does it require so much work to prepare for it - laundry, shopping, lists, etc. - but it also requires super human strength of will as I decide what I can't possibly go half way around the world without, and what I can sacrifice and leave behind. Throw in all the unknowns of Emmett, and it is a pretty daunting task.

But perhaps my biggest complaint is that while I have been working on packing for DAYS, Eric will come home, throw some things in the bag for himself and be done in about 15 minutes. So, unfair! This is one of those division of labors that I am pretty sure I got the short stick. But, it has to be this way. What women/mother in her right mind would leave such a sacred responsibility to a man? Not this one and not any one I know!

I am sure he would not roll the shirts together tight enough to prevent wrinkles and maximize space. I know he would forget the essentials like make-up and hair straightener. And let's not even imagine the nightmare of opening the suitcases and discovering that there is only 1 toothbrush for 4 people!

So, alas, you see my point. The burden must rest solely on my capable shoulders.

So, off I go back to the packing slave pits, mumbling under my breath and basking in my own self-depricating, OCD glory...

(Note from author: This was meant to be a humorous rant on my own foibles and not a man-hating/girls-are-better-than-boys rampage. Hope you got that.)

10 Days To China - But Who's Counting?

I can hardly believe that we will be leaving for China in 10 days.

In exactly two weeks we will meet Qi Fu (aka Emmett).

I feel so blessed and grateful to be in this position today. It has taken four years of ups and downs, of doubts and faith, of hope and frustration. But we are almost there!

As I make my final lists and decide what I will pack in my 40 pound limited suitcase, I feel ashamed that I ever doubted, that I was ready to give up and throw in the proverbial towel. And all because I was impatient. Things were not progressing on my time schedule and I don't like that.

Thankfully, the Lord had other plans and I could not block out the nagging little feeling I got whenever I was ready to hang my tail in defeat and give up. HE knew little Qi Fu was being born about 2 months after our dossier reached China, that he was being left on the steps of an orphanage on the other side of the world because he was not "perfect," that he would spend 244 days in a hospital enduring casts and therapy and examinations, that he would be sent to a foster home after he recovered, that he would be termed "adoptable" and placed on the list that was given to Holt, and finally that Eric would call me as I sat in a movie theater waiting with friends to watch "Twilight" with news that would reduce me to tears regardless of my very public domain.

I have learned to trust the Lord more fully - for he sees what I do not. I have learned that when an answer is given, there usually is no promise of timetables given with it. I have gained a stronger testimony that the Lord loves me and knows what is best for me.

They were hard lessons to learn, but well worth it.

Only 10 more days...

Lilly Wisdom or "Lillyism" For Short

Here is a bit of Lilly wisdom she shared at a wedding reception on Saturday evening as she was with me in the bathroom while I changed into my dress from my grungy kitchen-help clothes:

Lilly: Where's Whitney's new daddy?

Ira: Her daddy? Oh, you mean her new husdand!

Lilly: Yeah. Where is he?

Ira: I think he's out there with Whitney somewhere. Why?

Lilly: Good. Cuz they need to kiss...kiss for real so that they can have the same germs. Then they will be a REAL family.

(Then...on the way home that same evening)

Lilly: I didn't hear Whitney and her husband kiss.

Ira: Yeah, we saw them. Remember when they first came in and when they cut the cake?

Lilly: Yeah, but I didn't HEAR them kiss.

Ira: What do you mean you didn't HEAR them?

Lilly: You know when you kiss for real and make this sound (Smooching sound from back seat). They have to do that so they can be a REAL family!

Ira: I think they did that...the music was just too loud to hear it.

Lilly: Good, cuz they have to be a REAL family now and kiss like a REAL family!

Always enlightening to hear what goes on in that little brain of hers!

We're going to CHINA!

I stayed away all day so that I wouldn't wait by the computer for the anticipated information. Upon my return, I was rewarded...

There it was in my in-box...a message from Holt confirming our travel dates and consulate appointment! But, the thing that stood out to me like a flashing red light was the "GOTCHA! Day" date (the day you actually pick up your child is fondly referred to as "Gotcha Day").

March 24th...

I will finally meet my son.

I will be the mother of two daughters and 1 son.

I will have a boy of my very own.

How do I feel right now? Pretty surreal. It's kind of like when you are 9 months pregnant and you want that baby to come so bad that it is practically all you can think about. But, then as labor begins you find yourself thinking, "I'm not ready! I can wait a little longer. Please let me wait a little longer!" It's not that you don't want your child, it's just that fear of the unknown has just tightened it's icy jaws around your heart and you realize everything is about to change. Permanently. Forever. And you are scared.

Yep, that pretty much sums it all up.

So, how do I move past it, you ask? Well, I to do my happy dance with Lilly in the kitchen and squeal with Hannah as we jump around the house clutching hands. It's amazing how expending a little pent up energy can clear the mind!

Now, where's my notebook? I've got lists to make, and tickets to buy, and paperwork to do, and clothes to pack, and doctor appointments to make, and...

New Edition

I just found out that my best bud since we were twelve - Yolanda (you all remember how attached we were!) just completed her adoption of a little girl!!! Zoe is 7 days old and was adopted domestically right there in Florida. We are so excited for them! I can't wait to see her in person. (I need to ask if I can post a photo for you all to see.)



My only complaint is that the adoption took a month! Can you believe it? We have been waiting 4 years and they make it happen in a month. Some people have all the luck :)



(Actually they have been working on the whole adoption thing for several years, but this adoption took only a month...so I guess it's all fair:))



Congratulations Yolanda, Dele, and Max!!! We love you guys.

Almost There!

Today we received our official invitation to travel to China with the purpose to adopt! WaHoo!!! We are so excited. Now we are just waiting for our US consulate appointment to make all the arrangements - we have been told it should be just a few more days (Hmmm...where have we heard that before?).

It has been so hard to wait. But, here are a few tips to help with waiting if you should ever find yourself in similar circumstances:

1. Start a blog...write a whole bunch the first week, then run out of things to say because nothing has happened because YOU ARE STILL WAITING.

2. Go to Chinese New Year and hook up with some fab people who can give you lots of advice and help as you are pretty sure you are clueless and desperate.

3. Read other adoption blogs and cry like a baby because you want it to be you.

4. Shop for clothes that you are hoping will fit your child, but aren't sure because the only sizes you have are from 10 months earlier when he was 21 months old and the size of an American 1yr old...but what the heck!

5. Read Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth" and fervently count your blessings that you live when and where you do. Then compare yourself to O-lan and realize she is so "DA WOMAN!"

6. Join Facebook so that everyone you know or ever knew can be excited for you and send you sweet encouragements that uplift you and keep you going.

7. Visit your doctor and get antibiotics and scabies ointment. Then head to Walmart and purchase as many bottles of lice shampoo you can find because you and your teenage daughter are so paranoid that you are already itching!

8. Make lists...clothing, medications, toys, snacks, tech toys, etc. (If you think of anything else we may need, let me know and I'll put it on my list.)

9. Try to learn Chinese but realize you are utterly hopeless and pray that you can at least learn how to say the important stuff: I love you, Are you hungry?, Do you have to go potty?, I know we are totally weird to you but we are your new family and we have been waiting AGES to get you and you will just love us and your new home and your new life if you will just give us a chance.... Hmmm...The last phrase may be a bit too complicated for our limited repertoire...

10. Read everything you can about separation anxiety and adjustment issues, then give up because you realize every child is different and you will just have to roll with whatever comes your way. And you are really starting to freak yourself out!

Well, I hope this list helps all of you out there waiting...and waiting...and waiting...Luckily, our wait is almost over!

Waiting to Become a Big Sister

So, Lilly is very interested in the whole adoption thing...actually, you could say obsessed! It is very cute. She requests the same book every night at bedtime (for weeks!): "The White Swan Express". This book is about 4 different families traveling to China to pick up their new baby girls. She is seriously disappointed that there are no Chinese adoption books about getting little brothers, though. She doesn't understand why other people don't have Chinese brothers!

She loves to sit on my lap while I read blogs about China...trust me, this opened up a whole can of worms about cleft lips and special needs and why Emmett's foot is "hurt!" She met a little girl with a cleft lip the other day and she was so excited because she knew all about them! She kept whispering in my ear all the facts she has stored in her super scary smart brain. I was pretty impressed.

But the funniest thing is that she keeps playing "adopting from China" with her friends. One day as I was cleaning a closet in the basement, I heard her and her friend Hailey Whittier playing this. Lilly led them through the whole process of getting a baby brother: the paperwork, the physicals from the doctor, taking pictures, and - my personal favorite - getting shots. I watched as Lilly led Hailey into the play tent to give her the shots she would need. Then I heard the whole conversation:

Lilly: Ok, Hailey, we have to give you a shot.

Hailey: Ow, ow, ow! (author's note: I am not sure what instrument was used in the process, but I suspect it was a princess figurine hi-jacked from the toy castle. Trust me, she has a pointy hat that could do some serious damage!)

Lilly: (Soothingly) Shots hurt, don't they?

Hailey: They hurt real bad, Lilly. I don't think we can play this anymore. It really hurts!

And that was all there was to it. I, of course, was laughing hysterically - actually, I'm doing it again just thinking about it! I love that little girl!

One Step Closer To China!

Our China Visas have arrived!!! We have everything except our travel approval and dates. Basically, this means that we are waiting for the Chinese government to assign us a time when we are allowed to come and for the US government to assign us a consolate appointment time. We were told we would get this info in about 2-5 weeks from getting our Acceptance Letter. It will be three weeks tomorrow! Almost there...

Emmett's Bedroom

Right after we received our match and found out we were getting a totally adorable little boy, I FREAKED OUT!!! I mean, what do I know about BOYS? I have 2 sweet (and sometimes not so sweet) "little" girls. And we had been expecting another little girl for 4 years. I had it all planned out...Lilly and Sophie (that was the name we picked out) would share a room. I bought not 1, but 2 matching quilts fom Pottery Barn Kids, put Lilly in the largest room with a double closet, made sure all of her clothes were kept in pristine condition so that they could become "hand-me-downs" (it also gave me an excuse to buy lots of clothes since 2 girls would be wearing them). We had the pink, flowery bath, the cutest, girly playroom...it was perfect. Sophie could move into the Sharp household with hardly a ripple in our sea of tranquility... And then here comes Emmett making a huge splash all over my plans!

Don't get me wrong I was really excited - a bit shell-shocked- but, happy. As you all can imagine (at least everyone who is aware of my OCD tendencies) I layed awake at night rethinking all my plans. I finally had a solution...I would change everything!

I spent the next two weeks running around like a crazy person and making my family crazy in the process. But I was successful! I switched Lilly and Hannah's rooms (afterall Hannah is the oldest and by right deserves the biggest room with the biggest closet), dismantled my office/guest room, set up my office in the basement, neutralized the bath, painted all three bedrooms and bath, redesigned Hannah's room (she went from a twin to a queen bed), and decorated Emmett's room in the cutest Robot theme you ever did see! WHEW!

And look how cute it turned out! Now, about the playroom...

Our First FCC Activity

Last night we went to our first official FCC (Families with Children from China) dinner. It was a casual dinner for families waiting for their matches. We were a bit nervous about dragging Lilly to a restaurant with people we have never met and hoped she would be on her best behavior ( for the last week she has been throwing these really LOUD, drawn out fits!!!). But she did great and even had another little girl to play with ..whew!

We were a bit ahead of most people there in the waiting game, but it was still fun to exchange stories and feel their support. As one person said last night, it's hard for people to understand what it feels like to be waiting for what seems like forever unless they are going through it too! Right on!

There was one family who already had 2 little girls from China (4yr old and 2 yr old). They adopted both through Holt, too! We loved talking to them about their trips (they just returned about 6 months ago with their youngest) and the settling in phase. This is what we learned:

1. The flight to China is fun and exciting. The flight home is a nightmare to be dreaded!

2. The first 24 hours with your new child can be utter H-E- Double Hockey Sticks...but hang in there it will get better in a twinkling of an eye and suddenly your child accepts and loves you. How cool is that?

3. The kids will adjust to time changes easily - we (yawn), on the other hand (yawn), will suffer for weeks:) YAHOO!...(YAWN!)

4. Learn to haggle and you'll get great deals. Neither Eric nor I are very good at this. Luckily we have a friend who is an expert and can give us some tips...Never give up, never surrender!!!

5. Pack your suitcase light (no more than 40 lbs), but stuff your back pack until it is almost heavy enough to force you to fall over on your back with your feet kicking in the air like a flipped over turtle.

6. The food is great, but you can pretty much count on getting sick sometime during the trip. Yum, yum!. We have our anti-biotics already filled and waiting!

There was lots of other useful information and tips, but this is all that is coming to me at the moment. The point is we learned a lot. Our next activity is the Chinese New Year Celebration on the 30th...Can't wait!

Next Steps

On Wednesday January 14th we received our official Acceptance Letter from China. This basically means that China has reviewed our Letter of Intent (LOI) for Emmett and accepted our petition to adopt him. (We had to write the LOI within 24 hours of receiving our Match (Nov. 21) and officially declare that we wanted to adopt Emmett. ) After six weeks of waiting, we received the Acceptance letter from China. It was pretty cool...the letter was written in Chineese and was green and red with an official seal (we made a color copy for Emmett!) We had to sign and overnight it back. Now it's back to the waiting game...

After the acceptance letter, we were told we could apply for our Visas. We received a notice that we will be getting them on Monday, Jan. 26th. All we need now is our official travel dates. Than it's off to China!

Our Red Thread

We have decided to set up this blog to keep all of our friends and family up to date about our impending adoption and trip to China. We love all of you and are so thankful for all the support and encouragement we have received over the past four years. We are so excited that the journey to find our little guy is almost over!

Our Red Thread

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet,

Regardless of time, place, or circumstance.

The thread may stretch or tangle

But it will never break.

(Ancient Chinese Belief)

There is a tradition in China that loved ones and friends are connected together by an invisible red thread. In every significant relationship this red thread binds individuals together across distances, countries, ages, ethnicities, etc. to form a unit. You can see evidence of the red thread in shared dates, beliefs, names, coincidences, experiences, etc. Here is the story of our red thread:

As many of you know, we have been in the process of adopting a little girl from China for almost 4 years. As our paper work drew closer to yet another expiration date, we decided to withdraw our application and quit the whole process. When our social worker contacted us about setting up an appointment for our home study update, we told her we did not need it because we were pulling out.

And then our quarterly newsletter from Holt (the agency that handles the international adoption with China) arrived. I was in the process of throwing it away – without reading it - when a headline caught my eye. It said something along the lines of “we thought we would get a girl but ended up with the boy of our dreams.” This surprised me and I wondered how someone got a little boy from China since I had been under the impression that the only boys available were those with severe special needs. Skimming the article, I saw a new program referred to: China’s Child of Promise. I told Eric about it that night and we decided we should check it out so that we could honestly say that we tried everything before we decided to cancel our application.

The next day I called Holt and learned that the Child of Promise Program was a new program developed by China and that only a handful of agencies were invited to participate. Holt was one of the few. The program was for the placement of children with what are termed very minor or easily correctible special needs. Our Holt social worker went on to explain that there were a lot of boys in the program because China has a very specific ideal of what they considered a “normal, healthy child.” For example, things we would not think twice about like birth marks and herniated umbilical cords are considered special needs. He also told us that if we were open to a boy that our wait time would be cut significantly because only about 6% of people were open to receiving a boy. He told us we could conceivably receive a match within 3-4 months.

We were astonished! We had never considered a boy. We prayed about it and decided to go forward with the new program and told Holt we were willing to take a boy or a girl. We spent the next two weeks frantically redoing everything before they expired: home study, physicals, paperwork, fingerprints, etc. We also needed to switch our paperwork to accommodate a special needs child. We finally finished everything and e-mailed the paperwork to Holt on Monday, November 17th. They e-mailed back and told us we needed one more paper and some updated photos. Eric was out of town, so when he returned on Thursday we completed the required items. They were e-mailed to Holt around 8:30 am on November 21st (Eric’s birthday). That evening, around 4:30 pm, we were contacted by Holt with a match!

We could not believe it! We never imagined receiving a match in 8 hours after our paperwork was completed. We had never heard of such a thing! We were matched with a little boy who is 2 years 5 months old. He was abandoned on an orphanage steps when he was (estimated) 3 weeks old. His (estimated) birthday is June 17, 2006. We found out that birthday is shared with 3 of our good friends! His “special need” is a club foot. However, it is so minor that it does not require surgery. He wears orthopedics and goes to therapy. We will have him reassessed once he comes home and we will continue whatever treatments are necessary.

We have decided to name him Emmett Eric Sharp. Hannah and Lilly are so excited. We learned that even before we turned our paperwork in that Lilly was telling her primary and preschool teachers about her baby brother from China! They say children know before we do because they are closer to the veil and I am beginning to think it is true. We have been spending the past few weeks preparing our home for a little boy: switching bedrooms, neutralizing our current pink flowery bathroom, etc. We are waiting now for updated measurements so that we can begin to purchase clothing for him. We anticipate traveling to China sometime in February/March to pick him up.

We have been humbled and amazed to see the hand of the Lord throughout this process. We thought we knew what we wanted, but the Lord knew better. We thought we knew when, but the Lord knew better. Looking back we see that He was in control from the beginning and we were being taught and prepared for His way. How grateful we are for His wisdom and love that blesses us every day! Though we talk about red threads that bind us, we know it is the Lord who binds us together as friends and family – all part of His children and His great plan.