We go to sleep tonight and wake up and go to the airport!!! Can I hear an AMEN!!!
Today was a good day. We only had to pick up the visa, passport and immigration papers. So we went to the Pearl Market and made a couple purchases! Then went to Shamian Island to buy other chinese stuff from small shop vendors. It was fun. We came back to The Garden Hotel and ordered room service. We had hamburgers....we've had enough chinese food for a bit. Then we headed back to the pool for one last swim. Can't keep our new little fish above the water. She is just so brave about so many things.
Please pray for safe travels and that both JD and Bella June have a good trip back on the 15 hour leg of our trip.
Love and miss everyone!!!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Wow, yesterday we went to the safari park. What a fun place. JD and Bella June fed the giraffes branches with leaves on them. Bella June was feeding a really big one and when it grabbed the branch it lifted her off the ground an inch or two! Everyone gasped for a second. She was not letting go. She is so brave.
Oh yea...our Mexican food dinner was great. Almost like home, but not quite. 10 other adoptive families joined us. I had my first glass of tea with ice in it and I lived to tell about it. I guess my gut is stronger than others.
Today we took our oath and had the last of our adoption appts. Tomorrow our guide brings us Bella June's visa and immigration paperwork at 4:30pm. We get up early the next morning and come home!!! We cannot wait to be back in Texas. I can't wait to sink my teeth into some BBQ!!!
We went to the pool this afternoon. Bella June started jumping off the side to me alittle. I missed her a couple times and she went all the way under. She never cried about it so I let her jump to me and go under on purpose. She came up laughing wanting to do it more and more. Todd and I wore out before she did swimming back and forth between us. She is SUPER energetic. Once I get her arm and leg checked out from her surgeries, she is going to have to take swimming classes, soccer, gymnastices, TKD, whatever I can put her in to wear her out before she wears me out!!!
Pics below are JD and I at the market on Shamien Island, some pics from our Safari Park trip and JD and Bella June doing lots of huggin!!!
P.S. Bella June took all the Panda pics!!!
Oh yea...our Mexican food dinner was great. Almost like home, but not quite. 10 other adoptive families joined us. I had my first glass of tea with ice in it and I lived to tell about it. I guess my gut is stronger than others.
Today we took our oath and had the last of our adoption appts. Tomorrow our guide brings us Bella June's visa and immigration paperwork at 4:30pm. We get up early the next morning and come home!!! We cannot wait to be back in Texas. I can't wait to sink my teeth into some BBQ!!!
We went to the pool this afternoon. Bella June started jumping off the side to me alittle. I missed her a couple times and she went all the way under. She never cried about it so I let her jump to me and go under on purpose. She came up laughing wanting to do it more and more. Todd and I wore out before she did swimming back and forth between us. She is SUPER energetic. Once I get her arm and leg checked out from her surgeries, she is going to have to take swimming classes, soccer, gymnastices, TKD, whatever I can put her in to wear her out before she wears me out!!!
Pics below are JD and I at the market on Shamien Island, some pics from our Safari Park trip and JD and Bella June doing lots of huggin!!!
P.S. Bella June took all the Panda pics!!!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Catching Up on our Roller Coaster ride
Ok, lets back up a little. We left Nanning on Fri evening. Our plane to Guangzhou was 2 hours delayed. We got to our hotel about midnight. There were no regular rooms left so The Garden upgraded us to the Executive Level. We haven't had time to experience anything Executive yet! I will say that every hotel we have been at has been extraordinary. But The Garden is so incredibly beautiful.
Although we arrived late, we still had to get up early Saturday morning to go to Bella Junes medical appt. She didn't even flinch when she got her TB shot/stick. During her exam, they asked her about the scar on her leg. She told the doc that her mother beat her and she had to go to the hospital. OMG, my eyes swelled up with tears. I knew her file said something about an operation. The guide confirmed that the file was correct. Who knows where in the world she got that other story.
After that we had fast food Chinese...fried rice, cabbage and dumpling...YUMMY!!!! We then went to the pool. Bella June got a float. She loved it and so did BaBa. She goes crazy in the pool having fun.
Guess what we had for dinner...not so fast Chinese food....honey pork ribs, shrimp and mixed vegetables with Jasmine tea. YUMMY again. Bella June ate really good and alot. When we got back to the room she wanted Pringles, we said NO and we saw our first tantrum. It lasted a good 45 minutes, but we chose not to give in. Not sure if it was a mistake or not, but I am sure we will make plenty along the way.
Today was a shopping day. Ok...was supposed to be a shopping day. Bella June wants everything she sees. (Typical child) And when she doesn't get it she goes into non stop whining. We decided Todd would go back to the hotel with her and I would continue the shopping event. Did y'all her me say YEE HAW! Shopping was fun. I got Bella June Chinese birthday gifts for the next 8 years. JD went with me and got to see live scorpions and dried deer penis. I think both are for soup, but I'm not sure.
Guess what we are having for dinner...wrong....Mexican!!! I'll let you know tomorrow how that goes. We are meeting some other adoptive parents for dinner tonite.
There is so much more to tell, but so little time. So I'll just shower y'all with pics. I know thats what you're waiting for anyway!!!
Although we arrived late, we still had to get up early Saturday morning to go to Bella Junes medical appt. She didn't even flinch when she got her TB shot/stick. During her exam, they asked her about the scar on her leg. She told the doc that her mother beat her and she had to go to the hospital. OMG, my eyes swelled up with tears. I knew her file said something about an operation. The guide confirmed that the file was correct. Who knows where in the world she got that other story.
After that we had fast food Chinese...fried rice, cabbage and dumpling...YUMMY!!!! We then went to the pool. Bella June got a float. She loved it and so did BaBa. She goes crazy in the pool having fun.
Guess what we had for dinner...not so fast Chinese food....honey pork ribs, shrimp and mixed vegetables with Jasmine tea. YUMMY again. Bella June ate really good and alot. When we got back to the room she wanted Pringles, we said NO and we saw our first tantrum. It lasted a good 45 minutes, but we chose not to give in. Not sure if it was a mistake or not, but I am sure we will make plenty along the way.
Today was a shopping day. Ok...was supposed to be a shopping day. Bella June wants everything she sees. (Typical child) And when she doesn't get it she goes into non stop whining. We decided Todd would go back to the hotel with her and I would continue the shopping event. Did y'all her me say YEE HAW! Shopping was fun. I got Bella June Chinese birthday gifts for the next 8 years. JD went with me and got to see live scorpions and dried deer penis. I think both are for soup, but I'm not sure.
Guess what we are having for dinner...wrong....Mexican!!! I'll let you know tomorrow how that goes. We are meeting some other adoptive parents for dinner tonite.
There is so much more to tell, but so little time. So I'll just shower y'all with pics. I know thats what you're waiting for anyway!!!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Loving my family
Sorry for the delay in posting. We are having blogging issues. No pics on blog today either.
It's been daisy picking time for the last couple of days...that means...she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not... Although it's normal, my sweet girl has started missing her foster mom and resenting me for trying to take her place. She can't get enought of Daddy though!!!! I understand completely, but it's still hard. besides that, she has done amazingly well.
Did I tell y'all how smart she is!!! She wrote to 18 in english. I would brag more but we have to go do some site seeing. We will work on blog issues and try to send pics.
I want to thank everyone again for helping make this possible. We are soooooo grateful!!!!
It's been daisy picking time for the last couple of days...that means...she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not... Although it's normal, my sweet girl has started missing her foster mom and resenting me for trying to take her place. She can't get enought of Daddy though!!!! I understand completely, but it's still hard. besides that, she has done amazingly well.
Did I tell y'all how smart she is!!! She wrote to 18 in english. I would brag more but we have to go do some site seeing. We will work on blog issues and try to send pics.
I want to thank everyone again for helping make this possible. We are soooooo grateful!!!!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Brave, happy, independent, beautiful, smart, OURS!
Our family will never be the same! I can’t count the number of times Bella June has told me ‘thank you Mamma’. She showers me with hugs and kisses constantly. She told our guide David, that she got a beautiful new dress and she loved it. She is simply amazing!
On our first morning together she woke up crying. It broke my heart. She only cried for about a minute, then another minute of sniffles and the rest of the day was back to that beautiful smile of hers. When we go to breakfast I ask her what she wants, she points to everything!! She is a good eater!
Yesterday it was official. We swore to never abuse or abandon “twice”, signed a bunch of papers and that’s it here in Nanning. We still have to wait to get her passport on Friday, then it’s on to Guangzhou for medical test and the oath.
Today was a free day. We went to a children’s amusement park and spent a couple hours. Bella June rode a few things, but she wasn’t super excited about it. Yesterday and today we went to the hotel pool. She loved it!!! She did her best to swim, but sank straight to the bottom. She doesn’t have an ounce of fat on her to help her float. After just a couple days, I can already tell she will be a swimming fish and she will need to take gymnastics to work off some of that energy of hers!!!
JD bought Bella June a DSi before we left and boy has it come in handy! The girl has taken about 200 pictures with it. She turned JD into Mario and Baba into a daisy!
I may seriously have to rethink the Kindergarten thing. This girl is as smart as can be! I know, y’all think I’m just being a mom, but she is so smart. The only thing that may hold her back from 1st grade would be her language. We will just have to see…
Ok, I’ll quit bragging and just let y’all enjoy some pics.
Oh, before I let you go….our guide, David, challenged me to eat something very cultural (and I mean cultural!!!) So I did it! I ate CHICKEN FEET!!!
AND NOW FOR THE CHICKEN FEET!
On our first morning together she woke up crying. It broke my heart. She only cried for about a minute, then another minute of sniffles and the rest of the day was back to that beautiful smile of hers. When we go to breakfast I ask her what she wants, she points to everything!! She is a good eater!
Yesterday it was official. We swore to never abuse or abandon “twice”, signed a bunch of papers and that’s it here in Nanning. We still have to wait to get her passport on Friday, then it’s on to Guangzhou for medical test and the oath.
Today was a free day. We went to a children’s amusement park and spent a couple hours. Bella June rode a few things, but she wasn’t super excited about it. Yesterday and today we went to the hotel pool. She loved it!!! She did her best to swim, but sank straight to the bottom. She doesn’t have an ounce of fat on her to help her float. After just a couple days, I can already tell she will be a swimming fish and she will need to take gymnastics to work off some of that energy of hers!!!
JD bought Bella June a DSi before we left and boy has it come in handy! The girl has taken about 200 pictures with it. She turned JD into Mario and Baba into a daisy!
I may seriously have to rethink the Kindergarten thing. This girl is as smart as can be! I know, y’all think I’m just being a mom, but she is so smart. The only thing that may hold her back from 1st grade would be her language. We will just have to see…
Ok, I’ll quit bragging and just let y’all enjoy some pics.
Oh, before I let you go….our guide, David, challenged me to eat something very cultural (and I mean cultural!!!) So I did it! I ate CHICKEN FEET!!!
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| Nanning Civil Affairs office |
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| Waiting for our appointment |
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| Both families with Orphanage nanny, teacher & Director |
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| Our new family with the Orphanage nanny, teacher & Director |
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| Ge-Ge and Mei-Mei (brother & sister) |
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| At the amusement park |
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| On the merry-go-round |
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| 80yr old woman tried to teach JD how to use a Kung Fu sword |
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| Bella June's first Happy Meal |
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| Ba Ba and Bella June swimming |
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| More swimming |
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| Chicken feet |
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| It doesn't taste like chicken |
Monday, August 27, 2012
Family of FOUR
Dear Everyone,
I’m writing with the biggest smile on my face. You won’t believe how blessed we are. Bella June ran into my arms today hollering Mama, Mama!!! She had a great big smile on her face and hasn’t stopped smiling and giggling yet. It was an absolutely perfect Gotcha Day!!!
When we met Bella June it was wonderful. She called us all by name and even brought JD some Chinese pj’s. We walked into our hotel room and she gasped an excited sound and then did the same thing when we opened her suitcase. I gave her a choice of dresses and yes…she is definitely my daughter….she picked the zebra stripped!!!! Of course I had to paint her toe nails next. It was time for dinner, so I popped her new pink cowboy hat on and off we went!! Look out Texas here we come!!!
JD couldn’t wait to put his pj’s on and when Bella June saw him she ran and put her Chinese pj’s on as well. I’ll just let you enjoy the pics… 
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