Lillie At Home

We are all home now and doing well!

Almost Home

Our connection is slow today so we aren't posting any pictures. We had a fun day yesterday and went to a temple for the baby blessing. We also went to an art museum and played in the courtyard. I was too tired for lunch so I took a nap with Dad. Mom went out with some of her friends and had apple pie. After my big nap, we had birthday cake in our room. We took Mom out for dinner on the river with some of our friends. I sat in my high chair like a big girl. My favorite toy today was a water bottle or actually two water bottles is even better. I also took Mom to the play room today but it is a little overwhelming to me.

We slept in today and ate breakfast late. We have to go to the US Consulate office for Mom and Dad to take an oath this afternoon. After that, we are having our pictures taken on the red couch. I am going to wear my new dress with all of my friends.

We are leaving our hotel at 5;30 in the morning so I get to wear my pajamas to the airport. I am coming home soon! Mom is a little homesick so she is pretty excited to go home too. Dad is just getting used to China so he might stay a few extra days-just kidding.

Taking It Easy

Dad went on the shopping tour this morning with us after breakfast. None of us knew that it was all shopping for jewelry. Our first stop was at the jade market where we found Mom a birthday present. Dad and I were a little bored and watched the fish in front of the store most of the time. Our next stop was a six floor shopping mall and it was all pearls and beads. We only had time to go to one of the stores. Mom took a picture of the lady that helped us. You can see all the pearls behind her in different aisles.

We had lunch again at Lucy's. I prefer the chicken congee now. It fills me right up and then Dad carries me back to our room for a nap. I couldn't make it home today since my belly was so full.

Dad met one of the shop owners today who wrote my name in Chinese for me. Dad has a hard time letting me take a nap since he prefers to play all the time.

Things here are pretty quiet tonight. The weather is just perfect and I am watching the race in Macau with Dad. Dad is letting me stay up late to watch it. Mom had to go do some more paperwork for me. See you tomorrow!

With Love from China

We have all arrived safely and are staying at the White Swan now. Here are some pictures from yesterday and today. We have been a little busy so are a little behind on our blog.

We never did make it to the People's Park in Nanning. Everyone else had to check out early so Mom babysat the luggage while I took a nap. Dad went to the park with my friends and took pictures for me.

These are some of my friends at the park with Dad. Kaia is going to live in Indiana and Lydia is moving to Kentucky.

Here are some fun pictures from the airport. I said, "Da" today and Mom asked our guide, Catherine, if it meant something in Chinese. She told Mom it was just baby talk to make her feel better. Dad thinks it was the first attempt at Dad.

Mom and I were very hot and tired at the airport. My favorite thing to play with today is Cheerios. I get to take them all out of the bag and give them to Mom. I put them all back in one at a time so it helps us pass the time. She must really like me because she lets me hold the bag.

Today, we had to get up early to get my picture taken for my Visa and go to see the Doctor. Mom has pants on me that are too big so some of the pictures look a little funny.

I am very brave and walked to the Doctor's office.

I am starting to have second thoughts...

I just knew this was a bad idea. This is all of my friends lined up to see the Doctor. We thought this was the line but there were three lines. You had to go to one to check your ears and another to see the Doctor. At the last one, we got weighed and measured. My measurements are a little off since I took my toys on the scale.

By the last line, Mom was getting desparate and let me play with a tambourine. It was likely covered in germs but she said today was a special exception. Dad is a little crazy about germs and makes us wash our hands all of the time.

On our way home, we found a new park. We saw more older people than kids at the park. When we walk around, there are new families everywhere. You just can't believe all the kids who get to go home soon!

Our hotel is right on the river so when I get upset, I get to look at the boats.

I am getting a little more brave and walking on my own. After I took Mom out to lunch at Lucy's, I took Dad for a walk. He is learning to walk slower and be very careful.

After my nap, we had a big breakthrough. I have been smiling for Dad and giving him kisses. I won't smile for Mom though and Dad thinks she might be sad. I finally gave in and this is a picture of me laughing and trying to hide from Mom. She keeps trying to tickle me. I show all of my teeth when I smile but I am a little camera shy.

We went to see the pool to celebrate! For dinner, Dad took us out for rice and I decided my toy of the day today is the Who Loves Baby book.

Here is one to get you to come back tomorrow. Mom and I are going on a shopping tour at the market in the morning. Dad thinks he is going to go but he might change his mind and stay behind in the toy room. My Going Home Barbie was waiting in my room for me today.

A note from Lillie

Dad posts pictures for Mom when I go to sleep. Mom usually falls asleep first and I just look at her red hair. After the museum today, we had some lunch and went shopping for shoes. Dad told me that I will have a lot of shoes living with Mom. I wear size 18 months already and size 5 shoes.
I have been teaching Dad how to buy things for me. You can see a Happiness Ball above my head in the next picture. It is made of rolled silk and is one of the things that my province is known for making really well. We didn't make it to the park again today since I like to take long naps. Dad said we have to go tomorrow since we are leaving at night to go stay at the White Swan in Guangzhou.

We went for a traditional Chinese dinner tonight. I have been loving Dad all day so Mom put me in a carrier and made me ride to dinner with her. We had to cross the street and it was the scariest thing that I ever saw in my life. Our guide tried to help us but it is hard to get 10 parents and 5 babies across 4 lanes of traffic and scooters everywhere with no traffic lights. Our taxi almost hit one of the scooters earlier today. Mom wanted to go back when she was half way across the street but when you start, you can't turn back. A car slowed down for us and another car squealed his brakes when it almost hit the other one. Everyone thought it would make a very good reality tv show. Mom drank a lot of Coca Cola for dinner. I am loving the pork congee and started to feed myself Cheerios. I have a full set of teeth but I don't really like to chew a lot. Mom bought me corn paste for lunch and there is no way that I am going to eat that stuff. On our way home tonight, one of the scooters got hit by a car and the police came to help.

My favorite toys are the stacking cups and the hard Care Bears. I prefer the Sunshine Bear over all the others and carry it with me everywhere. Dad is trying to learn all of their names and just makes up names when he can't remember. Today, we played this little piggy went to the market and dad took the other pigs to the store, church, and school. I still won't smile but I like to go places just like Mom. When we get home, we take off our shoes and socks and have drinks. I am taking my formula now in the morning and before bed. We are going to get my Visa tomorrow, go to the park, and pack our suitcases for our flight tonight.

Lillie at the Art Museum

Lesson Learned and Daddy's Girl

We were waiting in the hall last night waiting for the pizza with Lillie and some of her friends. She was practicing her walking a little and went to see another dad. It was okay at first but then we experienced the big meltdown. She must have realized that none of us look like her nanny and was confused by another dad. I have been reading a lot of books about attachment but I think we both learned to stick by the rules. Lillie has a special doctor at the International Adoption Clinic. She wrote us some advice so we thought we should share it with all of you so you can be prepared.

"We always recommend that parents be the “go to” people for at least four months, ideally six. By that I mean, the folks who get up with her in the middle of the night (of course), put her to bed, there when she wakes up in the morning, give her baths, feed her, change her diaper, comfort her. As much as possible we recommend that she not be held by anyone but her parents and maybe one or at most two other people. If you can choose one or two people who you can call on for back up as needed and try not to expand beyond that number of caregivers for about four months, it would be ideal. Lilile is at a good age to bond and you have a good three/four months to be with her before returning to work, that’s wonderful. She should do well. Let folks visit, not too many at a time, help with chores, but warn them ahead of time that it’s not a good idea for them to hold her now and to stay away if they are sick."

We plan to follow the rules from now on. My friend, Kelly, pointed out that Lillie will be around for a long time so everyone will get their turn later. She cried herself to sleep last night and missed the pizza party. She also learned that her dad is a very soft touch. Below is a picture of the first bottle with Dad.

Lillie is a Daddy's girl on Day 3. She also prefers to be carried by her Dad. She likes to be as high as possible to see everything. After our tour today, we picked up some more tylenol at the pharmacy and went to the grocery. She is taking three hour naps so we see a few sights in the morning and take it easy in the afternoon. She ate pork congee for dinner and is feeling better with a lower temp after her first real diaper. She also had her first phone call from home today. Ma Ma Becki called before breakfast but Lillie would only cry a little.

This is one more picture from our visit to the Green Mountain. We are going to a museum tomorrow and will try to go to the People's Park after naptime.

Day 3 with Lillie

Wednesday morning, we made a visit to the top of "Green" Mountain which is located just south of Nanning. Below is a picture from the top of a tower looking northwest at the new part of the city which has been constructed in only the past 6 years.

It is very beautiful here.

Gotch Day and Adoption Day as told by Lillie

Gotcha Day was a little long for me. I rode on a bus for five hours to meet Mom and Dad. The staff told them that the babies were in the elevator and they still had to wait. Mom and Dad went second to pick me up. I went right to Mom and then was relieved to see Dad too. I can walk but I clutch on to both of their shirts so they will carry me. The orphanage director was telling Mom a lot of stuff in Chinese and she looked very confused. Our guide explained that I have a fever and don't feel very good. I have to take medicine and a lot of fluids. After we got back to our hotel, we took a nap and Dad went to KFC with some other dads to bring home mashed potatoes for us. I couldn't wait any longer so I went to sleep and wouldn't take my bottle for mom.

I was feeling better on Adoption Day and Dad learned how to give me a bath. I ate scrambled eggs for breakfast but still won't take a bottle. We had to hurry to get ready and catch the bus at 8:30. It was a little early for my taste. I slept through the night except when Mom and Dad woke me up to give me more medicine. I try to fight it so it is a two person operation. I look a little scared in this picture since I am not sure if Dad knows how to do this or not.

After the bus ride, Mom and Dad had to go to an interview. I was handling everything pretty well until I saw my nanny in the hall way. I tried to go see her but she had to go down the hall and I cried big tear drops. Dad was afraid Mom would start crying and be crying for the interview but it all worked out fine. Mom and Dad passed the interview and we had the Adoption Ceremony. You can see pictures of me below and all my friends who are coming home too!

This is a picture of the guide that is helping Mom and Dad. She takes them everywhere and translates for them. She also arranged for their laundry and a pizza party tonight!

We had to go for another ride on the bus to see the notary and have another interview. When Dad got done, we hung out in the court yard. I still won't drink anything and Mom and Dad are getting worried.

We made one final stop on the bus to eat lunch. Mom and Dad took me to McDonald's to celebrate. I like the french fries a lot just like Mom. My friend, Mattea, delivered the toy in my hand on the day before Mom and Dad flew to China. I have been gripping it since I woke up at 7 a.m. and I won't put it down. I have also been wearing her sweater and the pink shoes that Mom bought for me. We had time to visit Wal-mart and buy a bowl and spoon to make oatmeal and rice cereal tomorrow.

Mom was excited to find out today that the package she sent me in China reached me. My orphanage director gave me a present and gave Mom the two disposable cameras with pictures of me and my friends. Dad thinks I like them a little better since Mom made the Who Loves Baby book and sent it to me ahead of time. I finally gave in and drank all of my apple juice before my nap when we got back to our room. I am a pretty big girl and can hold my own bottle. I also showed Mom and Dad that I could walk when Mom put me down this morning and I ran across the hotel room so Dad could pick me up instead. I am going to keep them very busy. I will write back tomorrow after our city tour.

In Our Arms

She is finally here! We don't have many great pictures yet but here are few. Cindy said I could not post the last one of her and Lillie falling asleep at 10:30, but I thought it was just too cute not to. Besides, she is already alseep! I'll let her fill in the details later on tomorrow.