Sweetie pie

Johanna is adjusting nicely. We are working on her sleep schedule. Our goal is to get her to sleep until after 6 am. Although David & I are wide awake around 4am anyway. It might have something to do with the extended naps we are taking.

First Days at home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost done

Today was our oath ceremony at the US Consulate.  No cameras or video were allowed inside the office so we took this photo in the lobby.  

 We aren't at Disney World but we found Mickey and Minnie Mouse anyway. This is the restaurant where we eat each morning.  I"m going to miss coffee and fresh fruit every morning.

After the Consulate we drove over to the Pet Market.  There were lots of cats, dogs, rabbits, turtles, birds, etc.  I was concerned about their living conditions but they were pretty well taken care of.

 Look, we found Webster!  (top right) if only he would be quiet in our carry on.

 Trent has been wanting a Red Bull since we first saw them in Beijing.  We finally had some time this afternoon to try one.  Actually two.  Kaylee got one but didn't like it so she let Trent have hers as well.

We leave here tomorrow to make the long trek home but we are so excited to get home.  We miss Zane, Ty and Mia so much!  Won't be long now

 Today was a really fun day out.  We went to a Wildlife Park/ Safari. The first part was a tram ride around a large area full of different animals that took about an hour.  These photos were taken with a point and shoot camera, so you can envision how close we actually were to the animals.  We visited this same park back in 2008. It was just as nice this time as then.  It was also just as HOT!  Did I say it was HOT? and the humidity was about 98%.  It is actually more humid here than in Houston if that is possible.

But totally worth it.

 After the earthquake in Chengdu  a few years ago they moved many of the Pandas to this area.  There were at least 12 pandas on exhibit.  Their habitats are very nicely done and they pandas were very active.

Here's Johanna playing with a bamboo shoot just like the Pandas.  Although she was more like a Marsupial today by riding in the Baby Bjorn.

This is sight I've never seen before.  Monkeys swimming in a pond.  They were having the best time.  Kaylee and Trent really wanted to join them.  

We met up with a family from Indiana that was adopting this beautiful young lady.  Her American name will be LizzieMae and she was just delightful.  She and Kaylee got along nicely.  Before we left the park she asked for a photo with Johanna.

Just a few more days to go.  I counted up clean outfits tonights and did the last of my "washing out in the sink laundry."  Can't wait to get home to the washing machine. David is looking forward to the ice maker!

Tomorrow is a big day for Johanna, she will become an American Citizen at 8:30am.  Thank you all for your prayers.  We can truly feel and see the results of those prayers.  This has been an amazingly wonderful trip.

On our walk around the hotel last night we discovered these transformer type statues.  They were made with all recycled materials and were very elaborate.  There were at least 8 of them and Trent had to have his picture made with all of them.  

 Johanna is only taking bottles at this point.  We tried a little yogurt today and if I can get her to open up she seems to enjoy it.  Well all that actually gets in.  She wears most of it.

 We spent our day relaxing by the pool and watching a movie.

Johanna has not liked water or a bath at all.  But we turned a little corner today by sitting on the side of the pool and just letting her dip her toes in.  She started actually enjoying it.  We'll see if this transfers to the bath later tonight.{fingers crossed}

One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new place is to go to the supermarket.  I love to see how the local people shop and function.  We had to pick up a few essentials so we stopped at the Carrefour (french version of Walmart)  Here is Trent looking at the huge bins of rice.  Plus all the bags behind him are full of rice.  

 Kaylee found this delicacy in the meat section.  Yep those are Pig Snouts.  You've got to admire them not wasting any portion of the animal.  I just can't see myself taking a big bite out of one of these.

 Today we went over to Shaiman Island.  This was a British Settlement for the past 150 years but was recently turned back over to China.  It is a beautiful place to walk and look at architecture and do a little souvenir shopping.  Formerly the US Embassy was located on the island so people stayed in hotels there but it's not that way anymore.

The kids in our hotel lobby. Waiting for our tour guide. 

  Today we went over to Shaiman Island.  This was a British Settlement for the past 150 years but was recently turned back over to China.  It is a beautiful place to walk and look at architecture and do a little souvenir shopping.  Formerly the US Embassy was located on the island so people stayed in hotels there but it's not that way anymore.

 Today on the island there were many couples doing their wedding portraits.  I loved seeing all of their dresses and suits.  There were so many non-traditional colors and styles.  We even saw one little "spat" between 2 of them  I couldn't figure out what was going on until she finally relented and took off her 4" heels.  So now he was taller than her in the pictures.

 Something new I learned this trip is about weddings and marriage.  In Chinese Culture the groom's parents pays for the new couple's house, they also pay for the wedding and must pay a dowry to the girl's father.  So some people here are now saying that maybe it's better to have a Daughter than a son.

Happy Birthday to our sweet Mia at home.  We can't wait to get home and celebrate with her.  I can't believe she's already 8 years old.  Tonight we went to the hotel where we stayed on that first adoption trip.  It was a wonderful trip down memory lane, See you soon Mia!

Goodybe Lanzhou - Hello Guangzhou

Yesterday we flew from Lanzhou to Guangzhou.  It was Johanna's first flight and she did so good.  We hope it's a sign of the trip to come next week

This was our guide in Johanna's province The American name he chose is Steed. After learning about the famous Gansu horse I asked him if that's why he chose the name Steed.  He said, NO in Chinese his name means Thundering Horse.  So he thought about Stallion but he couldn't choose that because Stallion was just to vigorous for him. {ha}  He was very funny and tried telling the kids jokes.  Some they understood and some they didn't. I appreciated the humor.

We got into the hotel in the evening and were so excited to have nice soft beds!  I totally take my bed at home for granted.  The hotel is super swanky and has lots of ammnities.  We are really going to enjoy it here.(especially with good nights of sleep) We had dinner at McDonalds and ate our french fries like ravenous dogs.
Saturday morning started early with a great buffet and then over to the Medical Exam for the immigration.  Johanna passed her exam and didn't even flinch.  There we met 2 other adoptive families.  One from San Antonio who was adopting a 4 year old boy.  He was part of New Day Foster Home and speaks English.  How special is that for this mom.  She can calm his fears in English and he understands.  The other family was from South Carolina, they looked a little shellshocked but the baby was also very anxious.

After the exam we did a little shopping for diapers and formula and then came back to the hotel.  The kids enjoyed playing in the pool this afternoon but Johanna would have no part of the water (Flashback to Mia and the fear of all water)

There is a little playground area in the courtyard and we found a little swing.  Johanna liked it quite well.

All the important stuff is done now until Wednesday, so we feel like we can relax a little until then.

Free Day

 Today was a free day for us.  We were just waiting on Johanna's passport to be processed.  So we made contact with Jonathan & Katie, our friends from home who live about 3 hours from here.  They drove over to meet us with their 4 children.  We were quite the attraction.  We went to a nearby park and got to feed some pigeons.

After the  park we headed over to a restaurant that serves Weejun food.  This is a minority group in Ch!na that is primarily Musl!m.  The food was really yummy.  There was a flatbread that was baked in a earthen kiln right out on the the sidewalk.  And one of the meat dishes we had were these little BBQ Skewers.  They are cooked out on the sidewalk as well.  They were my favorite. 

 After dinner we went to a night market.  It was a side street set up with all kinds of vendors.  Everything from Crocs to Puppies.  The kids did a little shopping and we enjoyed looking at all the bargains.  But it was crowded.

Here we all are.  At one point we all drove in one car from the restaurant to the market and then later back to the hotel.  The car only seats 5, but has a small hatchback/cargo space.  Only here could we get away with that!
Tomorrow we depart for Guangzhou.  We will be there to do all the immigration red tape.