Consulate Day = Coming Home Eve

What took us 8 weeks to pack up to come to China now must take us less than 8 hours to re-pack to come home to America. Wow, one little 16lb. baby is taking up ALL the space in my backpack for the trip. It weighs more than she does. Good thing our new buddy Jessie on the Island was willing to sell us a nice new backpack for $6 American. Now all we have to do is remember to pick up our 16 little bags every time we plane, train, bus or automobile on the way home.

I want to take my girls home so badly it hurts. And then again, seeing them here in China makes me sort of ache leaving their homeland. Ava flows effortlessly between life here in China and our American life. She takes the sights and sounds and smells of Guangzhou and marches on just as she does at home feeling the entire universe revolves around her 4 year old world. People have asked me on this trip whether China has brought forth sensitive feelings for Ava. I suppose it would be sweet and rather melodramatic to say yes, but the true answer is not that I can tell. She wants to come home to her soccer team but is honestly happy watching Chinese cartoons and playing the game of gathering my attention by pulling my pants while I attempt even one conversation with an adult. Her questions about Chinese life and the orphanage have been all matter of fact. In typical fashion I don't sugar coat it with her I just attempt to explain different people in different parts of the world live differently. She nods and moves on to the next interesting event of the day. I must add one caveat to this though, and that is that life here at the Swan and 5 star living is NOT typical Chinese life or Chinese culture, heck it is not even typical American life for that matter. It is not reality when you don't even have to push an elevator button by yourself for heaven's sake. Perhaps the sights and sounds of heavy city poverty, Chinese life and the adoptees story will come a little closer to home later in her life.
For now though we are focusing on getting to America to start our life as a family of 4. No more waiting... waiting for paperwork, referral, baby, trip to China. It is all now under our belt and I almost feel this unspoken permission to begin living life since everything we could have asked for in life is now here.

Scroll down a bit to see the famous red couch and the cutie pies who sit rather tenatively on the velvet.

Families at the White Swan. 

A red couch picture 

A Day At School

Hey, look at us we aren't missing any school. We took a trip to the local boarding school this afternoon. Children are kindergarten age to primary school age and board 5 days a week at this showcase school. (I cannot imagine sending Ava to boarding school while she is so young.) They are mostly children of Chinese government officials. It is state of the art! Ava had a blast playing with the kids.

1st Dr. Visit and Another Day On The Island

There must have been about 100 babies lined up for medical exams in this tiny office in Guangzhou yesterday. Fill out a form, wait in line, plop your babe down on the scale, measure her head and poof, everyone is ready to go to America.

So much about this trip to the medical office was the same as last time. Screaming babies with mass crowded chaos that only lasts a few minutes before you are released to make your way back to your temporary hotel home by way of 50 shop keepers vying for your attention and ultimately your almighty dollar. Then so much is different. Last time I felt more in control of the trip and the adoption and all that was required of us as parents adopting Ava Jing. I knew when to pay and when to appear for appointments, I gave gifts at the right time and we had a well dressed baby with a clean face. This time, I embarassingly had to borrow 100 yuan from a travel mate to pay the guide for something at the medical office. See how clueless I am? My baby is healthy but with a runny nose that continues to drip non-stop due to the extreme difference in temperature outside versus inside. It was smeared into her eyebrow this morning at breakfast. Ava insisted on wearing her purple crocs with dirty shorts yesterday morning, and I noticed her hair was uncombed only at 4 in the afternoon. I chose to let it go rather than argue. Am I now one of those mothers who is harried with her hellions running amok? Hopefully it is an adjustment period and Ava's teeth won't be growing green fuzz in another week. Bad hygiene aside everyone is relatively happy, heathy and well fed. I suppose this is what is important on this trip.


I leave you with this picture of Ava riding the bull dog on Shaiman Island. I guess this woman behind her represents the average American visiting the island? Hmmm....

Happy Monday From Guangzhou

I feeling better today, hooray. One z-pak started and a little sudafed sinus and Momma's back in business. Just in time too. At 10am this morning we have to take Olivia to the obligatory medical exam here on the island. This medical exam has absolutely nothing to do with checking the physical prowess of your baby. It is more about paying another fee and after having your baby for a week it is more to test how some chinese doctor can strip your baby down to plop them on the scale hear then scream bloody murder and then hav e fun watching the stressed out mommies and daddies pick them up to comfort them. Good times, right of passage here in adoption land.

It is about 7:30 am and my crew is sleeping. Olivia is just waking up after over 12 hours of sleep. I swoon with love for this kid! Her head smells like perfect baby fuzz her wirey little body has a perfect tummy pooch when she's eaten 8oz. of formula. She smiles when she sees us and is happy to let us comfort her when shes scared or upset. Right now she is speaking Cantonese, well baby Cantonese which consists of gullah gulllah gullah. It makes perfect sense to her. Other new development, she is cruising like a '65 Mustang and with the confidence to boot. She even stands for a few seconds unassisted. I don't think it will be long before the super baby is walking on her own. This is all great and everything but someone better get to work babyproofing the house at home. I was expecting a few months before mobility.

Oops, she's awake and needs grub. Medical exam pictures later.

Today is Not Pretty so Pictures From Yesterday

I don't know what made me think that if everyone else in the room was sick I would miraculously escape the wrath. I'll spare you the details but thank goodness the guys were willing to take both girls this morning. I've already slept from 10am to 1pm and am just starting to be able to see straight. The good news is that the guys have recovered and Ava is doing better with her bronchitis. Did you know that the White Swan provides breathing treatments? Ava is now a regular. She now anticipates the Chinese medical staff and people on the streets asking if she is from Hunan and matter of factly states "Yes, I am a spicy girl while rolling her eyes." So much for Chinese reverence for elders. Someone forgot to send her the memo. I suppose I am just destined to see the inside of medical clinics while traveling in China. Grrr....

This picture is a little light but it does show us all at the Guangzhou Museum that features the 2000 year old tomb. Our guide told us that this tomb and one other in Hunan are the only tourable tombs like this in China. As luck would have it we got to see the lovely 2000 year old gal in Changsha last time, compete with 2000 year old hair and organs in a bottle. Yummy. Now that's a good time, dried up guts.


I think that we will forever call this picture a girl and her pearls. What a story this will be when Ava graduates from University and receives the pearls that she picked out in China at 4 years old. She was very clear that white was better than black. Pink, wouldn't do either. Her taste is classic at heart I guess. I've never seen so many South China Sea pearls and black beauties from Tahiti in wholesale atmosphere. They string them there after you select your fancy. They double knot each pearl with strong silk. Ava and I simply walked from each bunch (they are bunched like bananas) and lovingly touched each and every string. Holly Golightly would have been jealous.

Olivia has finally settled down for an afternoon nap and the guys are headed off the the pool. The room smells like french fries and ketchup and baby poop. Unfortunately housekeeping has already been here. I am going to go rub a little lavendar lotion under my nose and take another nap. Until later.

Day 6 Guangzhou

I feel a little like I did when I was in Vegas last summer, ungodly hot outside so the fabulous hotel is just that...fabulous, but then after a few days it is Ground Hog Day and each day spills over to the next without any special marking. The hotel is like being in an underground city in close encounters of the third kind. You have to do a city tour or something just to keep yourself from staring at your fingers while counting to 500 and drooling at the same time. I am a little worried Nurse Ratched might show up by next Wednesday.

My guys were sick yesterday. I think that Ava accidently gave them the Chinese creeping crud and they were supine almost all day. It is amazing to watch men supervise a 4 year old and a 9 month old while resting comfortably in bed (I had over 2 hours of adoption paperwork in the afternoon). What the heck am I missing and why can't I figure that out at home? They are a little tired today but seem to be rebounding nicely. Olivia and I are holding our breath in hopes that we drew the keep healthy card. In preparation I am swilling Airborne and obsessing nicely over little bottles of Purell.

This morning after Ava proclaimed that she would only be speaking and looking at me today she decided against her better judgement that she would indeed like to tour the 2000 year old tomb here in Guangzhou. Apparently all of Mommy's attention on that adorable little morsel we call Olivia has caught up with her in grand fashion and Mommy would be hers again for the day. We all agreed and Daddy carried Olivia and Mommy focused 100% on Ava's every whim. It all somewhat resembled a daft eunach catering to the empress's delicate temperament circa Qing Dynasty. But, when in China..... What a difference a few hours of that all made though, Miss Ava is feeling poorly and has a new mei mei to deal with...she's dealing with the changes and I'm sure that's the end of this family's sibling rivalry issues. Don't laugh out loud, it's unseemly and does not become you.

So, what's a girl to do with all this excitement? Grab Daddy's credit card and head off to the wholesale pearl market of course for retail therapy. Ava and I happily touched thousands of pearls while oogling white, pink and black beauties. We simply could not resist and each of us ladies got a strand with earrings to match since this is no time to worry about baby needing a new pair of shoes. Or formula, or diapers or an education. We threw caution to the wind and Ava selected white pearls for herself and her sister. Momma chose black and they are to die for. The Muffin Man was a huge big sport about the whole deal and simple said, "Just wear them lots." What a dude!

Did you see Ava's new rags? Nice huh? What four year old wouldn't love a swishy red princess dress? Olivia has one to match but that was too much effort for me to get them both into the dresses yesterday. I am pacing myself with this 2 child stuff, you see. She put it on and I almost cried she was so happy to be wearing such a pretty dress. She paraded Olivia and I all over the White Swan lobby in high style until she proclaimed it itchy wanting her shorts back. All in all she's a pruple croc future birkenstock wearing gal after my very big heart!

Us and the Family Chen

Neck need a workout? Tilt a bit to the left to see us at the Chen Family Academy in Guangzhou.

For all the bonding with children experts out there in the world I had every intention of carrying this child in the Baby Bjorn 24x7 for the first 6 weeks. Well, that lasted a little less than 72 hours since I need my chiropractor and unfortunately she is cracking backs in the midwest as we speak. It is beastly hot and I wimped. She rides the bjorn in the aircon and the stroller while touring. It was a little easier with Ava since she LOVED the stroller as a baby. Little Olivia would rather snuggle up with her white washcloth under her neck, thumb in mouth and our arms around her. Alas, I am not complaining one iota, this little babe could be described in some camps as a dream baby. Easy going and she sleeps. Did you hear me? She sleeps. My 4 year old still rarely sleeps. Although she has many other redeeming qualities which shall be named later.

Check out jie jie and mei mei. Are they a pair forever or what?

Day 4 In Guangzhou

It is our third day with the darling Miss Olivia. She is seriously studying us a little less and casually flows from one family member's arms to another. She is quicker to smile at the adults, of course Ava gets a small giggle each time she does a dance and claps her hands and says "Olivia" in her sing song voice. Olivia's big eyes get enormous when she is looking at what her sister is doing. Ava is doing very well with sharing the attention but then there are three adults sharing responsibility for making sure she gets ice cream and daily trips to the fabulous resort pool. Unlimited Chinese cartoons and Guangzhou's version of American Idol is helping too. A little sibling rivalry will probably set in more solidly when Daddy goes back to work, Grandpa goes home and Mommy is doing laundry and changing diapers full time. Ahhh, the glamorous life.

We took a trip to a fancy shopping center today. I can now not even remember what it is like to look at a price tag and not to have to divide by eight. I've given up since we all know I was never the mathmatical wizard in any group. We have several more days here and I am scared that we might need an extra suitcase to bring home loot. The Muffin Man is a powerful shopper, it is his only girlie feature. I simply don't have the energy to state my case as to why the den in our house does not truly need Ultra Man displayed on a shelf, sad. So, we continue to buy out Shaiman Island...and it is only day four here. In more exciting shopping news Olivia is the proud owner of 5 pairs of squeaky shoes already. I'm hunting them down little leather mary janes in Ava's size to match.

The Chen Family Academy was also on the docket this morning. It was as lovely as it was four years ago when we were there the first time. Ava was a little unimpressed since they did not have ice cream as I sort illuded to before we got off the bus, a totally novice parenting move on my part. She pouted in 4 year old fashion and I walked the old building in awe of its grandeur.

Thank goodness the agency is holding our hand through the adoption proceedings since I don't even know what day of the week it is. More paperwork tomorrow afternoon as we work towards Olivia's Chinese passport and visa.

Many thanks for the bloggy comments they mean the world to us! More pictures in a flash assuming I can get them uploaded. Zaijian.

The little ladies are all tuckered out. Both girls are napping, yes you heard that right, BOTH girls. Those of you who know us know that Ava thinks napping is for weenies. But after spiking a 103 fever last night and rebounding with only a chest cold she is out for a while. Olivia says napping is not for weenies and is pooped after applying for a passport and visiting the Chinese grocery store.  

It's official, Guangdong Province says we are a great match. We are officially Olivia Xi GeGe's parents.  

Olivia Day

I apologize for the choppy"ness" of the blog and photos, Blogger is somewhat touchy with uploading photos but we will do our best.

Olivia day was all we could have ever hoped for and more. It is worth every maddening waiting moment of waiting over a year and a half. It is worth the jet lag slump that seems to linger beyond what you think your body should tolerate. It is worth the sleepless anxiety immediately before you meet the baby. Over the past few days I couldn't decide if should have passed on the pork dim sum in Beijing or if the nerves were getting to me. It was the nerves, I am now downing leftover pizza in the room as luck would have it. So much for the stress induced China Adoption diet weight loss plan. Breakfast was french toast while Olivia was passed from family member to family member and Ava showed her how to do a little dance and "move it, move it" as she says.

Olivia is a champ. She is tired and seems to be happiest when she is with Ava. She seems to retreat into our chests when we are in large crowds at the civil affairs bureau. It scares me too, poor little thing. But when she is with her family we are seeing signs of opening up with an irrestible little grin.

Life is good in Guangzhou. More photos later...Miss Liv seems to be stirring from her nap.

Here we are as a new family of 4! Olivia is absolutely perfect in every way. More to come.

Ava climbed The Wall.

One Big Trip

All is well in The Middle Kingdom. After over 24 hours of traveling Beijing greeted us with 100% humidity, gray skies and its lovely people...so who cares about the weather. My God, it is easy to remember why I love this place of my children's birth so much. It is bustling yet comfortable, it is hot but refreshing to the soul, it is confusing but still with a sense of humor. It is a complex place. When I am here I feel Chinese on the inside. So much so that I find myself surprised when my family and I gather stares from passers by.

If you are at all thinking about bringing your little one to China on an upcoming trip just do it. Our 4 year old jet setter did beautifully. She took the on airplane long lags like champ. She conquered the people movers in Newark like no other before her. I might add that the Muffin man and my father logged in a few miles on the people mover as well. Of course when the highlight of a trip is a .20 piece of fabric used to tie bags together over and over and riding a people mover until you are dizzy, you know you are truly seeing international travel through the eyes of a child.

Beijing is different than it was in 2002. Here, folks it is all about Beijing 2008 Olympics baby! No expense will be spared, no person will be worked too hard, and no shred of bamboo will be left untouched in all of China since it is all standing as scaffolding for building venues for the upcoming games!

Today was in essence a blur. But when you are jet lagged and then attempt Tiannamen Square, The Forbidden City, lunch and shopping at a Friendship store and then The Great Wall how could you expect anything else?

I will leave you with our great trek up the wall. (Scroll Up to see photo.) Last time I visited Jujongyang Pass I was teary eyed with reverence for its physical immensity and the metaphorical immensity of how our lives would change in the next 24-48 hours. This time I was equally mesmerized by the Great Wall...but admittedly distracted by Ava's interest and propensity for absolute involvement in life's immediate task at hand, which happened to be climbing that wall. Wonder if this is a metaphor for things to come as well.

We are off to Guangzhou tomorrow to settle into the White Swan and prepare for Olivia Day.

Last Post Stateside

T minus a bunch of hours and counting. Tomorrow we are off to Beijing via the Newark route. Our goal is to post when we safely reach Beijing and get cozy at the Kuntai Royale..now does that sound swanky or what? Kuntai Royale. I'm envisioning large swinging palm trees under white mosquito netting and elephant rides for the kids.

Ahhh, what a nice change from sucking up brightly colored hair barrettes from the far reaches of the living room carpet with the Hoover. Yes, that's been pleasant this morning. I've also come dangerously close to giving birth to a kitten as I test the limits of the blood vessels in my forehead while trying to fit 16lbs of toiletries into miniscule corner of a suitcase. But damn it, I've had it in my head that the three of us will be only needing two suitcases and I'm sticking too it even if my poor husband has to file for divorce while I place my big butt on his baseball hat to squish for more room.

Bon voyage, so long ya'all and zaijian until we meet again in Beijing.

P.S. Don't worry I will be taking pictures of all the exciting things along the way. My dinner on the plane, Ava's first atomic meltdown, and bomb sniffing airport dogs should we encounter them.

Big Red is ready to go. 

Leave the Kitchen Sink?

We leave for China in exactly 4 days. How the heck did that happen? Why in over 1 1/2 years could I not have found the time to re-paint the crown moulding in the living room? We leave in 4 days to meet our daughter, why the hell am I obsessing about dirty crown moulding?

Here is the big suitcase. As of this morning it weighs 45lbs. The limit is 44lbs. Hmmm...gonna have to trust that they will give us an adoption trip pass on this one folks. I am NOT repacking big red.

Here is another bone of contention between the beloved Muffin Man and myself. He thinks that it is ok to pack the kitchen sink if he thinks it will be of comfort to him in Guangzhou. I on the other hand have told him numerous times that in Guangzhou you can purchase Western style kitchen sinks, for a few measly pennies in fact. Ultimately he is a person comforted by things, stuff, dare I suggest junk? I on the other hand am a person comforted by simplicity...the less things, the more likely I am to be in control of said things.

You see the psychological dilemma? If you are in the China adoption process right now you might want to work through these issues with a professional with your spouse in your spare time. It could mean less xanax for you 4 days before leaving for China.

Now here is something where I must say that I agree with my spouse. Let's go get new clothes for China. I know this all sounds highly counterintuitive and all since packing for this trip should be akin to packing for a camping trip. Dressing up is not necessary and your new child will probably barf all over whatever you are wearing anyway. It's a fact, look it up. However, we have been inexplicably drawn to the new underwear aisles of our favorite Kohls. We have new tee-shirts, and new walking shorts. It is crazy. Maybe this is an unspoken thing in international adoption, all parties adopting orphaned children with absolutely no material possessions to their name must present well with new tee shirt from Target.

This whole process at times seems a little like we are living in the world of close encounters of the third kind. And I hope the Chinese laundress in Guangzhou appreciates the fact that our family has new underwear.

At The Water Park

Video Hosting - Upload Video - Video Sharing

Yesterday's water park adventure. Obviously I need a few NYU film school tips. But she was having fun. As far as mastering the technical aspect of loading video to blogger...reading the directions on dropshots.com was most helpful. Don't know why I didn't think of that a few days ago.