GOTCHA DAY!!!
April 4, 2005 Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PRC
6:49pm China time, 5:49 EDT
We have TA!!!!! We left the hotel around 9am and drove to Civil
Affairs where AnAn was brought by the orphanage director. When we
pulled up in the taxi, he was in the parking lot. They had just
arrived. I walked up to him in the parking lot, but didn't hold him
until we were in the lobby. He said, "Mama" and came to me. The
director had our photos and showed him mine and he gave me a kiss.
He went to S upstairs. He is a happy baby. Lots of smiles and
laughing. And very curious. He cried a little when the orphanage
director left and when he started getting tired, but otherwise
hasn't. XC was waiting patiently upstairs for her family.
She is 9 years old and very sweet. The girls hit it off and traded
cameras.

After returning to the hotel, AnAn had a bottle and a nap. S
took laundry to a local cleaners and then I went to the grocery store
when he returned. AnAn took a nice long nap. We took him to a
playground and walked around. He started wearing his sunglasses, but
gave that up after a few minutes. He also refused his hat. Stubborn
child.

Dinner was an adventure to the local food court at a mall (including
grocery store.) The girls helped entertain AnAn. It was an
experience feeding him with chopsticks. He ate noodles with his
fingers and tried to eat the plate. AnAn and XC are getting
along great. She can talk to him and he understands her. He just
smiles at us and giggles.

More tomorrow.

love
C"
~~~~~~~~~
April 2006 - 1 year later
We celebrated TA's 'Gotcha Day' by going to Build-A-Bear and he built a boxer dog named Percy...a side effect of watching Thomas the Tank Engine. Today we all took a train ride through the Royal Gorge. A beautiful day!

TA is still a major goofball. He dyed Easter eggs the other day
and had a blast! He still goes to school a few days a week. His
version of the ABC song goes like this, "A, B, C, W, X, Y, Z" 19
letters to go. :-) One morning I woke up to him standing on the
footboard of the bed singing "Jesus Loves Me." Can't think of a
better alarm clock!

He loves his daddy and puppies. Toby is often a pillow. Lucy isn't
fluffy and sluggy enough for him. That is ok with her though. Every
Saturday he goes to eat breakfast with his Daddy and some other guys
from church. Mom gets to sleep most weeks!

TA loves to help. His main job is to feed the puppies in the
evenings. He also helps with laundry...especially when puppy or
snowball get a bath (two stuffed friends) He is becoming more and
more independent, but still likes to crawl up in our laps to 'cuggle'
I treasure those times.

He is still receiving vision services and will continue for a long
time. He is learning to use his fingers to identify things - a
prebraille skill and hears amazingly well. He will also try to write
his "T-O-M" - especially on credit card slips...

Tomorrow is his first Easter. The bunny is bringing yellow crocs
(shoes) (yellow is his favorite color), some train stuff and of course
candy. He doesn't understand Easter yet, but one day he will, I pray.

I can't imagine not having him in our lives. He is an amazing kid and
I marvel that God chose us for him. I am also thankful for the many
friends and family that have helped support us this past year going
from no kids to instant toddler. It hasn't always been easy, but
parenting isn't easy. But it has been rewarding and full of
interesting experiences. Two things we often say, "I never thought
that would be coming out of my mouth." and "Wow! Has he said/done that
before? I am impressed. He's growing so fast."

Blessings, Love and Hugs to all
C, S, TA and puppies
~~~~~~~~~
April 4, 2007 - 2 years later

Two years ago today we became the parents to an amazing little boy!
TA was 24 pounds and about 33 inches tall then. Now he is 34
pounds and 41 inches tall! Some significant events in the life of
TA:
-still loves trains!
-talks all the time - and gets things so cutely confused sometimes
-favorite color is green (used to be yellow)
-favorite animal is a giraffe (or 'raffe)
-loves to do 'thinking work' (working on writing, shapes, letters, etc)
-talks ALL the time...in complex sentences...
-is now a big brother. He likes to play with his sister, but she gets to him at times also...
-favorite word is 'why' - even when he knows the answer
-is fully potty trained (yippee!)
-moved a few times last summer, but is finally settled in a house for a few years (we hope)
-talks nonstop
-had to learn about loss through the death of his buddy, Toby - our 3 year old cocker spaniel.
-loves to ride his red tricycle
-remembers almost everything he hears and sees

It seems like he has always been a part of our family. It is so fun
watching him grow and learn. Although he has had to learn that there
are some things that aren't talked about outside of home. (usually
has to do with the anatomy!)

blessings,
C, S, kids and dogs
~~~~~~~~~
April 4, 2008 - Three years later

It's been three years? He hasn't always been with us? If you look through old posts, you will know what TA has been up to and will be able to see photos of how BIG he has gotten. We celebrated to night by going out to Moe's (Welcome to Moe's) and then bowling! TA has master bowling on the wii and he isn't too shabby in real life. Shamefully - I lost to both the 4 year old AND the 3 year old. Photos to come soon. Right now I am focusing on photos from our trip.

I measured TA today. Here are some comparisons:
2005 24 lbs (12%) 33 inches (45%)
2007 34 lbs (50%) 41 inches (85%)
2008 42 lbs (50%) 44.5 inches (90%)

He starts kindergarten in the fall, is beginning to read, will argue about anything, and still melts our hearts!

April 3, 2005, Hangzhou, PRC

7:52pm China time, 5:51 am MDT, 7;51 am EDT

Did you remember to spring forward??

We are in Hangzhou. Currently in an Internet cafe that smells of
incense, cigarette smoke, and is full of people playing various games
online. But this is cheaper than the hotel - 20yuan for 10 minutes
there versus 3yuan for an hour here (8.2yuan = $1)

My ankle is feeling better. We didn't do much walking today. S
at breakfast stated that he felt tall. He was looking down on most
everyone. Wonder how Lala or Grandma T would feel?

We had our first experience flying a Chinese airline. Security was
very efficient (TSA could learn from them.), they even served a meal
on the 1:35 flight. Our hotel is amazing - we have a doorbell to our
room!!! Although the bed is about as comfortable as the floor.

Hangzhou is completely different from Beijing. Many houses had
the 'backyard' cultivated to grow crops. There are not as many high
rises or apartments. And much less English on signs.

We met the other family in our group. M and his daughter
YP. She was tired - instead of dinner tonight, she is sleeping.

Speaking of dinner... I will write more later. We have about 13
hours until we go to pick up TA. Our guide, Rebecca, told us she
hears he is a naughty boy - this is after leaving his foster family
and returning to the orphanage a few days ago.

talk to you after we get TA -
Mom and Dad to be

April 2, 2005 Beijing, PRC

7:40 pm China time (4:40am MT)

Don't forget to Spring forward tonight!!!

We had another busy day. Saw the Great Wall...they sell t-shirts
that say "I climbed the Great Wall." I needed one one that said "I
fell down the Great Wall." Yes - I stumbled and twisted my ankle.
At least it was on the way back. The wall is amazing and knowing it
was built so long ago all by hand.

The spot directly above the right tree branch is where I fell.

Blooming tea I drank to help feel better.

We also visited Ming tombs where 13 emperors are buried. Not as
impressive. I did get to practice my bargaining skills in buying
postcards at the wall. I ended up getting two packs for the price
of one.

Each day, the guide has taken us to government run stores that
demonstrates pearls, jade or cloisonne In the jade store, I
had a time trying to explain penguins to the ladies. They finally
figured it out and I now have a jade penguin. :-)

Stringing pearls for the necklace and bracelet I purchased

Jade factory - the process

cloisonne factory - all hand made.

I need to go and rest my ankle. Or S is going to tie me down...
(he's telling me this right now.) More tomorrow...

love ya.
C the Klutz and S the Pack mule

Us in Tiananmen Square - in front of the Forbidden City




April 1, 2005, Beijing, PRC
4:50pm China time (1:48am MT, 3:48am ET)

Hi everyone!! We had a day of sightseeing. When we booked the
tours, we assumed we would be in a group - nope. We had our own
tour guide and driver. We visited the Summer Palace, Tiananmen
Square and The Forbidden City. The detail in the architecture is
amazing, not to mention the age of the buildings and all of the
history. China has had it's share of revolutions and burnings.
Rather interesting. We were frequently stared at, but I would just
smile at the people. Most of the time they would then look away.

We had a 'Chinese lunch'. I discovered a new vegetable that I
really like - lotus root. Yummy and a bit crunchy. If anyone knows
where to buy it or fix it, let me know. (and it is green!)
Breakfast was interesting - baked beans, noodles, sushi along with
bacon, eggs and cereal.

Beijing is a city full of people, cars and bicycles. The bicycles
are used to carry anything - we saw several hauling huge loads
stacked over the rider's head. And the cars...the lanes are only
guides and they aren't afraid to use the horn. It was an
experience. And we had no rain - in fact the clouds moved out and
we had blue sky.

Until tomorrow...
Blessings
C


I should have heeded this warning the next day!

Three years ago this week we were in China to adopt TA. I am going to repost our emails from that time...and photos as able.


TA as an infant, from an acquaintance

Referral Photo

Chowing, photo sent while waiting.

March 30, 2005 from Colorado Springs, CO
"OK - so the first plane is a little CRJ, but the next one is a 747
with first class upstairs. We are trying to figure out if/how to get
upgraded. Or maybe they will let me peek in the upstairs. A two
story plane sounds so cool.

We are packed, S. is sleeping, I am gathering all the last minute
stuff like paperwork, cameras, etc. I told S. I would be up for a
nap later. :-) I'll sleep on the plane!

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I will write again when we are
in Beijing.

love,
C.

ps - right now China is 15 hours ahead of mountain time (13 hours
ahead of eastern time)


Our Hotel in Beijing

The view from our window.

March 31, 2005 from Beijing, PRC
We made it. It is currently 8:18 pm local time and 5:18am according
to my body. I managed to sleep from CS to SF, but not from SF to
Beijing...the 12 hour portion. The plane ride was uneventful. We
had plenty of leg room (economy plus!) and they fed us 3 times. We
watched 3 movies and I wandered the plane while S. finished a
book (Harry Potter #4) and slept.

We were met at the airport by a guy holding a sign with S.'s name
on it. Richard works with our travel agency [JC travel]. He took us to the
hotel and made sure everything was ok. The beds are between a twin
and a full. I think we won't be sharing - at least not tonight.
Especially since S. fell across one and is sound asleep. I am
still wired.

Richard pointed out an apartment complex (series of high rises) and
said that 700,000 people live in it. An amazing number of people.
Blows my mind to think of it.

I better go and try to get some sleep so I can be coherent for our
tours tomorrow. It is supposed to rain - pray that it doesn't.

send the sandman...
c.

Croc eating escalator update:

We went into DC Saturday for the Kite Festival and the Cherry Blossom Festival (photos to come) TA wanted carried on the escalator the first two trips, but bravely stood in the center, very still for the final trip. Yes - he had on crocs. The Easter Bunny brought him new ones as he does every year. I was so proud of him!!!

White House Easter Egg Roll 2008


Where S slept Friday night while waiting in line for tickets to the egg roll. He even saw some of the folks when we were going inside.

Our tickets....

TA prior to the escalator attack.

EQ and her daddy - it's not genetic, I don't think.

Family photo with Peter Rabbit

EQ intently coloring

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer reading 'Make Way for Ducklings'

Woodrow, the White House Mouse

The closest we'll get to the White House with a camera!

TA and the egg he rolled!

EQ after the egg roll - no, we didn't keep the eggs.

A seldom photo'd view - the fountain with the Washington Monument in the background.

Our beautiful chicks!

Steve Songs one of our favorite musicians!

The wooden commemorative eggs we received.

The coloring books in the goodie bags.

Home after a busy day, tired, in jammies, popcorn in hand, ready to watch a movie!