December 13th: Consulate Appointment

This morning we went to the US consulate to take our oath.  Lexi's Visa to enter the US will be delivered to our hotel tomorrow.  When we arrive back in the States, Lexi will officially become a US citizen!
Back at the hotel, we took some family and group pictures on the center staircase.  Lexi just climbed right up and sat next to Mia  :)
This afternoon we took a cab over to Shamian Island to do a little more shopping.  I got Lexi a pair of pink sandals, which she loves of course.
Lexi is giving all of us kisses now, and she is posing for pics!  Too cute.

Some members of our travel group have started heading home.  We had a really a fantastic travel group, as well as great guides.  Although I am ready to head home, the trip seemed to go by very fast.  Taking Lexi from her home country is bittersweet, but I do hope that wherever her birth parents are, in their hearts they know that she is being taken care of.

Tomorrow afternoon we have a private driver taking us to Hong Kong- I am very thankful that our guides were able to arrange this.  We will avoid customs at the airport and arrive much earlier. 
This will probably be my last post until we arrive home, so please pray for us as we will have a 14 1/2 hour daytime flight with an active 2 year old.  Good times.

Zai Jian China!

Pictures DEC 13th

Dec 12th

December 12th:  The Pearl Market & Pearl River Cruise

Today was a really fun day.  We were able to sleep in a little bit before heading back to the clinic to have Lexi's TB test read.  She checked out fine, then our guide to our group shopping.  We went to a Pearl Market in downtown Guangzhou.  The downtown area reminds me of New York City. 

Shopping at the Pearl Market can be overwhelming, but I was determined to get the girls some pearl jewelry as a gift for when they are older.  Mark took a seat on the couch and let me have at it.  The trip was successful  :) 

We had asked our guide if she knew Kelly, our guide from Mia's adoption trip, and she did!  She said that we would probably see her later, as she also had families here at the hotel.  Well, once Kelly heard we were here she made it a point to find us and we were so happy to see her.  We got to know her very well as we spent 3 weeks in Guangzhou with her.  We can hardly believe that it has been five years since we were here adopting Mia.

This evening we went on a dinner cruise on the Pearl River.  All of the building are lit up with neon, so it makes for a scenic cruise.  There were also some interesting buffet items- I included one of Bobby's selections in the photos   :) 

Lexi really seems to enjoy going out- she doesn't get overwhemed at all.  She has warmed up to Mia so much during the past few days.  I told Mia that soon Lexi will be following her around everywhere...

We are all happy & healthy- maybe a little tired of noodles, except for Mia of course!

December 11: The Safari Park in Guangzhou

December 11: The Safari Park in Guangzhou

Today about half of our travel group went to the Safari Park.  This is something that we have heard great things about and really wanted to see.  It was excellent.  By far one of the best animal parks I have ever been to. It was also a beautiful day.  We were able to rent a stroller at the entrance and Lexi loved it! I have been happy to carry her around to help with bonding, but with so much walking ahead of us, my back & neck were very relieved.

We started the day on a safari ride,  think Lion Country Safari but 100 times better.  This park is very clean and lush with plants and trees.  They had so many animals and they were awake  & active! The girls were so excited.  Lexi really seems to like animals.

Afterwards we walked through the exhibits and saw so many interesting animals up close:  giant pandas, Pygmy hippos, red pandas, koala bears and kangaroos.  The girls got to feed the giraffes which was a highlight for Mia.  We also saw a show with Bali style dancers where a chimpanzee was dressed up like a Panda bear- quite funny.

We had a great time. 

I have to say that Bobby is being such a good sport. Today he had 4 young girls sitting in the back with him ages 5-11 talking & giggling non-stop an he didn't seem to mind at all. :)

A couple of funny tidbits: we are often stopped by locals asking to take a picture of us or take a picture with them- I guess it's the blonde hair-? Many of the young men gere seem to have the "Justin Bieber" haircut.  Also,  Bobby seems to attract the attention of a lot of young Chinese girls- last night it was at the grocery store where the girl at the counter was explaining all sorts of things to him about Chinese money. Oh boy.

December 10th: Guangzhou!

December 10th: Guangzhou!

Did I mention how much I love this hotel?

It is so beautiful and clean with a Starbucks and grocery store on the first floor.  Mark brought me a latte early this morning before the girls woke up which was so nice.  The shower is so huge and has multiple jets- now I understand why people love those so much.

We were finally able to get Lexi in the shower (with me of course).  So far we have had to sponge bathe her because she was so afraid of the bathroom.  She loved the large shower though.   I don't know what I am going to do with another girl who likes the finer things in life.

This morning we had to drive over to Shamian Island so the children could undergo their medical evaluations.

All adopted children need to do this before the US consulate will issue a Visa for them to enter the US.  There is only one clinic.  There were many other families there as well from other adoption agencies- it was completely chaotic. You have to bring your child to 3 different stations and then if they are over 2 years old, they must get a TB test.  I was totally prepared for a meltdown, as the doctors are poking & prodding,
etc.  Much to my surprise, Lexi did great!= She was more facinated by everything. She weighs about 30 pounds- wow.  One of the Doctors was asking about her hearing loss, and after squeaking a toy in her ear she decided that Lexi could hear some with her left hear.  However, she wanted another Doctor to specifically examine her hearing, so we followed them into another room.   A women stood in front of Lexi
with a squeaky toy and moved it behind her ear and squeezed it, then repeated this several times on each ear.  Of course Lexi is watching them doing this and following it all with her eyes.  We were thinking- really?
Very scientific.  When it came time for the shot, Lexi squirmed for a second, but really just watched closely- she is so inquisitive & watches everything.  I am so happy to have that exam behind us. 

After we finished, we decided to walk around the island.   It was a beautiful day, and this is where we stayed for almost 3 weeks when we came to China to adopt Mia.   Although the rooms at the White Swan Hotel are closed for renovations, the main level is open.  We went in and showed Mia where we stayed with her when we were here 5 years ago this month.  The hotel is so pretty and I am so happy we were able to take pictures.  We ate lunch at Lucy's for old times sake, then did some shopping. There were so many brides & grooms doing photo sessions throughout the gardens on the Island.  I must say that Guangzhou seems much cleaner and less hazy than it was 5 years ago. 

A little more on Lexi: she has the longest eyelashes I have ever seen, she giggles alot, and she frequently snorts when she laughs, which cracks all of us up.  Lexi also loves having something in her hair.  If she reaches up and her bow is missing, she will come up to me and point to her head until I put one in.  At first I thought that the hair extension barrette she came to us wearing would get *lost* somehow, but I decided to keep it (hide it from her), so she can have it later.  

 Lexi has repeated the following signs: water, eat, cereal, sleep, no, beautiful and a few others, and she definitely understands water, eat, sleep,
& no if I sign them.

Lexi seems to be attaching very well- very similar to the way Mia did, and I am so grateful.  Lexi is also playing alot more with Mia now, which is so cute to see. One family in our travel group has a new son who is having a difficult time- please keep him in your prayers.

December 9: Heading to Guangzhou!

Today was pretty much a hurry up & wait kind of a day that ended up being one of the longest days ever- and not in a good way.

Lexi started the day having a melt down because she didn't want to change out of her pajamas. She is very sweet and very stubborn. Tracey- I know you are laughing right now :) We left for the airport around 3:00 for a 6:00 flight. It is no easy feat getting 10 families and 12 newly adopted kids through security. Lexi was fascinated by the pat-downs. Thank goodness that there was a kids playground right next to our gate. Lexi let Mia sit behind her as they went down the slide and I think it really helped Lexi feel more comfortable around Mia.  Mia is also really enjoying hanging out with some of the older girls that are here with their families. One girl is 11 years old and she was adopted from China 3 years ago.  She is so sweet to Mia. Her parents are adopting their 7th & 8th child from China during this trip- amazing!

We then shoved some noodles down the girls' throats only to find out that our flight was delayed. Lexi was wound up after the playtime so by the time we boarded 1 1/2 hours late I was completely exhausted.  The flight was totally full with the most cramped seats I have ever seen.  I could barely cross my legs and I am short! Lexi and I were in our own row, with a gentleman sitting in the aisle seat.  Lexi did not like the seatbelt but she was distracted pretty easily.  Mia slept, Lexi never did.  She never cried but she tends to squeal, which is a lot of fun ;) The gentleman next to us proceeded to get ill during the flight so I couldn't get off that plane fast enough. By the time we got to the hotel in Guangzhou it was after midnight. Lexi had fallen asleep during the drive to the hotel and when she woke up as we exited the bus she was so upset.  I can't imagine how confusing this all must be for her.  She did let me comfort her after a little while.

This day did have a happy ending- the China Marriott is absolutely beautiful! It made the tough journey worthwhile, and I am so glad that we are finishing the trip here.