Sunday, January 31, 2010

The entire reason for this blog...

is in the crib behind me right now. I thought he was asleep when I put him in, but I just peeked and he is lying there petting the soft stuffed monkey that we brought for him.

We met Andy this afternoon, about half an hour after we checked into our hotel room. Our guide, Megan, brought the orphanage director, the assistant director, the nanny, and Andy to our room. He knew something was up and immediately started fussing. He was not happy, and cried several times while we were filling out the temporary guardianship papers.

We had to change him out of his outfit so we could get his picture taken for the passport - the guide would not let him wear his current clothes. Not quite sure why... He was wearing a t-shirt and diaper, long underwear (Chinese split-pants variety), with a heavy wool sweater and thick quilted red overalls over that (also split pants). The top layer was a cute yellow cord tunic that tied in the back, and he had socks and little shoes with a popular Chinese cartoon character on them. He got happier the more clothes I took off him, he was a sweaty little one!

As time went on, he got used to us and we got to see some smiles and even some giggles. He had his evening bottle, half a peanut butter sandwich, some of Richard's noodle bowl, and some sweet potato puffs. The boy likes to eat!

His given name is Fu Yuan, and his nickname is YuanYuan. (kind of sounds like "you-wen you-wen")
He has a wonderful smile and loves to play with his toy cell phone, stacking cups, and photo album with pictures of his sisters. He pets Emily's face and stares at Evie's! He is more interested in the yellow binding of the album, though.

We have an early morning tomorrow, so I am heading to bed now. I hope you all have a wonderful day! I love and miss you, Emily and Evie! I know you will be great big sisters to Andy.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Sat. Jan 30 2010 Dinner

It was right by the Summer Palace, and we were all starving by that point. Plus, there were two little kids in our group who love fries and chicken nuggets!

On our way back to the hotel, we saw vendors on bicycles selling roasted hot potatoes - they smelled so good. They had converted barrels into cookers, with a grate on top and these had wheels on them so they could be pulled by bicycle. The men would line the potatoes up in a ring around the top and flip them occasionally. There were also people doing brisk business selling corn on the cob and various fruits.

Sat. Jan 30 2010 Dinner

can you guess what we had?
If you get your meal to go, they give you these little bags so your drink doesn't spill!

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Summer Palace

Look! Bear at the Summer Palace!

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Summer Palace

The Emperor had this covered walkway built for his mother so she could walk around outside but not get wet when it rained. According to our guide, it is covered with 14000 paintings, each one different.

The marble boat. This is the second one, and is only made of ordinary stone. The first one was destroyed in the 1800s. The Empress would sit on it and listen to musicians.

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Summer Palace

for Emily - a replica of the first modern telephone in China, the Dowager Empress Cixi (? See-see) had it installed.

also, a pretty view of a pagoda across the lake

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Summer Palace

The throne room at the Summer Palace, and the hill with the Buddhist Temple and the Taoist Temple

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Summer Palace

After the Great Wall, we went to see the Summer Palace. This is where the Emperor would spend his summers, and it was the favorite residence of the emperor's mother.

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Great Wall

Look, Evie! Bear at the Great Wall of China!

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Great Wall

A tradition at this section of the Great Wall. Our guide told us that young lovers will bring a padlock (sometimes engraved with their names, often with a red ribbon tied on it) to the wall, lock it on the chain on the wall, then throw the key over the side. This symbolizes that they will be in love forever. (Rich thinks that's a bit too much of a commitment... ha ha!)

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Great Wall

more from the Great Wall

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Great Wall

Inside one of the watch towers

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Great Wall

We didn't make it clear to the top of the Great Wall. We made it to a landing about 2/3 of the way between the second and third towers. I would have loved to go to the top, but I would have had to stay up there forever, I think. It is a hard climb. Many of the stairs are just an inch or two tall, then some regular sized stairs, and also some stairs that were a foot high. It was clumsy going, at least for me! It was a lovely day for the climb, though.

The warning signs just made me laugh, so I had to include them.

Sat. Jan 30 2010 The Great Wall

We went to see the Ju Yong Guan section of the Great Wall today. In one picture you can see our guide, Catherine, after she bought the tickets. The other picture tells about the Wall.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Fri. Jan 29 2010 The Acrobat Show

The acrobat show was amazing. I think that our guide said that these were in the Shanghai style, but I could be, and probably am, wrong!

We were assured that we could take pictures, but I only snapped a few before I was told to stop.

The acrobats were simply amazing, there is no other word for it. I had a great time, and I would love to take my girls to see a show like this someday.

Fri. Jan 29 2010 The Olympic Village

The Water Cube and the Bird's Nest

Fri. Jan 29 2010 The Forbidden City


Fri. Jan 29 2010 The Forbidden City


Fri. Jan 29 2010 The Forbidden City


Fri. Jan 29 2010 The Forbidden City

The forbidden city is huge - it just kept going and going. It was beautiful, and so awe-inspiring to be in this ancient place that I had read so much about.


Fri. Jan 29 2010 Tiananmen Square


Fri. Jan 29 2010 Tiananmen Square

History museum to east of Tiananmen Square

Fri. Jan 29 2010 Tiananmen Square

Chairman Mao's mausoleum to the south of Tiananmen Square

Fri. Jan 29 2010 Tiananmen Square

Government building for official meetings to the west of Tiananmen Square

Fri. Jan 29 2010 Tiananmen Square

Entrance to Forbidden City, to the north side of Tiananmen Square

Thursday, January 28, 2010

the big panda outside of a club in Beijing


We're in China!

My girls and my parents dropped us off at the airport in our hometown at around 7:30 a.m. on the 27th. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but it is now 9:17 p.m. on the 28th, and I've only had a catnap or two on the plane! We are exhausted, but we don't have any plans until tomorrow at 1 p.m. so I think we will just sleep until we wake up!

Beijing is very big and crowded. The pollution is not nearly as bad as it was in Guangzhou in 2006, but the roads and the drivers are just as scary! We were in a huge bus, and the driver would just change lanes and expect smaller cars to get out of his way, turn left in front of oncoming traffic, etc.  There is lots of honking and beeping and yelling going on. Our road was blocked by a police car at one point, and our driver got out to yell at the cops several times! The police ended up moving the barricade in the middle of the road so we could go by! It was amazing. (we were kind of wondering if the two other families and us would end up spending the night in jail with the driver! Richard thought it would make a great story...)

3 days until Andy day!

I can't get to blogger in China, so I hope these posts are coming through! Let me know if they look ok, please. Pictures to follow.

love you all
Monie and Richard

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

We leave for China tomorrow!

We are so excited to finally be going to China to meet Andy, but it is a little bittersweet since we will be leaving our girls at home. I know that they will be in good hands, though!

Our schedule:
Jan 27 - leave for China
Jan 28 - arrive in Beijing
Jan 31 - fly from Beijing to Lanzhou, MEET ANDY!!!
Feb 01 - officially adopt Andy
Feb 05 - fly from Lanzhou to Guangzhou
Feb 06 - medical exam
Feb 08 - Consulate appointment
Feb 09 - group oath at the Consulate
Feb 10 - get Andy's passport
Feb 11 - fly from Guangzhou to Beijing, COME HOME!!!

I hope to be able to post pictures and updates from China, but if it doesn't work, I will post once we return home.



Zai jian! (goodbye!)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

last update on Andy before we go to China

We got another update on Andy today. This will be the last update we get before we leave. It looks like we might have to return his 18 month size clothes and buy 24 month/2T!

He is:
81 cm tall = 31.8 in tall
13.5 kg = 29.8 pounds
12 cm foot length = 4.7 in = size 5 shoes?

We also found out that he is in foster care.

They told us that the orphanage's digital camera is broken, so we can't get any pictures until it is fixed, which may not be until after we travel.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

finally, Travel Approval!

we have waited a long time...

We got our travel approval yesterday, 1/4/10, eight months after we were matched with Andy. Our consulate appointment has been confirmed, travel has been booked, and we will leave for China on January 27, and return on February 11 (just in time for Emily's birthday!)

We should find out exactly what day we meet Andy sometime this week or early next. I will let everyone know! My best guess is the Monday after we arrive in China.

I hope to be able to post updates here on our blog from China, so you can all follow along on our trip.

We are all very excited!