Starbucks/Taylor Exercising

I thought I would add a few more pictures before we go out to the market today. It is about 95 degrees so far and pure humidity. We had breakfast and then went to starbucks for a frozen coffee... Taylor is in love with Frappachinos now. After that Chad went back to the hotel and Taylor wanted to play at the playground/exercise yard. Nothing seems to faze her, she is really enjoying herself. The nice thing over here is that people are constantly exercising, playing all sorts of games in the parks, practicing TAI CHI. Even the older ladies. Make me want to get movitvated!
Thanks for all the emails we love hearing from everyone. You can also post to the blog in the comment section if you would like. You just have to create a blogger email or google.

3AM and Awake!

Well Chad and I both are awake and can't go back to sleep. The problem is it is only 3AM. Dad - guess what Chad is up for? He is going to listen to the Michigan game on the computer! He truly is a fanatic about football. Today we will probably do some shopping off the island with our guide.

Soon it will be 24 hours till we get Aiden. I can't describe the feelings about this. I think about his parents and how hard it must have been for them to give up their son. Knowing what "loss" is I can relate to to them. What a blessing he will be to us and hopefully we will be to him. He needs a mom and dad to love him up.

Well I gotta go, Chad wants to get on here for the game... men!

Cow & Bridge Restaurant

Well tonight we ventured out and ate at the Cow & Bridge Thai restaurant. I had heard from many other families that this was a great place to eat. It was very good. Taylor enjoyed the noodles and spicy chicken. She loved eatting with chopsticks. On the way back to our hotel, right next door we saw a restaurant. We saw this guy with a net and here he was getting out the "fresh" fish from the INTEX swimming pool outside of the restaurant. So funny! Chad thought he saw the guy bring an eel out and Taylor wanted me to go take a picture of it. Then when we got back to the hotel Chad said, "I think someone was in here and fixed our bed again". Here, housekeeping found out that I had twisted my ankle outside of the hotel and left we a note that this medicine will help my ankle, it is some sort of lotion. I thought that was so thoughtful of them. We are very tired but trying to stay up so we get on China time. We aren't sure how to work the phones here so we might not be able to call home. But we are doing well. The people are so friendly. Wish you were here mom to enjoy this with us! Love ya.

Just Relaxing Today...

We are doing well. It is very nice here on Shamien Island. Very hot and humid. We went out and checked out a few of the sites. We met very anxious shop keepers eager to sell us things. I did break down and got Taylor a traditional Chinease dress for pictures, 2 pair of cute shoes, a movie and 2 t-shirts for $35.00. Hopefully that was pretty good. It is hard to know what are good buys and not. Figuring out the currency also is a little tricky... and Math was never my forte'.

The Victory is very nice, our room is nice as well. We are in a suite, but I have to say the beds are so uncomfortable. My back is hurting today. Taylors roll in cot with a 2 inch matteress was more comfortable then the traditional bed we have. They came in and put 2 blankets on the bed, so we will see if that helps. But really, I am just so excited to be here. The people here are very friendly and most speak pretty good English here. We stopped in several shops and where I bought Taylors things (Jessica's Place) she was very nice and asked all about what the US is like. It is funny because people really stare at Taylor with her light colored hair and eyes. They will come up and ask to take pictures with her or just tell her she is beautiful... Well Taylors eyes get big and she doesn't know what to say. She is shy around strangers so this is all new for her.

She has been a great traveler though. I can't complain at all. Right now we are relaxing in the room and will probably check out the pool on top of the hotels roof. It is very humid here so I can just imagine it will be sweltering up there. We did and go visit the White Swan hotel - Maggie you are right it is hard to beat. Our room is nice here but that hotel is something else. Very beautiful. I do wish I would have brought a converter.

We just finished having lunch at an Italian restaurant here on the island. It was called Dolce Vita (something like that). It was very good. I have to say I am a little nervous about the different foods here but so far things have been very good. There are 7-elevens here so we are able to get some familiar things. They even sell squid in packs like jerky. I have to keep reminding Taylor not to say, "OH GROSS"... when she see things. We did enjoy Starbucks today. Nothing like a little familiar so far away.

We have met many adoptive parents here. It is making me so anxious to get Aiden. I can't wait to just love him up. Everyone is so friendly since so many people who adopt stay here on the island. We met a family from Idaho and we may do the River Cruise with them on Wednesday. Well I am going to sign off. It is only about 2PM and I am feeling like it is 2AM our time.

Taylor had to test out the roof top pool here. It is different swimming on the roof of a hotel. You look out here and there are just tons and tons of skyscrappers and apartment buildings. The thing that is unusual here is they have new buildings with the old slum buildings. It is really interesting and I am looking forward to exploring off the island a little.

We Are Here!

Well I am not going to write alot, but we did make it! The flights all went smooth. It wasn't as bad as I thought, thank god for video games, portable DVD player and just plain sleep. It is midnight here right now so we are going to try and get some sleep. Tomorrow we decided to relax around the island we are on and then Sunday go shopping and on the Pearl River Cruise. There is a crib in our room already all waiting for Aiden. Okay, I am really tired so I better try and get some sleep!

Bon Voyage, Finally !

Well, it is 12:30AM and I am just about finished packing! We only have to leave at 5:30 in the morning! Just when you think you have everything packed you think about something else you need. This journey to get to this point has been so overwhelming. It is just amazing what you have to go through to adopt, but it will be so worth it in the end when we have our little precious bundle in our arms. For those adoptive parents who are looking at my bags and thinking, "OH my she way overpacked"... you are right, I can't help it. And to my family - guess what I even got a small fan in there (in my family no one can travel without a fan). Now hopefully it will work with the converter over there!
It has been nonstop this week trying to get everything done, so sorry if I was not able to email everyone back who emailed me or called. I REALLY appreciate everyone who has called and wished us well. I am still amazed at the great friendships that we have made over this past year. It has been such a blessing. Maggie - you are so sweet and wonderful. I appreciate the "goodie" box you sent to us, and that hand held fan will come into good use! Lynn, I can't wait to meet you in Guangzhou. And then all the parents I "met" online from the Foshan orphanage group. THANK you so much for all the pictures that I was able to get over this past year from you all who visited. Connie you are so wonderful and sweet (check out her blog under Kalebs blog on the link side).. this was Aidens best friend.

I do wish my family could be sharing this moment with us, but it didn't work out. I do feel like that little part is missing, but I am thankful that Chad is able to make this journey with us. Also, Heather my sweet sister, I am so glad your baby is doing well. I have been praying for Leah and listening to that song, "I am the God that healeth thee"... thank God for his blessings on your little girl that she is wonderfully healthy.

It has been a long journey! 2 years ago we started this process and alot happened in that time. Chads cousin Jan, really got me thinking about adopting - she has the sweetest little girl Marlee... so thanks Jan for all the words of wisdom. It is amazing that RED THREAD.
Well I guess I better try and get a few hours of sleep. Hopefully I will be able to post to this blog. If not I do have a journey to me site I used for when Chad was overseas and could not see this it is: http://www.journeytome.com/journal_view.cfm?journalid=2082

Taylor has been really excited tonight and I think scared of what a new sibling is going to mean to her. But she has alot of love in her heart for him. She made she we had videos that he might like, a ball for him and then lastly she said she wanted to break in his bed for him tonight so she is sleeping is his toddler bed. She said to me tonight, "Just think, he will never have to see the inside of an orphanage anymore"... I can't imagine what it is going to be like to see him and just love him. I don't know how I am going to hold it together at that moment.

Travel Information

I thought I would post our travel information, since I have had so many people ask me where we will be when. Thanks so much for all the emails, we appreciate it. We have met so many wonderful people along this journey. If anyone reads this who has gone to China and has any advice on what or what not to do, please feel free to email me. There is nothing like hearing from people who have "been there done that".

Final travel schedule:
8/28 NW657 leave Newark at 9:01 am, arrive Detroit at 11:11 am (seat: 16D/E/F)
8/28 NW11 leave Detroit at 3:40 pm, arrive Tokyo at 5:35 pm on 8/29 (seat: 43A/B/C)
8/29 NW27 leave Tokyo at 7:15 pm, arrive Guangzhou at 11:00 pm (seat: 27A/B/C)
9/12 NW28 leave Guangzhou at 8:20 am, arrive Tokyo at 2:00 pm (seat: 26A/B/C/D)
9/12 NW12 leave Tokyo at 4:15 pm, arrive Detroit at 2:45 pm (seat: 39D/E/F/G)
9/12 NW648 leave Detroit at 5:04 pm, arrive Newark at 6:59 pm (seat: 16A/B/C/D)

Itinerary:
8-29 arriving in Guangzhou, meet guide at the airport, check into the
Victory Hotel (suite at the West Annex, one big bed and one added bed
for your daughter)
8-30, During the day do some sightseeing and shopping, Pearl River
Cruise in the evening
8-31, Ann with Red Thread - shopping
9-1, meeting with Zigang in the afternoon
9-2, adoption registration and notary
9-3, applying for passport
9-4, visiting the orphanage in Fo Shan
9-5, visiting Bai Yun Shan Park
9-6, resting
9-7, resting
9-8, picking up the passport, visiting Chen Family Temple
9-9, Taking pictures for visa application and physical exam, visiting
Liu Rong Temple
9-10, applying for visa at 9:00 in the morning
9-11, visiting the zoo, picking up the visa in the afternoon
9-12, fly from Guangzhou back to the States

2 Weeks From Now....

2 weeks from now we will have our little guy in our arms. We leave in 10 days and will have a few days of travel and then relaxing before we get him. I feel like I am running in circles getting this and that down. So far I have a 2 page list of things I have to do yet. Today I was fortunate to get a few more pictures from a lady who just adopted her little boy Jack. She said the nannies told her that Aiden and her were "friends". As I look back on my adoption experience in the last 3 years it is amazing how many people I have met and formed friendships with from all over the world. I have met people from all over the US, Germany, Netherlands and Australia... and they held my son before me! I am thankful for the people who have been able to get me updates and pictures. You guys are great. Finally after all the wait we will be getting our little guy. We just can't wait!

I have heard comments about people wondering how you or if you can love a child that isn't your own. I can honestly say that I know we can. Children are such a blessing, for me it doesn't matter if they are born from me or not. I see that in so many adoptive families. I have heard people say that he is so lucky to be coming to our family but we feel like the lucky ones. I am so thankful to God, the director that matched us and my husband for pushing me to go forward.

Camp Johnsonburg NJ... looking a little tired

Taylor went with her friend Maddie to her church camp for 3 nights 4 days! I wasn't too sure how she would do but she did great. Gosh, it was harder than I thought not speaking to her for a few days. But I knew she would love it like I did as a kid. The only thing was she was starved when I picked her up...I mean starved. We had to stop at a hotdog stand along side of the road for her. (at 9:30 in the morning.) Just to update we leave in 10 days for our trip. We are so excited and busy. I feel like I have so much to do. I really need to start making my lists! This is what Taylor looked like when I picked her up in this video...

Chads Home & New Pictures of Aiden

We picked Chad up from the airport on Friday and it was so great. It is great to have him home. Now we are on the count down to pick up Aiden... about 3 more weeks till we leave. These pictures are from a wonderful mom from the Neitherlands who adopted her son from Aidens orphanage. It is amazing how many wonderful people I have met on our adoption journey so far. Aiden was sleeping and they were trying to wake him at first on the pictures... so he looks a little sleepy.