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WE ARE HOME!

We've been back on Texas soil for about 24 hours and I have never loved Houston or my house with pink carpet more! Here are the first images of the new sisters meeting at the airport! Cuties!







Santa visited last night...we made special arrangements with him before we left. :) More later...

Goodbye China, for now...

We will be on our way to the airport in about 17 hours. I'm glad to be going home but it is a little sad too. China has given me the two best gifts...my two beautiful daughters. And while I can moan and groan about what I miss about the USA and all the things I don't like about China, the truth is that I have benefitted from their family planning laws that seem so unfair to the families here. I can't help tonight but think about the women who gave my daughters life. Both of them are probably just a short distance from me right now and they may be wondering what has become of the babies they carried and gave birth to. I wish that I could meet these women and tell them thank you. I am so blessed by what they have had to do or chose to do. I love them both very much.

These are my two angels, gifts from God:

Lena


and Macey


I will be back in China one day. It may be just a few years from now, adopting another child. We haven't completely ruled that out. But most likely it will be when my daughters are older, to come back to the country of their birth. I want them to be so proud to be Chinese and learn to honor and love their culture and heritage. It is the one gift I can give to their birth mothers.

Goodbye China, for now...

...I'll post again when we get home!! Please pray for our safe travels.

The home stretch...

It's Friday here in China and we leave tomorrow. We're on the home stretch now!

We go to the consulate today at 3 pm to take our oath and receive Macey's visa. Then we are DONE! We have nothing else to do today but hang out.

Last night we played in a game room in the hotel with another family. They had little rides for the kids but Macey was too scared to ride them. She did play a racing video game with me but all she did was steer me into the walls! :) We came back to the room and just goofed off. Macey and daddy played with her little bracelets and she was wearing them on her ears like earrings. It was so cute! Daddy played a little keep-away with her too. He is already teasing the poor child all the time.

I brought crayons with us but never gave them to her until today. She is really liking them and playing so well with them. They are a hit!

Tonight we will have one last dinner at Lucy's Bar and Grill...they have a happy hour on Friday! Yippee! I don't drink beer so I guess I'll try one of their margaritas or some wine. We are going with several other families who are leaving tomorrow. One last get together before we go our separate ways. It has been a joy sharing this journey with them and we hope to keep in touch.

Have a good night in the USA...we are coming soon!

Macey wearing her "earrings":


I sure love this drawer!


Daddy already loves to tease me!


Loving my crayons!!

Clowning around

Today was uneventful. We walked just to the other side of Shamian Island to the local market area. We saw lots of herbs and dried "food" for sale. I put food in quotes b/c I wouldn't eat most of what we saw. There were ants, starfish, seahorses, and the like. We also saw live scorpions and snakes. I didn't bother with photos of any of that.

We just came back to the room to relax and Macey's been clowning around. I'm trying to capture her little personality in photos but she doesn't ever smile when I point the camera her way. I have to coax the smiles out of her. But I got some pretty cute ones.















This picture is for Lena. She wanted to see the crib where Macey has been sleeping. Nothing fancy!



We only have three more sleeps before we head home. It cannot come fast enough! WE MISS YOU LENABUG!

Christmas Day at Yuntai Gardens and the Guangzhou Zoo

First of all, last night we had Christmas Eve dinner at JM Chef. It was recommended by another adoptive mom and it was great! We had a boneless chicken, sweet and sour pork, green beans and rice. We also had tea and boiled peanuts. It was a great place to eat for Christmas Eve. Santa (well a Chinese man dressed as Santa) came in and greeted everyone. Macey didn't like him much, but she did like the candy he gave her. :)



Kevin was not brave enough to try the snake. They had some strange things there that you could pick out for dinner. Here are the snakes, turtles, and mud eels that were available:







This morning we went to Yuntai Gardens. Yuntai Gardens was made in 2000 to celebrate the new millenium. It is at the base of White Cloud Mountain, the only mountain in the city. What a gorgeous place to spend Christmas Day! Sorry, I have TONS of photos. They were all so beautiful I had to share them all.












































After Yuntai Gardens, we headed to the Guangzhou Zoo. My expectations were low but it was much nicer than I expected. Macey had a BALL there. The monkeys were especially cool to her. Here are a few from the zoo:















Oh and this is after we got back...Macey was worn out!



Merry Christmas from Guangzhou China! Just a few more days are we are headed home!

Medical Exam

Today, Christmas Eve, we had the medical exam that is required for Macey to receive her visa to enter the United States. I have to say that it was a breeze. Well, there were a lot of families there and some of the lines we had to wait in were long. But Macey was a total trooper...not one tear! Of course, she has been having regular checkups at the SWI for almost 18 months so I guess she is used to it.

Here's the biggest news...SHE IS 27 POUNDS! OMG! I knew she was heavy but she weighs almost as much as her 3.5 year old sister. She has been eating a little less the last few days. I think she finally trusts that we are going to feed her regular meals, there is no need to eat until she pops. :)

Tonight we are having dinner at JM Chef for Christmas Eve. I'm told by another mom that they have good chicken and green beans there. Kevin has been pondering having snake but we saw them alive in the place today and I think he may have changed his mind. Plus it was 200 yuan (about $27) and he's too cheap for that. Ha! I guess we'll see.

Have a lovely Christmas Eve back home! Here are medical exam photos:

Swan Room

Last night before dinner we took Macey to the Swan Room, a playroom sponsored by Mattel in the White Swan Hotel. This was our second visit there and she was definitely less tentative this time around.

To my amazement and pleasure, her favorite toy in there was the lego/mega blocks! Why is this so neat to me? Her big sister Lena LOVES these too!! She would build "towers" all day probably and they would reach the sky if we had enough pieces.

This may mean they can play for hours together with these things OR they are going to be fighting over them all the time! LOL!

I just had to share the photos b/c she was just having a grand old time and laughing her head off! Oh and just a note, she seemed afraid of a little plastic horse Kevin tried to hand to her. That should be interesting b/c she's getting a Little People farm set for Christmas!





















Merry Christmas Eve from China!!

Chen Family Temple

This morning we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the White Swan!! Yippee! After breakfast in Nanchang for six days, it was a welcome site. :) After that we went on a tour to the Chen Family Temple. From the internet... "The Chen Family Temple, also known as Guangdong Folk Art Museum, was built in the 1890s and has nine halls and six courtyards. Its windows, door frames, and pavilions are lavishly decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures. It is now the largest and best preserved and decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong province. The decoration combines wood carving, brick carving, stone carving, clay sculpture, ash sculpture, brass and iron foundry, grotto, new year painting, and other art forms. The special historical, artistic, and scientific aspects of the temple have made it an important attraction in Guangzhou."

While we were there, Macey wanted to get out of the stroller and walk. Well she ran all over the place! We had to chase her around. She was so excited to be out exploring. Eventually I had to carry her in the sling, which she wasn't too happy about at first.

After the Chen Family Temple we went to a government store and I bought a few things for folks back home. Then we had lunch at Lucy's. Macey is a fiend for corn on the cob so I ordered a side order of that for her. It comes on a stick and she has obviously eaten it before because she knows exactly how to eat it. She ate almost two small ears by herself, plus some of our guide's noodles and my sweet and sour chicken.

I'm trying to get her to nap now but the crib has little balls on the side that remind me of an abacus. She thinks they are fun and she plays with them instead of napping. She is going to be quite a toot when we get her home, just like her sister. But I can't wait!!

Here are today's photos:

Hello Guangzhou!!

No photos today...sorry!

This morning we flew from Nanchang to Guangzhou. I was so happy to see it!! Last time, we were in Guangzhou the entire time as Lena is a Guangdong baby. So I really felt at home on Shamian Island after two weeks there. Plus, it's so much more relaxed here and of course caters to adoptive families. Nanchang was nice to visit but Guangzhou is more my style. We already had lunch at Lucy's and are relaxing for a few hours.

Macey was a trooper on the plane, laughing and playing with the barf bags LOL! It was a very turbulent flight. Kevin fekt sick. But it was just over an hour, so very easy.

We have nothing planned tonight and we have a tour tomorrow. Medical exam is on Christmas Eve and we are going to try to go to church.

That's all for now. Pictures tomorrow..I promise!

Teng Wang Pavillion

Today is our last day in Nanchang. It is a cool place to visit, but we are ready to go. Flying to Guangzhou tomorrow will mean we are one step closer to home and to Lena, who is anxiously awaiting Macey's arrival. We are missing Lena terribly!

Last night we just stayed at the hotel and relaxed. Macey loved these gross cucumber chips!



Today is has been very rainy again. Our driver told our guide today that before we arrived a week ago, it had not rained in Nanchang for 4 months! But when it finally does rain, it usually rains for many days. Lucky us, huh?

We went this morning to Teng Wang Pavillion. It is a 12 story building that was originally built in the 1400s. It overlooks the Gan River, which runs through Jiangxi province. The pavillion was used as a watch tower when it was originally built. Now it is simply a tourist attraction. It was beautiful there.











We are just napping and resting now. Tonight we will pack up and get ready to leave. We leave the hotel at 7:30 a.m. to fly to Guangzhou. We have 7 nights in Guangzhou before we head home. You know the saying, "Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder"?? We are very fond of Houston and our house with pink carpet right now!

Bye bye Nanchang, Jiangxi!

Elephant Lake Park

Last night, our guide Veronica took us to a restaurant right next to the hotel. Can I just say YUMMY?!?!? It was such good food. We had fried rice, broccoli, shredded pork and a beef dish. The shredded pork was served with little tortilla-like bread, cucumbers and onions and you eat it like little wraps. It was my favorite. Macey ate a TON! I already realize that we will have to regulate her food intake when we are home. I think that if she sees food still on the table, she thinks she needs to be eating. We'll be leaving all food on the stove and bringing her a plate with the appropriate amount of food. We'll also be having her tested for intestinal parasites as many children in China have them. She has a big belly!! :)

This morning we went to Elephant Lake Park. It was beautiful. There's a
huge man-made lake and we saw many men out fishing. We also saw people doing tai chi. Finally near the end there is a Daoist temple that was just amazing. We were glad to be outside again and not couped up inside. Afterwards, we had lunch at a place called Prince Music Cookout. It was very good also, especially the green beans and potatoes.

I have to say that I am having a much better food experience this time than last. I don't know if my tastes have changed or if I'm just open to more things. Or maybe the food really is just better this time. I am ready for Western food though!

Here are photos from last night's dinner, Elephant Lake Park, and lunch today:

BIG dinner!!


Yields a BIG belly!


Elephant Lake Park and Daoist temple...beautiful!


















Today at lunch...I LOVE this pork on a stick!

Around Nanchang

Since we are the only family with GWCA in Jiangxi province, we have a lot of flexibility of what we can do each day. Today we were supposed to see a pavillion of some sort. But the weather has been very rainy and cold and we've been a bit couped up in the hotel. Finally today is nicer, both dry and warmer. We wanted to spend time outside and see some of real Nanchang. We talked to another family at breakfast that went to a "free market" yesterday. It is kind of like a flea market in the states. So our guide, Veronica, took us there and then we just walked all around that part of Nanchang. We bought a few things (Tom & Jerry PJs for Lena and some Mickey Mouse hair bows for both girls) but we mostly just enjoyed the morning people watching. Macey is sleeping now and we might go to a park later today.

We had McDonald's for lunch today. It was really yummy! Macey loves french fries like her jie jie. We all tried sweet taro pie there...very good!

Here are a few photos from last night and today:

Macey in her bathtub...she's not too fond of washing her hair yet!


I love my hair bow and sunglasses!


With our guide Veronica:


First trip to Macdonald's:


Mommy and Macey in Nanchang:


Mommy, Daddy and Macey in Nanchang:


Sights of Nanchang:

Shopping day

Yesterday in the afternoon Kevin walked around near the hotel and talked to a few locals. He is facinated with the culture, although mostly annoyed at some of the big differences (younger men do not allow women to go first, the Chinese crowd your personal space, most times they seem in a big hurry and will push and shove to get somewhere). He thinks they are rude but I think that is just how they are. Kevin is also amused at the traffic and driving here. Scary is all I can say about that!

Last night we had the dinner buffet here at the hotel. Totally not worth 78 yuan per person (about $10). We won't be doing that again. Then we just relaxed and played in the hotel room. Macey is very playful.

Today we went to the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Nanchang. It's very much like an American Wal-Mart, except for the baby chickens cooked whole and the squid. Yuck! No pictures of those as I was just grossed out. But we did buy a toy for Lena, some shoes for Macey, some snacks and a couple other little things. There was also a KFC inside the Wal-Mart where we had lunch. Macey gobbled down her entire mashed potatoes and most of her chicken nuggets. She fed a few to me & Kevin.

Macey's real personality is starting to come out. She falls to the floor and cries if she doesn't get her way. Temper tantrums are universal I guess! She is also laughing and smiling a little more each day. We are really enjoying her.

It is very interesting to see all the Christmas stuff everywhere and hear the Christmas music playing. Obviously it is a secular holiday only here. It's about Santa and gifts, nothing about Christ's birth. So strange to me since Christ's birth is the reason Christmas is so meaningful to me.

We are just relaxing for the remainder of today. The next two days we have sightseeing tours as we wait for Macey's passport to be issued.

Here are some photos from last night and today at Wal-Mart and KFC.

We are official!

Today, we officially became Macey's parents and she our daughter. It is a special day for us.

We started the morning with a big cry but it was over quickly and she hasn't cried since. She whines if she doesn't like something. She was a bit scared of daddy yesterday but has been much better today. She loves us both already and is doing very well. We have had many laughs today. She is loves to be tickled, just like her big sister.

We gave her first bath this morning and she did well, just fussed a little at water in her eyes. Her skin is really dry so I lathered her up. I put on a new Elmo outfit and she seemed very proud. She will mimic you...she brushed her hair a lot after I brushed it. So cute! Oh and she also loved the pockets on her jacket. She kept putting her hands in them and looking in the mirror. I'm not sure she has ever looked at herself before.

After first bath..I love my Elmo outfit!


I LOVE my pockets!


We went to breakfast after that. She eats really well, but when she doesn't want something, she throws it on the floor! We'll have to stop that! It's obvious she has used some utensils b/c she fed herself some congee with a spoon and ate some sweet potatoes with a fork. She's a big girl!

This congee is good!


Let me do it myself!!


We left after that to register the adoption and become official. There were three different stops and she got tired. At one point she was fussy and we gave her a bag of graham cracker sticks. She loved them and climbed up right in her own chair to eat them and watch all the busy activity in the room. Lots of kids were being adopted today in Jiangxi.

We are official!!




I'm liking my daddy better today.


With Director Zhou from Fuzhou SWI.


What a big girl eating a snack.


Well she is napping now and her daddy is out exploring Nanchang. I'm going to rest too. Wal-Mart is our destination tomorrow!

We have Macey!

We have Macey!  She cried A LOT when we first got her but is doing great!   More later!

Beijing sightseeing day!

Today was quite a whirlwind and I have lots of photos. First of all, Kevin and I were wide awake at 4 a.m. The time change is hard to adjust to. We were at breakfast at 6:30 and our tour wasn't leaving until 9. So we had time to kill and went strolling around the hotel. We found a McDonald's and a Subway:





Our tour began at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City:









This was interesting. The sign says "Do not pick the flowers." Do you see any flowers? Someone did not read the sign! :)



And I really loved this sign:



Then we saw a Cloisonné factory and had an AMAZING lunch at the Yulong Restaurant. I was surprised how much I loved the food there. It was a feast!!





Then we went to the Great Wall:







After the Great Wall, we came back to the hotel. We are wiped out! We are going to bed. Tomorrow we get Macey!!

BTW, these photos are from our hotel lobby, all decorated for Christmas. I had to share the Snow White one for Lena. I love you baby girl and miss you!





Oh, and I had to post this for MaryJo, Janet and Cheryl back home. Here's a squatty potty you guys!


Oh and in case any of you guys are concerned that you might ever be in China and need a "Little blue pill", they are available!



Good night from Beijing!

We have arrived!

We have just arrived and checked in. Tomorrow is the Great Wall and other sightseeing. We get Macey on Sunday!

The BIG day is here!

Today, Kevin & I leave for China to bring Macey Leigh home!! I am working on last minute packing and chores now and then I hope to get a couple more hours of sleep.

Itinerary is:
12/12-12/14 - travel Houston to LAX to Guangzhou to Beijing; arrive in Beijing at noon on 12/14
12/15 - sightseeing at Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square
12/16 - Fly to Nanchang - GET MACEY!!
12/17 - 12/21 - sightseeing and adoption hearings in Nanchang
12/22 - Fly to Guangzhou
12/22-12/28 - sightseeing in Guangzhou and all required adoption appointments to receive Macey's visa into the US
12/29 - Depart for home!!
12/30 - Arrive home at 5:40 a.m.!

Thank you all for your support and prayers over the last 8 months as we prepared for this day. I'll post as often as I can (if I can figure out how to set up the laptop in China!)

Love from,
Donna Kay and Kevin
DD Lena (3.5), Gaoming SWI, Guangdong
DD Macey (22 mos) waiting for us in Fuzhou, Jiangxi

Last night home:




Packing chaos:


Done packing:


Lena & Barney want to go too!

Snow flurry!

4 more days until we leave and this is our last weekend home. Lena has been asking about snow and thanks to another mom (thanks Allison) I learned that the Houston Museum of Natural Science was hosting "Snow Flurry" today. They brought in tons of snow for the kids to play with. Too bad it was about 80 degrees out and the snow was melting fast! Here are some pics from our fun day!

7 days to go!

Yes, you read the time stamp correctly. It is about 2 a.m. and I'm wide awake. Why? BECAUSE I'M LEAVING IN A WEEK AND I CAN'T SLEEP! So here are a few updates.

The packing has begun in earnest. I have boiled new nipples for the bottles. (I know Macey still takes a bottle from the updated photos I got a while back). I have run all the bottles through the dishwasher. I have begun packing Macey's toy type goodies in the little princess backpack I bought her. And I think Lena's trying to tell me something, like "Take me with you!"



Regarding Macey's room, we are about done. Thank goodness right b/c we leave in 7 days for crying out loud! Thanksgiving week, my mother-in-law and I went in search of an antique dresser for the room. We had learned of a shabby chic looking dresser painted an aqua paint. Normally I'd have said NO WAY but the bedding has aqua in it. The dresser was a steal, especially since Grammy paid half! LOL! It did have horrible knobs on it so I got new ones. Lena and I put them on last night. Oh, and the dresser needed some minor repairs which Kevin made a few days ago, again with Lena's assistance. What a helper!

Daddy working on the dresser:


Lena helping with the dresser repairs:


New knobs:


Finished product!:

We LOVE Christmas!

Just a few photos to show you how much we all love Christmas, even our dog Barney who apparently thinks he's a gift!

Lena and Santa

Thursday night we took Lena to the mall to see Santa. She had said repeatedly that she was not scared and would sit on his lap. Two years ago she screamed bloody murder. Last year, she handed him her list but would not sit on his lap. So I really wasn't sure. As you can see, it was not an issue this year!



She went right up and said, "Hi Santa, I want a Dora Mermaid." You gotta love that!

She knows we are leaving in 9 days to bring her sister home and I think she has mixed feelings. I've been frantically trying to get us ready to go. More soon...

Leaving on a jet plane!

We are official! Our consulate appointment will be 12/27, so we will leave for China on 12/13. I'm kind of in shock now that it's here. I really have a lot to do before we leave!