Catch up Part 1- The red couch and last days in GZ

We got a little behind- I just this will be how it is from now on, trying to manage a baby and sneak in some computer work while she is sleeping. We were on our way home and unable to connect to internet at the late hotel we were staying at so here is the catch- up series.

Our last days in GZ:
Playing at the park in GZ.
Ready for her own wheels.
Tah- Dah! Princess's photo op.

The 3 of us- just needing the big bros to complete the picture. Coming soon!
All around the island where we were - people were taking pictures for weddings, promotions, etc. The buildings in the areas are nice backdrops. I have a bunch of these- but this was the funniest. Not sure but were they trying to use English? Her chalkboard answer was "ye!". Maybe that is Chinese, we meant to ask our guide.

On December 1st we woke up to the hotel completely decorated for Christmas. They must have worked all night and below is also the new hostess's outfits.

GZ day and trip to Buddist Temple

Last night were the fire works from the last day of the Asian Games here in GZ. We were told to stay close to the hotel and not venture too far. Apparently there are 16 million people that live here and more are here for the games. Our guide said "it will get crazy tonight." There were plenty of police on the streets, all was well. We heard the fireworks but that was the time that Joylin- miss fussy pants- didn't want to go to sleep, so we didn't want to over excite her.
Today we went to a Buddhist temple. It was lovely and very serene. We were going to a museum but the lines were too long so we were able to head back and get Joylin her afternoon nap.
We are all still doing well.
This is a funny face that she does- we don't know why but it makes us laugh.

We received our "Adoption Barbie" today. I was pleased at how well they matched me in the mother doll. Of course that was when I kept my hair blonde.

One of the temple towers.

Daddy and Joylin taking a break.


Incense prayers and Offerings for the temple.

Joylin and I making a wish by one of the statue.

Lots of flowers around the grounds.


I quickly snapped this. Kind of funny b/c he was on his cell phone.

This guy was amazing. He was painting ink pictures with just his hands.

A View of GZ from our window.

Tianjin To Guang Zhou Day 5, 6, 7

Sorry to not post in 3 days...We have been out an about, which is good. sorry this is long. I need to document better for her memory book.
Day 5 was more paperwork and some shopping. Day 6 was thanksgiving and we went to a nice restaurant had Peking Duck. You are suppose to eat the skin by rolling it (with chopsticks of course!) in sugar. It tasted good- different- greasy sugar. The Duck was good too a bit more greasy than turkey but still very tasty. Marian showed us how to wrap the duck in wraps with Chinese chives, cucumber and soy sauce.
We also went to Cultural street. Really neat stuff. We sent Kurt with Joylin back in a taxi so Marian and I could keeping looking around. Kurt is allergic to shopping. I think Joylin was enjoying herself- she got a lot of attention, yet was missing her afternoon nap.
Later that day , Marian and I took a taxi to the outskirts of town to her founding place. It was pretty emotional for me to see this place. We did run into an older lady that remembered Joylin. She keep saying- "nothing wrong with her but mouth." We figured that out too. She is a smart little girl. She is healthy- like an OX- her Chinese year symbol.

We made the transition to GZ. The 3 hour flight was delayed. Joylin was over tired to begin with and fussed on the plane. There weren't any extra seats and she was in our lap. we arrived at The famous White Swan hotel (famous for adoption families) at 10 pm. Our guide, Jason gave us a ton of information that neither Kurt or I could concentrate on- we are really tired. Luckily he wrote it down too so we were able to look at it in the morning.
The breaksfast buffet is quite spectacular. The goal is to eat enough here then skip lunch. At Breakfast, we noticed that there were lots of adoptive families here. We fit in! In Tianjin, we were stared at everywhere we went. Here you smile at all the adoptive parents.
GZ is much more "westernized" - we had a starbucks coffee (yum). Jason warned us that there are more police and security points right now for the Asian games which are happening here in GZ. He said there are about 16 million people here. Wow. I cannot say it enough how crowded and that there are ALOT of people in China. You can really feel it walking around. I have been to NY city during many summers and it is still not as crowded as here.

We had to do our medical examine today and her photo for an American Visa. She was awesome. she didn't cry once through the exams. we didn't have to do the immunizations b/c she is under 2(she actually has most of her shots except MMR). It wasn't as bad as we thought. They took some of her latest measurements - weight is at 16 lbs and she is 26 inches long. Maybe she ahs gained some weight with us? She sure can eat! We put her on cereal on day 2 and that seems to fill her up. There is another couple here with a 16 month old and she weighs 3x as much as Joylin.

Below are pictures from the last 3 days.
View of Tianjin from our hotel window. Look at that traffic- all day.

At cultural street entrance.

Kurt and Joylin hanging out at Cultural Street.











Look at my new outfit.









Our thanksgiving dinner- Peking Duck!
















Marian showing us how to wrap it.













Look I can eat my feet too!







Kurt loving the chopsticks....not!





Cutie Pie!


Daddy makes me belly laugh.


KFC everywhere - we didn't eat there.













Some pictures around Tianjin.













Love the Budda!

Local Paperwork- Day 4

The first night was a bit rough for all of us. She would wake up every hour- look around and cry. You know she was trying to figure out where she was. We had to wake her up in the morning too (you know it just seems wrong to wake a sleeping baby) but it was b/c it was the local appointments we had. Day 4 was all about local paperwork. Today we went to the registration office, notary, and police station. I couldn't take many pictures- those places are part of the gov.
The registration offices - gave us the certificate that we are her parents now. We took a family picture for the document. So officially the Chinese gov has legally given us her. The notary has to seal it all. We waited in the car at time since some of the places were so crowded.
We then went to the police station to start the paper work to get her Chinese passport so we can travel with her. We will pick it up on Friday. It is in her Chinese name. All these papers we received today are going to be very important next week and when we are coming through immigration in the US.
Our guide, again has been fabulous! She really has it down and we would not have any idea what we needed to do. The night before she goes through the papers we need to bring.

It took all morning- we arrived back at the hotel at 1 pm - just enough time to get her a bottle and all of us a nap. Joylin sleep until 4. We went to a great boiled dumpling place. Did you know dumplings can be steamed, boiled and fried?

Ok- I know what you really want to see...Here are a few pictures:

We had to wake her up.

It is official- We are her parents.

Playing while we wait in the car.




Daddy giving her some cereal. She really needs to fill up on more solid food.

This is our favorite. she is able to cross her fingers. We decided to make it our sign. Our forever family.


From gotcha day- her FF tied her shoes on. Can you see why?

Gotcha day- Day 3

Ok the post we all have been waiting for, but first some before stuff. We woke early again about 4 am. Luckily we were able to chat with the kids and my mom.

We were so nervous, it was amazing we could even eat breakfast. Marian met us to get $ exchanged and arranged for a driver to take us to the SWI.

We arrived at the social welfare institution of Tianjin at 10 am. We were able to take some pictures but we really wanted to meet Joylin. We were led to a nice room just for adoptions, signed some papers and before the camera was out two ladies came in with the most beautiful baby girl- our Joylin. It was love at first site for us. She just gave us "the Look". The look of who are you? She didn't cry but very cautious. She let us hold her, both Kurt and I. We were given a few gifts from the SWI and Marian is going to translate the nannies notes and a letter from the Foster family.

The picture we have as our update is actually pretty recent. She is a peanut. I would say about the size of a 9 month old. She weighs about 16 lbs and is 28"long. She is super playful and pretty easy going for the moment. She has a scar from surgery and we think her lips are lovely- a little like the Angelina Jolie look. We are so in love. I will provide more info on the next post. I want to get back to playing with her.
Here she is-our precious- Joylin!


She fell asleep in the 15 min car ride back.


Here is the Look.


And here she is laughing- love that drool...

More pictures...