John and BJ at the Lake.

We have had a great day! We had the chance to see the Nanjing wall, Went to Xinhua Lake-which is just beautiful and had a group lunch.

I have a standard rule that if I don't recognize it and can't pronounce it I won't eat it. The rice was fine, tasty actually. The duck was too much, the duck head was left on the plate-just like in the Christmas story!

We are so amazed, and humbled to see this beautiful little boy start to blossom in front of us. He is shy with those he does not know. With us he is beginning to laugh, to clap and even took 2 steps for daddy today!

gym time Tuesday 3/24

We are finding Bj is totally willing to let us do "stuff " for him right now. We are also starting to see his little personality start to show up. I am excited to see the laughs, smiles and interaction with Baba or daddy.

He can cut his eyes to look at us and never turn his head! funny little guy.

BJ is not in a hurry to walk, actually I am not sure he is able yet. He will stand unassisted, however like his brothers, did at a year of age, will stand and not move. We have begun to help and encourage a step or 2 but so far he is not buying it.

God is good, I have felt robbed for so long of all of his first's- and isn't this so like God?? Still hearig my cries and giving me a first! BJ will be running after his brothers soon enough:o)

No, I did NOT eat at KFC, I thought about it...Burger King is next door, I might do that later in the week when I homesick for American food.

Well, today after time at Civil Affairs Bureau, both my boys "went tired" as Jarren says and took a nap. I jumped on the opportunity to grab some cardio time. It only took the monitor 3 minutes to show up at just the right time and help me turn on the treadmill. He disappeared for 30 minutes and I guess he thought I was on long enough because then he and one of his buddies showed up and they started talking. No big deal, I thought I will just keep running! They got louder.... When I was done, after 55 minutes, I smiled and turned the machine off.

I am very grateful at the Y people only stare when they want your machine.

Adoption Finalized

The Notary and finalizing of Documents

This morning we got up, ready to finalize adoption paperwork.
First things first, time for breakfast. We went down stairs intending to introduce Bj to "food"
He eats congee-very plain bland...not to appetizing. First we tried french toast, not interested.
Eggs, nope, watermelon n'yet.
I was a little surprized as I remember Jarren, the first to start eating and the last to finish, especially those first few days.
We tried pancakes and success! After the pancakes he was not interested in the congee at all.
Time to go to Civil affairs to finalized paperwork and interviews. At that time we get to promie never to abandon or abuse our baby and explain why we want to adopt Chinese child.
On the ride to the civil affairs office, I got the biggest kick out of watching John. He is the most cautious driver I have ever ridden with. In China there are no traffice laws, 2 lanes are really six, and pedestrians have zero fear of moving vehicles. We watched people just walk out in front of cars cross the street! We have seen u-turns take place directly in front of our moving van-now that was an eyebrow raiser. We even saw a bicycle with 4 PROPANE tanks on the back of the bike. The driver was just riding along, where ever he needed to go, again zero fear of being hit by a car:o)
Our adoption is finalized thank goodness, and gifts have given out-the first time(with Jarren's adoption) it was strongly recommended I bring Estee Lauder because that is what the nannies and director of the orphanage suggested. This time just like last time, every one got big Hershey bars. My good friend recommended it, reminding me that there were many more families just like me coming bearing gifts-so chocolate it is!
We are on our own for now, I am headed to the gym. I got to use the treadmill yesterday, that was interesting. I turned the machine on, and realized that the floor monitor was in there watching me. 45 minutes later 2 more people came in and just watched me for a minute or 2. We will see what happens today.

GOTCHA DAY!!

the Directors from Zhangjiagang CWI

Our newest addition, Benjamin John. We arrived at the adoption center at 9:30, along with seven other families. The noise level was pretty high, clearly heard on the video. One little girl was very upset, so we got the oppotunity to share our "shut up cookies" a gift from Susan. Called Shut up ccokies becasue you give the crying child the cookies and they shut up!

Here we are 9:30 waiting for our babies to come from the orphanage.

My tired husband looking for our bags, Tired and cranky are kind words.

Susan our guide was late to meet us, which meant it was necessary to locate our bags and find Terminal 2 for our next flight ALL on our own. Terminal 2 a totally separate building a shuttle 5 minute shuttle bus ride away.

Welcome to Beijing!!

Today was THE day:o) We got early, 2:30 am actually. After 26 grueling hours in the airports, and on the planes we were thrilled to be in our room. Yes, it is stifling hot in this room, but we opened the window and cooled things right off. When the plane landed in Beijing, the people on the plane clapped and cheered-that flight was so cold all of us were all grateful of the opportunity to deplane.

We are on our way!

Thursday morning, bright and early, we went to the Angie's, picked her up and off to the RIC, the Richmond airport.

I am so excited, not only to see BJ, but we get to spend the night with Ashley and Bub, and maybe get some sightseeing in, in Deridder.

Which by the way is tiny, and in the middle of nowhere. We had a wonderful day with our dear friends, ate lunch together, went to Ft. Polk, did and saw the tank museum. I knew we had to leave to get back to Houston,so I got a little anxious, I hate the thought of being away from the kiddos for 2 weeks.

the BIG day

OK, the big day is tomorrow, we are all feeling a little the pressure to make sure we don't forget anything!