Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Our Journey with An Zhen
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Pearl Market & Ice Cream
We ate at a McDonalds again today. It was great. i needed a break from rice & noodles. i reeeaaally needed a break.
Also, An Zhen had ice cream tonight. We think it's her first time to ever have it. She really liked it. i thought she might. It's so awesome to see your children enjoying something or having fun, especially when it's the first time. We had a good day, but we're ready to come home. One more full day in China.
Pearl Market
Here's An Zhen & her best friend Maya Li Taylor.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Clean Bill of Health
This morning she had her physical exam that is required before we leave for America and she got a clean bill of health. Her developmental delays/muscle tension seemed to be gone. This is an answered prayer. We had one question for him about a scar on her arm and were concerned about what happened but he said this was just from her Chinese vaccination ..they tend to look this way. An Zhen loved the doctors and spoke to them in Chinese grinning from ear to ear.
This afternoon all of the children in our group got a picture made on the famous "red Sofa" here in the White Swan hotel. Guangzhou is where all of the adoptive parents have to come in China before going before the US Consulate.. so traditionally they all get their picture made on the red sofa...hopefully we can add a picture of this for you to see..An Zhen and some of her friends wore their traditional Chinese dresses. Looking at all the babies on the couch together gave me cold chills...we finally made it after all the waiting!
There are 2 other children in our group from her own orphange in Anyong City. Hopefully we can stay in touch over the years. We received some film today from that orphange of her earlier days and can't wait to get this developed.
Now, just 2 more full days and then Thurs. we leave for home..Clifton and I have been singing the song "strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, wait upon the Lord, wait upon the Lord...over and over today...she loves it...especially the guitar licks that we add in there. Thank you for keeping up with us on the blog, thank you Bubba for creating this blog and for everyone's prayers....
And as for you eager grandmothers...you have your work cut out for you...and I need some help!..can't wait to see you! Love, Rozanne
An Zhen & Mommy
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Guangzhou Day 2 - i think
An Zhen and the Pearl River
Completing a sculpture. She's very talented.
Hide and seek in the park
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Guangzhou Arrival
Friday, March 20, 2009
Whaaat aaa Weeek
We went to the zoo today. It was so much fun. An Zhen greeted everyone as they passed by & started every conversation in Chinese. It helped us to see just how well she knows the lanquage. She is very smart. Have we mentioned that yet? We will have to learn more Mandarin & have already learned some to communicate with her.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
An Zhen - day four
She's starting early. Jackson needs to teach her about the hand ball rule.
Zhengzhou is in the Henan Province. Henan has just started offering children for adoption. This city is not accustomed to Americans. We are probably the only white folk in town. People are always looking at us, like what's the deal with these Americans with Chinese babies. People even take pictures of us when we're walking down the street. And that's another subject. There's more people on bicycles and mopeds than there are people walking. There not out for a leisurely ride. They're going or coming from work or wherever. Young & old, college students & business men & women, all going somewhere with much urgency. It's a little dangerous if you don't watch where your going. They all ride on the sidewalk. It's pure craziness.
We hope you are all doing good. We miss everyone and will see you soon.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Zhengzhou with An Zhen
a description of traffic in China. Nothing like the USA.
from Jingle Bells & Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Look at my baby. Trying on mommy's sunglasses.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Day 2 with An Zhen
accommodations are very nice.
Look at our beautiful baby. Later today, after she rolled on the ground, this outfit turned brown.
Taking a little break while daddy does paperwork.
Monday, March 16, 2009
An Zhen - the first day
She is coming around here. i can't believe we've got her. She has got my heart turning flips. She is so precious. Words cannot describe what i'm feeling right now. She loves her mommy and will not let her out of her sight. She loves daddy, but he is more like a toy that she likes to play with only if mommy is close by.
More paperwork tomorrow morning and then shopping at the Lotus Center (like Wal-Mart) in the afternoon. i'll send more pictures soon. Please continue to pray as i try to make the transition from toy to the love of her life.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
An Zhen Cornelius
An Zhen is beautiful and very healthy..she has grown a lot since the pictures we had. She was hysterically screaming and crying for the first 30 minutes..but once we walked outside she was great ...thanks to the Dora the Explorer hairbrush we brought...lots of cherios, lollipops, small cakes, and pink teddy blanket but she is crazy about the Dora hairbrush! she likes to hit Clifton on the head with it and brush my hair....i can't wait for you to see the pictures...this entire day has been incredible...i was crying when i saw the other moms getting their children and then when An Zhen came walking down the hall holding her nanny's hand...i recognized her at once...our baby!
This day is incredible!!!!
The Last Night in Beijing
This morning we left for Zhengzhou and arrived here at 1:10 pm. All of us are talking about how nervous & excited we are that we get our babies in the morning. We are scheduled to get An Zhen at 10:00 am in the morning, which will be 9:00 pm on Sunday night in Corinth. Please be praying for us.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Great Wall
We also went to a porcelin factory and jade factory. There is lots of history and Chinese beliefs tied in with this. Our Guide told us we must take home at least one piece of jade for our child. The Chinese believe that you must surround yourself with jade from beginning of life to end. We chose for her handmade jade stamp that has her English name and her Chinese name engraved on it. He engraved it right there in about 2 min. It was interesting to see how this dialect pronounces her name...different from what we had heard before. Her name means "pure", as in spotless.
We also visited the Olympics venues, The "Bird's Nest" and the "Water Cube". Check out this picture of Clifton...the entire area was transformed for the Olympics.
Tonight we are going out with Shane and Kathy our friends from Seattle. He is a church planter and is pastor of a new church in that area. They have 2 boys and are adopting a 20 mth old on Monday, like us. We are going to the Night Market ...hopefully taking a taxi instead of Rikashaw...you know that story...catch up with everyone tomorrow night.
Love, Rozanne