Beijing Baby!

So we made it to Beijing.  It is about 1:oo a.m. China time.  We were so thrilled that Finn slept most of the way of her first plane trip, slept through finding our luggage, slept through getting loaded up on the bus, slept through getting to our room, only to be awakened by the feel of a comfy pillow beneath her cute little head.  So needless to say it may be a long night.  We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow... We visit the Great Wall and the Summer Palace.  Should be an exciting day, praying for nice weather and a cooperative baby.  Hopefully we can get some sleep tonight. The Beautiful Guangzhou Airport.  The Beijing airport is really schmancy too.. don't know why I am so fascinated, may be lack of sleep. 

Finn's first airplane ride (first of many over the next few days as we make our way home) 

Wide awake and ready to go 1:00am in Beijing... Lord help me, my eyelids are heavy. 

Tomorrow Beijing!  Today was our last full day in Guangzhou.  We leave after our visiting the Consulate tomorrow.  Of course we had originally planned on Mina traveling with us, and I was really looking forward to our trip to Beijing, as I so wanted to have a photo of both of my "China girls" on the Great wall.  We will be in Beijing for 2 days. Right now I just want to be home with all my babies.  I am so homesick for my kids, I feel heartbroken.  I know I will appreciate the Beijing experience once we are home. It is a beautiful city, I think I will look at it with different eyes this year knowing Collin will be living there as an exchange student next year.  He is so brave, I don't think I could do it.  We will be doing a lot of traveling in the next few days we would appreciate your prayers.  


If you can get past the drool this is the cutest photo ever. 
Don't know where she picked up this habit, talking on the phone while waiting for our next appointment. 

In the lobby of the famous White Swan Hotel. 

Oh, those cheeks, who could resist. 

The "Red Couch" photo, a China adoption must.  I don't know why we have to put them through it.  

"Hey, if you stop crying they will let us outta here" 
Our entire travel group, what an awesome group of people.  We are so lucky to be sharing this amazing experience with all of these fun families. 

Busy day.

Fast Friends.  It has been so nice to have my "waiting buddy" here in China at the same time.  We have had a great time getting to know our babies, each other, shopping and eating in the past few days.  In the street markets looking for a deal. Sleeping through the zoo.  

We went on a Peal River dinner cruise this evening.  It was a beautiful night and nice to meet and spend time with more families and enjoy the sights.  

Portrait of a good Papa! 

Hangin' at the Six Banyan Temple with my new bud.  

Finn is always on the move. 

No baby, you can't tackle the people burning incense and meditating.. I know, so mean. 

Attack BABY... I remember worrying about how this poor little girl was going to hold her own at our house....  Girl is going to be just Fine! 

Keeping it Real!  Finn throws 10 second tantrums.  She is very easily distracted onto the next topic of business.  I have a feeling she will learn quickly this is NOT the way to get things done around our house.  For now, we still think it is kind of cute, kind of... 

Half way home..

Where did all these bumps come from?  The day we met Finn we questioned her caretakers about a few red welts on the back of her head.  We were told it was "heat rash"  We didn't believe that answer, but we were still very curious about where they came from.... Now we know.  When she is frustrated or doesn't get her way, she throws her self backwards into a full out "alligator death roll".   We had about 50 of these tantrums yesterday, and maybe only 2 or 3 today.. so a good day!  Hopefully we are done with these.  The dreaded Adoption Medical appointment.  Only made much better by the arrival of our friends.  We all have waited for a very long time to get our girls, we have grown very close during the wait and it is great to finally meet each other.  Looking so forward to spending the rest of the week together.  

Finn is very upset and definitely doesn't like people in white coats,  we really want to know how you read the eye chart in the background.  

The calm before the storm. 

Enjoying the scenery of the Pearl River.   Tomorrow we have a busy day of sightseeing! 

 We miss our kids like CRAZY, we love China but we are ready to be home with the whole family.  We love you babies! 

The LOOT !!!!

This is "Ann", Ann is famous in the adoption world for getting photos and info from each of the orphanages when she sends care packages to your child while you are waiting the painful wait.  She also will take you to the wholesale pearl markets and make sure you get the best quality pearls for the best price.  She is good!  See all the bags and bags of pearls, they all look the same to me, apparently not.... Ann, painfully inspecting each pearl.   Go girl, whatever you say. Baby's first Bling..It took a really long time for all the workers to hand string the pearls, not that Marc and I don't stand out enough, here he is walking around the pearl markets.. fussy baby, video camera, baby backpack strapped on, and an extra large beverage.  Do you thing he blends in? Thanks Ann, you Rock!Marc and Finn making friends in the markets.  People love to have their children talk with Finn and us.  What a beautiful Mother and daughter...

The Hard Part...

Today has been the toughest day thus far, the day that we are so lucky to have experienced, but the day that this fairytale like story that I have been telling starts. We visited Finn's orphanage and finding place today. My heart now has a few hundred new holes in it, each one is a face eternally etched. So many children, so many rooms, there is no way to spin it. It is just not right. We have seen a bit of a switch in Finn since this afternoon, she is grieving and testing us a bit. I know it is a good thing in the grand scheme of things. She needs to know that she trusts us and to trust us she will need to test us. It's not the easy rosy part, but thus far we have been the recipients of her beautiful indiscriminate love, we will now have to prove ourselves to her. These brave children, I want to take all their hurt, but my heart can't bear it either.One of the "baby rooms" at the orphanage. 

In front of the orphanage.  

"I'm Outta here"

This busy street was the beginning of our story.  

Finn loves to walk around and explore the island.  She can't get enough of the hustle and bustle.  She is so curious about everything and everyone. 

Tomorrow is an easy relaxing day, we are going to the Pearl markets with "Ann" the same woman that helped us send care packages to Finn while we were waiting.  

Busy day

We met the most amazing woman today, after breakfast we were walking through the park on Shaiman Island, watching the locals do ti chi and play badminton. The woman approached us and we started talking. She is grew up in Guangzhou, but actually lives in New York and Hong Kong. She was telling us about the history and traditions of China and then she asked if we wanted her to show us the way the locals live and eat. She was so excited to show us her city. We walked with her for about 2 hours as she showed us neighborhoods and markets, she explained how and why everyone lived where they did. Her ancestors had a silk factory right over the bridge from Shaiman Island. She introduced us to her neighbors and showed us the BUSY market where the locals shop for meat (or live animals), vegetables, and herbs everyday since most people don't have refrigerators. Here is a little bit of our spontaneously wonderful, priceless tour..

This woman is skinning (live) frogs for order, yummy!

Our new friend knows this woman, she washes her dishes and her vegetables in the water that runs down the alley.  She does not have running water in her home. 

Showing us the difference between the homes, and the significance of the doors and the incense that is burned. 

It doesn't get fresher than this.  

The man in the yellow shirt is from Tibet.  He was trying to sell all the locals exotic herbs to heal all that ails them.  A current day "medicine man".  I didn't understand exactly what he was saying, but he sure was a story teller.  

"Our friend" knew this gentleman too.  He was very nice and posed for several pictures.  He sells pork to all the locals who buy their meat from him every day.  There is no need for him to refrigerate it because he knows exactly how much he will need every day.   

The rest of the day was pretty exciting too..

We scored huge points by introducing Watermelon to Finn..  

Making new friends. 

I thought it was so cute when she spotted the paper and pen and knew EXACTLY what to do,  her first masterpiece!
Had to take a trip to the herb and pet market too.  I think it is so crazy interesting.  Our guide was telling us how you go to the doctor here and the Dr. writes you a prescription on a little white tablet of what herbs to buy and to put into your soup to cure you illness.  
But the dried lizards, those are just to put into your steamed rice.  Who's coming to dinner???
Does PETA have a toll free #, wonder if they have ever been down the several blocks of pet markets??? That's all folk's