When we received our TA (travel approval) from China on March 31st, our agency got busy trying to schedule the adoption appointment with the provincial authorities in Guangdong Province. Success on Monday, and since then, our agency has been working on the US Consulate in Guangzhou. We need an appointment for the Consulate staff to review immigrations documents, followed 24 hours later by a swearing in. Once that formality is finished, we can go home!
But until then, no airplane tickets. No hotels. No firm, final plans.
On the up side, we have decided to tour in Beijing for 3 days before we fly to Guangzhou to pick up our daughter. This will allow us to get over at least some of the jet leg. We'll also learn how to work with guides and translators. Among other sites, we hope to visit a typical hutong neighborhood--these are disappearing from Beijing as a result of development. I also want to try Peking (Beijing) Duck at one of the restaurants known for this. We will visit the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and possibly other sites.
Preparations continue on the home front. We are shopping, shopping, shopping. Discovered a great website for baby gear called One Step Ahead. We purchased a sling bookcase (pictured here),
which is just the right size for toddlers and young kids to peruse and select from. Also apparently will not topple even when scaled by a young'un!Our "fellow" Suixi SWI parents group has been a fantastic source of information about our daughter's SWI (orphanage), what to take, what not, what to expect, and how to cope generally during 2-3 weeks in a hotel room with a new baby. We are learning skads of new things every day.
We are still seeking advice on kid challenges like teething, using pacifiers (or not), and when/how to introduce a sippy cup. All free advice welcome! Use the comments section, and help us out!
4 comments:
Well - love the bookshelf - was actually going to get it for you - hmmmm - do you need 2 - it's still on the list...Please advise.
As far as traveling w/ Jenny - she will be much more resilient than you...just remember that!
Love you,
Aunties Maria & Jackie
We do want two, actually.
As for the resilience thing, thanks for the heads up. I pity our fellow passengers already.
Dave and Kris
Elena was great on the 15 hour or so flight home. She just wanted to EAT and drink. Jacob, well he was restless and anxious and walked and walked and walked.
Happy you are almost traveling! Great Great News!
Love,
Maria
Wow, reading about the many plans you've been making has made me a little nervous and tired. I can't imagine how you're feeling so close to the date!
In my aikido group before I moved there was a couple who adopted a Chinese girl (or had her adopt them, as you say). So I got to see the process close-up there, and also watched her grow up with Emma. She was such a sweetie. I can't way to see more pictures and news when you have your Jenny home with you.
I'll be thinking about you come May and hoping everyone is well!
Post a Comment