We had Kaitlyn read the Chinese words to us
At the Museum in front of a Dinosaur!
Yellow River on a Sheep Skin raft
Playing "Frogger" crossing the road!Friday, September 19, 2008
Day At The Museum
For my 3rd grade class: Some of the food is WAY more spicy here. Think of the hottest food you or your parents have ever eaten and times that by 100!! Kaitlyn's soup made her sweat to death at lunch today, and she can handle a lot! We plan to bring back a jar of that crazy hot stuff Kaitlyn likes so she can add it to her Top Ramen! We will also bring back Chinese money for you to see as well. I miss you all very much and look forward to sharing pictures and more of our experience here. I think the first day I come back we won't do any "school" work and just talk about China!!! Sound good to you?! I know you cannot see the still-shot photos from the school computers, but you can on your parents computer at home. Ask Mrs. Barter to give you our blog address. I cannot access "photobucket" to make slideshows, but have asked my sister-in-law to try and load them from Arizona for me. Hopefully it will work soon!! Funny fact: Did you know toddlers don't wear diapers here!? They wear pants with a big slit in them and they just open the slit wide and go to the bathroom without taking their pants off! Crazy-funny huh?! I will try to get a picture if I can!
Today, we went to a famous museum. (We only had a heart attack several times as we drove there!! Holy smokes! It is totally insane the way they drive here! The is no stopping for pedestrians and they just cross the street in front of traffic weaving in and out. The drivers don't pay too much attention to lanes-I thought we were going to have a head on collision several times and they like to tailgate about 12 inches behind other vehicles!! Crossing the street is like the video game, "frogger"!!! ) The museum had dinosaur bones and replicas, pottery, Chinese artifacts, etc. It was really interesting, but Kaitlyn got bored and tired of walking. Then we went to the famous waterwheel park and Austin and Kaitlyn got to float on a raft on the Yellow River... which actually looks more like Brown River! LOL! We ate lunch at Pizza Mira - the pizza was really good (and I don't really like pizza too much). Kaitlyn had a bowl of spicy noodles and all kinds of "other" things in it! She eats like a horse! :) Eric & Lorraine: We haven't been able to find scorpion or starfish on a stick to try, but we're still open to it!
Kaitlyn slept in the other room on her own bed last night and stayed there the whole night! Praise God! I got a full 8 hours of sleep last night which was beautiful. I was so tired, I actually fell asleep at the computer waiting for pictures to load! Tim saw me all hunched over the desk and called me to lay down. Who knows how long I was like that - there aren't clocks in the room! I slept great, dispite our bed that's like sleeping on a box spring without a mattress... try it at home, and you'll get a small taste of what Chinese beds are like. They say the harder, the better quality. We're in a "quality" hotel! LOL!! We finally got smart and asked for two extra comforters to sleep on top of!
Today, we went to a famous museum. (We only had a heart attack several times as we drove there!! Holy smokes! It is totally insane the way they drive here! The is no stopping for pedestrians and they just cross the street in front of traffic weaving in and out. The drivers don't pay too much attention to lanes-I thought we were going to have a head on collision several times and they like to tailgate about 12 inches behind other vehicles!! Crossing the street is like the video game, "frogger"!!! ) The museum had dinosaur bones and replicas, pottery, Chinese artifacts, etc. It was really interesting, but Kaitlyn got bored and tired of walking. Then we went to the famous waterwheel park and Austin and Kaitlyn got to float on a raft on the Yellow River... which actually looks more like Brown River! LOL! We ate lunch at Pizza Mira - the pizza was really good (and I don't really like pizza too much). Kaitlyn had a bowl of spicy noodles and all kinds of "other" things in it! She eats like a horse! :) Eric & Lorraine: We haven't been able to find scorpion or starfish on a stick to try, but we're still open to it!
Kaitlyn slept in the other room on her own bed last night and stayed there the whole night! Praise God! I got a full 8 hours of sleep last night which was beautiful. I was so tired, I actually fell asleep at the computer waiting for pictures to load! Tim saw me all hunched over the desk and called me to lay down. Who knows how long I was like that - there aren't clocks in the room! I slept great, dispite our bed that's like sleeping on a box spring without a mattress... try it at home, and you'll get a small taste of what Chinese beds are like. They say the harder, the better quality. We're in a "quality" hotel! LOL!! We finally got smart and asked for two extra comforters to sleep on top of!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
A First Time for Many Things!
First, we just want to say thank you for all your comments. We look soooooo forward to reading them each morning - it's really good to hear from everyone! It means a lot to us!
We had a busy morning and afternoon today. Our guides took us to the park and zoo in Lanzhou City. Kaitlyn has never been to a zoo before and freaked out at many of the animals! She liked the smaller things like birds or fawns, but the jaguar, tiger, and bears were a little more than she could handle. She told our guides she was afraid they would bite her (even though they were in cages away from people). She liked the monkeys and of course the rides! She had never been on any rides before either and her face lite up like a light bulb! She was in heaven!
We had the most incredible lunch today! It was Lanzhou's famous beef noodle soup - which we later found out wasn't really beef... it was Yak!! It was probably the best noodle soup we've ever had! Kaitlyn put 3-4 heaping spoonfuls of this super red hot spicy stuff in her soup and gobbled it down. She loves her spice, vegetables and noodles!
It was also a day of testing mom and dad to see just what she could get away with. She has resorted to the behavior of about a 3 year old and wants me to do everything for her but feed her. I've read that's pretty normal and she'll get over it.... I hope soon. Tonight she will sleep in her own bed in the same room with Kailey and Austin. We can't take another night of constant movement, poking my body (if you know what I mean) etc. Everyone who knows me, knows I don't function too well on 3-4 hours of sleep!! Our guides came up to give us some important documents about an hour ago and explained many things to her on our behalf. The electronic translator works good for us to say short phrases to her, but she doesn't know how to communicate back to us. Our guides have shown her a couple times how to us it, but they say it's difficult for her to learn it. Thanks for your prayers! It all takes time.
We went to the local bookstore and picked up a few Chinese/American books, coloring books and markers. She likes to have things to do when A & K are reading or doing homework. Plus it helps with the down time in the hotel room. (Sheri... take some stuff like this when you come for your 10 yr. old next month! Also, get "The Oxford Picture Dictionary English/Chinese"on Amazon. I really wish we would've had time to order this before we left!). We also spend time having English lessons each day on starfall.com She's learning how to use the mouse and really enjoys using the computer! Well, we're off to some much needed sleep now... all has been quiet in the other room, so hopefully it will be a good night's rest for everyone.
We had a busy morning and afternoon today. Our guides took us to the park and zoo in Lanzhou City. Kaitlyn has never been to a zoo before and freaked out at many of the animals! She liked the smaller things like birds or fawns, but the jaguar, tiger, and bears were a little more than she could handle. She told our guides she was afraid they would bite her (even though they were in cages away from people). She liked the monkeys and of course the rides! She had never been on any rides before either and her face lite up like a light bulb! She was in heaven!
We had the most incredible lunch today! It was Lanzhou's famous beef noodle soup - which we later found out wasn't really beef... it was Yak!! It was probably the best noodle soup we've ever had! Kaitlyn put 3-4 heaping spoonfuls of this super red hot spicy stuff in her soup and gobbled it down. She loves her spice, vegetables and noodles!
It was also a day of testing mom and dad to see just what she could get away with. She has resorted to the behavior of about a 3 year old and wants me to do everything for her but feed her. I've read that's pretty normal and she'll get over it.... I hope soon. Tonight she will sleep in her own bed in the same room with Kailey and Austin. We can't take another night of constant movement, poking my body (if you know what I mean) etc. Everyone who knows me, knows I don't function too well on 3-4 hours of sleep!! Our guides came up to give us some important documents about an hour ago and explained many things to her on our behalf. The electronic translator works good for us to say short phrases to her, but she doesn't know how to communicate back to us. Our guides have shown her a couple times how to us it, but they say it's difficult for her to learn it. Thanks for your prayers! It all takes time.
We went to the local bookstore and picked up a few Chinese/American books, coloring books and markers. She likes to have things to do when A & K are reading or doing homework. Plus it helps with the down time in the hotel room. (Sheri... take some stuff like this when you come for your 10 yr. old next month! Also, get "The Oxford Picture Dictionary English/Chinese"on Amazon. I really wish we would've had time to order this before we left!). We also spend time having English lessons each day on starfall.com She's learning how to use the mouse and really enjoys using the computer! Well, we're off to some much needed sleep now... all has been quiet in the other room, so hopefully it will be a good night's rest for everyone.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
It's Official... She's Ours!!
"jvu;wrm,.asd sftuieesnponhyfgd adj". Those are Kaitlyn's words saying hi to everyone! She loves pushing the keys on the computer!
Today we went to get our family photo done and then off to the Civil Affairs Office to sign the offical adoption paperwork! It was much easier than we expected! Everyone was so nice and really took their time with Kaitlyn as she had to write in Chinese how she wanted to be adopted by us and wanted to come to America. She was all smiles and giggles... especially when she got to make her handprint on the official documents! When we left, I was overcome with emotion and got all choked up as we walked out the doors to the bus. I was telling my friend Susan this in the elevator back at the hotel and the tears started to well up again! I just can't believe this is finally it! After such a long wait - our family is complete! The joy is overwhelming! She is doing incredibly well! I thank God constantly for His blessings upon Kaitlyn. She seems so happy and thrilled to have us as her family!
She arrived with a sore throat and we were able to buy both "Western" medicine in the form of capsuls and Chinese medicine she drinks mixed in warm water. She swallows pills no problem and she likes the green, smelly powder mixed in water. It seems to be already helping her. Chinese kids are not used to drinking anything cold. They like warm water and warm milk. I guess she told our guides our water is too cold. Now we heat everything up and she loves it!
We went shopping at the mall today as well. What an adventure!!! We get many stares from everyone. They seem amazed that we have blonde hair and three children... especially one Chinese child! She literally dragged me to the stuffed animals, then the pretty clothes and toys. We got her a pair of jeans - she is much smaller than we thought. She looks about the same size as some of my third grade girls... maybe even second grade. She calls us Ma Ma and Ba Ba all the time and it's just music to our ears! Tim was even the first one to get a kiss from her! It was so sweet... it was a touching moment as she started giving kisses to Tim first, then me, then Kailey and Austin. :)
Her night time routine cracks me up! She pulls my arm to the bathroom and points to the bathtub. She wants me to give her a bath, then she dries off and gets dressed in the bathtub. She smiles and giggles the whole time! Then she wants me to comb her hair and carry her out of the bathroom. It must of been her routine in her foster home... oh, did I mention that earlier?! She has been in a foster home for the last 3 years and was only returned to the orphanage 10 days before we got her. I'm glad she had the experience in a home. They said it was a kind home. She's known for about a month that she was being adopted. I'm being fed potato chips by her as I type! Too funny! Tim is being a total ham with her! She's VERY ticklish!
She sleeps between Tim and I and is a total wiggle-box. Can I just say Ambien?! When she settles, she is very cuddly. She laid on my chest and flopped her leg over mine. At other times she like her head right next to mine. Again, we're so thankful she is this comfortable with us so fast - it's truly amazing.
Today we went to get our family photo done and then off to the Civil Affairs Office to sign the offical adoption paperwork! It was much easier than we expected! Everyone was so nice and really took their time with Kaitlyn as she had to write in Chinese how she wanted to be adopted by us and wanted to come to America. She was all smiles and giggles... especially when she got to make her handprint on the official documents! When we left, I was overcome with emotion and got all choked up as we walked out the doors to the bus. I was telling my friend Susan this in the elevator back at the hotel and the tears started to well up again! I just can't believe this is finally it! After such a long wait - our family is complete! The joy is overwhelming! She is doing incredibly well! I thank God constantly for His blessings upon Kaitlyn. She seems so happy and thrilled to have us as her family!
She arrived with a sore throat and we were able to buy both "Western" medicine in the form of capsuls and Chinese medicine she drinks mixed in warm water. She swallows pills no problem and she likes the green, smelly powder mixed in water. It seems to be already helping her. Chinese kids are not used to drinking anything cold. They like warm water and warm milk. I guess she told our guides our water is too cold. Now we heat everything up and she loves it!
We went shopping at the mall today as well. What an adventure!!! We get many stares from everyone. They seem amazed that we have blonde hair and three children... especially one Chinese child! She literally dragged me to the stuffed animals, then the pretty clothes and toys. We got her a pair of jeans - she is much smaller than we thought. She looks about the same size as some of my third grade girls... maybe even second grade. She calls us Ma Ma and Ba Ba all the time and it's just music to our ears! Tim was even the first one to get a kiss from her! It was so sweet... it was a touching moment as she started giving kisses to Tim first, then me, then Kailey and Austin. :)
Her night time routine cracks me up! She pulls my arm to the bathroom and points to the bathtub. She wants me to give her a bath, then she dries off and gets dressed in the bathtub. She smiles and giggles the whole time! Then she wants me to comb her hair and carry her out of the bathroom. It must of been her routine in her foster home... oh, did I mention that earlier?! She has been in a foster home for the last 3 years and was only returned to the orphanage 10 days before we got her. I'm glad she had the experience in a home. They said it was a kind home. She's known for about a month that she was being adopted. I'm being fed potato chips by her as I type! Too funny! Tim is being a total ham with her! She's VERY ticklish!
She sleeps between Tim and I and is a total wiggle-box. Can I just say Ambien?! When she settles, she is very cuddly. She laid on my chest and flopped her leg over mine. At other times she like her head right next to mine. Again, we're so thankful she is this comfortable with us so fast - it's truly amazing.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Gotcha Day Pics!!
Trying on her new shoes!
She loved the light up toothbrush!
She really likes her Ge Ge!
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