Trick or Treat!

Tonight we celebrated Halloween for all the kids on the trip. The hotel put on a special buffet and even decorated with Jack-o-lanterns. The kids all dressed up and then went trick or treating between hotel rooms. They cleaned us out!! I think they did pretty well considering they used the elevator to get around and the effort on their part was minimal!! Ha Ha Here are some pictures of Halle dressed up for the occasion. She is so active! She wriggles around and always has to know what is going on and who is doing what and oops, I think something might be happening over there... we gave her some more solid food today in hopes that she starts to get filled up and doesn't need a 1 am feeding anymore. Tonight she had carrots mixed with applesauce. She was wearing an orange shirt so we figured orange food would be okay. She loves her food!! She was even grabbing the spoon from my hand and ramming it into her face. Yeah, she missed her mouth and got carrots up her nose. She laughs and giggles and is generally quite pleasant. The clothes police nabbed me in the restaurant we went to for lunch and told me to put her coat and hat on her...inside the heated restaurant in an already sub-tropical location. When I didn't act on their advice, they grabbed her clothes and just put them on Halle. It was interesting and caught on film. I'll have to get those pictures from the person who was witnessing the baby clothing infraction. Here are some pictures from halloween. I am very tired again so I think I'll end the post here.

Adoption Day!!

It's official! Halle is ours....she signed her agreement with a little red thumbprint on the adoption papers!! What a day! (you may just want to scroll down and look at the pictures cause this is a long post!!) We almost didn't make it to the bus to actually get to the resgistration office. The former president of China was staying at our hotel and no buses were allowed to park in front, only BMWs, Lexus, Peugots etc or so it seemed. Anyways, it seems like Alan's watch loses about 5 minutes everyday so by the afternoon we are always running late. Without seeing our hotel, this will be difficult to explain...it is built into the side of a cliff and on one whole side you actually have a cave view from your room. When we want to go to the lobby we have to go up to the 11th floor. Crazy, I know. So anyway our bus was at the first floor level...and we were on the 11th. You can't even see the ground from up there because the hotel kind of sprawls out over the side of the cliff. So we run (as fast as you can with a baby) across the lobby level parking lot to another building that looks identical to our hotel and take the elevator down to -1F (I think that means basement) to the drop-off loop. We look and there is no bus. We hear yelling and realize it is directed at us and look waayyyyyyy down the street and finally see the bus. We have to play frogger at this point (while having the crossing signal indicates safety...NOT!!) while carrying a baby, all our documents, a diaper bag and gifts for the officials. Meanwhile policemen were shouting at the bus to get moving. We were a mess!!! We did make it and we weren't late. There is actually more to this story but it was so crazy I don't think anyone could follow along without diagrams and finger puppets, oh and a big bus. Here are the pictures from the day!!

"When I call your lame please come get your daughter."

Daddy's first post!
Where do these new parents find time to post to their blogs? I'm still trying to figure out where to put the thermometer. It has been an amazing first two days. Anyone who knows me will tell you I am emotional rock but I will admit that I must have got some dust in my eyes when they called our lame and handed us Halle. They brought the kids in the room and they walked right by. Halle was laughing and waving her arms. I am pretty sure that she winked at us. We were the first to be called and Juanita was already on her way to the front. I felt the others look to as if to say get your ass up there so we can be called next. It took a moment to register that we were up first. It was like be in the first row at one of OPRAH's shows. I have to admit that the rest is kind of a blurr. We filled out our paper work as I struggled to remember my name and address... What has this poor child got herself into.
I'm off to figure out which combination of clapping and whistling makes her poop. We have had two successful attempts but they were in the middle of the night and I am not sure which combo of frantic whistling and clapping did the trick.

Baba

Conversion...

...just ain't for money and databases!! Someone, and I won't mention who but it isn't someone who doesn't need a curling iron, neglected to put the converter on the adapter part and plugged the curling iron right into the outlet...After a relaxing shower this certain someone dried their hair and then proceeded to start curling their hair. 220V ... 110V... as long as the prongs fit, right? Have you ever smelled hair sizzling or felt the crispy texture of fried human hair? It's nasty.

I realize this post has nothing to do with our adoption but it has made the journey a little more entertaining. My camera is also locked in this certain someone's room so you will have to wait for some new pictures. hope this story kept you entertained.

Breakfast of Champions!!!

Well, it was a good first night for Miss Halle Mei Heng!! She fell asleep pretty much on schedule. We did end up going to Pizza Hut for supper (that broke so many rules Alan and I have about travelling in foreign countries but it was the first thing we had to eat all day. We made an exception!!) Halle was the only baby there. She was soooo good. She loves the hip carrier we borrowed from Jamie, Alison and Camdyn (thanks guys!). Halle woke up around 1 am for another bottle. She ate it like it was the last one on earth!! Then she was wide awake. She was laughing and talking and playing peek-a-you. Yes, I know it's boo but that sounds like 'no' in Mandarin so we switched it up so she doesn't think we're out to lunch (anymore than two strange caucasians can be to her) by saying 'NO' all the time. This morning we got up and had breakfast. Halle had a bottle, steamed egg and some pumpkin. She is so active it is a challenge to feed her. She wriggles and squirms and bounces around...I definitely see a Jolly Jumper in her future! She is a wonderful baby. Let's hope this personality keeps up!!!

GOTCHA DAY!!!!

Well, it is late here...like 9:30 or something and it has been a big day!!! We got on the flight to Chongqing around seven, landed, got our bags onto a questionable looking bus/truck/moped combo and then boarded a bus for the hotel. On the way, our guide, frederick, gave us a history of the city and the area. It was pretty interesting. Of course, it took until the end of the drive to find out when we would get the babies! They were going to arrive an hour earlier! exCITING!!! We had to rush and get some paperwork done, eat, get our room etc etc. We ended up going to one of the conference rooms to do the paperwork. It wasn't very long until the babies arrived!! It was very emotional and crazy and well, I am way too tire and to put the words eloquently right now. We saw Halle and she was laughing and smiling and talking! She is so beautiful! And happy and healthy!! She oves the toys we brought...especailly the crinkly book. It's a big hit. I promise to write more later but did I mention how freaking tired we are and Halle just went down for the count. She's totally asleep, arms over her head. Asleep. We are totally in love! Here are some pictures!!

We made it to China!

Hi everyone! Well, it has been an adventurous couple of days. The flight was, well, a three hour flight followed by a three hour layover followed by an eleven hour flight. You can imagine!! We arrive in Beijing and everything is under construction. We went out with the group for supper to a local Chinese restaurant. There were 27 of us and we sat at huge tables and just all shared a whack of food. There were definitely some dishs I hadn't tried yet!! There are a bunch of kids in the group and they are real troopers. Of course they are getting up at 2 in the morning to start the day but they have been cheerful. Tomorrow we leave for Chongqing!! We still can't believe that it is happening!! After all of this time, we are finally going to get Halle. Holy cow!! I should probably go get some rest 'cause we have to be on the bus to the airport at 5.

Packed!! (almost)

Ta DA!!!!!

Three more days...three more sleeps...three hour plane ride to Vancouver...three, three, three!!

Maud Lewis Prints are on the wall...

All the pieces finally came together and I put up the Maud Lewis prints in Halle's room yesterday. There are eight in all including the one we purchased that was already framed. I hope she enjoys them as much as I do. She's one of my favorite artists. Quirky and folky!!!

The new railing...

We are 95% finished the new railing. I think there are just trim boards left to do. That Alan is a crafty one!!!

Grandma's first blog post!!!!

Hi,
Lillian here, grandma that is, getting all excited about meeting Halle in just a week from now! I'm packing earlly so I'll be all ready and well rested, for there won't be much sleep during the trip.
Look for future posts from me.


***See video of attached post****

It's official!

We received our 'Notice of Travelling to China to Adopt' today! Thank heavens! Now I can rest easy and focus on not misplacing it!! Woohoo!

A nice surprise!

Yesterday afternoon my neighbors on the street got together and had a surprise baby shower for me (& Alan). It was a big set-up and I was totally surprised. About a week ago, Alan came home from walking Charlie and said 'Did you know we are suppose to have tea with Isobel on Sunday? (our neighbor from the corner that Charlie absolutely loves!!) He said that he must have had a conversation with her that he couldn't remember and had agreed to come for tea. Of course, Alan being somewhat forgetful, had me convinced. Anyways, I showed up yesterday and half the ladies from 'the bay' were there. We received so many nice gifts!! Halle won't need any clothes for a couple years! When I get new batteries for my camera I will post pictures. Halle got several new outfits, books, dishes, blankets, toys and stuffed animals. It was good to get all the ladies together because some people had not even met until yesterday!! :) Later that evening one of the girls from work stopped by with a gift for Halle too. Another outfit and a really neat book that changes into a floor puzzle. So much fun!!

TWO WEEKS!

You know you are crazy when...

...you start another renovation two and a half weeks before leaving for China to get your daughter. I think we have an addiction. Yup. We are sick. Is there a twelve step program for this? I imagine the first thing you need to do is get rid of the HGTV channel and then cut-up your Home Depot card. I guess then you'd have to ban Western Living magazine...Wow. The process for recovery is almost as much work as the renos....

Oh, we are replacing our railing....instead of dark wood with horizontal bars (easy to scale when you start to climb at 9-10 months) we are replacing it with maple and glass panels. Alan still has some fantasy of being able to watch TV while he eats dinner (I LAUGH!!!) ergo the glass panels. And I think it will look 'hot', not to mention safe.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Breathe in, breathe out...

THREE WEEKS UNTIL WE LEAVE!!!!

What can I say? I'm a LITTLE EXCITED!!!!

Cold water wash...tumble dry...

Last night I did a load of pink laundry...No the red dye did not turn the whites to pink. Everything was pink. Shirts, pants, sweaters and socks. Pink. Blankets. Pink. Towels. Pink.

I think Halle has enough pink. She will have pink colorblindness if new colors aren't added soon!! LOL

Halle Update!!!

I checked my email today and there was an email from our agency which contain 'Updated Biometrics' of our little angel and a picture of her from a couple of weeks ago...just after she turned 7 months old.

She is 16.5 lbs and 27 inches tall...or do you still say long when they are this age?!?!? Anyways, she has two teeth right now and will probably have more by the time we meet her. Her foot is 11 centimeters long. No worries-her ladybug Robeez will still fit! I think all the clothes we have for her will be the right size if the 'biometrics' are indeed correct. I only have 17 days of work left before we go. 25 days in general. And a full box of Hallowe'en candy to help pass the time...