Official Adoption day

The happiest mom in the world!
Laura had so hoped for a young baby and as you can see Li-Na is a wee girl and Laura is in her element cradling her baby in her arms. Li-Na has taken to the dummy and is feeding well so far. They had a good first night together and much less tears on day 2 together.

Daddy's girl

Mommy's girl Laura with the SWI director. Isnt Li-Na just so didi?

Eric with our lovely friend Rachel.

Group photo.

Got an update from Laura today....

The day started with the finalisation of the adoption paperwork and a notary visit.

Unfortunately Eric and a few others in the group either ate something or have a tummy bug and Laura was running around being unofficial nurse and GP, dishing out medicyne and mopping brows before they even left to start the day. Laura said the zip bags came in handy in the van : - ) . Poor Eric!! While doing the paperwork they met up and enjoyed chatting with a few people, mainly Americans who had adopted older children. Li-Na found the bus journey less traumatic second time around. Phew!!

When they returned to the hotel Eric went to have a nap and Laura played on the floor with Li-Na, hoping that the baby would agree that they had had an early start and a busy morning and that she would be just as tired and in as desperate in need for a nap as her mom was. Alas, so it was not to be and shattered Laura spent the afternoon gazing into her baby's eyes and playing lovely bonding games together. Laura's mom and her friend spent the afternoon exploring Guangzhou on their own, then they all walked up to Lucy's for supper with Li-Na in the baby carrier and Li-Na slept all the way there and all through supper and all the way home.

Laura says she is proud of herself for mastering her bottle making skills, while holding Li-Na in her arms. Li-Na has decided she likes to be in her Mom's arms and is not best pleased at being put down.

The lovely Rachel came to visit Eric and Laura in Guangzhou and thinks Li-Na is beautiful :-)

It has transpired that Li-Na's latest update is not all that accurate. She cant sit on her own yet, (but with her mom and dad's love and support, she will be soon), she is smaller than they thought, but tall (and growing fast), cant support herself on her legs for very long. But, her aunty Shawn can teach her parents lots of super developemental excersizes and it wont be long before she will be crawling, then walking, then running rings around her parents.

17 Sep 07, Li-Na meets her mom and dad

Li-Na with her Gran (Laura's mom who is there with them from New Zealand). Laura said having gran there has been a great help so far, as Laura can now focus just on her baby. Hooray, here is the first photo we have got through of Li-Na. Isnt she stunning??

I will do my best to retell the story.......

They arrived at the Guanghzou adoption offices with butterflies in their tummies. Laura said that as she walked past a door she had a feeling the babies were in there, so she took a little peek and scanned a room full of babies till her eyes came to rest on her little angel and she became overcome with emotion. They then joined a group of Americans who were also waiting to get their babies. The parents were called one at a time to come forward and receive their baby and Laura and Eric were about the 5th ones to be called. Li-Na did not cry when she was put in her mommy's arms for the first time. She grabbed her hair and stared into her eyes and explored the two new faces in front of her. They then got an opportunity to ask Li-Na's carers some questions. Laura had taken along a milk bottle in case Li-Na was hungry when they got her, but the carers told her that she had to make it thicker with added rice powder and cut the hole in the bottle bigger too! But, Li-Na felt there was too much going on around her to have any milk. They then headed back to the hotel and thats when things started to get interesting as Li-Na started howling as soon as they got into the van and cried all the way back to the hotel. Laura felt that she may have been afraid of being in the van, having most likely never travelled before her 6 hour journey to Guangzhou.

After arriving back in the room, hot and tired and a little overwhelmed by all that was going on in her little life, the tears started again. Laura sent her mom and friend to see if they could find the right kind of bottle as shown by the carers and Laura was left alone with her baby. Li-Na was getting more and more upset, so Laura put her down on the floor and she calmed down a little and then the tears started again. After getting some advice from a friend, she walked over to her baby and said: "Now, Listen here, I am your mommy, and I am going to look after you!" Laura said Li-Na stopped crying and looked at her with big eyes as if she had understood just what her mother said. She sponged her down, changed her and offered some water with a cup, which Li-Na grabbed and drank (with alot of mess). They put the TV on and Li-Na was intstantly distracted and all the tears stopped. After that she cheered up and mum and baby enjoyed a play and getting to know each other and Laura gave her some baby rusk and a bit of baby fruit.

Li-Na then peacefully fell asleep on her mommy's lap and after a chat with Julia and Shawn, filling them in on all the news, Li-Na was put in her cot, ready for their first night together.

In China, 1 hour to Li-Na

Laura has asked me (Julia) to blog on her behalf as they cannot seem to be able to get into their blog site while in China. After a rocky start with loosing their suitcase and a bit of a room re-arrange, they are now settled in and ready for Li-Na.

To pass the time on Sunday they went to have some wedding photos taken, a tradition in China, to dress in amazing costumes and have stunning photos taken. Well, they arrived first thing in the morning and left at 7pm!! What a day, but Laura says they had lots of fun. Different hairstyles, false eye lashes and more dresses than you can imagine. Laura says she felt very spoilt and they were both shattered when they got back to their hotel. When they arrived back, Laura's mom was waiting for them and they went off to Lucy's for supper.

Laura and Eric have been up since 5am, ready and waiting to hold their baby in their arms today!! How exciting!! We are waiting with baited breath on this end to see that first picture and to hear all about it...... keep reading.....

Last few baby free days!!!

From left: Julia, Shawn, Sharon, Laura, and Jannene. Enjoying a fairwell for Laura and a birthday celebration for Amy-Li who has just turned 2. Uncle Epic playing ball with Amy-Li, who is very excited to meet her new little friend, Li-Na.

Laura enjoying her last few baby free days, having a swim in Julia's pool.They are on an aeroplane on their way to China as I type. Laura is planning a last massage the morning she is getting her baby - enjoy it Laura : -)

More Info about Wuchuan SWI - April '07

I had a chat to my friend who is adopting her children from the same SWI at the same time ( 6 couples as far as we can tell ) , She spoke to someone who visted the Wuchuan SWI in April 2007.
She was allowed into some rooms. Apparently there were about 100 children of various ages. she saw a room with about 40 cots - children sleep on their own. Another room- she saw about 30 babies in walkers (I asume my little one may have been to small to be in one at that stage) . Apparently there is about 1 carer for 15 children.

She was taken to 3 "playrooms" whichshe felt were more show rooms. A classroom with little desks in rows and pencils etc looked too immaculate - and she saw no children at an appropriate age/ability who, in her opinion, would be able to use the classroom.
( I assume the pictures of the playroom where Wu Chun Tian were taken was one of these rooms . This confirms Eric's thoughts that the room looks too immaculate and the toys/ aeroplanes etc looked in very good condition )
I hope she did get to play a little there ...

Anyway - interesting!!!. All the more reason to rescue our little one ... with all thoses babies.
It makes us wonder why she was chosen to be adopted by us. I can only assume God is Control. :)

Exactly a week to go!!

In exactly a weeks time, we will have Li-Na in our arms !!

Hurry on September 17th 2007 !! We want to kiss you...

OK !!!! I am tired of seeing Lao Fei holding MY baby... :( It's my turn now!!!
Sweetie - Pie ... we are leaving Norwich on Thursday Sept 13th and flying straight to Guangzhou ...the closest we can get to you. You are so special, your mommmy has even decided to not sightsee on the way ... Now that's SPECIAL!! :) 'cos your Mom loves travelling and adventure. She promises to take you all round China oneday when we are together!! I am imagining what is happening now with you and how it will all be..................

I never knew you when you were this small .... you were so adorable ...

Li-Na is 9 days away from leaving her original place of safety!!

We will leave the Victory Hotel in Guangzhou at 15h00 and will meet our daughter at 16h00 at an unknown venue, for the first time ! How exciting!!

The tiny photos below show the Play Room in the background where she has spent time. This made sense of the background in the original photos we got of her at 4 months old.

We believe she has been fortunate to be placed in an a new modern SWI - a "Rolls-Royce" building opened in about 2002/3 which cares for elderly people and children.

She appears to have been well cared for, for which we are Thankful, but we are looking forward to taking her into our arms and bringing her to her own new HOME... a place where she will belong ... her cot-bed is her own bed, her toys are her own toys .. and she has her own Mom and Dad...... her very own "Forever Family" .

It is now early evening in Wuhuan , Southern China ... she will be starting to settle down, she is probably surrounded by many other children and babies, listening to the chatter and noises of the carers and older children around her.

She has no idea what an enormous event is about to occur in her little world!

She has known no other place - the same rooms , walls, sights , sounds and smells since she arrived there on January 4th 2007.

On Monday 17th September she will take her first journey from Wuhuan to Guangzhou, a 6 hour trip as far as we are aware.

I expect she will possibly travel in a mini-bus, as she will be with carers , the SWI Director and other children and babies who are all to be adopted on the same day , at the same time .

Eric and I will be with at least 4 other couples waiting anxiously to meet our children for the first time. What an emotional event it will be! ( Poor little mites ...they will be scared, confused, tired , thirsty and hungry ...we will be ready to meet her needs from the second we hold her)

I cannot wait to feel her skin, and to see her look at me for the first time ...

We will visit Wuchuan SWI oneday in the future if allowed, and pay our respects to the place where she was first cared for,

but for now... all we want to do is to "Get her out of there !!! " We Love You .... :) our little Li-Na Tian.