Gotcha Day!

What a day!  We managed to get some sleep early this morning, woke up, had breakfast and headed to the orphanage.  The social worker took us to a room where 3 others families were waiting.  One of them happens to be from my hometown of Summerville, SC!  What are the chances?  We had to sign a bunch of papers and right after we finished, Ava's nanny brought her into the room and announced "Feng Ling Xiu" (Xiu pronounced "shoe" so, Jackson, you were right).  The next thing I know, I'm holding our precious daughter!  She has had a tough go of it since then.  She was afraid of Kevin and screamed every time he came near her (that's why he isn't in the pictures).  She cried herself to sleep in the cab on the way back to the hotel and slept for just a few minutes.  She woke up, drank a bottle and ate some rice.  Then she cried, and cried and cried.  Then she called me "mama".  She's scared.  She's grieving.  But it's all normal and we'll get through it.  Together.   Kevin managed to make her laugh by acting goofy and pretending to bump into the walls.  Ava and her Daddy played with a ball, but I had to hold her.  She insists that I hold her all the time, and I'm happy to do it.  She'll warm up to Kevin - Sarah said there aren't any men in the orphanage, so it will just take some time.  Right now, she is napping.  Her sweet little face.  Those chubby, round cheeks.  I can't wait to get her home.  Next week!

The Shanghai Children's Home is huge.  A little more than 1000 children are in its care - including the children in foster homes.  Estimates say there are a million orphans in China.  But, right now, I'm looking at one that is no more.  People have told us how lucky Ava is.  Well, I'm here to tell you Kevin and I are the lucky ones.  You'll understand when you meet her.  

Can't sleep...

We will meet our daughter for the first time in a little more than 6 hours and we can't sleep. Wide awake. We first saw Feng Ling Xiu's picture nearly 5 months ago and, very soon, we'll be at her orphanage. Kevin and I woke up about 2 hours ago. We've watched Chinese MTV, a National Geographic documentary and a CNN special on the Russian presidential election. Riveting. Ambien not working. We aren't the least bit nervous - just giddy and can't wait to be with our baby girl!

Ava - someday you will read all this. I hope you know how much you are loved. Right now, and always.

Sent from my iPad.

Yu Garden

Location:Yu Garden, Shanghai

Sunday, March 4

Adjusting to a 14-hour time difference isn't easy, but I think we're there. After breakfast, we met our guide and visited Yu Garden - one of the few old sights left in Shanghai. It was commissioned in 1559 and took 19 years to build. Such a beautiful place. After that, we found a tea room and sampled its goods. We bought some Ginseng Oolong Tea that I might be willing to share when we get home. I wanted a tea set, but failed at my bargaining attempt for a more reasonable price. Will try again another day, another place.

Lunchtime and - don't judge - we went to Pizza Hut. Seriously, Sarah wanted to go there and it was near Wal Mart. Much nicer than American Pizza Huts and there were all sorts of things on the menu, including Chinese food. Kevin and I were the only Americans in the place and it was packed! So was Wal-Mart. We were on sensory overload in there and Sarah said it wasn't that crowded. But we had to buy diapers and formula because Ava will be with us starting tomorrow!

We will leave our hotel at 8:30 in the morning so we can be at the orphanage by 9:30. There are 7 families meeting their children tomorrow. I really don't know how we're going to sleep tonight!

Sent from my iPad.

We're here!

15 hours. 7000+ miles. 2 hours of sleep. But, we're in Shanghai! The flight wasn't nearly as horrible as I expected. After cruising through customs, we were greeted by our super-friendly guide, Savor (aka Sarah) and our driver, Nuo. Sarah thinks Kevin is "very funny man". We are now at the Sky Fortune Hotel and it is very nice. We're tired and it's raining, so no pictures yet but they will come tomorrow when we do some sightseeing. Sarah said we will get Ava Monday morning at the orphanage. Typically, families meet their children at the Civil Affairs office but there just happens to be a large group this week and the Civil Affairs office is too small.

More to come tomorrow!
Sent from my iPad.

Letter to Ava

Dear Ava,
Today, you are 19 months old. In one week, you will be with us. It's so hard to imagine. Will you recognize us from the pictures we sent? Will you be scared? Will you even like us?

I don't know the answers but I do know that although we've never met, I love you. No matter what.

Mommy and Daddy are busy getting ready for our trip. We leave in just 4 days. Your brother and sister can't wait to meet you -- and I can't wait to give you a great big hug.

Soon, sweet girl, very soon.
Love,
Mommy

We're going to China!

We have Travel Approval! After 412 days of waiting for one thing after another, we're done [insert deep breath]. We're leaving March 2. We'll meet our baby girl on March 5 and we're coming home March 14. I am so excited!

Please pray for safe, healthy travels and a smooth transition for our little one. I can hardly believe it - Ava will be with us in only 17 days!

Letter to Ava

Dear Ava,
Mommy is so very tired of waiting. I pray everyday that you will soon be with us. And you will - probably next month. But, right now, that feels like forever.
I think of you so often. I wonder what you’re doing, what you’re eating, who you’re playing with. It comforts me to know that you have no idea what’s about to happen but, sometimes, that even makes me a little sad. I hope you are ready for us! Daddy and I are so excited to meet you. To hug you. To bring you home. You look so happy in your pictures. We know what you look like; now we just want to know you.

You need to know a thing or two about Daddy and me, and your brother and sister. We’re a little crazy. The good kind of crazy, though. We like to be silly. We like to be busy. We like to have fun. Boy, are you going to have fun! Jackson is your brother. He’s very sweet, and he’ll be very protective of you. He’ll look out for you when you start school and is eager to help you learn new things. Your sister, Molly, will have you speaking English in no time because, seriously, she never ever stops talking. And she loves talking about you! She even pretends to call you on her toy phone. She can be a little snippy, but your brother will have your back. Don’t you worry.

Daddy has big plans for you - and one of them involves golf clubs. Your brother and sister don’t much care for Daddy’s favorite pastime, so you might be his last hope. And, another thing about Daddy: he’s a softy. He tries to act like some hard-core disciplinarian. He’s not. If you want something that you don’t need, go to Daddy. He probably won’t tell you no - especially if you show him that sweet smile of yours. Just ask your brother and sister - they work him over without him even knowing it. Mommy is the one with the patience. Always remember that.

Little Bit, we are so ready for you to be with us. Your bag is packed. Your room is waiting. You have a family who loves you so much. Daddy and I will be there soon. I promise.

I love you,
Mommy

Waiting...

We are so close to traveling, yet it seems so far. Right now, we're waiting for Travel Approval - the very LAST step in this process. The average wait for Travel Approval is 22 days. We're on day 4. Most families get theirs on a Monday so February 27 just might be the day. Or sooner. Sooner would be good. Or later. Not going to think about later.

After Travel Approval, our agency will work on our itinerary while we're in China and, once
that is set, we can get our plane tickets. If I had to guess, I'd say we're leaving mid-March. We'll fly to Shanghai and get Ava in the first few days. We'll spend about a week in Shanghai, and another week in Guangzhou. Then we'll take a train to Hong Kong, spend the night and fly home from there. I started packing Ava's things today. Trying to do as much as I can now because once our TA comes, I probably won't be able to think straight.

I asked for an update on Ava last week so, hopefully, I'll have more to share very soon.
A new picture. A new look at those sweet, chubby cheeks. Now that just might get me through the next few weeks!

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