The Latest on Charlotte

Hello All! We are spending our last few days here in China spending time with the new friends we've gotten to know these few weeks. Many of them will be traveling home tomorrow morning, and we are trying not to be too jealous. It's hard to stay here knowing that 14 of the 18 families are heading home tomorrow. Charlotte is doing so much! Yesterday she showed us that hse can crawl! We knew she could do it, we had seen her do so in photos, but she is becoming more trusting and active each day. this morning, she was able to play in the bath for the first time and not fuss. As I write this, we are trying to explain "no" to her as she tries to grab at the laptop. Yes, she's becoming more comfortable each day. Today is a free day for us. no real plans, just passing the time until our appointment with the Consulate, and then traveling home on Saturday! We'll try to post more pictures tonight. See you soon!

Jay, Carla, Ethan and Charlotte

Medical Exam and Shopping

Well another full day today. First we went for the Medical Exam for Charlotte's Visa. It was pretty easy, we just had to wait in 3 different lines. She weighed 21 pounds with all of her clothes on. Not too bad for only taking formula and juice. She continues to do well and play and smile. She has also starting laying her head on our shoulder which is so sweet. She trusts us more and more everyday. After the exam we went shopping on the island "Shaiman Island." Lots of good deals and stuff for adoptive families. I was able to get 6 pairs of squeaky shoes for about $3 each. A girl can never have too many shoes right. Ethan had fun looking in all the stores as well, he is always a big hit with the Chinese women. We had lunch at a western restaraunt Lucy's which Jay described as a little bit of deep fried heaven. Then we hung out in the hotel with friends and ordered pizza. Kind of felt like we were in college again, just with kids. It was fun to hang out and fellowship. Tomorrow we have a free morning and are then going on one more power shopping trip. I only have a couple of pictures today. We left the memory card in the hotel today and had to use the internal memory on the camera. We don't have the cord to download. I am posting pics of our party in the hallway, so enjoy. We miss everyone and can't wait to be home.

Love to you all.
Carla, Jay, Ethan and Charlotte

A Full Day in Guangzhou

Today was a full, but relatively quiet day in Guangzhoou. After Breakfast, we went to a Chinese folk art museum. It was in a former temple. There were wood carvings, siks, sculpture, fans, and so much more. Carla discovered a Chinese folk instrument much like the modern recorder that she easily picked up and played with a little instructionfrom the shopkeeper. From there we went to a department store for those that needed to purchase supplies, and then back to the China Hotel.
After a brief rest, Carla went to sign papers (3 hours worth! Whew!) While I stayed back with Ethan while Charlotte slept. After her nap we went for a walk through a local garden / park and then to dinner with some of our travel friends, the Nicholson's and the Duffy's.
Tomorrow we'll take Charlotte to her Adoption medical examination, and explore a shopping village, which I'm guessing will be quite an experience!
On a serious note, Charlotte appears to be teething. She chews on her fingers (and ours), and seems less content than usual. We are hoping she sleeps well tonight, and that she'll find comfort in the tylenol we can give her. Hopefullyh she'll be back to herself tomorrow.
Blessings and enjoy the new pictures!
Jay, Carla, Ethan, and Charlotte

Lazy Day and New Games

Well we had a pretty lazy day today. We had breakfast in the hotel and then met up with the rest of the families from our group who flew in today. It was so nice to see everyone with their new additions. When they arrived we were able to move into a new room in the renovated (or should I say re-invented as the sign in the hotel says) part of the hotel. Finally a queen size bed that is soft. We have been sleeping in full beds that were hard as rocks. Ethan was excited to see the flat screen TV too, pretty cool. We got unpacked in the new room and caught up with friends from the group. Then we ordered food with another family and had dinner together in the room to talk about our experience. It was so nice to hear each others storys. Tomorrow we will go to a folk art museum and the grocery store, so it should be fun. Hope everyone at home is doing well, we are in the final stretch now!!!
Oh, I almost forgot. Charlotte has a new game. I was kissing her today and when I stopped she made a little sound like "ha, ha, ha" (so sweet) and so I kissed her again. Now when she wants us to kiss her she will make that sound, it is so sweet and such a good sign about our bonding and attachment. We can't wait for you to all meet our sweet girl, she will steal your heart.

The Zoo and Shopping Too!

Yesterday we spent the morning at the local zoo. We saw lots of monkies, bears, and of course, a beuatiful panda. After the morning at the zoo, We cam home for lunch and a nap. Carla and Wendy met up with a local guide named Ann and they went on a subway metro excursion for some local shopping. They had a ball finding lots of local treasures for us to take home. While they were shopping, I had some daddy time with Charlotte and Ethan. Charlotte loves to play. She clapped stacking cups together, laughs and giggles, and loves to shake her head from side to side when I say "no, no!" I know what your thinking, it's cute now but just wait. Until then, it's precious. Today we are awainting the return of all the other traveling families. this time we get to meet thier new babies! They should be coming in throughout the day today, so we;ll just relax here in the hotel, and I may venture out to the local mart to pick up more formula and water. One week until we return home!!! Yeah! Enjoy a few pics from the zoo.
Jay, Carla, Ethan, and Charlotte.

Charlotte Day 4

We are all doing so much better today. Charlotte woke this morning with a smile for all of us. She is starting to adjust more and more every day. She will only drink formula and juice for now, but I keep trying the cereal and bananas. She will do it eventually. She is so much more relaxed with all of us and is just a cutie!! We are enjoying having special moments with. Thanks again for the journal entries we love to hear from home. We are doing better with the looks too, we just ignore or stare back. She is beautiful little girl and we are so happy that she is our daughter and little sister. Today we went to a Museum and Ethan is excited to visit the zoo tomorrow. Thanks again for your prayers, we love and miss you all.

Carla, Jay, Ethan and Charlotte


From Ethan:
She is doing so good and getting really used to us. I like to play with her rings with her and play the drops game. She drops them and I pick them up. She gives us smiles and she laughs. I miss everybody. Love, Ethan

Charlotte Day 3

First let me start by saying, today is much better. We still have a ways to go but we are all feeling better by the moment. Let me say also, thank you so much for your writing us on the guestbook. It so helps to hear from home, please know that your words are so encouraging to us. It is hard to be a new mommy and daddy again in a foriegn country. Your words are extremely comforting. Thank you so much.
Okay, so more about Charlotte she is eating much better, which is a huge relief. She is showing more happy times too. She played and laughed with Ethan at breakfast and let me carry her in the hip carrier which she would not do yesterday. She is moving around more and almost crawled a little on the bed. She will go to either Jay or I which is a huge relief. She even let me clean her lip, which made this mommy so happy. They did not do that before we got her and there was a lot of dried "stuff" on it. I did not want to mess with it before today, which was hard for me, my babies never have messy faces. But while she was eating I cleaned it all off-yeah!! I am posting some pics of her playing with Daddy and Ethan. We have to leave at 2:30 to get her Chinese Passport so easy day today. Ethan is doing much better as well just getting a little bored. We are going to try and venture out of the hotel today but it is hard because so many people stare at Charlotte's lip. I know it is cultural thing, but still hard for a mommy to take. I am trying to be brave though. I may do another post tonight if I have time. Thanks again for your messages and prayers we feel them working.

Love,
Carla, Jay, Ethan and Charlotte