Settling in

Makenna is such a happy baby! Liv and Jack are totally in love and I think the feeling is mutual. We are slowly introducing her to all of her family and she seems to enjoy new experiences. Of course she likes most people at a distance! She is going to have blood drawn tomorrow to be tested for everything under the sun. She had a TB skin test today and I collected 2 of 3 stool samples that I have to take to the lab tomorrow. Our pediatrician thinks she is pretty healthy but for our whole family's sake she should have the tests. Every day she discovers some new skill and it makes her so happy. She started walking a few days after we came home and now she is everywhere! She smiles and laughs all the time. Today she started dancing to music especially cartoon music. Every day I am so thankful to her foster family for giving her so much love and care. She could never be so silly and happy if she hadn't been loved by them first. I only hope that sending updates and pictures will make them happy for her in her new life.

We are home!

Wow what a trip. I don't think I am ready to put my thoughts together about my adoption trip. The journey home was long and stressful. But being home is all worth it. I missed Liv and Jack so much it was terrible. Makenna has really taken to them also. She loves having her big brother and sister around. Now if we could just get back on a decent sleep pattern we would be good. For everybody out there still waiting it really will be your turn one day and memories of the wait will fade (not go away-but fade) and you will think how lucky you are to have this child in your life.

Last post from China!

We are leaving in the morning and I am so ready to come home. I know the plane ride will be tough but we will make it through and then we can start our real life together. The red couch photo was a disaster. Makenna was not in the mood. She pretty much hates to sit still. Oh well we tried.

Chillin at Starbucks and street market

Makenna started feeling better this afternoon and we cooled off at Starbucks while she acted silly. Afterwards we walked to the pearl market and went through a very interesting area of Guangzhou where they sell a lot of ingredients for traditional medicine and foods. Dad and I felt like we were in an episode of that bizarre foods show!

medical exam

Makenna weighs 22 lbs and is 29.5 inches long. She received five shots today and is doing well. She hated it.

Guangzhou

Makenna gets happier everyday. I am not saying it is easy now, it is NOT. This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I know she is worth it and when we get home this will all start to fade. When she is happy she is so much fun! She is also very curious and busy. I can never sit still unless she is sleeping.I will post more about China when I can but Makenna is the focus of every minute right now. I know what people mean when they say this is not a vacation or tourist trip. It is all about her and what she needs, and that is ok with me because I can see what a wonderful baby she really is. Anyway here are a couple new photos of Makenna.She is so cute!

Leaving for Guangzhou

This morning we are flying to Guangzhou. I really like Nanchang and if I were here for different reasons I might like to stay BUT I am so happy to be one day closer to home! Makenna had lots of smiley, happy times yesterday and several periods of crying inconsolably. But those happy grins help you through the tough parts. I managed to have a 12 year old girl who is learning english help me pick out a gift for Liv at the street market near our hotel. Very interesting experience at the street market. A real glimpse of what life is really like here. Well I have to pack so wish us luck on Makenna's first flight!

Better every day

Makenna gets a little more relaxed every day. She is still attached to me like velcro but will venture a little bit holding my hand. She can't walk by herself but can do ok holding one hand. I can tell she has not had much practice at being on the ground :) There is so much to tell about China and Nanchang but you really want to see pictures and that is about all I have time for while she sleeps!

Getting used to us

I have not had time to post much info because Makenna is on me all the time! She wants to be held all day. So far she has spent most of the time crying or sleeping but we have had a few glimpses of the happy girl that I'm sure is in there. She won't sit in a high chair or a stroller so I carry her all day. I am so happy I brought a baby sling. It has been a lifesaver. She is adorable and seems very healthy and loved. Her grief is so hard to watch sometimes it makes me cry. She cries out for Mama when she is sad and that is not me yet. We make a little progress every day and I know it will get better. Meanwhile enjoy the smiley picture it was the first one we managed to get so far!

Makenna

Nanchang

Coming to Nanchang was very different from Beijing. Beijing was like a Disney World version of China almost. Very clean, shiny, and touristy. The people in Nanchang live the way most people in China do. Our hotel is very nice and within walking distance of several shops and restaurants. Most people here do not speak much english but they are very polite and eager to try and help. Dinner tonight was at the hotel where four of us had four people waiting on us! None of them spoke more than a few words of english so ordering was a challenge. The food turned out to be great(even though the chicken dish was a whole chicken on the plate with the chicken head staring at us!) And the whole meal for four of us including drinks came to about 30 US dollars. This is for a very nice meal at the five star hotel. Eating at a local restaurant will cost even less.

Tomorrow at 11am (that is 11 pm for all you Louisville people) we go to the civil affairs office to meet Makenna! When we checked into the hotel they already had a crib and a baby bathtub in our room. I am so excited I hope I can sleep tonight because I need it.
The next post will have the pictures you have all been waiting for!!!

More pictures

More pictures of the day.

Full Day

We had a really full, fun day today. We started at the Tiananmen square, the forbidden city, and the Great Wall. We also visited a cloisonne factory and had lunch at a restaurant there. China is really amazing and it is difficult to really describe it. It is very different but not as foreign as I thought in some parts. But we are in Beijing so it is a huge city with 15 million people.

Now I understand what everyone said about the driving in China! Wow. That is really all I can say. Our bus driver made it through spots I didn't think a small car would fit through. It was crazy, but we made it. Dad and I took so many pictures that both of our cameras died. We did buy a few things today at the cloisonne factory and a cool surprise for Jack at the Great Wall. I am still looking for the perfect purse for you Liv! Our guide, Grace, said it is possible that we may get Makenna tomorrow when we get to her province (Jiangxi)! That would be so wonderful, I can't wait to see her little face! I hope she does well with the transition. I am so excited and it breaks my heart that she has to be so sad for a liitle while.

Enjoy the pictures and I will see you in Nanchang!

We are in Beijing!

We arrived safely. The flight was really LONG! We are totally exhausted but happy we are here. Too tired too say much. Will be touring Great Wall and other sites tomorrow. Everything will look better after some sleep