I can't believe that a week ago today we walked into this hotel all excited knowing that we would receive our daughter the following day. Time has gone fast! Katie has kept us very busy!
Last night, I had bad dreams all night. I kept dreaming that I had missed or overlooked some paperwork. All night, I was trying to find my missing paperwork. If I did not find the paperwork, I would not get to bring Katie home. I was so upset this morning that I got up and again looked through my piles & notebooks of paperwork. I also asked another lady in our group if I overlooked anything. We are good! I think it is just 6 years of stressing over the paperwork and then having to do everything yesterday for the US Consulate. The good news is that Jason made it very easy. I guess he made it too easy because I was worried that I overlooked something. I will be so happy & relieved to have the paperwork behind us!
This morning, we all met in the lobby at 9:15. The group today was much larger because all the original families that met us in Hong Kong were present. In Hong Kong, families went to all different areas to get their children. Katie was from the Guangdong province so we have been in Guangzhou the whole time. Everyone ends up in Guangzhou in the end because that is where the US Consulate is located.
We saw a Buddhist Temple. Then, we went to the Old Chen House. It is an art museum and very beautiful. The embroidery work was magnificent along with the ivory carvings. It was amazing. I also bought Katie a beautiful hand painted glass bottle and the artist wrote her name on the inside of the bottle. I love it!!! It is amazing that they can take a tiny little paint brush and paint on the inside of the bottle. He wrote Katelyn's name on the inside perfectly.
Then, we went to the Provincial Arts & Crafts shopping center. They had beautiful things for very good prices. I loved the shopping!
Today, Katie has been all smiles and laughter. We should have had her picture taken today. :) She has been an absolute joy!
Tonight, our group is walking to a Cantonese restaurant for dinner. Currently, Katie & Daniel are both napping. The weather is hot & humid much like TN. Even a couple of hours in it are difficult but we have so little time, we are trying to do and see as much as we can while we are here. We want to tell Katie a much as possible about China.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Day 10 / Shaman Island / August 20, 2011 (Saturday)
Today, we went to Shaman Island. Our group visited the White Swan Hotel & we all took pictures on the famous "red couch". Katie did not like it at all. Every red couch picture has a crying baby. That was Katie. She just wanted to be held.
After the photo shoots, she was happy. We did a lot of shopping on the Island. Everyone was so nice. Most stores would give us a gift for Katie when we left. Of course it didn't hurt that mommy was a good customer. :) For 6 years, I have tried to limit my purchases because I did not know her age, size, etc. Well, now I do! I also want her to have keepsakes from her province. I am worried about getting it all home. :)
After we got back from Shaman Island, one parent (me) of every family had to meet Jason (our guide) in the hotel meeting room at 2:30 to complete paperwork for the Embassy visit. It took over an hour to complete everything. I felt such a relief when it was done. We are almost done with paperwork!
After that was complete, Daniel & I walked over to a little plaza next to the hotel. There is a lady there that does photo stone engravings. She is very talented. We are having (2) stones made for us. One of our family & one of just Katie. All the ladies that work there were watching us get our pictures made and they were all trying to get Katie to smile. She refused. It was so funny! A group of ladies were all clapping, yelling & jumping. Katie just looked at them. This went on for a long period of time. They took countless pictures. Again, I find the Chinese to be very patient people. The ladies were awesome. So, Katie will not be smiling in her photos. :) Afterwards, one of the ladies from another shop wanted her picture taken with Katie & I on her camera. I have found the Chinese people extremely warm and friendly. Again, they seem to go out of their way to be kind & helpful.
The women especially seem so happy that we have adopted Katie. When we go out, women clap and give us the thumbs up sign a lot. However, there are other times, when people just stare at us and watch us for long periods of time. Our guide said that they are curious and trying to understand. In their culture, it is not rude to stare. So, now when they stop & stare, I just give them a big smile & hug Katie. I want them to know that she will be loved and care for always.
After the photo shoots, she was happy. We did a lot of shopping on the Island. Everyone was so nice. Most stores would give us a gift for Katie when we left. Of course it didn't hurt that mommy was a good customer. :) For 6 years, I have tried to limit my purchases because I did not know her age, size, etc. Well, now I do! I also want her to have keepsakes from her province. I am worried about getting it all home. :)
After we got back from Shaman Island, one parent (me) of every family had to meet Jason (our guide) in the hotel meeting room at 2:30 to complete paperwork for the Embassy visit. It took over an hour to complete everything. I felt such a relief when it was done. We are almost done with paperwork!
After that was complete, Daniel & I walked over to a little plaza next to the hotel. There is a lady there that does photo stone engravings. She is very talented. We are having (2) stones made for us. One of our family & one of just Katie. All the ladies that work there were watching us get our pictures made and they were all trying to get Katie to smile. She refused. It was so funny! A group of ladies were all clapping, yelling & jumping. Katie just looked at them. This went on for a long period of time. They took countless pictures. Again, I find the Chinese to be very patient people. The ladies were awesome. So, Katie will not be smiling in her photos. :) Afterwards, one of the ladies from another shop wanted her picture taken with Katie & I on her camera. I have found the Chinese people extremely warm and friendly. Again, they seem to go out of their way to be kind & helpful.
The women especially seem so happy that we have adopted Katie. When we go out, women clap and give us the thumbs up sign a lot. However, there are other times, when people just stare at us and watch us for long periods of time. Our guide said that they are curious and trying to understand. In their culture, it is not rude to stare. So, now when they stop & stare, I just give them a big smile & hug Katie. I want them to know that she will be loved and care for always.
Day 9 / Yangxi Social Welfare Institute / August 19, 2011 (Friday)
Today at 4:45 pm, we received Katie's Birth Certificate, Abandonment Certificate, Adoption Registration Certificate and her Chinese Passport. She is ahead of Daniel & I. It took us years to get a passport. :)
Friday, August 19, 2011
Day 8 / Medical Exam / August 18, 2011 (Thursday)
It is amazing. Katie has us on her schedule. No more staying out until midnight and going to bed at 2:00 am. Daniel & I have been in bed every night since we got her between 8:30-9:30. She has us on her schedule. We know we need to go to bed early because we no longer need an alarm clock. She wakes up around 6:00 - 6:30. So, days that we go out, I need to get up & get ready before she wakes. She is doing amazingly well! We are so happy!
Day 7 / August 17, 2011 (Wednesday)
Katelyn Maylia Song Perkins is legally our daughter! - Day 6 - August 16, 2011 (Tuesday)
We then went to Carrefour Supermarket (it is like Walmart). We bought her more powdered milk and rice cereal, diapers and baby supplies. Of course, we over bought. :) My baby is not going to be hungry! We also bought her a small red Micky Mouse stroller. She likes it!
We saw more of her personality today. She just wore herself out playing. We have a king size bed & I put pillows all around it so she can not roll off. I put her toys in the middle of the bed and she just rolled and crawled and leaped on the bed. She has a ready laugh. Every time she sees herself in the mirror, she squeals with delight. She just laughs and laughs. It is adorable. She also likes to watch TV. She is beyond precious! It is amazing how her smile and laughter affects Daniel & I. We both feel deep down joy to see her happy. She follows me with her eyes all the time. She likes Daniel but she has definitely attached to me. He is great until I walk in the room. I love it!!!! :) She loves to be held and rest her head on my cheek. Of course , I am more than happy to oblige!
"Gotcha Day!" (Family Day) - Day 5 / August 15, 2011 (Monday)
We took a bus to the Provincial Civil Affairs Office. When we got off the bus there was a van with nannys getting out of their van with babies. Are those our babies?! There are 6 families getting children from this region today. Everyone else went to different regions yesterday. One family is adopting a 10 year old girl. The other 5 families are adopting babies from the same orphanage. Our babies are all within weeks of the same age. Emotions were running high. When we saw the babies, we had to keep walking but many of us were in tears. We wanted our babies!
When we walked into the room there was a baby about 1 1/2 screaming and crying. It was too hard and tears were running down my face. Others were in tears too. They then said that our babies were already there and we would get them in a few minutes. They would bring the children out one by one and give them to the parents. They would go in alphabetical order by parent's last name. For the first time ever Daniel & I were first! Others all took pictures & recorded it for us. Then a nanny walked out and handed me Katie. Daniel & I were both crying but Katie just looked very calm. She rested her head on my face and then on my shoulder. She just cuddled into me. I just couldn't believe she was our baby! We were then able to sit down with the nannies for a few minutes and ask questions. Her orphanage had one nanny for 40 babies. Daniel & I were so overjoyed and thankful. All the babies were beautiful and they all seemed so healthy. It was a wonderful, wonderful day!!!
Our group is also very fortunate to have Dr. Jennifer Shu as one of the adoptive parents. She came over immediately and checked on Katie.
Daniel & I just held Katie and stared at her for the rest of the day! We are now a family! :) She seems so sweet & patient. She would just watch us as if she was thinking, "These people are clueless but trying very hard so I am going to be patient with them." She kept cutting her eyes to look at us. It was like she was thinking, "Are these people still looking at me?" Yes, baby girl. We are still looking at you! She drank her bottles and slept for 9 1/2 hours. I think I checked on her almost every hour during the night. I just wanted to make sure she was breathing and alright. She never cried and seemed very contend. She can sit up, roll over and crawl across the bed. She also looks like she weighs more than the paperwork told us she weighed. She is absolutely perfect!!!!! We are so in love with her!
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