More Paper Work
Chatting with friends back home!
My SWEET Baby!
Brothers think she is pretty cool!2/23/05
Our day started early, around 2:00 a.m. KL fell asleep at 8:30 p.m. last night, woke up at 10:30 p.m., fell asleep again at 11:30 p.m. and lasted two-and-a-half hours. Except for a couple of short cat naps, we’ve been up ever since. By the way, it’s now 3:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
One thing we’ve learned about hotels in China is that they really know how to fix a great breakfast. Wow! We filled our bellies this morning. Soon afterwards, Sonya, KL and I were off to the Civil Affairs Office again while Grandmother and the boys explored to hotel. We were interviewed, signed more papers, handed over a lot of cash, and received our official Certificate of Adoption. She is ours now by law!
While we were there we watched as a woman and her older daughter (I’d say at least 18-years-old) got their new two-year-old daughter and sister. As you know, two-year-olds are very aware of what is going on around them and most of them have a pretty proficient vocabulary. It broke our hearts seeing this little girl grieve and wail very loudly. And I’m sure she uttered every Chinese word she had ever learned at the top of her voice. Her nanny left quickly and was visibly upset. It was very difficult to watch, but we assured this adoptive mom that very soon this little girl would love her as much as she could possibly love anybody. She is a blessed little girl and this woman who flew all the way from Canada to give this child a family will be blessed as well, I’m sure.
Anyway, back to our day. After paying several more fees (the value of money has been lost somewhere along the way during this process), we went to the local Notary’s office. There, we were interviewed again (same questions as we’ve answered countless times before) and paid more fees. Finally! All the paper work in Nanchang was complete. Now all we have to do is wait until next Monday to pick up her passport before heading to Guangzhou for our U.S. Consulate appointment.
As we anticipated, Katie Lin has really started opening up today. Her smiles are plentiful and her appetite is pretty impressive! I can already see her countenance starting to change. Isn’t that amazing? I wish I knew what was going on inside that round little head of hers. She must be somewhat confused by the presence of all us white people with big round eyes. I can’t help but think that she misses her foster mom, but she is handling things so well. It’s a God-thing, no doubt.
Many of you have asked a lot of detailed questions and are eager to know more about this precious little girl, so here are some things we’ve learned about her so far.
Things Katie Lin likes:
Mommy, Daddy, Drew, Ben and Grandmother, of course – I’ve yet to see her seem fearful or apprehensive around any of us.
Stacking Cups – a big hit!
Plastic Links
Squeaky Shoes
Dancing – She stands in front of the mirror, bounces and giggles.
Cheerios – She’s eating them right now. I’m not sure if she’s ever had them before.
Animal Crackers – What a mess!
Pink Things – Like she had a choice.
Her Sonya Lee Doll
Her Soft Pink Blanket
A Night Light
Steamed Eggs – A Chinese breakfast favorite (Daddy likes them too.)
Rice Congee – Another breakfast item similar to cream of wheat or porridge
Sleeping on her back
Being lifted high in the air by her daddy – don’t worry ya’ll, I’m being careful.
Pulling Mommy’s glasses off her face
Mommy blowing her lips like a horse – This brings the biggest smile.
Last, but not least…TV! Baby Einstein, in particular
Things Katie Lin does not like:
Laying on her tummy – We found this out the hard way.
Trying to walk while we hold her hands – She’s not quite ready.
Sitting up without support – Again, not quite there, but almost.
The noisy construction work at the hotel that interrupts her nap
Being hot – We’ve been admonished by the “clothes police”. Our Chinese notary informed us that we need to put more clothes on her. They like to bundle their little girls up like fat little Buddha babies, but KL likes the cool American style of clothing.
We’re having a blast getting to know her. I’m sure she will reveal many more of her likes and dislikes over the next, oh….18 years. I can’t wait, sort of. I told her today not to grow up too fast. Now that Drew and Ben are 10 and 7, respectively, I realize more than ever how fast time passes by. We will cherish every moment with our new daughter and sister.
We have uploaded several more pic’s. Enjoy! We will spend tonight and tomorrow bonding. There is no official paperwork to be completed, no government offices to visit, just fun to be had. I will post again tomorrow. Until then…Zai Jian!
Jeff, Sonya, Drew, Ben and Grandmother
Our day started early, around 2:00 a.m. KL fell asleep at 8:30 p.m. last night, woke up at 10:30 p.m., fell asleep again at 11:30 p.m. and lasted two-and-a-half hours. Except for a couple of short cat naps, we’ve been up ever since. By the way, it’s now 3:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
One thing we’ve learned about hotels in China is that they really know how to fix a great breakfast. Wow! We filled our bellies this morning. Soon afterwards, Sonya, KL and I were off to the Civil Affairs Office again while Grandmother and the boys explored to hotel. We were interviewed, signed more papers, handed over a lot of cash, and received our official Certificate of Adoption. She is ours now by law!
While we were there we watched as a woman and her older daughter (I’d say at least 18-years-old) got their new two-year-old daughter and sister. As you know, two-year-olds are very aware of what is going on around them and most of them have a pretty proficient vocabulary. It broke our hearts seeing this little girl grieve and wail very loudly. And I’m sure she uttered every Chinese word she had ever learned at the top of her voice. Her nanny left quickly and was visibly upset. It was very difficult to watch, but we assured this adoptive mom that very soon this little girl would love her as much as she could possibly love anybody. She is a blessed little girl and this woman who flew all the way from Canada to give this child a family will be blessed as well, I’m sure.
Anyway, back to our day. After paying several more fees (the value of money has been lost somewhere along the way during this process), we went to the local Notary’s office. There, we were interviewed again (same questions as we’ve answered countless times before) and paid more fees. Finally! All the paper work in Nanchang was complete. Now all we have to do is wait until next Monday to pick up her passport before heading to Guangzhou for our U.S. Consulate appointment.
As we anticipated, Katie Lin has really started opening up today. Her smiles are plentiful and her appetite is pretty impressive! I can already see her countenance starting to change. Isn’t that amazing? I wish I knew what was going on inside that round little head of hers. She must be somewhat confused by the presence of all us white people with big round eyes. I can’t help but think that she misses her foster mom, but she is handling things so well. It’s a God-thing, no doubt.
Many of you have asked a lot of detailed questions and are eager to know more about this precious little girl, so here are some things we’ve learned about her so far.
Things Katie Lin likes:
Mommy, Daddy, Drew, Ben and Grandmother, of course – I’ve yet to see her seem fearful or apprehensive around any of us.
Stacking Cups – a big hit!
Plastic Links
Squeaky Shoes
Dancing – She stands in front of the mirror, bounces and giggles.
Cheerios – She’s eating them right now. I’m not sure if she’s ever had them before.
Animal Crackers – What a mess!
Pink Things – Like she had a choice.
Her Sonya Lee Doll
Her Soft Pink Blanket
A Night Light
Steamed Eggs – A Chinese breakfast favorite (Daddy likes them too.)
Rice Congee – Another breakfast item similar to cream of wheat or porridge
Sleeping on her back
Being lifted high in the air by her daddy – don’t worry ya’ll, I’m being careful.
Pulling Mommy’s glasses off her face
Mommy blowing her lips like a horse – This brings the biggest smile.
Last, but not least…TV! Baby Einstein, in particular
Things Katie Lin does not like:
Laying on her tummy – We found this out the hard way.
Trying to walk while we hold her hands – She’s not quite ready.
Sitting up without support – Again, not quite there, but almost.
The noisy construction work at the hotel that interrupts her nap
Being hot – We’ve been admonished by the “clothes police”. Our Chinese notary informed us that we need to put more clothes on her. They like to bundle their little girls up like fat little Buddha babies, but KL likes the cool American style of clothing.
We’re having a blast getting to know her. I’m sure she will reveal many more of her likes and dislikes over the next, oh….18 years. I can’t wait, sort of. I told her today not to grow up too fast. Now that Drew and Ben are 10 and 7, respectively, I realize more than ever how fast time passes by. We will cherish every moment with our new daughter and sister.
We have uploaded several more pic’s. Enjoy! We will spend tonight and tomorrow bonding. There is no official paperwork to be completed, no government offices to visit, just fun to be had. I will post again tomorrow. Until then…Zai Jian!
Jeff, Sonya, Drew, Ben and Grandmother
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