ADA and Signs

 

There doesn't seem to be any ADA regulations in China.  The ramps (if we're lucky enough to find one), are STEEP.  It's hysterical.  

 

7-Eleven right outside of our hotel!

 

Steep-but at least it's an escalator.  Longest escalator I've ever seen.

 

 

Love it when they try to use the English language.

 

My FAVORITE-I'm thinking David Letterman worthy

Safari Park

Today was fun! We went to Safari Park with our group.  It's an amazing zoo but this Texas girl was HOT.  Ella had a great day again today.  Every day is better and better.  She wakes up so excited to see us and she has attached to us both.  We still see the occasional fit but she is 2 after all!  I wanted to throw a fit after a day at the safari park in 150 degree heat!  Ok, maybe it wasn't that hot.  Sure felt like it.

Ella found a way to be cooler...

She's been watching us eat with chopsticks so she wanted to give it a try-no, she did not know how to use them when we got her.  Now she wants to use them at every meal. 



Feeding the giraffe

Monkeys were swinging all over the park above our heads-pretty sure our buddy, Dan, got pegged in the head by something one of them threw down!  Of course I couldn't stop laughing!

No bow today. Too stinkin' hot.  I had mercy and took it off before we ever went thru the park.

Daddy's girl and so happy to be out of the stroller!

See the baby wrapped up in mama koala bear's arms?

lunch time

I don't know how she slept in the heat.  For real-100x more humid and hot than Houston! 

Zach and I about to take a ride on the elephant!

 

My favorite part of the day was riding the elephant with Zach.  We were on the way to feed the baby tiger but got sidetracked by the elephants.  The excitement on his face and Zach's giggles during the entire elephant ride was the best.  It was worth giving up the baby tiger! No language barrier here.  Just a sweet child with a huge smile on his face and the best laughter I have heard on this entire trip.  Well.  From a child anyway.  We've had quite a few laughs with our friends, Dan & Jodi.  Zach doesn't speak any English yet (except thank you), but he has the happiest disposition.  He was so happy to be at the safari park and I loved watching him and his first experience at a zoo.  Most of these kids will not remember their lives before getting a family.  Zach will.  You can see how excited he is to be with his new dad and the opportunity to be a part of a real family.  He is a little treasure. 

Even Ella knew it was bathtime when we got back to the hotel.  Did I mention it was HOT?

She poses AND she points to the camera and then herself so I will take her picture!

Look at this sweet face! Love Love Love HER!

Shopping

I didn't get time to post yesterday afternoon's events.  Richard took all of us to Trust-Mart (owned by Walmart), to buy any supplies we needed.  Eric NEVER goes to Walmart on a Saturday.  One thing we learned-Walmart on Saturday in China is the same as Walmart on Saturday at home.  Oh-there are a few minor differences.  Like chicken flavord Pringles.  Yuck! The baskets roll sideways too-not sure why?? Anyway, pictures are worth a thousand words...

 

 

 

 

ok I could go on but that's enough-you get it!

 

Meanwhile next door...beautiful little ballerinas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Girly Girl

Yesterday was a looong day.  We traveled from Hohhot to Guangzho, and it was only a 3 hour flight, but....a flight with a 2 year old that has never been in a seat belt of any kind.  We don't even fly with our bio kids when they're 2! When Grayson was a baby Eric made the rule that the Newberry clan would never fly again until everyone could pull their own carry on.  Spring break 2012 was the first we took them all on a flight.  Because they could all pull their rolling backpacks.  We're also traveling with lots of bags.  I only have to pack up the house one more time though!!

Ella was actually pretty good on the flight.  Only a few fits.  Some things just are not negotiable.  Like a seatbelt on a very turbulent flight.  She is figuring out that I do have some boundaries! Thankfully she fell asleep for 1 1/2 hours.  We landed and our guide met us at the airport.  This is the guide that has been responsible for planning our entire trip.  He handles all of the documentation here during the process before we arrive and while we are here.  Richard also found Ella for us when she had been moved from the orphanage to foster.  He speaks very good English and he's been doing this for so long that he just "gets" it.  I wanted to kiss him I was so happy to see him! 

Our hotel is amazing again.  It's very westernized in Guangzho and there is alot to do here.  We have a starbucks and pizza hut across the street too! There are several restaurants and shopping-I think we'll survive the last week!  Guangzho is where all of the American families come to do the US paperwork so there are alot of families here in the same boat we're in.  The best part? Our friends from Beijing are here and they have the same guide as we do (Richard works for 2 agencies, ours and theirs).  Yay!! We were so happy to see them and meet their little boy, Isaac.  We met other families too-one from Flower Mound, TX-but Dan and Jodi became family!  God definitely put us 4 together because it has made the trip so much better! We will have so much fun this week and it will help pass the time.  I miss my babies at home!

This morning was Ella's medical exam.  The US requires the exam before leaving China.  It's a bit of a joke but it works.  Actually, it was very well run and we were in and out in an hour.  There were 2 other families in our group.  One of them adopted 22 month old twin girls! Yikes! The news team showed up with their cameras on gotcha day.  Apparently they were a big deal here when they were abandoned 12 weeks preemie.  The family had no idea until that day everything that had transpired with these little ones.  There is a mom here adopting a 10 year old with CP.  She is traveling alone and this is her 6th adoption from China.  I am so happy there are people that can open up their lives that much to do this multiple times and with older, more serious special needs.  Her daughter is precious.  During her medical exam she had a seizure so we were there about an extra hour until they would release her.  Richard and Eric helped carry her to the van and we'll all be checking up on her.  I admire her-I would be freaking out by now-I know my limits.

Ella did so good at the medical exam.  They took her to another room to do a blood draw for the TB test and she came out without a tear.  She even smiled at me when they handed her back to me.  Other kids came out screaming and screamed for a while.  Sadly, she is probably used to being poked and prodded.

She is attaching to Eric now.  She reaches for him and wants his kisses and hugs him tight like she does with me.  I, again, am so thankful.  A few families we've seen today are having some serious attachement issues and I know it must be so sad for them.  Overall, we are so so blessed with Ella and how well she is doing.  We've only had her 6 days and it seems like she's been with us so much longer than that.  When the boys facetime her, she lifts her shirt to show her tummy EVERY time, and she blows kisses or kisses the screen.  She said "Connor" yesterday for the first time.  He is so happy that he's the first name she learned other than mama and daddy.  She knows his voice.  She wakes up with a big happy smile and she is sucking her thumb less and less.  It is very clear that she is comfortable with us and happy to be with us both.  She is saying new English words every day but a few times she's let Eric had it in her native tongue!  I'm teaching her to say "hey y'all!".  We don't say it but it sounds so cute with an Asian twist!

Last but not least-the full girly girl has emerged.  She is loving all of her bows and her shoes and we don't have any more issues getting dressed every day.  She's excited when I pull out an outfit every morning!  You'll probably see a few outfits a day this week because it is HOT.  Steamy, humid, hot like Houston.  Good thing I packed plenty.  :))

looking out of our window at the city of Hohhot

 

 

the stair case she liked to climb in Shangri La hotel, Hohhot

 

 

in front of the medical exam office

 

love the nurses hat...

 

why don't we have these in the U.S.?

 

should have seen all the parents trying to use the vending machine of wine after the medical exam!

streets of Guangzho-reminds me of Dallas

 

she found her tutu and wanted it to put it on

 

 

See what happens when I skip a day? Many more pics!

 

 

 

No More Turquoise Bow!

Well we've lost the turquoise bow AND the favorite white flower.  Today she started with a yellow bow, wore a hot pink bow all day, and ended with a light pink.  All of these were her choices.  Girly girl just wants to be in charge.  Every morning we start with the shoes-she will choose one of her two pair of squeakies-then the bow, and I scramble to find something that can kind of tie it all together.  Today was easy because she happened to pick the pink shoes instead of the green ones, and she picked a matching pink bow.  Tomorrow will possibly be a challenge because she found the turquoise shoes in the suitcase....

We were able to visit the Temple of Hohhot today.  It was very interesting and it was our lucky day because the monks had gathered in the temple to pray.  About 30 of them lined the floor and we were able to go in but I couldn't take any pictures.  They were chanting and praying and people were walking thru them (I'm assuming for blessings?).  I don't know.  It was interesting but really gave me the creeps.  We cut the visit short and got out of there.  I did manage to buy Ella a traditional Mongolian dress and hat.  It's so cute!

This afternoon we went to pick up Ella's passport. It was some type of government building with security guards.  She was very quiet the entire time-I really think she was nervous.  As much as I hate for her to feel that way, I am glad because that is another sign of attachment.  She has definetely attached to me-it gets stronger every day.  She's still making Daddy work a little bit harder for her love! She'll get there though-the main thing is that she has attached to one of us! I bet it's a complete different story by the end of next week.

Little princess peanut is a girly girl.  She watches everything I do and wants to do the same.  Chapstick, make-up, lotion.  It's very interesting considering she hasn't seen women do these things before.  She is really starting to blossom-today she was a little more challenging, but I can only imagine everything she is feeling.  Have I said she's smart?? haha! Scary smart.  Like the kind of smart that we are going to have to keep 5 steps ahead of her!

Here are the random pics of her today-I'll try to blog tomorrow but I'll have to see how the day goes.  We're flying to Guangzho and I may be done after a 3 hr flight on a little bitty plane! I just pray sister sleeps most of it!

 

 

And then there's this-

Ella didn't see my buy this today and I really bought it thinking of the future-I wanted to show her someday something traditional from her birth place.  When we came back to the room she saw the hat thru the bag and wanted to put it on.  Then she saw the dress and brought it to me.  I asked her if she wanted to wear it and she started taking off her clothes and rubbed her belly.  Apparently that was her yes! So we dressed her up and she was so proud of herself.  She kept looking at herself in the mirror and when she walked around she lifted the skirt so she wouldn't step on it.  Again, interesting.  We paraded around the hotel for a while and let her show it off.  How cute is she?

 

She discovered the suitcase today.  Turquoise shoes (not squeaky),  yellow bow, and pajama bottoms. There are no words needed.

the many faces of Ella Joy

Today Ella woke up with a big happy smile on her face. Eric put her in our bed and she laughed and played with us both. She is definetely preferring me at nap and bedtime, but she will play with Eric and let him do things for her the rest of the day. It's normal for her to attach to one of us at a time. It's really good that she is preferring one of us over the other and it won't take her long to be closer to Eric too. If it doesn't happen here, it will happen when we're back home and she figures out he's the fun one!!

We had to work a little harder for smiles today. Our guide and driver took us to the museum today and she was CRAZY  in the van.  Every time she has been in a car, big changes have taken place.  I'm sure she was not sure what was happening today.  She was great at the museum and fell asleep in my lap on the way home-did I mention no car seats here? She slept a little while longer when we got back to our room and when she woke up she was very quiet for the afternoon.  Let's be honest-she has to be bored with us by now!  She is used to playing with lots of kids every day and we're just not that fun with the same toys and the same 4 walls every day! We have one more day here and then we're off to Guangzho.  It'll be good for her to see that she goes with us when we leave.

Eric played with her this afternoon and I have to share some of the faces he was able to get out of her.  Sister is a MESS.  The report said she likes to play games and I'm starting to understand what they meant by play games.  Ella is a firecracker-and it's only day 3.  She was almost asleep when the boys face timed us.  She sat up and grinned when she heard their voices and then she showed them her tummy.  Because that's what she does with her brothers! She finally took her baby doll and elephant lovey to bed with her and she covered the baby with the elephant lovey.  She is SMART.

Ella is a pistol and she did regress a little bit today but overall, she is doing amazingly well.  She is adorable and full of personality and she loves laughter.  Joy was the perfect name to give her because she is definetely full of joy.  We are so thankful for this little peanut.  I can't help but think about her birth mother and the joy that she will miss raising this precious girl.  I believe in my heart that she couldn't afford her medical care and abandoned her outside the orphange walls hoping for a chance at life.  I have asked our guides questions regarding the orphans and one child policy and I have learned so much more than I already knew.  It's a life that I can't even fathom and yet, they feel their lives are good because it is better than it was 5 years ago and their parents lives were so much harder.  I am just thankful to live in America and have the freedom of choice.  I am even more thankful that Ella Joy will be able to grow up in the United States with a family that cherishes her and that she will have endless opportunies.  One less orphan. 

 

 

 

 

 

Random #2

this guy asked Eric to take a picture with him

It is Wednesday here and I know everyone only wants to see Ella, but I have some other cool pics to post! Don't worry-I'll post later in the day with lots of Miss Ella!

We are in Hohhot which is located in Inner Mongolia. Inner Mongolia is part of China, but their customs are a bit different. On our gotcha day, 2 beautiful young girls dressed in traditional Mongolian attire came into our hotel lobby. Apparently someone important was coming to the hotel and they were here to greet them. Eric was holding Ella and she was so intrigued, we asked if they would hold her for a picture. They were so sweet and kissed her before handing her back. I am so excited that we will be able to show her these pictures someday!

Yesterday we were in the lobby at the perfect time again. A wedding was taking place! In China, on their wedding day, the groom picks up his bride and they drive around town with the wedding party following behind. After he shows off his bride, they return for the wedding ceremony and party. Only the wealthy have weddings in the hotels, the common people have their ceremony in restaurants. Their guests do not bring gifts, they give money in red envelopes. They keep record of the exact amount given and it will be returned to them on their wedding day. I stepped outside to take pictures and I noticed alot of cameras and video cameras. Our hotel manager explained that the wedding was a huge event because the couple used bicycles instead of cars. The news teams were here to do a story for the local news because of the bikes. They looked like they were having so much fun! Can you imagine our wedding parties riding around downtown Dallas on bikes so the groom can show off his bride? The bride was gorgeous!

Eric is still drawing attention. People are very confused when they look at the 3 of us. You can tell they are trying to figure out if Ella is our daughter and how that happened! I can't say enough about the hotel. They brought Ella a birthday cake last night. We are becoming so spoiled-I really don't want to leave! The maid wrote a note for us today and left extra water so that we can stay hydrated because it is so dry here! We are very close to the Gobi dessert and Russia. Inner Mongolia is famuous for their grasslands and every picture I see looks so amazing. I wish we could visit but our time is running out here and it's a 2 hour drive! Maybe if we weren't traveling with a 2 year old, but I believe we'll skip it. The 30 minutes to the museum with no carseat was enough for me!

Tomorrow we will visit the temple and pick up Ella's passport. Then we will leave Friday morning for Guangzho to complete the American side of things. More on Ella later-I know that's the real reason y'all are checking this blog!!!