Home, Sweet Home!

October 20, 2005

Hi everybody! Just a quick note to say that we made it just fine, and are SO happy to be home. Ling Ling handled the flights like a pro, and thought she was living large in first class on the long leg from GZ to LA! She loved having her own TV and headphones, and couldn't wait until we took off to recline her seat and put up the foot rest. She slept off and on, and watched cartoons in between. The flight attendants were really sweet to her, and made sure she got lots of extra attention (and candy, too). She slept through the entire flight to Dallas from LA, so was refreshed and ready to go by the time we arrived at the airport at 5AM this morning. She was so excited when we landed, and ran and jumped into her daddy's arms when she saw him. My dad came along too, and she took to him immediately, offering him her airline pretzels right away.

When we arrived at the house, the kids were asleep, but woke up soon after when they heard the commotion. I found myself just a little while after we got home sitting in the floor of the playroom watching my kids play together, and it hit me that, HOLY COW, we have 3 kids now!! Jakob was so funny, asking where Baby Jack was (I guess he thought I'd be having the baby in China and bringing him home as well, ha!). My 3 cuties act as if they have known each other for years, and Jaden is following Ling Ling around right now like a little puppy. This house looks as though a tornado has come through, as Ling Ling has explored every inch and left toys everywhere in her wake. We'll work on clean up later. :) She's already munched on french fries from McDonald's, so I guess she is officially "in the club" as far as Jakob and Jaden are concerned. I am continually amazed at how easily she seems to be fitting in to our family, this certainly was a match made in Heaven.

Well, I think I'll go see what the kids are into now, they've probably moved on to emptying closets or something! I promise to post more pics soon of Ling Ling in her new home and with her brother and sister. Thanks again for all your prayers and messages of love, we enjoyed every single one and couldn't have made it without you all!!

Love from Texas,
Marla

Good Bye China!

October 19, 2005

Ok, we're all packed, all I need to do now is disconnect the computer! Ling Ling just had a bath, has fresh braids and a new outfit on (which will probably be a disaster by the time we get to LA, she's not exactly known for her neatness!) It's been a pretty boring day here, but who cares, we're leaving in just a little while!!

I will let you all know when we make it home, please cover us in prayer for the trip!!

We love you all!!

Marla, Ling Ling, and PoPo

At the Guangzhou airport

At LAX

We have her VISA!

October 18, 2005

Whew, it's done, we are officially ready to leave this place and head for home! We shopped all day long (we had to buy an extra suitcase to be able to get it all packed, hehe!), then had Ling Ling's consulate appt this afternoon. She raised her hand proudly, tried to even say the words to the oath along with me, then yelled something to the effect of "Now we get to go home and see Daddy!" when it was over.

She's had a great day today, and I am amazed at how well she is understanding me. The girl loves to shop, and I think she managed to charm every shop owner on Shamian Island. They all said she was a very good girl and were impressed with how much English she is already understanding. She picked out some very pretty things, and was very mindful to remember to also pick out things for her big brother and little sis. She picked up some paper dragons and asked the lady in the shop for 4 so that even Baby Jack would have one. She totally understands that we only have one more night here, and is very excited to see mom and I packing up bags tonight. We have talked of little else but daddy, fei ji (airplane), and home today. I know somewhere in her heart, she will be sad to leave her country, but right now she is so focused on seeing her new country that it doesn't seem to bother her. I had the guide explain to her that we will be on the fei ji for quite a long time before we see Daddy, and she said she understood and that someone had already told her that it took 2 days to get to the United States. :)

Happy Anniversary tomorrow to my sweet hubby, I can't believe it's been 14 years already. I'm sorry that I will be spending our entire anniversary on an airplane, but I'm bringing you the best gift I can think of!! I love you and can't wait to see you.

To my Feb Lovebugs, I will be on the plane during chat, so y'all be nice and behave yourselves in my absence, ha!

To my DSPTC buddies, I'm glad the tournament is over, and it sounds like you guys did a great job. See, you didn't need me that bad after all! ;)

Well, we're off to bed soon, so good night for the last time from Guangzhou. I will probably post once more before we leave tomorrow since we will be here until about 5pm.

We love y'all!
Marla, Ling Ling, and PoPo

Goofing off at the White Swan

Happy Anniversary-14 Years!

October 18, 2005

Hey Marla, Lingling and PoPo,

Just sitting here reading yahoo groups because I can't sleep. Been up since 3am and I'm not even close to being sleepy. I thought playing golf today in the 90 degree heat would have worn me out, but I guess not. I hope ya'll had a very productive day of shopping, and I know ya'll will be glad to head to the airport Tomorrow!! Everyone was asking about you and Lingling at the golf tournament today and can't wait to meet her.

See ya soon.

Love, Derek

Shopping!

October 17, 2005

Hello all,
Yesterday was a pretty boring day so I didn't have much to report. We hung out here at the Phoenix all day and Ling Ling went swimming at the enormous pool. She didn't seem especially confident in the water, so we stayed in the shallow end. She doesn't really like water in her face, even in the tub. We had dinner with the Keohane's (the family with the twins) and it was quite interesting. We ate at the Chinese restaurant here and the wait staff had a hard time understanding us. I asked for water for Ling Ling to drink, they brought her a Coke instead, and then insisted on serving it to her even though I was saying "no" and moving the glass. She ended up mad at me over the whole thing, but she had already met her Coke quota for the day, and I did not give in. This girl is not used to being told no, and is pouting at me regularly when I don't let her do what she wants (like turn the volume up to a deafening level on the computer when she watches a DVD). I'm such a mean mommy. :)

Today we got up early to go to the pearl and jade market and visit Shamian Island again. It was a very good day, and we made a pretty decent dent in our money supply. Ling Ling picked out some very pretty outfits for herself, 2 pairs of shoes, a silk blanket, toy cell phone, beaded purse, umbrella, and is playing happily with her new things right now. At the pearl market, I got her and Jaden both necklaces and bracelets made for when they are older, and have some extra pearls that they can have made into earrings or rings as well. There was a great DVD store at the market, and we stocked up on 12 Disney and Barbie movies for only $2 each!! She's already watched one of the Barbie movies and loved every second of it. I had to fight her to have a second to get the computer back long enough to post here.

Ling Ling continues to do well, and other than the meltdown over the Coke last night and missing her daddy (which also came up last night at bedtime with some tears), she is a very happy little girl. I think she is getting sick of people asking her about her new family and telling her how lucky she is, and I don't blame her. I think she is wondering if she's ever actually going to get to see her real home, and I must admit that I am getting impatient to see it as well!

Tomorrow, we are heading back to the island to finish up our shopping and then will go to the consulate in the afternoon to take the oath and pick up her visa. Then Wednesday, we will hang here for the day and then head for LA on the 9pm flight out of Guangzhou.

Thanks to everyone for your messages of support, you have no idea how nice it is to know that everyone back home is thinking of and praying for us. This trip has been incredible and I am so happy to have so many friends and family members to share it with! I will post a few new pics in a little while if I can negotiate use of the computer long enough. :)

Love from GZ,
Marla, PoPo, and Ling Ling






Red couch at the White Swan


Modeling one of her new dresses

Dad is Home

October 15, 2005

Well, thanks for everyone's prayers and good wishes. I am finally home and the kids are soooo glad to see me. After a very restful trip from China (First Class Rocks!) and a good night sleep in LA, I was able to get home today, and am well rested. Marla, the
pictures from the Phoenix look very nice. I almost wish I was there to see it. Tell Lingling I love her and talk to ya soon.

Derek

We're in Guangzhou!

October 15, 2005

Hi all!! Ling Ling's first flight went very well, she was grinning from ear to ear the entire time and was very excited about the whole thing. We arrived late last night to the Phoenix Hotel and wowsa, what a place. It makes the White Swan look like a Motel 6, and I'm not kidding about that! It reminds me of a resort like the Bellagio or Venetian in Vegas, everything is very European and elegant. The breakfast buffet was pure heaven, and I look forward to pigging out there again for the next several days. :)

First thing this morning, we went to Shamian Island (about a 50 minute drive) to get Ling Ling's visa photo made, have her medical exam, and then had a quick lunch at Lucy's before heading back to the Phoenix. We are here with another couple, Sean and Mary Keohane, their 2 1/2 year old Chinese daughter, and their 2 new additions, 9 month old twins. Yeah, they've kind of got their hands full to say the least. Tomorrow, we plan to go to the amusement park here on the resort, and then Monday and Tuesday will be for shopping on the island and going to the jade and pearl markets.

Ling Ling continues to thrive and does not seem the least bit upset that Derek is missing in action. She and I are spending some great quality time together and I have to say that I am becoming more and more able to understand what she is saying to me in Mandarin. I can't always repeat it, but I understand when she says that she is hungry, thirsty, needs to go to the bathroom (and am amazed to watch her use the squatty potties), wants to be picked up, or needs help with something. She is also understanding more and more in English. She holds my hand everywhere we go and gives me lots of hugs and kisses. Derek taught her the sign for I love you and we flash that to each other often. She can also say I love you in English, and I guess that's my favorite thing she says so far. :) The Holt staff have all been quite impressed with her progress with us and she tells them all that she is very happy with her new family. I can't imagine how things could be going any better for us at this point and feel so blessed to have this little girl in my life. I can't wait for you all to meet her.

Thanks for the prayers for Derek, aside from his slight mishap in Nanning, he made it to LA fine and will be heading home to Texas very soon. Get that Dr. Pepper cold for me honey and give my sweet kids a big hug from Mommy!!

I promise to gets pics posted soon!

Talk to you all soon,
Marla, Ling Ling and PoPo

Our ridiculously fancy hotel:






First purchase in GZ

Medical exam:



Got her passport, yay!

Hanging out at the Phoenix