Pearls for my Girls :)

This morning we all boarded the bus and went to a local shopping place.  There they have lots of stores to purchase pearls and/or jade.  (really any kind of jewelry you could think of, except for maybe diamonds)

 

It reminded me a lot of the Mart in Atlanta.

Of course I had to buy some pearls for my girls........and me :)

 

It was really cool.  You pick out the strand you want and you can have it made into whatever you want.  We bought a nice strand and had MK and Hannah each a bracelet and earrings made.  My hopes are that Hannah can maybe wear her's on her wedding day. :) (wouldn't that be cool)

This is Hannah with her bracelet and the lady that made it for her.

We also went to a jade shop and bought a pendant.  

(hey, might as well buy while we are here :) :)

I have to give a shout-out to my WONDERFUL husband, who was a good sport and even helped me shop!!!!

After shopping, we all napped.  I know I post a lot of pics of Hannah sleeping, but I just couldn't resist this one.  When she gets sleepy, she rubs her face and plays with her hair.  This is how I found her......

sprawled out on the floor, dead to the world, with her hand still in her hair :)

It's times like this that I sit back still in amazement at what God has blessed us with.  Today marks one week that our sweet Hannah has been with us.  Thank you Lord, again, and again!!!!!

Tonight we just kinda walked around a few blocks here at the hotel checking things out.  We got some McDonald's take out and chilled in the room.

This pic is for Mandy.  Your friend still likes to go retro and eat me some chicken ;)  And guess who else seems to love it.......yep, Ms Priss ate 4 chicken nugget all by herself!!!!

LOVE Y'ALL!

medical check-up.......check

Hannah didn't sleep so well our first night in Guangzhou.  I think it was because we were in a different place.  Last night was a lot better (Hallelujah), and I have a picture to prove it.

(now that's what I call some good sleeping ;)

We left this morning headed for our medical check-up.  It ended up not being as long of a process or as hard of a process as I had myself worked up for.  We were back at the hotel within 3 hours.  (another answered prayer)

(this is all of the adoption families here with us boarding the bus)

First stop was for VISA photo.........then off to medical checks.  There were 4 medical "stations" we had to visit. (nurse's station, general check, ENT check, and blood test for TB)  Well wouldn't you know it, we ended up at the TB blood screening first.  I couldn't go in there with her, but she was a trooper.  She calmed down as soon as they brought her back out.

(they took the blood from her foot for some reason?????)

The Dr. was very curious about her hands, but seemed impressed that she could use them so well.  He checked out her legs, and of course she didn't really cooperate or do anything for him.  I don't think he believed us when we told him she COULD put pressure on them and stand with assistance......so, Stephen whipped out the video camera with proof. :)  The Dr. laughed and said, "when she want to"  :) :)  

After all of the checks and a little paperwork,

 it was time to board the bus and head back (whew, glad that's over)

 

Tonight we went out to a Malaysian restaurant.  It was really good.  I loved the pineapple rice!

 

    (Hannah even tried to use chopsticks :)

Tomorrow is a shopping day.  (Mama's treat for making it through the medical check-up :) :)

LOVE Y'ALL, AND THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS TODAY!

Oh, and a great big anniversary shout out to a Super Duper couple.  

Happy Anniversary Mama and Daddy!!   

We love you both. :)

A Day in Guangzhou

Look who started showing us how she can stand up :)

                      Last night with Mama                      and again today with Daddy 

                      

                             (silly face :)

This morning Hannah and I just kind of chilled and played in the room

 while Stephen took care of some paperwork.

Then it was off to hit the streets of Guangzhou :)

 

           

We took a break for some ice cream.  

Please take a close look at Hannah's face.

She was not impressed :)

Tonight we went out for some Mexican food (yea, right in the middle of China) 

and it was really good!

 

Hannah has really started showing her personality.  She is a hoot!  If I have to tell her "no" for any reason, she will pout......I mean lips poked out, head down, and peeping up at me to see if I'm looking :)

She is very smart!!  She seems to be picking up on English very well.  She says "Mama, Dada, Hannah, KaKa, (we think she said Deacon once ;), bye, bye (and waves).  She likes her bib on when it's time to eat, and will even straighten her own clothes out if they are all wrinkled up.

She is a silly girl!  This is her trying to make Stephen and I laugh :) :) :)

Please pray for us tomorrow.  

Hannah has her medical check-up and will have to have blood drawn for her TB test :(

Love Y'all!!!

A New Day.....A New City :)

wheeeeew! I forgot traveling with a younger child could wear you out so much.  We are TIRED!

We left the hotel in Nanning (Hannah's provincial city) at 11:00 this morning and headed to the airport.  Our flight was only about an hour, (PTL) and we arrived in Guangzhou at about 3:00.

 Lifeline arranged for us to be picked  up at the airport and brought us to the Garden Hotel.

Man, Nanning was no small city, but we feel like we are big timing it now. :)  Guangzhou is a BIG city (and we've only explored about 3 blocks of it :)  Tomorrow is kind of a lazy day here.  We plan to spend it checking out our new surroundings.

Our family and our guide in Nanning, David....he was Da Bomb!

Hannah's first flight

     Our new palace :)       

WE LOVE Y'ALL!

A New Day in China

Before I move on to today, let me backtrack and post about yesterday afternoon.....

I actually posted yesterday while Hannah was napping (early afternoon)....well when she woke up, it had cleared up some outside so we checked out the park.

Hannah chilled :)

  

We fed the birds

and played with bubbles

 

This next pic is a hoot......In China, Americans get a lot of stares.....now think of two Americans with a Chinese baby and you can only imagine.  Yesterday while we were walking in the park this lively group of teenage girls just thought we were the coolest thing ;) and wanted to take a picture with Stephen and then me.  Well we decided two could play at that game so WE took pics too.

And now to today (Thursday)....

We left the Hotel at 10:00 and went to a park here in the city.  It was BEAUTIFUL! 

There were lots of cool structures and beautiful landscaping .

This is Hannah with her friend Bennett (the other couple's little boy)

Hannah was born in the year of the rabbit (2011)

We fed the fish.....

......lots of fish

and then grabbed some take-out at a local restaurant

 and headed back because it was nap time.  

Tomorrow is a big day.  We will be leaving Nanning and headed to Guangzhou.  Please pray for safe travel and a happy baby on the plane. :)

A Lazy Day

Today was kind of a lazy day for us.  Our guide took the other couple to meet their son's foster parents so we had a free day.  It was too messy to go to the park, so we spent the majority of the day just playing inside.  Since there's not much to tell about that, I decide to let this be an all about Hannah post. :)

This youngin is a mess!!  She is finally showing us a little of her personality (laughing, playing, talking, just being silly), but she will only do it for Stephen and I one at the time.  If we are both in the room, she just sits there (literally).  If one walks out, she starts laughing, playing and trying to talk, but the minute the other walks back in, it's back to the stare.

She can't stand.  The muscles in her legs are really weak.  She will not hardly try and put pressure on them (yet :))  She IS mobile though.  She has her own little scoot she does to get around.

SHE SAID MAMA TODAY!!!!  Even though she was pointing to a pic of me in the little album we brought, I'll take it. :)  We sent her a picture album to her orphanage, and it is obvious they have been showing it to her and telling her who we were.  Thank You Lord yet again!

She gave me a kiss on the cheek (smack and all :)  It made my day.

We were able to Skype MK and Deacon again today.  Another great moment in this Mama's life....her babies "meeting" for the first time.

And now for the best part........the pictures!

Hannah's first bath with Mama and Daddy.....

 doing the "scoot"

        

                                     

trying to put on Mama's slippers

Cuteness!

1 Samuel 1:27

"For this child I prayed and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him"

LOVE Y'ALL!!

a good first night and a busy day

Our first night went great.  After a bath, we gave her her nighttime formula and she let me rock her to sleep :)  She woke up about 1:30 crying.  I got her and walked her around to calm her down.  We rocked again, and when she went to sleep, I put her in bed with me.  She slept until 7:00.  :) :)

Today we made the adoption official.  She is now officially ours :)  First to the Notary office and then to the Civil Affairs.  We then went to Walmart and out to lunch with Matt and Kimber (the other couple) to celebrate.  It has been a great, but long day and it's only 2:30 here.

Hannah is doing great.  She is looking us in the eye more and more. :)  We actually heard her little voice today while she was playing with a little toy phone that she likes. (precious sound)

Thank you all for the sweet comments and the prayers.

It's Official!

Hannah just chilled on the floor most of the time. 

 She even let Daddy hold her today! (a lot)

 at Civil Affairs with people from her orphanage