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Thursday, August 23, 2007

Day 15-Last post from CHINA!!

Well today when I woke up I was instantly in tears. I cant believe the time has come to say "good bye" to China.....my daughters homeland!! Channing woke up in a good mood and we headed down for breakfast. At breakfast about a dozen of us decided to take one last shopping excursion and head to the famous Wang Fu Jing Street. My parents were packing and didnt come along. Now this was my kind of shopping. We only had 2 hours since we had to be back to the hotel to check out and grab some lunch. Wang Fu Jing Street was like a normal shopping street. There were stores that you didnt bargain in, malls, and a market if you wanted to grab some gifts (& bargain). I stayed on the shopping street and went to the mall. Yulin and Cindy (guide) came shopping with me and Channing so I had some professional shoppers to help me power shop. There were a few things I hadnt picked up yet for Channing so we focused on that list. I found a great Chinese barbie that plays music that was 60% off, a doll that says "I love you", some Beijing Olympic mascot teddy's, a few toys for my nephews and then some other things to tuck away for Channing when she is older. I wish we would've spent a day there shopping.....next time!!!

Once we got back to the hotel I had to finish packing in a hurry and then Channing and I had one last lunch with Yulin, James, Louisa and Kaili. I will miss them so much!!! We all met in the lobby and said good-bye to those who were flying out after us and some were leaving tomorrow. It was so sad to say good-bye to the group. Some of them I have been communicating with since the begining of my journey and some I have just met for the 1st time in China. We all had a great time and I couldnt have asked for a better travel group. So THANK YOU to each and everyone of you!! The support, advice, hugs and encouragement you gave me during the journey and especially this last week will never be forgotten. The sad part is that the closest family to me is 7 hours away.....but I know with the connection that I had with a number of the families....we will be taking a few trips!!!

I want to thank the People's Republic of China for gifting me with one of their precious girls and for making "My Little Chinese Dream" finally come true!! I also need to say a big THANK YOU to my parents for believing in me and supporting my choice of adoption They have been one of my biggest fans and especially for coming along to China. I could'nt have done it without them!! I also want to thank each one of you for following my journey and for all your heartfelt comments and emails. Lastly I want to thank my wonderful agency... Family Outreach International. Bob & Yulin are truly AMAZING people. From the first phone call I made to them a few years back until now they have been nothing but unbelievable. Without them I wouldnt be sitting here in China with my beautiful daughter!!!

Well.....It is with heavy heart that I'm taking Channing from her homeland. This has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life....one that I had no idea would be this hard. I wouldnt change it for anything, and regardless of how hard these past 2 weeks have been I'm so in love with my daughter, my heart is ready to burst. It has been the most wonderful time of my life!! China will always be a special part of my life....all I know is Channing and I will be back one day (& hopefully soon).





Beijing airport.....waiting to board the plane.......Canada bound!!!



Aidan and Maia.....our 2 blondes in the group!!! The are both so adorable!!!

posted by Tao's Mommy at 8/23/2007 09:25:00 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Day 14- Beijing

Today was our last full day in China. It is so hard to believe that our trip is done and we will be on our way home tomorrow. Our day today was somewhat relaxing and not so busy. We went out shopping to another market but this one was my favourite. It wasnt like the other markets where the sellers were very agressive, but this market you could bargain at as well. This is where you can buy shoes......I ended up buying 8 pairs of shoes for Channing and not 1 pair for me. I actually wish I would've bought a suitcase full for Channing. The leather is so soft and they are so cute!!! I did however buy a few shirts, a suitcase and a few gifts. PoPo and Gong Gong decided to stay longer and took a taxi back to the hotel. I went back with the group on the bus and then Channing and I went out for lunch with Mike, Tracey and the girls........to McDonalds!!!!

The afternoon I took Channing for a walk, did our usual loop around the block and through the back alleys. It was very hot out today again, but I just enjoyed soaking it all up since it was our last full day. I started to pack things up and then had to get us ready for our party!!

Our agency had a "Good Bye China" party for the 12 children in our group. Channing looked so beautiful in her traditional Chinese outfit complete with her head piece, dress and shoes. We boarded the bus at 5pm and drove for about 30 minutes to a Chinese restaurant. It was a traditional Chinese meal with tons of different dishes. One of the last dishes was the famous Peking Duck. Once that dish came I think most people were full, which I was, so I didnt give it a try. After everyone was done eating we were entertained by Mr. Lee a magician. He was actually very good and the kids loved him. Next a Sichuan Opera dancer performed which a lot of the kids thought was scary. Throughout his performance he would flash/snap a fan in front of his face and his mask would change. It was neat and I have no idea how that was done. After the performances we had a birthday cake for all the children. The cake said "Good Bye China" and there was a flower for each child on the cake. Our agency then presented each child with a Chinese wall scroll with their name in Chinese....they are very beautiful.

After we got back to the hotel the people who were leaving tomorrow had to meet in Yulin's hotel room to pick up the kids passports and a few other things. Everything has gone perfect so we are good to leave China. We then went back to our room and James, Louisa, Kaili, PoPo and Gong Gong came over to have our last "happy hour" in China and to finish up the beer.

Tomorrow we will meet for breakfast and then might head out shopping one last time in the morning. We have to have our suitcases in the hall and checked out of our hotel room by 12:30 and then we leave for the airport at 1pm. So it will be a quick good-bye to the families flying out on later flights or on friday. Our flight to Vancouver is at 4:20pm....another 11.5 hour one!!!













posted by Tao's Mommy at 8/22/2007 09:20:00 PM 2 comments

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Day 13-Beijing


Today was the Great Wall of China day!!! We started the day off by stopping at the Jade Factory which was a bad mistake.....I spent way too much money, but thats OK!!! Since I have been in China I havent seen blue sky.....its always so grey and gloomy.....smoggy!!! Well when we got to the Great Wall there was blue sky and very little clouds. It felt like home!!! The sun was so HOT, you didnt feel like climbing.....but we did!! Channing was a bear at first due to her falling a sleep on the bus and having to be woken up. But she did great!!! We ran into the Spanish people who we met the night before and they climbed with us. They LOVE Channing...the took a bunch of pictures with her and also gave her a bracelet.
Each day we see Channing come out of her shell more and more. She hasnt mentioned for a few days now that she wants to go back to school.....so that is good!! She still is super attached to Yulin, but is starting to settle down there too. She sang out loud today on the bus for everyone, which was cute. I have noticed she is losing some of her Chinese already....Yulin said she probably will lose it within a few weeks.
Tomorrow is our last full day in China. We are heading out shopping, which I havent done much of. I keep reminding myself that this is a adoption trip not a shopping trip so I shouldnt complain that I'm not coming home with lots of goodies. I have mostly just shopped for keepsakes for Channing. Nothing really for me. But this is for Channing. Then we will have our last group dinner together and a GOOD BYE CHINA PARTY!!! That will be sad saying good bye to all the other families......hopefully we will keep in touch and maybe try and get together every few years.
PRIVATE MESSAGE FOR HUNTER: Hey buddy!!! You only have 2 more sleeps and you will get to see us at the airport!! I cannot wait to see you. We all miss you and Brogan so much!! Are you excited to meet your new cousin Channing? She will be really shy at first, but you will have so much fun on the weekend with her. Did daddy get your gator fixed yet? I know Channing would really like that.
We went to the Great Wall today, but didnt see Dora. Papa climbed the highest out of us. It was really neat to see. We took lots of pictures and also some video to show you. Well we will see you on Thursday at the airport!!! I miss you........hugs and kisses!!!!
Kelly and Channing on the bus!!!

Our group flag
Great Wall of China
"One world One Dream"

" I want to sleep"
Channing and her new friend from Spain
Miss Wu and her Po Po
Me and Kelly after our climb
Olivia and MaiaNoodles after the big climb
My Girl at Mc Donalds

posted by Tao's Mommy at 8/21/2007 08:57:00 AM 20 comments

Monday, August 20, 2007

Day 12-Beijing

Today was medical day for all the kids. Channing did great at the medical. She got a thumbs up from the doctor and is able to come home to Canada. The doctor said she was extremely healthy, just a little off on her weight as per the charts. I think she looks great just the way she is. The medicals took 3 hours.....so it was a little crazy in the waiting room with 12 kids. Channing actually played with the other kids for the first time.......she has a new pal, they laughed and giggled for a long time. Actually right before they started playing Channing pinched her and had to have a time out for a minute.
After the medicals we had lunch and headed to the Pearl Market. WOW.......talk about overwhelming!!! I actually didnt enjoy my time there. Some of the workers would grab your arm and try and pull you in to buy stuff. I found it a little scary!!!
Tonight we went to the Chinese Acrobats.........OK.........I loved that!!! Channing liked it too, but was getting tired near the end. She was very popular there with some tourists from Spain. They took her picture, gave her popcorn, hugs and kisses. She didnt mind any of it at all!!!!
As far as Channing is adjusting.......she has blossomed so much in the last few days. She woke up today with very few tears. She is calling me Mama more and more, is actually talking to me (mostly in Chinese) a lot more and we actually had a good play in the room with lots of giggles. She didnt really want much to do with Grandma and Grandpa today, but that is OK. She did want Yulin later in the day, which I think was mostly because she was tired. I cannot belive it has been a week already since I got her. I just love her to death and cannot wait to bring her home so you can all meet her.
Well tomorrow is the Great Wall and Jade Factory day.......so I'm off to pack for that and then off to bed!!! Not many pictures of today, but a few!!!








posted by Tao's Mommy at 8/20/2007 09:31:00 AM 10 comments

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Day 11- Beijing

Another short post since I need to get to bed. Today was a busy day at the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Silk Market. The weather was HOT so we again were all sweating like crazy. Channing woke up in the usual way, but as soon as we went for breakfast Yulin had a little chat with her and she was an angel all day!!!! We are making progress and she is starting to be so brave. She will call out for me if go out of her sight, but is still reserved about getting too close to me, Po Po or Gong Gong........baby steps!!!
We went for supper at the usual restaurant which was awesome again. I love going there......real Chinese food and good cold beer. I'm still having issues with getting Channing to eat so Yulin has to be around when she eats....the she eats like a champ with her big appetite. Today she told me in her sign language when she was hungry which was a 1st.....its so cute!!!!
Also....I'm not going to say too much here, but Channing found 3 pictures of her foster family tucked away in some of the things that came with her.....it was so cute!!! When she found them tonight she yelled out "she was so HAPPY now"........thank god Yulin was here to translate that. What a treasured gift we now have!!!!!!
I have a little artist on my hands. We cannot believe the pictures she can draw and the photo-graphic memory she has. She is amazing!!!! I love her so much.......
Ohhh.....and we had a tragedy today. Channing was so hot when we were at the Forbidden City, she took her "bunny" ears off and lost them. So tomorrow when its time to get ready for the day I imagine we will have a melt down. They were special to her as David picked them out for her in Nanning. Hopefully I can find some more here tomorrow!!! So for now...no more bunny ears in the pictures!!!
Well tomorrow is the medicals for all the kids and then a SHOPPING day!!!!!!

posted by Tao's Mommy at 8/19/2007 10:12:00 AM 9 comments

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Day 10- Back in Beijing



Sorry.......pictures are out of orded. I'm too tired to figure them out!!! The ones at the bottom of the kids are some of the newest Canadians.....they are all so beautiful!!!"Happy Hour"

Building for the Beijing Olympics!!
Channing's 1st boat ride........Summer Palace

On the boat
Ian and Channing




Maia is a movies star with her blonde hair

Well after a long day yesterday, arriving late into Beijing and not getting to bed until around 1am poor Channing had another rough day. She woke up at 6am and cried until about 1pm. We notice her changing so much but she is still grieving. She told Yulin that she misses her friends. Her best friend is a boy her age and a girl who is 4. I have their names so I will have to watch for them to be adopted so maybe I can keep intouch with the families. Channing is so smart....we cant believe it. She is getting more attached to me everyday, but is still be guarded.
We went to the zoo today, but I didnt really see any of it since Channing was crying the whole time. Then we came back to the hotel around 1pm and me, Channing and my dad went to Mc Donalds. All afternoon Channing was so happy.....didnt mention anything about our guide in Nanning or her orphanage. At 4pm we went to the Summer Palace. Channing enjoyed that too.....was good until the bus ride back and then she started to cry again. I came back to the room and bathed her and ordered room service. I couldnt get her to eat since she was sobbing. Grandpa and Grandma tried too. James and Louisa and Kaili came for happy hour and James got a few bites into her. Yulin stopped by also.
Anyways.......I love my girl......and I cant believe I have only had her for 6 days!!! I cant wait for the next day to come to see how she blossoms. I imagine in no time once we are home she will come around.

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Group picture of all of us this morning!!!

posted by Tao's Mommy at 8/18/2007 10:07:00 AM 5 comments

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