July 4, 2010

Church service, shopping and dinner

Happy 4th of July!

Macey enjoying her milk cream shake (do not mistake this for a milkshake)

Grandpa Max in front of the Chinese/English Christian church

Naptime

July 3, 2010

Medical check-up and shopping

Well, this was the only thing on the agenda for the day, a medical check up which then allowed us to get a visa to bring our babies home. I'm having a hard time remembering that day, I remember the check-up, and then I believe we went shopping the rest of the day. The only pictures I could find from that day were pictures of the kids playing in our hotel room.

Xander wearing Mama's PJs

Macey wearing Mama's make-up

June 2, 2010

Last day in Fuzhou, Fujian

Macey loved the Aquarium so much we went back so we could see it. Unfortunately the mermaids were not performing that day.

I look angry, but I'm really not. Just wanted to show you how I ate most of my meals while in China!

Buying pearls!

The view from our hotel room window

On our way to Guangzhou

Xan's first plane ride. It looks like he had a rough time, but once we got going he was fine.

July 1, 2010

Xichan Buddist Temple and shopping!

Shopping!

Eating!

Playing!

Side note: Today, I was able to meet up with Ashley (in the "eating" picture) and her 3 girls! It was the first time since China that we saw them and it was fantastic! Her family lives in Dallas and they live in Alabama, so they were here for a visit. It was just a nice realization that one year ago today we were also eating together, in a country on the other side of the world!!!

June 30, 2010

Xander's orphanage and finding spot

I don't have any words. Such a sad, confused little boy

On our way to Putian City

The grounds of the Xianyou County Social Welfare Institute of Putian City

The baby's room. Xander's bed is on the far right. I was looking at the newest arrival, a baby girl, about 1 week old.

Xander's finding spot

Our lunch with some of the orphanage staff (director Chen on the far left) at the hotel where Xander was found. So many emotions on that day.

While we visited to the orphanage Macey, Nana and Grandpa Max went to an aquarium

These "real life" mermaids started a 6 month obsession with mermaids! (that is not Macey in the corner, just another on-looker)

Reflection:

This was the second super emotional day. Xander was so confused, I felt horrible for him, but knew it would be good for future conversations. It gave us an idea of what his life before us was like. Although we were only there a short time, and were not able to see most of the grounds, we met the people who cared for him, some of his friends and saw the bed that he slept in for 20 months. Wow, to this day I have a hard time imagining his life there, and what a contrast it is to his life now. I am not referring to the material things, those are obvious, but certainly not the important part. We believe that he was taken care of in the best way that an orphanage could. We could see that the people there genuinely cared for him, but they were not his mom and dad.

I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of possession I had toward Xander that day. As we walked around the grounds I just held him tight. At the suggestion of the guide he was in the carrier the whole time, and I will forever be grateful for that. I wasn't sure if I should allow the nannies and others to hold him, but as soon as I got there I did not want to let him go. I wanted him to start to believe that he was with us, from now on, forever.

June 29, 2010

Panda World

Xander slept through our entire tour of Panda World

We found a mall to do some shopping for the kiddos, Valerie and I were actually posing for this picture.

Xan's first taste of the Chinese version of McDonald's, which is just like the American version

I remember, in this moment, I was so excited that my son was having fun with his Grandpa!

June 28, 2010

Adoption Day

I will NEVER forget the noise and chaos of adoption day. We were in a small room, with lots of people, signing and thumbprinting more pages than I can count. Xander was seeing the caregivers who had given him to us the day before, I could tell he was not having a good time. There was lots of crying, it was hot, but at the end of it all he was officially ours!

The orphanage director and some of the people that took care of Xander

Even with all the commotion, Macey was so good!

A gift from Xander's orphanage

Oh, the thumbprints

Oh, the paperwork