THINGS YOU MIGHT WONDER

THINGS YOU MIGHT WONDER

So, the trip has been very smooth so far considering the major changes we all have been going through and being so far from what we know- all of us....Ling Ling has been a spark. She is easy going as well as having a ton of personality. Here is a photo Joel took with his iphone on our first morning together. It captures so much for me. 

Thanks for all the emails and being a part of our adventure! We are thrilled to share and love all the support we are getting from our friends and family. Our dear friend Jenni has been posting the excerpts I've been writing for the blog as Google is banned in China and we are blocked out of it. There may be comments or questions you have that we have not seen because of this. Here are a few questions you might wonder.

Is Ling Ling as cute in real life as in the pictures? YES! AND WE THINK SHE IS MORE ADORABLE EVERYDAY. 

Have there been challenging times with Ling Ling as this is such a big adjustment for her and us? YES. OVERALL NOT NEARLY AS CHALLENGING AS WE EXPECTED. WE'VE HAD SOME WAKEFUL NIGHTS AND TOUGH TIMES PUTTING HER DOWN FOR SLEEP. WE WALK HER UP AND DOWN THE HOTEL HALLWAYS AT NIGHT AND SHE FALLS ASLEEP IN OUR ARMS. SHE EATS LIKE CRAZY. SHE INSISTS ON FEEDING HERSELF. SHE GETS MAD/FRUSTRATED AND DOES THE CLASSIC BODY FLAIL OCCASIONALLY. SHE LOVES STEAMED ROLLS AND FRIED RICE. SHE GIGGLES AND GAZES IN OUR EYES. IT SEEMS LIKE SHE IS CONNECTED TO US ALREADY. SHE DOESN'T WANT ME TO LEAVE THE ROOM. SHE REACHES FOR ME TO PICK HER UP. SHE IS FALLING IN LOVE WITH JOEL WITH EACH PASSING MOMENT. WHEN SHE WANTS SOMETHING SHE BLURTS OUT "GOHHH!" OR "AAAAAA!" AND WE TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE THINK SHE WAS REALLY LOVED AND GOT A TON OF ATTENTION IN HER FOSTER HOME. 

How is Cash coping with everything? HE IS A CHAMP AND A LOVE. HE HAS SAID THE TYPICAL 4 ALMOST 5 YEAR OLD STUFF YOU'D EXPECT LIKE, "MOM, I WISH WE JUST GOT A PUPPY INSTEAD OF A SISTER". HE GETS CABIN FEVER IN THE ROOM AND WANTS TO TOUCH EVERYTHING OUT IN THE WORLD WHICH WE ARE CONSTANTLY ASKING HIM TO STOP. CASH TAUGHT LING LING HOW TO KISS (CRAZY CUTE) AND THEN SHE BIT HIM REALLY REALLY HARD IN THE LIP AND LATER ON THE NOSE. SURPRISINGLY, HE BRUSHED IT OFF AND STILL TRIES TO KISS HER. HE LOVES CHINA AND IS IN LOVE WITH ALL THE GIRLS. THEY LOVE HIM TOO AND COME UP TO HIM AND TALK TO HIM, TOUCH HIS HAIR AND TAKE HIS PICTURE. THE FOOD IS TOUGH FOR HIM BECAUSE HE IS A GRAZER AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SNACKS AROUND THAT SOUND GOOD. HE'S BEEN LIVING ON SHRIMP, GRANOLA BARS (WE BROUGHT), FRENCH FRIES AND YOGURT FOR THE MOST PART. 

How are you and Joel doing? WE ARE EXHAUSTED. WE ARE HAPPY. WE FEEL VERY LUCKY. WE ARE GETTING HOMESICK. WE HAVE GOTTEN INTO ONE PRETTY GOOD TIFF, BUT HAVE RISEN TO THE OCCASION OF OUR CHINA ADVENTURE TO GET OUR SWEET DAUGHTER. WE HAVE FOUND SO MUCH JOY IN THE PROCESS IT HAS BEEN EASY TO TOUGH OUT THE RUNNING AROUND, THE LACK OF SLEEP AND DOWNTIME.