Tom & Jim

Tom and Jim have been planning our trip with us for weeks and weeks. Considering all Ling Ling's needs, ours, and the ins and out of China's Adoption Affairs bureaucracy. They are retired professionals and traveled overnight by train from Shanghai (a 24 hour trip) and met us at our hotel to help us every step of the way from buying diapers to meeting with high ranking officials. They have been fantastic. They have taken a very compassionate view of the China/US adoption relationship; it is quite touching and powerful. 

One of my highlights with them was grocery shopping looking for the right size diapers and wipes without perfume- a riot. The three of us make an interesting group and got some curious stares of course; we are getting used to them! We are so grateful for Tom and Jim. When we depart to Guangzhou we will leave them and hook up with Ms Liang, our new facilitator for the rest of the trip. We will need to keep Tom and Jim updated of Ling Ling's process as she grows.

These pictures were taken on Gotcha Day in the lobby of our hotel. Tom is on the left.

Our First Morning Together

Cash, Joel and I woke up around 5 or 6 am. Cash kept wanting to know if we could wake Ling Ling. It was very tempting; she is so darn adorable and we were so darn curious and excited. Ling Ling woke up at 7am on the dime; just like her updated bio says. She woke up happy and ready to go. She was hungry and had a very healthy appetite. We made her bottles at the mini bar and ordered her room service of congee (rice porridge). We put her in the outfit I bought her months ago when we got our referral. We were about to have a very big day of making the adoption official - being interviewed by a judge at the China Adoption Affairs and applying for her expedited passport. We were grateful we have our two facilitators making everything happen since we arrived in Lanzhao, Tom and Jim, as we would not be able to begin to do this on our own.

Gotcha Day!

We are great; really great. What an incredible experience getting to know our little dynamo. Her foster family has been calling her Ling Ling. She has a distinct personality - she is curious, funny, and has a little sassy. She slept through the night except when she woke up in the middle of the night wanting to play. So much to share, more to follow... Getting some help with the Blog; should help a bit. We are totally in love. Cash is going to be an incredible big bro.

xoxo

Michelle, Joel, Cash, and Josie Ling Ling

BEIJING

Yesterday we walked around Tianamin Square and the Forbidden City. Cash was a bit of a celeb- blond haired child. People asked to take his/our picture all day. We were stopped and asked questions and got many many curious stares - all friendly. Cash loved it and hammed it up pretty nicely. The Forbidden City was beautiful-ancient structures, trees and beautiful gardens. My highlight was a ginko grove where lots of kids were making piles of fallen leaves and throwing them in the air. It was a riot!

It is 3 am and we are getting ready to hop on a plane to Lanzhao in Gansu. We will meet our daughter today! I am overcome with emothion; it isj ust so amazing to me- we will be together today!

xoxo,
Michelle, Joel, and Cash

Shower!

My close girlfriends Threw Josie an amazing shower full of thoughtful gifts, rituals, fabulous food and company. Everyone there wrote a wish for Josie on a red card, put it in an envelop and tied it to a Mandarin tree. They told me to open the notes after we bring her home.

                                  

China Visas

I stood in line at the Chinese Consulate in SF and got our visas with same day service. It was an intense experience going to pick them up as there was a large "Free Tibet"protest with blockade in from of the Consulate doors. I couldn't figure out how to get in or out and was guided by police. The maybe two hundred people all in black clad garb with Tibetan flags chanted, "Free Tibet, Free Tibet" over and over and the leader woman yelled over a loudspeaker. Her voice was so passionate and angry, it mad me cry and I could barely hold it together. Inside in line I met a delightful pair of young men going to Shanghai to teach English. We compared personal stories and empathy for the situation over the chanting.

Travel Plans!

It has been a while since I posted. It has been super challenging: the waiting. Thank God we got our travel approval! We leave November 10th and return the night before Thanksgiving. Actually, we arrive on 11-11-2011; auspicious, no?! We have MUCH to be thankful for. We are going as a family: Myself,  Joel, Cash (the pups will have to stay home ;( ). We fly into Beijing and two days later fly to Lanzhao, the capital of Gansu Provence. Usually, "Gotcha Day" is a Monday, but we just received word it will be Sunday afternoon. We are jamming to get ready. We welcome any "tips" to make our travel   go more smoothly.