LOOK AT ELIZABETH!

I'm a helpful big brother!

Elizabeth reaches out to Mama

Does Grandpa Kent love Elizabeth or what?!

Daddy snuggles Elizabeth

Tubby Time

Monday, March 31, 2008 Gotcha Day! Or Sister Day

Today we busied ourselves with cleaning the room, packing a bag for Elizabeth and pacing around. We loaded on a bus at 9:30 am with all the other families and headed to the government office. It was a really quick drive and the babies were already there. We got in to a room way too small for all of the nine families, several caregivers, extended families and government workers. David said, “Look, there she is!” I said, "Are you sure?" Then they started calling us and before we knew it, they said, “Rachel,” and she was in my arms. It happened so fast! We were all crying, and she WAS NOT!!!!! She is so happy and content. She is also beautiful! All the other babies were crying, not ours. I hesitate to even say that, I don’t want to jinx anything. Here is the best part. She was sitting in my lap and put her head on my chest and get this, are you ready? She put her two fingers in her mouth! Just like Sam! We all started crying all over again. She is so perfect and beautiful. She is also so content and inquisitive. She is also the youngest baby in our group, which may have something to do with it. She is SO TINY!!!!! I knew she would be small, but she is way smaller than I expected or than her reports said. None of the clothes fit her, she is so small. At 3:30 pm we have to go sign paperwork, and then we will go shopping for clothes, shoes and diapers that fit her. When we got back to the room I took off her layers and saw how small she was and then gave her a quick bath. She still smells weird, I think it is the food she has been eating. Then we tried to dress her and discovered nothing fits.

For lunch we walked out and found a restaurant that had Mexican food. We thought we would try it. Big mistake! Sam ordered a cheese pizza, and she had a whole piece. I had tacos, that were weird, but she ate all the cheese off the top. Any thing I put in her mouth she ate. Tonight we will eat Chinese. Now she is snuggling with Daddy and watching Sam build with his Legos. She is fascinated with Daddy’s beard. She keeps touching it. She also said “Mama” really loud when we got back to the hotel and Grandpa was holding her. For now, she seems to go easily between all of us.

I’ll post more as we discover the wonderful baby we have. I am still not sure this is all real. On the bus back she had fallen asleep in my arms. I said to my mom, can you believe I have a baby in my arms? My baby?! The red thread and God brought us to our perfect baby. She sucks her two fingers and sticks her bottom lip out when she is concentrating. We are all so much in love. I can’t wait for you all to meet her. Now, I want to come home, but two more weeks here.

Sunday, March 30th, 2008

Today we went to see the Holocaust Museum for the WWII invasion of Nanjng. It was an awe inspiring memorial. Dad and David went in; we stayed out side with Sam. We had lunch at a restaurant with no English on the menu. David ordered by pointing to things in our guide book. The meal was actually really good. At four Dad’s friend Deng came to the hotel. Dad had met him online somehow and they had been emailing for a while. He is a university student here. He brought a class mate, Chang Chang, and we took off to tour the city. They brought us to an incredible shopping district. There were stores and malls and everything. Then we were in a market area, just incredible. I was a bit distracted since it was less than 24 hours from “sister day” as Sam calls it. My dad kept joking I was having labor pains.

Tonight David and I put Sam to bed, Grammy came over to baby sit and we went to the bar to use our free drink coupon. I had a very good rum and coke. David did too and he had a bourbon, it was Four Roses. He said Nigel and Dad would be pleased. We did actually sleep, but were up about five-ish in the morning.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Today is our last day in Beijing. We took a walking tour of the hutong we were staying in. David and Sam had walked around on Thursday, so they were our tour guides. It was incredible to see how people really lived and see the city start to wake up and start its day. I would not have stayed anywhere else. The location was perfect, we were so close to all the tourist type things and the neighborhood was great. We had great restaurants and little food stands everywhere. We got in the van at noon and headed to the plane. The terminal had just opened on Wednesday; it was huge and incredible. Jackie walked us all the way in to the ticket terminal to make sure we got there ok. We landed in Nanjing and headed to our very fancy hotel. The beds here are so hard, it is like sleeping on the floor. Sam is sleeping on the floor and I think he is more comfortable. They are also very small beds, they are smaller than a double and there are two beds: we keep joking they are Ricky and Lucy beds.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Last full day in Beijing and it was cold and then colder and rainy. We had planned to go to the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. When we left the Hoo Hoo it was overcast and a little chilly. We took a taxi to the Forbidden City. As soon as we got there a group of high school or college aged girls walked past (about 20-30) and they were all looking at Sam and smiling and waving. Then another group came by and they too were looking at Sam then they all wanted their picture taken with him! He was so good natured about it and stood there and smiled. This continued through the whole place; people would want their picture taken with Sam. We joked we were traveling with a rock star. Sam was eating it up and loving every minute. The wind was picking up, the rain was starting, but we still walked through the whole thing. Another fun part was that Dad rented an audio self guided tour thing. It had an earpiece and a box that David punched numbers into and it gave information about the area we were standing in. Dad decided that David should have it, since it was electronic. So we would stop in an area, David would push the number, listen to the description and then tell us about it. The funny part is that all over there are these tours, all the people wear matching hats and their guide has a flag and a megaphone and everyone follows them. So we joked David was our tour guide. We left there and the rain picked up some more. We took a taxi over to the temple of heaven and had lunch. It was so good. Most restaurants have menus with pictures, so you just point to what looks good. Sam picked this pear thing. It looked like deep fried pears, but it was just the shape of pears, inside it was a yummy paste. We all loved them.

The Temple of Heaven was nice, but it was raining and really cold. I imagine in better weather, it would be even nicer and more enjoyable. The roof is blue, there is an echo area and there were other buildings you could look in.

A Crib in Nanjing

We landed in Nanjing last night. When we got up to our room there was a crib in our room! David and I are really freaked out about that! Excited, anxious, nervous, you name it!

Today we will celebrate Sam's last day as an only child.

The van picks us up at 9:30 am tomorrow morning to take us to the Civil Affairs Bureau for Elizabeth.

We are still in amazement that we are in China. It is all still surreal.

Rachel

Pizza Hut before Nanjing

Today is Saturday March 29 about 10:45 am. Our van comes at noon to take us to the airport for the plane to Nanjing.

Yesterday it was so cold and rainy, we still went out and did the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. Then we went to a market for dinner. It was really disappointing and we ended up at a Pizza Hut for pizza. This morning we toured the hutongs around here and had breakfast, saw a pottery museum and store. Now we are getting ready to leave.

We did get some good news though; the Pattersons (from Dallas) have offered to fly Grandma Candy up when we get home. We are so excited and so thankful for the Pattersons. They also made our trip possible with their frequent flyer miles. It will be so nice to have Grandma come up and help us recoup from the jet lag and so she can see her new baby granddaughter.

Until next time in Nanjing!

Rachel

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Today we walked to the bank again. It took an hour to walk in, take a number, wait to be called and exchange the travelers’ checks and cash. I still am not sure what the best method bringing money over here is. We had breakfast at McDonalds. While I was in the bank the others walked to the river and found an outdoor exercise place. They are all over in Beijing .

We then took a taxi to Tiananmen Square. It was very big and full of people. We walked over to one end to take the Mao picture then over to one side so Dad, David and Sam could get in the line for Mao’s tomb. Mom and I stayed outside with the bags. They do not allow bags or cameras in there. Then we walked to the other side to meet them. Along the way we were approached by several women selling things. We did stop to buy the cute Olympic ornaments. I think we were really ripped off, but it was still cheep. One woman sold us one package for 100 yuan, then a man sold us a whole bag full of all different ones for 100 yuan. I wonder if he felt bad for the other woman ripping us off. I saw him talking to her. I am not very good at the bargaining thing at all. We met the boys at the other side and then we gave them the bags and we went through. It is really fast. You just walk through and don’t stop, it takes only a few minutes. Now we can say we did it. Next was lunch.

Sam was having trouble with his pants, don’t ask me what. So on our way to find lunch, Peking Duck, we stopped and got him new pants. We walked down a really neat Hutong. The lunch was not as good as other meals and the Peking Duck was very disappointing. They bring EVERY part of the duck out in various forms. There are bones with little meat and the skin and fat they batter and fry, there was this soup of skin, fat, bones and who know what in a broth that looked like dirty dish water. Then were was the breast meat, sliced really thin on a serving dish shaped like a duck. It came with fixings for a wrap of some sort. It was very disappointing, maybe it was just that restaurant. Maybe it is like fish fry, everyone does it, but only certain ones do it well. The rest of the meal was very good, there was sweat sour pork and beef noodle soup. I am so in love with that dish. We also have been ordering this cold spinach and peanut dish that is very yummy, it has garlic in it too, but not too much that I don’t like it. Oh, speaking of garlic, I thought of Rebecca last night, there were huge, whole cloves of garlic in the soup. I passed on them.

Outside the restaurant there were some people playing hackysac, but with a feathered shuttlecock type thing. Sam and David went out to join them as we finished the meal and paid the bill. They really enjoyed playing with Sam and David and thought Sam was so funny. When we left we gave them some jelly bellys and some post cards of Milwaukee. They seemed to like them too. Who knows what they are saying though. Then I got my North Face knock off jacket for $15, Sam bought is own shuttle cock/hackysac and we took in the local sights.

Tonight we saw the Martial Arts show. Mom, Dad and I slept through it, Sam loved it, and David enjoyed watching it with Sam. It was just for tourists

The Great Wall of China

Today is Wednesday, March 26 and we hired Jackie as our tour guide and he hired a van to get us to the Great Wall. First Grandpa Kent needed his coffee, so we drove for a while through the city to get some coffee. We ended up at McDonalds. Then we made our way to the Great Wall. It is a ways out of the city, and even as we were in the countryside Jackie said we were still in Beijing . This country is incredible, there is such a mix of old and new right next to each other and no one seems to mind. Once out of the city all of sudden there were mountains. Then we were at the wall. We went to the Mutianyu Section. As you get out of the car and start to walk up there are stalls of gifts and the people are coming at you to buy the stuff. It was very stressful. Then we started to walk the gazillion of stairs up to the wall. Sam was incredible. He was so excited and kept up an very quick pace, then so did David and I. I should note that he has been up to about 11 each night and waking about 5 AM. He did take a great nap on the way out to the Wall and had several dumplings for breakfast.

Once on the top it is breathtaking. Partly because you just climbed a gazillion stairs and partly because it is so enormous. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical, I thought, so it is a big wall and some mountains. But I was in awe. The view is spectacular, the guard towers were so cool, they had all these rooms and little windows to look out. Sam loved it and kept posing for pictures. He would find something cool and then run to find Grammy and Grandpa to show them. The other cool thing about the wall was that it was full of all sorts of people, we heard so many different languages and saw such a mix of people. Once on the wall, we climbed higher on the wall to see more. Then we took the cable car down. For those of you that know my mom and her fear of heights and dangling, it was a huge step for her. I think the prospect of walking all the way back down helped and that it was enclosed. Plus our car said that President Clinton rode in it. We went in a separate car from the boys, we thought that would help.

Then we took another tour of Beijing and saw the Olympic area, had a very good lunch for about $25 for seven people and went to Silk Street. It was an incredible shopping area. It was what you hear about with knock offs and silk and all sorts of things to buy. We got some nice items. Sam got a Lego kit. We had to bargain for everything. It was very stressful. David is incredible at the bargaining though. I guess I paid too much for Sam’s soccer jersey, but David walked away and I am not good at the bargaining thing.


We finally got home and walked to dinner. It had a hot plate built into the table, they brought the parts and it cooked in front of us. It was so good. It was about $14. We thought it would be more expensive because the restaurant looked nicer, but I guess not.

Until next time……….

We have landed!

Today is Tuesday March 25th and we have been in Beijing since last night. It was a very long flight, very long. We left our house Sunday AM and got here Monday night.

Today we walked to the bank (to exchange money, quite a process), and there was a McDonalds next door. Sam was very excited and had breakfast there. We had planned to go to the Zoo, but realized we were really close to the Forbidden City , so we decided to walk to it. Then once we got in, we realized we were in a different park, but it had a temple on a hill and we could see the whole city and the Forbidden City was across the street. So we decided to go for lunch which was very yummy. They had a huge menu, but the last page had about 7 items on it for Americans written in English. As David was ordering for us, he pointed to someone’s table and asked for what they had and the waitress said no. The meal was great, we had two noodle dishes, sweet sour pork and some other things. It was less than $18. Everything is so cheep. By time we got back to the Forbidden City it was mid afternoon and we would not have enough time before they closed. So we went back to our original plan, took a taxi and went to the zoo. The taxi ride was incredible. David rode up front; Grammy, Grandpa and I were in back with Sam on Grammy's lap. There really are not any traffic rules in China. It was a little scary and about $3.00. At the zoo we really only saw the Pandas. They had 4 or 5 pandas and they were all so cute. There was a group from Ireland that had just adopted their babies last week and were finishing up their trip in China and heading home tomorrow. It was hard to see them since we are so close to getting Elizabeth . We did talk to one family, they were very nice. Then we wandered around a very busy part of town and took a taxi back to the Hoo Hoo. The place we are staying is called the Hutong Inn (we call it the Hoo Hoo), it is great and half way down a Hutong (alley type thing). We all took a nap and met back for dinner. The restaurant's menu was an inch think bound book. It did have pictures for everything and English names. Most was sketchy or scary, but we did find some that was ok. The best was Chairman Mao's favorite Braised Beef. The fried rice was good, the chicken dish was sketchy; it was the bad parts of the chicken and the bones.

Tomorrow is the Great Wall! Sorry there are no pictures. The internet connection is very week and slow. I am nervous I may not even get this out.

Here is what we have noticed in China . It is very clean, not the air, but the streets and shops and such, but. the smoke is horrible. Everyone smokes, everywhere. It is something we are not used to and not enjoying. My eyes are still burning from dinner. Everything is very cheap too. It is hard to get used to the different money, something says 350, but that is just $45. Also there are so many people on the street trying to sell you things or get you to take a rickshaw tour of the hutangs. It was getting pretty bad this afternoon they were everywhere and chasing us down. It is hard to sight see since I just want to be in Nanjing getting Elizabeth . It is an incredible city though, so many people, so much range between old and new.

I'll try to post again soon.

Hoppy Easter

Yesterday (Good Friday) we went to the Sendicks Grocery Store for an Easter Egg Hunt.We also had 16 inches of snow! They told each child that the eggs were in the produce section and they could have four. It took about 30 seconds. Then we got Sam's goody bag and braved the snow home. Grammy Fran has made arrangements with the Easter Bunny to come to her house when we get home in April. So the kids (all three of them) can have a proper Egg Hunt, Grammy Fran Style! As for the "real Easter", I asked my friend Lori if it was ok to go through Holy Week without Easter. She said our trip is Easter; it is all about new life and new beginnings. So I guess we are all set! This is my last post until China! Big thanks to Grandpa Norm for helping us get past the "Great Fire Wall of China".

Picture is cousin Jenna at Easter Egg Hunt.

Parting thoughts.....

I just wanted to share some parting thoughts. Last night on the way to the Maundy Thursday service David was saying how emotional he was and that this would be the last time we saw our church family with out Elizabeth. I told him not to get all blubbery and emotional. Then as soon as we started singing, I got all emotional! First I was thinking about the wonderful music that she will grow up hearing. Then I looked around and saw everyone and thought about the incredible family that she is coming home to and all the people that love her already. I was also sad because I won’t see everyone all for a while. We will really miss you all.

Then I came home and sent out an email to everyone on our email list to let them know we were leaving and remind them to check out our blog for updates while we are gone. I have been receiving the nicest and sweetest emails from everyone. I am touched that you all care so much and with all the prayers and well wishes that we are getting, this trip should be just fine.

Then I talked to my mom and she said everyone at the YMCA (members and co-workers) have been hugging her and wishing us all a great trip. She got several cards and one man (who just returned from CHina) gave her $20 and a card and said to have lunch on him while we are in China. Everyone is so excited about our trip, even the woman working in a store today was excited for us.

This journey has been so incredibly hard for David and me. With out your support I can not even imagine where we would be.

Today when I told David I felt sick with anxiety, he reminded me that God has been with us through this whole process and has made things possible where we could not have even imagined how things could or would work out. Miracles have happened so many places. Then David said, He would not have gotten us this far to leave us or let things go a stray. I know David is right.

I can’t even begin to express my gratitude for our friends, family, for our church and for God. Thank you all so much. Keep us in your prayers, we will be home soon!

Don't forget June 21, we will try to express some of our gratitude to you all with a big party at Pike Lake!

Tickets to China

On Saturday, Grandpa Kent AKA Grandpa Travel Agent, booked our tickets. David, Sam and I went over to lend emotional support. I think we all stopped breathing while he dialed and talked to the woman. This was another time when God was working in the process. Dad had been checking the flights every day and there were plenty of seats. Then Saturday morning he checked and there were only seven seats on the whole huge plane. He called and we jumped into action. Then when he was talking to the ticket agent at American Airlines, she said that if we would have booked any later than Saturday we could not have used the frequent flyer miles because it takes to long to get them out of one account and into another. It gets better. She also said that Japan Air (who we are flying to China) only allows for four seats from frequent flyer miles. We needed five. Let me back up, and tell you that the woman my dad was talking to was SO excited that we were going to CHina for Elizabeth and she was so honored to be a part of the experience. Anyway, she put Dad on hold and called Japan Air and told them what we were doing and they opened up one more frequent flyer seat! So we were able to use the miles for all five seats! So we are leaving on Easter Sunday! Dad also booked the in country flights and the hotel in Beijing.

Update on Elizabeth

This is my favorite picture in the group!


This is Grandpa Kent's favorite. He thinks she is planning ways for her and Jenna to gang up on Grandpa!

We just got an update on Elizabeth! These pictures were taken a few days ago, she is 14 months old, about 17 pounds and has 4 teeth. Here are the pictures! They are all so adorable! I can't wait to hold her and kiss those cute, chubby cheeks!

TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA TA

We got our TA today! For those of you that don't speak adoption-ese, that is our Travel Approval. So we are on our way to China! We are thinking we will leave around Easter and then get Elizabeth March 31. This is all still tenative since we need to finalize the consulate appointment with China. More when we know more! Thanks to everyone for your support.

So Sweet

Today when I got to work at one of my favorite families (they are all my favorites, I guess I can't have favorites?) there was a pan of brownies waiting for me. The second oldest daughter, Carrie made me brownies to make me feel better about not being in China yet. Last week when I was here I told them I did not want to see them until after China and that if I was back before that, I would need some brownies to make me feel better. Yesterday when I was here, Carrie had the boxes out and a note that she would make them when she finished her homework. This morning, they were waiting for me with a note that said, "for Rachel and her family only". How could that not just put them at the top of my list!? I was so touched that she remembered and wanted to make me feel better. It was so sweet and I am sure the brownies are sweet too!

Thanks so much Carrie and your whole family for your continued support!

More waiting

My dad took Jenna to the zoo today. He used the stroller Bridget and I got him for Christmas. The sign he put in it is priceless. Thought you would all enjoy it, especially if you know my dad.

quilt pictures

Sam and I holding the two quilts. I have Sam's he has Elizabeth's

You can see the front and backs of the quilts. The backs have silky on them, of course and they have a satin binding on them, of course.

100 wishes quilt, actually 200 wishes quilts

We finished the quilts! I should say my friend Sarah finished them. I could not have done this with out her. I just laid out the squares (that she cut) and she sewed it and put the back on. They are so wonderful. Thank you to everyone for giving us fabric and a good wish. Sam was really surprised because he knew we were working on one for Elizabeth, but he did not know he was getting one too. They are similar, but yet different enough and "boy" and "girl" enough. David's Aunt Elaine and Grandma Stolpe picked out the pink silky for the back of her quilt. Grammy Fran picked out the turtle fabric for the frame on the back. Grandma Candy sent fun and cute fabric that is sprinkled through out the front. Our friends, the Maldanados sent the Puerto Rican flags (Mike is Puerto Rican). All the squares are so meaning full, can you find your square? My Uncle Howie and Aunt Jeni sent the deer, Sarah had fun working that in! My friend Carmen gave us the cool tye-dye fabric. My friend Marlo sent the bees (it is the theme in her daughter's room). There is the pink flowers from Jenna's quilt and the sock monkeys from the blanket we made Jenna. Sam has had fun looking at all the different ones and asking who they came from. He has also been touching them all. Some have different feels, like the upholstery fabric and traditional turkish fabric from my friend Jeanne in Germany, or the bumpy fabric from Grandma Candy. David's co-worker, Nettie gave us the leopard print, her favorite. I imagine that Elizabeth and Sam will enjoy comparing and contrasting their quilts. Sarah made the "Stolpe Stars" in the center, they are the same fabric, but different arrangements, so one is more boyish and one is more girlish. I can't get over how incredible they are. I am so thankful for Sarah and her help and for all of you for sending me the fabric. We sewed it with red thread and tied it with red thread. I can't wait to wrap Elizabeth in her quilt. I hope she loves it and I am sure as she gets older we tell her about the people that gave us the fabric and good wishes, she will love it even more.

Any Day

Seriously if that travel approval does not come soon, I am going to go nuts. It is just like when I was pregnant with Sam. I was soooooo big (well over 200 pounds) and he was way overdue. His due date was January 9th and he was born on the 17th. I remember stomping up and down the stairs and having David take me to the mall so I could walk around and hopefully bring the labor on. Then I started begging my OB to induce me. I would bring David in to show her how big he was. I had articles from the web that said if your mom had to be induced, then your chances were way higher of needing to be induced. Finally my pleas were answered and she scheduled an induction. This is just the same. It is all out of my hands. I can fold Elizabeth's little pink clothes, I can stare at my phone and hope it rings, I can pack and repack the suitcases, but it is all out of my hands. I know, everything happens in God's time and it will be the perfect timing when it happens. I am getting tired of being taught patience. Ok, I guess I have not quite learned that lesson yet so maybe I need more practice. My dad says not to call or email him until I have the travel approval. He is so funny. It will come soon. Another family in our group got theirs on Friday, so ours can't be far behind. If you need me I'll be staring at my phone.....................