Finally a home update!

Sorry everyone. We have been very ill and very busy since we got home from China. We are all well now. Allegra is doing great! She and Gavin are doing well together and she has bonded with everyone in the family now. She is a very happy little girl!

She hasn't been able to speak any English yet, but I think she is understanding some though. She is crazy about all dogs! She squeals with joy even if she sees a dog on TV.

She has her first dentist appointment in 2 days. The plastic surgeon says that she'll need tons of dental work. She has teeth in her hard palate. Ouch, poor thing! She also needs to have tubes in her ears.

Gavin has had some major adjustment. He is getting much better at sharing everything with his sister now. He loves to play with her and wants me to wake her up when she is napping so that he can play with her.

It seems like she has always been with us. I can't imagine life without her. She is just the perfect match in our family! The Lord knew just what he was doing (of course he did :-) ).

Until next time :-)

Monday in Guangzhou

I can't believe we have had Allegra already a whole week!

We took the kids to the indoor playroom they have at the hotel. Today was such a nice day we also took them back to the outdoor playground. They had so much fun!

Allegra passed her TB test! They will issue her a Visa now. Tomorrow we go to a zoo. Then on Wednesday we have our all important Consulate appointment, then our guide will bring us Allegra's passport and visa!

Poor Gavin has gotten some terrible bites! We think they might be bedbugs because they appear when he wakes up in the morning. We had the staff take out the couch he was sleeping on and bring him a roll away bed. We hope that will do the trick. No one else has any bites. Gavin's poor ears are so swollen, he looks like he has cauliflower ear!

Until tomorrow :-)

Sunday in Guangzhou

We bought some beautiful outfits for Allegra and Gavin today.

This time next week we'll be home!! Yahoo!!!!

Saturday

Today we went to the Medical Center to have Allegra's check up. She must have been fine because they didn't say anything. She cried when they poked her arm for the TB test. We will return on Monday to have that checked out.

We bought the kids some traditional Chinese outfits today (I hope it's kosher to put a Korean in a traditional Chinese outfit) ;-). In the picture Gavin's looks rosy colored but it is actually deep maroon. We are buying him another one that is black with a gold dragon on it. We got Allegra a few outfits that she can wear when she is older too. They are so beautiful!!

We ordered room service tonight and the food was fantastic and cheap!!

Tomorrow we tour some memorial or something (hear my excitment!!) ;-)

I can't wait to get home!

:-)

Friday

One week to go and we can go home!! Tomorrow we take Allegra to get her medical check up.

Since this is one of the most beautiful places in Guangzhou it is a tradition for people to get their wedding pictures done here. Everywhere we go here we see brides and grooms! It is so fun!

Today we had lunch in the White Swan. It was good. Since we have been eating at Lucy's so much we decided to take a break from there. Last night Allegra didn't sleep good. She cried several times in the night. Gavin says he slept good, but he also was talking in his sleep for a while.

Allegra is warming up to Sean. She follows Gavin everywhere he goes. (I don't think he likes it very much...sometimes yes, sometimes no).

It hasn't been hot here at all! In fact it has been a bit chilly (which we have loved!)

Playground

We went to a playground this morning.

Allegra Pics!!

I'm too exhausted to write now, but here are some pictures to enjoy!

ALLEGRA!!

Here she is! She was very calm and didn't cry at all until a few minutes after we got to our hotel. Then she cried for a few minutes and was calmed down when I held her. She doesn't want me to leave the room. She is fun! She doesn't say anything but she makes cute noises. She walks and like to play with cars! Gavin has been very sweet and loving to her!

She claps, laughs, waves bye-bye and blows kisses!! She is adorable!! We are in love!!

We have to go back to the Civil Affairs Office tomorrow for some more adoption stuff. We are tired and getting ready to go to bed!

I'll get a video on tomorrow!

:-)

Guangzhou!

Hello All,

Yesterday we toured the Forbidden City and Tianamen Square. We got so many stares! We even had some people take pictures of Gavin and I together! I have even had some people that wanted to take a picture with me! Weird!

Our flight to Guangzhou got delayed so we didn't get here until last night aroundn 8pm. Gavin slept all the way from getting off of the airplane, to the bus, getting to our beautiful hotel, and all night!

The flight was uneventful, and it felt nice to only be in the plane for 3 hours! We just woke up here, and we have until 1:30 pm until we have to leave for the Civil Affairs Office to meet Allegra!! I can't believe it is Gotcha Day at last!!!!!

We all had a great sleep. It is so humid here, everything in our room feels slightly damp. Our hotel room is just beautiful! I won't mind spending 2 weeks here!! We even have a nice size balcony (not much of a view, but still nice). And yes that is a fake fireplace in the room. Super cool! And Gavin has his own little couch to sleep on too (as you can see in the pic he is sound asleep!) Seeing the little crib in the room...wow...

Next time I post we will have Allegra!!

:-)

Ni Hao! We are here!

We got in to Beijing last night around 9pm...went to our hotel and tried to sleep. The airplane ride was good for the first 8 hours then I got food poisoning and was extremely sick for the rest of the trip.
Today I'm still having a little bit of trouble but am doing better. Gavin is good, he was such a little trooper at all of the outings today! We are all tired beyoned belief and are looking forward to going to sleep as soon as I am done blogging.
Today we went to the Ming Tombs, Jade Factory and the Great Wall. It is a bit chilly here and was very windy at the Wall.
Tomorrow we leave early for the Forbidden City and Tianamen Square, then at noon we go to the Airport to catch our flight to Guangzhou at 2pm. We should land in Guangzhou around 5pm and then we can settle in to our hotel.
We ate duck tonight! It was okay. We met our new friends from Sweden. They are wonderful. They have an adorable daughter from India, and they are getting their son on Monday like us.
Here are a few pictures. Will post more tomorrow :)