Three Woods

April

2011-04-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

The most memorable so far.. It marks the month we left for China to meet our baby girl... I can not imagine my life with out her...

Norah has grown and changed allot in a year..

She has become more independent.

She is still a bit behind in her vocabulary but she knows lots of words, and defiantly understands way more then she can speak!!

She has grown ad least 6 inches 11 pounds, 3 shoe sizes, 2 diaper sizes! I just wonder when she will slow down for me.. It really goes to fast!

Norah's second Birthday

2011-04-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe my little girl is 2... she is turning into little ms independent. She is so full of character, and easy to laugh. She is a girly girl , who loves her dresses and baby dolls and wearing costume jewelery. She had a great Birthday that we were able to celebrate with her Foster sister and our travel partner. Both of them have the same Birthday, it was a very special day.

MARCH

2011-04-16T09:50:00.001-07:00

Well March started off very sad for us with the loss of our beautiful boy dog Buddy.. It was very sudden and unexpected.. One day things are fine and the next he did not seem right and took him to the vet.. landed up he had cancer and his liver and perforated and he was bleeding internally.. We had to make the decision to put him down that morning.. We were devastated to say the least... On a good note, Norah is falling into her new routine with hanging with Nana and Papa for a few hours a day while I am at work part time. The girl just makes her self at home with raiding and literaly sitting in the fridge. Going through the pantry, playing with Nana shoes and jewelry.. It is so nice knowing my daughter is loved and comfortable while I work.

FCC Dim Sum

2011-02-13T21:14:00.001-08:00

Happy to get to go to our first Chinese New Year function... Waited 4 long years to bring our little one~!

New Year

2011-01-14T15:42:00.001-08:00

December in pictures

2011-01-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

A few pictures from Christmas time.. Norah opening her gifts and loving her baby doll! Also picture with Dada out at the festival of lights

Beauty shot

2011-01-14T15:28:00.001-08:00

I adore this picture of my daughter!! I think she is absolutly beautiful here. It has been a word that people use alot to describe her. Even our social worker said she has seen alot of little ones come from China, but Norah is very unique as she is very beautiful... she compared her looks to Sophia Loren.. with having somethign about her that makes her beautiful.... this might sound like bragging... and it might be. but I can appreciate my gems beauty as well ..

Not really digging Santa

2010-12-10T13:12:00.001-08:00

Christmas!

2010-12-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

This is going to be the best Christmas ever.. For 4 years I kept hoping each Christmas that it would be the last without our child.. and finally it has come.. Christmas with my beautiful daughter!

20 mths old!

2010-11-23T14:38:00.000-08:00

Well my sweet pea is 20 mths old today!!

She is such a smart little girl and the learning is now coming quick! She is into repeating most of what we say to her which is so cute..

Her words:

Mama

Dada

Nana

Grampie = Pee pee pee lol

Buddy = Buhee

Molly - Awe ee

Bird = BB

pee pee

poo poo

Cheese

Eggs

mine

down

easy

tooth paste -paze or Bee

Planet 51 = La la

eyes

nose

mouth

hair

hat

boots

shoe

and the one I love the most...

I love you .. La la la la in the inflection of I love you

She loves to now wear her hat and mitts.. which is great as it is getting cold..

She is big on cartoons planet 51 being her favorite.. and she asks for it a lot.. She has become very big on jumping and loves if you jump with her weather you are trying to rest or standing in line at the super market she would love to have you jump. She loves to walk her little puppy toy dog and wear my flip flops about the house.

Thankfully in the past month she also is a big snacker and eats most of what I put in front of her, though she is a picky eater.. so I stick with mostly foods she likes.

Things that make her mad, not being able to hold the remote control, or touch my phone when ever she sees it, and not being able to have a pen when she would like it lol..

She is such a joy and it is so cliche but I cant get over how much and how quick she is growing! i JUST ADORE HER

My runner

2010-11-11T08:58:00.001-08:00

Norah has mastered the art of running!!

November

2010-11-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

Norah had a blast her first Halloween! We had her dressed as a little witch for her party at her gym class.. When it came time to go door to door she wore a cute little duck costume, which at first she disliked! but once she went to her fist door and got something in her little pumpkin purse she was hooked!! We did a few doors thinking that would be enough and she kept wanting to do it again! It was pretty cute!! and well mommy got lots of sweet candy!!

She is such a little character! and is a little parrot! she is into repeating everything she hears! it is pretty cute..She also is now into her baby dolls which is adorable to see her carrying it around! She has become a great little eater these days, she is the master of snacking all day and knock on wood she has been eating every supper I put in front of her!

It is so cliche but she is growing so fast,.. Only a few mths ago she was 19 lbs and about 28- 29 inches long... She is now 28 lbs and 33 inches!! She is a tall girl!! even I have to remind myself that she is just 19 mths old and she is so tall and smart as a whip!

Just Some pics form the past few weeks

2010-10-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from the past few weeks.. There is one of Norah with a fellow Qichun sister whom we have play dates with!

A walk in the woods which She loved!! Another showing off hersoft sweet side of her personality and her sweet pucker she has!

Intolerence

2010-10-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

I am not great at writing or anything...but because this is my blog I can write what I want here..This post is regarding intolerance.. There was a pretty heated debate on a site I belong to. It was regarding gay people being able to adopt. I am all for gay people being able to adopt, I am not being judged by what I do in my bedroom when it came to adoption and I don't think anyone else should either. Any how there were a few comments stating that Gay people is what is wrong with society, and these are people who should know tolerance as they are adopting children from another Country!

It is just such a shame that there are still people out there with such extreme views.. I spoke to my husband and was saying how it seems that these types of intolerance's will never end because it is parents with those thoughts passing it on to their kids and in turn coming into the school yard and bullying others, and no matter how much I try to teach my daughter tolerance to others there will always be those teaching their kids the opposite... Kinda of sad really...a never ending cycle?

1 out of 10 people born is gay. That means 1 of every 10 people is instantly put down, given bad labels, left alone, put in a minority and so much more... all for something they have no control over. Many gay teens are committing suicide as a way of escaping. This is my note to say ......life will get better and I respect them for who they are..

oh and I will teach my child my same views!!

Is she really that Happy?

2010-10-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

I have been asked if Norah is as happy and full of smiles as she looks in the pictures.. The answer is yes 90% of the time... I am pretty blessed with a happy out going child who loves to laugh. That is not to say she can't get a serious pout!!going.. Here are a few of her not so happy faces lol..but in the end she will give in and smile

6 mths!

2010-10-06T21:54:00.000-07:00

Family Tree

We've added to our family tree,

a stronger one to make...

A child from another plant,

has become our new namesake.

Just as a limb is grafted

from one tree to another...

It alters and improves the plant,

making it uniquely, like no other.

Our family tree has been improved,

adoption made this so...

For love, much more than bloodlines,

makes us thrive and grow.

‎6 months ago we met our angel...Mesmerized by your sweet face,Still warmed inside by our first embrace...I promised to give you a happy home,And a loving family all your own. A house you’ve now made complete,With laughter, smiles, and tiny feet

My darling Norah I love you more then words can say

Sunshine..Pure Sunshine!

2010-09-19T23:00:00.000-07:00

5 mths!

2010-09-06T22:43:00.001-07:00

Today marks 5 mths since we met and held our little Norah.. I just love her so much and so happy with how she is progressing! She is a little bundle of laughter, and if laughter is the best medicine for things then I will live a long time as she makes me laugh so many times in a day.

Her vocabulary is coming along as well!

Words:

Mama

Dada

baba

ball

woof woof

hot

shhh

bath ( sounds more like baa but I know it is bath )

She understands a lot more and think she will be talking sentences soon!

One thing she does do is scream when I ask her to inside scream she lets out a quiet scream.. it is so cute

If I ask her to get something specific she will walk over and get it

Her favorite things

Shoes and putting them on and take them off

Brush her teeth

Carry her purse

Paddy Cake

Humpty Dumpty poem while she is bounced on my knees

Horsey rides on my foot ( which is a tiring one )

She is our little empress and she knows it!!

Really she is a baby!

2010-09-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

Some times I am blown away by how beautiful my daughter is... It is hard some times to remember that she is only 17 mths

August

2010-09-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

We had a great August.. Norah went to meet my family for the first time!! She loved them and playing with her cousins even if she was a bit shy at first she started to come out of her shell! When we came home we had a play date with her Qichun sister Hildy,..how I love to see these two together..just makes my day to see how far they have come. Norah 's new thing this month is walking the dog and carrying her purse around which she LOVES!

Day at the Park

2010-08-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

Some one LOVES the park!!

Work it ! Norah' first photo shoot

2010-08-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

Norah had her first photo shoot a few weeks ago... I was happy we got some real keepers as she was so tired,.hungry and teething so she was not to happy to be doing them,. These are my 2 fave's!

My little Gem

2010-07-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

I am not big at writing so will be short...Norah is doing so well and each day I am so proud that I get to be her mom! I cant get over what a character she is. Each night I sit and rock her to sleep and reflect on my new life with her. I cant imagine not having her, and am so proud at how far she has come. When we got her she could not sit with out being wobbly, she did not eat, she did not play or hold any of her toys and did not babble much. She is now so close to walking on her own, she feeds herself cheerios and is started on table food. She also talks up a storm, she can say Mama, Dada, Nana, woofs like the dogs lol and says uh oh, and wow! She is also into wagging her finger side to side hen I say oh no you didn't.. She is so funny, and so smart.

Included a picture of a day at the local fair and Norah;s first coaster ride... think her uncle and Dad loved it more lol

Just a few pictures

2010-07-14T21:57:00.001-07:00

The Day we adopted you

2010-07-06T11:19:00.001-07:00

Happy 3 months

2010-07-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

I am so in love with my little Norah and still celebrate each month on the day we met.. It seems like forever that we have had her and cant think of life with out her,.. yet 3 months is such small amount of time... Norah is doing just fantastic,.. she is a very smart little girl.. and has come along so well. She now walks holding onto one hand and I am sure she will be running around on her own soon! She just started a little gym class and seems to love it as she crawls all around the place and is very good at her somersaults! she just giggles the whole time we are there..

As you can see from the pictures she is very happy and also so full of attitude ..lol

Norah is 15 mths old today!!

2010-06-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe we have been home for just over 2 months and that my sweet girl is 15 mths old!! She is such a little character and has come along way in 2 months.

She now says Mum and Dada ( As of thew 21st ) She does not say anything more then that right now but she defiantly understands what we are saying as I can ask her to point out her belly button her nose, and in the bath I ask her to wash her body and she does all that!

She loves to hold onto our fingers and walk around.. And if you wont do it she defiantly lets you know she is not happy about it! She has quite the little temper. lol She does this little fake cry and screams! she can even whip up a batch of tears to go along with it. I know it is fake because the moment I take her hands to walk around some more she stops and a big smile comes across her face.

Now I would love to keep that smile on her face but it breaks my back hunching over walking with her !! She for some reason she wont hang on to her shopping cart and walk with that and the moment I try with just one hand she collapses to her knees.

She also loves to ride on her wiggle car and tricycle. Her most favorite toys are her ball popper and stacking blocks, she loves for me to stack them and she knocks them down with a great big grin!

She is still fighting touching any type of food and does not like a lot of things with texture so she is still on a puree diet. I keep working on that she loves cheerios so I let her have those and I put them on the coffe table to grab at them but she has found a way around picking them up she just puts her face down to them lol...

She seems to have taken a few steps back in the eating department, as she is refusing things she would eat before. I have to trick her some times to get her to eat the food. She will open for shredded cheese so when she does I back the cheese up with a spoon of food. We are on the wait list for an occupational therapist in regards to the eating but I am thinking it will correct it self soon. I figure if in China she was taught not to touch food for 12 mths it might tkae her some time. Was the same with her toys in the beginning as well as things around the house she was very tentative.

My Girl

2010-06-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

I just love the faces she makes!!! She is so cute I can hardly stand it.. It is hard to believe that we have only had this little gem home 2 months ( almost )

Norah's Shower!!!

2010-06-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

We had Norah's baby shower this past weekend. It was such a great day. I had family come in from out of town. I was so happy to get to share Norah's special day with my aunts cousin, my brother Sister in law and nephew! They all came in from out of town. My friends put on the most beautiful shower I was so blown away by the work they did!! Norah was spoiled rotten by all!! I cant thank everyone enough. I was so touch and happy for this day to come. It only took 4 years!! but she is so worth the wait and I just love her to bits!

Play Date and Pig Tail Madness!

2010-06-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Had a play date with Norah's wee friend.. Norah just loves her!! they had a fun time eating snacks and putting ponies in their hair! Norah's friend loved and wanted every pony she had in! lol

The Giggler

2010-05-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

An afternoon play session in pictures!

Would you like a puff treat Norah??

2010-05-23T22:26:00.001-07:00

Ijust love how excited Norah gets when she is getting a puff treat or a cheezie.. She is one excited little girl for food!! lol

WOW I am floored by how Beautiful my daughter is!

2010-05-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

To the Dr.

2010-05-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

Norah is doing very well these days! We went to the Dr and She was at about a 6-7 month range when we got her and now her development is at about 10-12 month range!! She is crawling around a fair bit , though she is a bit cautious now as she has taken a few headers while crawling to fast. She is also coming along with her eating, I have started to introduce a thicker texture and now she will eat her mashed veg with added shredded chicken, meatloaf and tuna!. I also made homemade cheese sauce and I add that to her food a fair bit. I mostly add it if I am feeding her jar baby food as it is pretty bland.

I had to take her for blood test last week and unfortunately it was not a good experience. The nurses were not able to get any blood from her. It was so hard to see my baby being held down ( I also had to help hold her ) while they tied her arm off and pushed a needle in and move it all around. They then tried her wrist then over to her other arm. By the end of this I was in tears as well as I know it does hurt. The nurses said she was crying because we were holding her, I said maybe but it also hurts! I have the same problem with veins collapsing and they dig around for ever!! trying to get a vein!

So I have to bring her to Children's hospital and hope they can get it down with as little trauma as possible, as she had not only a bad experience but seems she reacted to the trauma to her arm with broken blood vessels all around where the needle was, as well looks like the tie was very tight as I could see for a few days where they had tied it?? I am bringing her Nan as support for her and me.

Hmm

2010-05-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

I don't really know what to write , as I am not good at it but thought would share some pics over the past few days of my beautiful daughter..

My First Mothers Day

2010-05-11T11:46:00.001-07:00

I have waited for what seems like forever,.. ok around the ball park of 8 years! to have a Mothers Day .. I wasn't disappointed....

I woke up to my beautiful happy baby girl smiling at me! a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my husband along with a sweet poem that brought me to tears...

I also received a bouquet of flowers from my mother in law and was included in a song that my brother in law wrote about mums!!

The whole family was over to enjoy a beautiful brunch! It was the perfect day sitting around in the sun with my family!!

One Beautiful Month

2010-05-04T16:19:00.000-07:00

Celebrating 4 weeks together!!! We are sooo in love with her.

My Baby Girl

2010-04-24T23:01:00.000-07:00

Well a full week home has come to a end.. It started of pretty rough for me with tears on my part with adjusting to the new life as a family of 3. I spoke to others with kids adopted and not and am glad I am not the only one who had those overwhelming feelings of ,..well being overwhelmed.

As a first time parents we are still working on what type of routine we should have. I am trying to get her to bed around 7:30 or so. She usually sleeps for a few hours and then gets back up any time from 10:30 -1:00. At first I would play with her now I just let her kick her legs and paw at me.. I let her know I am there but I keep the lights off and chat to a minimum. Within a hour she is tired again and sleeps until morning.

She does not get up at the same time each day which makes it hard for a routine, hoping it levels soon, so I can figure out a nap schedule. Right now she gets up early and with in a hour needs to go back down for another 20 min - hour and then she is happy baby. She tends to get tired again around 2 -3 ish.. So looks like we are gearing towards 2 naps, which makes it hard to do anything so may try to change it..At this point I am winging it!

She has really come our of her shell this week and is a real character.She loves to play a mimic game she makes a sound and loves if you repeat it. She loves to be tickled and loves peek a boo. She also has really started to bond with her Daddy and loves Daddy to throw her in the air! little daredevil! One things she does which can be painful is scratch, she is very tactile and scratches everything!! I have a few war wounds to prove it! lol I now hold her hand if she scratches me or if she zooms in on a area I cover it with my hand which makes her mad and she proceeds to scream and try to move me hand.. She is a stubborn wee girl!

I am also happy she has started to eat!!! food other then formula, big steps as she would not even open her mouth on Monday, now you can shovel the cereal in fast enough! she still only likes smooth food and currently it is strained banana and cereal but it is a great start! Well that's all I have wish I could write more eloquent but writing is not my forte.

Home

2010-04-19T21:24:00.001-07:00

We are home.. We are still very tired and trying to get over the jet lag but we are so happy.. Unfortunately I was not able to send as many updates as I would have liked as my computer messed up while in Wuhan something with the power or something? as it kept shutting off there? It is fine now.. AS well even if it did work Norah does not give me much alone time as she needs to be held all the time. It is great for bonding but hard to get anything done.. I probably will not update the blog that often from now since I am bad at blogging and not good at writing, but I will try to posy pics here and there for the next wee bit..

Forbidden City

2010-04-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note. Today was the forbidden city visit. We walked for miles and miles! We got lost a few times as it is so huge in there..not sure what we saw and what we were doing. I would say a good hunk of the population of China decided to visit today and all the other tourisits. I managed to squatty potty with Norah attached to me today so that was a gold medal pee! LOL When we got out it was hard to try to get a taxi, they all wanted to charge double!! Then we had rickshaw drivers basically chasing after us. We finally got a cab and are safe and tired back at the hotel. It is only 1 here and it feels like midnight.... we are on our way down to lunch and then who knows.
Tomorrow we only have to go back to the embassy and think will go to the silk market. Friday we are all looking forward to coming home. China is fun but we are ready to leave.......xoxox

Nearing the end of our time here...

2010-04-13T05:57:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Just a quick note.. Went to the Great Wall of China yesterday...Was amazing!! we all are aching today from the climb each stair was 4 stairs high!! It was also very cold!!

Went to do the medicals today Norah is in the 75th percentile for her height and 50th for weight, weighing in at 20 lbs (she definitely seems a lot heavier to me). It does make sense though as she is wearing 6-12 cloths fine but 1 piece clothes are to short on her.. She is healthy with very slight motor delays, her hearing and sight are excellent..
we had a scare last night as she had a very high fever and was up all night.. At the Dr this morning they confirmed she was not well and has bronchitis. So, she is on antibiotics amongst the advil and dimetap. We will be staying close to the hotel until we leave as to not bring her into the cold. Hoping the antibiotics kick in before the flight and that it does not spread to a ear infection.

We love China, but are counting the days until we come home and can get into a normal routine. XOXOXO

Day 8!

2010-04-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry I did not get to write anything yesterday. We have been having a great time here. We went to a Buddhist temple yesterday and to the museum. You can not even imagine what it is like here, the roads are soo crazy. We opted not to go to where Norah is from as 1. the drive there and back was going to be 5 hours! and 2. we did not want to risk the childrens' saftey driving around with no car seats and 3. well it is freaking scary being driven around!!

The nights are very hard for me, Tom and Norah as that is when she does most of her grieveing. She also has a bit of a cold which doesn't help. Being thrust into parenthood, in China, living in a hotel room with a 1 year old who is sick and grieveing is a BIG crash course for Tom and I. I have already shed a lot of tears, as it is so exhausting...mentally and physically (she is heavy)!!

We are so in love, with her! Her personality is starting to come through, she is a demanding little girl and noisy as she loves to chat with her finger in her mouth. She has the cutest little dimples when she does smile, she is making us work for though. Love to you all. Pray for us as we have to fly to Beijing tomorrow, and Norah is stuffed up...or maybe pray for the others around us!! lol

Adoption Day

2010-04-07T05:29:00.000-07:00

I have Norah in my arms right now so I can't really type much. She had a rough night last night so we are hoping that tonight is better. Norah won't let me put her down, and she is heavy!!!
Adoption day was today! We are so happy!!! xoxo

Gotcha Day!!!!!!!

2010-04-06T04:25:00.000-07:00

When I got this email I started crying while looking at the pictures. FINALLY! Heather, Tom and Norah are united as a family. The look of contentment on Heather and Tom's faces say it all. I must say I envy Tom's family as they all live close by to Heather and Tom, while Heather's family all live in another province, so unfortunately it will be a while before we can meet the newest member of our family.

Hello,

Just a quick note. We are so happy right now!!! It was a whirl wind morning!! Norah is so Beautiful and we are in love!! I have posted some pics but cant stay late as Norah is starting to cry... LOVE YOU ALL!

Day 5- Wuhan

2010-04-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hi All, So we finally heard from Heather today. It seems as though she is having trouble with her computer so we are not sure how much we will hear from her for the remainder of her trip. She is able to use her friend's computer, but seeing as Forever Family Day is tomorrow (actually mere hours from now as it is Tuesday morning in China as I am posting this) I'm not sure how much time she will have to send us any info. However, she did promise to send us some pictures of Norah so we will get at least one more email for sure. I have had butterflies in my stomach all day just thinking about how close Heather and Tom are to having Norah in their arms forever. They are such wonderful people who have remained positive throughout this journey to being a family of three and are an inspiration to not only me, but to the many people who know and love this couple. I know they will be wonderful parents. Okay, enough from me....here is what Heather has to say:

We had a great day touring the Yellow Crane Tower, it was stunning! We really lucked out with the weather, however, the humidity had us all feeling really icky! As in Shanghai, we were once again a major attraction with the locals, who were staring and wanting pictures of us.
After, we went to a store called Carefour (it was like a Chinese superstore) to pick up water and diapers. We then went for some lunch, and were thankful for our guide who ordered us the wussy version of Chinese food, but not before they sent us some pigs feet which were promptly sent back from our table! Lol...

We went back to the hotel with the intention of going for a swim, however once we saw the condition of the pool we decided against it. They said there was chlorine in the pool, but there was mold around the lights and without our guide or our translator it was difficult to communicate as we don't speak Chinese and they did not speak English. So, here I am hanging out with Tammi, while Tom is in our room watching a movie. We are all trying to relax as tomorrow is BABY DAY!!!! I will be sure to update you all with pictures and will write again when I can... hopefully my computer will work for me.

That's it for now...

Day 4- Shanghai to Wuhan

2010-04-05T05:04:00.001-07:00

Hi All,

We got up in the morning and had our last breakfast at the Pullman hotel. It was pretty early so after we ate we decided to go for a walk around the gardens. In the middle of this massive city we could see a little garden below. We went down there and had a brief chat with some grandparents who were watching their grandson. We then ventured for a walk around the block,.I still can not get over the driving here and what it is like to cross the street, We give a little thanks each time we do it successfully! We strolled into a few shops and purchased some tea which was fun as the local did not speak much english and the little girl at the front ran to the back yelling, "Daddy! Americans!!" Our little translator is worth its weight in gold right now!!as we were able to even ask how to prepare the tea we were buying using it.

We then went back to the hotel and got picked up at 1:30 and were driven to the the airport. The flight was uneventful and quick. We then met with our guide Cathy who will be with us while in Wuhan; she is a great gal! There was a definite difference during the drive as it felt ALOT more rural. We did not get a good view of the city as it was dark, but what we did see was very different. When we walked into the hotel room there was a crib in it... It is starting to feel way more real... Well was off to bed as up in the morning for a tour of Wuhan!!

XOXOX

Shanghai Day 2

2010-04-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Day 2 In Shanghai, we went on another exploration! Today we went down to the French Concession area. It is known to be ritzy and have lots of Indy stores. It felt more like a big city but still surreal as you would have clothes hanging out to dry and women doing Laundry down the alleys in between the Cartier and Gucci stores. There were no bargains to be had here! Unless your in the market for a 42 thousand dollar watch! We walked all over the place , and at times it reminded me of being in Vegas but instead of having cards slapped at you all the time it was people trying to sell you a watch or knock off purse. We stopped and had a Hagen Das Ice cream today as one it was there! and two it was a beautiful day to enjoy an ice cream. We then went to try to get into the museum, at the peoples park. However, we unfortunately could not get in as there was a line up all around the building as it was the first showing of a new exhibit.

We all deserve awards today for our attempt at local cuisine. We had a good laugh as we had ordered a chicken ho pot. What we thought would be some chicken in a spicy sauce was not what we were expecting... it was chicken in a hot sauce but more like the whole chicken hacked up and the added to the sauce. We are very spoiled with our skinless boneless chicken dishes.

We just came back from having a light supper and a few drinks with Tammi and Ted. Now it is time to rest for our flight to Wuhan tomorrow.

XOXO

We are in Shanghai!!!

2010-04-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we finally got an email from Heather this morning. I have been checking every couple of hours since yesterday so I could post whatever she sent right away. As Heather's interim poster on her blog, and sister, I just want to add that we are all so excited that the time is finally here for Heather and Tom to meet Norah! Anyways, enough from me, here is what Heather sent to me so far:

So we made it! The flight was long it took a total of 12 hours. We have never watched so many movies back to back.

We arrived at about 4:10 and got through customs pretty quick. It was slightly raining, so it felt like being at home. It was pretty overcast or was it smog?

Anyhow, we got to the hotel and pretty much went straight to bed. We woke up early and had a great breakfast up on the 49th floor of our hotel. There was a big selection and was good tasting.

We then ventured out to the Bund (which is a tourist location) in Shangahi. It had a lot of great views. I think we were quite the interesting view for some locals and Chinese on vacation as we were asked quite a few times to pose for pictures with people! We then ventured out to find the market area. Crossing the street is not for the faint of heart and I learned the international sign for not to go, really is red! I don't know what I was thinking and I started to cross when I shouldn't have!

We finally got to this great little market. We quickly befriended a local who took us around (I think he might do this for a living) anyhow, he was very nice and we found a place that would not have been found with out him. It was a tea house and we went in for some tea and pork buns. Tom learned that you have to be careful when you are trying to speak the language as asking for a pork bun can also sound like him asking for a stupid prostitute lol...

We just returned from supper with Tammi and her Dad, Ted. We had a nice buffet, there was lots of western food so so far we are not starving lol...

I am laying her in bed and it is just 9, but we have had a full day,.. time to relax and soak it all in as everything is still very surreal...

Leaving in the morning...

2010-03-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

We are leaving the house Wednesday morning for the airport!.. I will be having my sister update the blog here for me as I am not going to have access. Yeahhhh after 8 years of trying for a family this time next week we will have our Norah in our arms!!

To China or Bust

2010-03-26T19:51:00.001-07:00

2010-03-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 1 st BIRTHDAY to my sweet darling Norah!!

I so wish I could have been with you today.. I am counting the days untill I see you!!

Also A BIG Happy 1st Birthday to your China sister Hildy...

Flights are booked!!!

2010-03-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

Yay so excited... we have purchased out tickets for China!! We will be leaving on March 31, flying into Shanghai.. We will sight see there and on the Sunday fly to Wuhan. On the Tuesday April 6th.. we will receive our baby Norah!!!.** it was changed to APril 6th due to Chinese Tomb Sweeping Day. We will be in Wuhan for about until April 10th. We will then fly to Beijing for remainder of the trip doing more paper work, Norah will have a medical etc.. We will fly home on April 16th!! ...

WE HAVE TA!!!!!

2010-03-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

Just found out tonight we have travel approval!!!

We will have to let our agency know our preferred travel dates and then the accommodations and in China flights etc are booked. From there we can book our flights!!!! SO EXCITED!!

Olympic Fun

2010-03-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

While I wait I thought would share a few pics from the Olympic fun I had!

Still waiting

2010-03-17T07:27:00.001-07:00

Still waiting on TA. TA is travel approval from China. Once we get that. We will be able to book our flights and then the agency takes over and books out in China accommodations as well as puddle jumper flights and transportation. What I do know is that we will fly out on a Wednesday from Vancouver to Shanghai. We will be there, doing a little sight seeing until Sunday. On Sunday we will fly from Shanghai to Wuhan, I think we will be receiving Norah on the Monday. We will be there about a week doing paper work. we then will fly from Wuhan to Beijing where we will be for the remainder of our time. We have some more paper work to go over and Norah will have a final full medical exam. From what I understand we will be flying back on a Friday from Beijing into Vancouver. The good thing is that Air Canada does a non stop flight!

I am looking forward to this whole experience.. My nerves are shot with anticipation... My tummy is in knots with the not knowing when we will leave.......Hoping for maybe March 31 or April 7th??

Updated information

2010-02-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

Norah is now an 11 month old little girl.. I am so lucky I found out some updated information from Ann from Red Thread. A little pj package is being sent to Norah with a blanket, toy and pj's as well as a letter I wrote and a camera with hopes the foster mom will take some pictures.

The updated measurements I have for Norah
Height 73cm=28.74 inch
Weight 9.8 kg = 21 1/2 pounds
she has 7 teeth now!

So we have healthy girl!!

Also I learned that she is in foster care with another little girl whom she sleeps with,. That little girl is being adopted by my friend in my travl group how awesome is that. So the girls share the same birth date, same finding date and share the same foster family.. I am so happy for my daughter to have this life long friend

My dog is gangster

2010-02-17T21:03:00.000-08:00

No real news.. Just still waiting ... I sent out a care package to Norah through Red Thread.. Ann is away on holidays this week so think should be sent next week. I don't think we will get any new pictures as she is in foster care.. If we did how awesome would that be!! The package contains a camera so I am hoping maybe will get there for Norah's birthday and hoping the foster mom will take some pictures... I am hoping as well if Ann talks to the director that we might get some extra information about her maybe updated measurements? .. .This weekend I will go bide my time taking in some Olympic fun!.. No new pics so I leave you with a picture of one of my dogs looking mighty gangsta!

2010-02-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

Just giving an update and let you know we are told that all the medical information we got was looked over and Norah is in all aspects they can tell a healthy girl!

She falls into the 50th percentile for her height and weight. she is healthy girl. We are told she is in foster care ..We are so thrilled that she is in foster care..

She seems like an out going little girl from her information and of course I love that they say she loves to window shop! and likes busy place it said.. So I assume she likes being out and about or have others around her! I had to laugh when I saw that it states she can be obstinate! Yea she is so mine!! Lol...

It also states she is active and alert and laughs out loud... (This is all from when she was 7 mths old) We are told she is a moderate sleeper.

We have been told it might not be until mid April before we can go get her. We have to get a court date in China and book all the travel stuff. I am hoping that it will be sooner. I was so hoping to have her before her first Birthday...

We will be traveling with another couple their daughter is exactly the same age as Norah .. I am so glad the girls will be together when we pick them up.. hoping they will be of some comfort to each other

I was looking up the average temp in Wuhan where we will go to get our daughter and I see the best time to go is March / April before it gets to hot.. It is known to be a sauna as it is so hot and muggy.. The average Temp is Low 11-13 and High 68/72 .. so hoping not to hot and not to cold during our visit!

Our Family of Three!!!!

2010-02-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

I cant wait to get an offical family picture togeather... We are so in love...

We Have a Daughter!!

2010-02-03T16:25:00.001-08:00

We Have a Daughter and she is Beautiful!!!

Born March 23 2009

Residing in the Qi Chun County Social Welfare Institute

In Hubei!!!

TODAY!!!!

2010-02-03T09:29:00.001-08:00

I also got the call that we are going to see our daughters face today !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freaking out!!

Still waiting.....

2010-02-02T12:44:00.001-08:00

Still Waiting on the news that our referral is on its way... Hoping by then end of this week... I am on the edge of my seat...........

R5 – April 5th

2010-02-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

We’ve got seven agencies confirming the cut off date as April 5th. I believe that calls for an R5.
Congrats to those families included in this batch!!!

THAT means I am in!!!