Melynda's Birthday

This afternoon we all went to the American Consulate for the swearing in ceremony and thus the adoption is done and visa issued so we can travel back to the States tomorrow. The whole event was nothing more then waiting in a room then a group swearing in and then leaving. It took longer to get there then to finish everything. It was a little bit of a let down, but good to know everything is done!

After that our group went to Lucy's for one last group dinner and yet again another birthday party. This is Melynda. She turned one. She came into Civil Affairs with Claudia on Gotcha Day and the care taker was crying when she handed them over to us. Claudia clearly remembers Melynda and it is clear that they are friends. It is weird to think that they knew each other before they knew us. Melynda was described by the orphanage as obstinate...she cried in her referral picture and cried on Gotcha Day. Soon there after she became a Daddy' girl, almost snubbing her Mommy, but as each hour and day pass you could see Melynda changing. She laughed more and more. She let her mommy hold her for short times and by today she knew for sure who her mommy was..it is amazing to the transformations these little ones have made in this short time.

Dinner was another bittersweet gathering. While it will be so exciting to leave..living in this "cocoon" as Jim calls it these past weeks was like a second home. We all shared something that is hard to describe. I was in a room when five women became Mommies and five men became Daddies for the first time, that i something that I will never forget. In this short time we have found friends. Our guide Grace will be so missed. She helped us through this process and dealt with all our complaints and too became a friend. I will miss all these people and babes and only hope we continue to watch our children grow.

I will also miss the China I have seen and the China I have yet to discover. I hope to return again when Claudia is older and bring Colton along too...It is a unique country with unique and fabulous people. Much different from the US, but for the most part very warm and welcoming. Plus the food has been outstanding. I am unsure how I will deal with US takeout again??

Right now I am packing and getting everything ready for our journey home. We will be up at 5 am and then on our way home to introduce Claudia to her brother. I miss him dearly but realize that we did need this time to get to know our daughter. While not every moment has been easy, I would not trade it for the world. Cha Lian is bright and funny, likes to head-but and when she smiles and reaches for me I just melt. She is where she was always meant to be..so now I am off to finish packing and maybe stop in a shop or two..Ciao!

Oh yeah I posted today's photos below..enjoy!

Dads On A Red Couch

This morning we awoke gave Claudia a bottle dressed and headed to Breakfast eager for the mix of Chinese and western delicacies. Claudia stuck with steamed eggs, Chinese pork, dragon Fruit and Lychees.

After that we went to the lobby to meet Grace for our last tour. While we were waiting the Dads posed for photos on the Red Couch. Danea who is Maria's friend joining them to fill in for Gracie's Dad Jim.

Then, we headed to a Buddhist Temple known as the Six Banyan Tree Temple. We all purchased incense, said some prayers, the children were blessed by ministers Cathy and Jim on the sly. The Temple was beautiful despite the dreary day.

The Temple of Six Banyan Trees has a long history in Guangzhou and is an ancient monastery famous at home and abroad. There are majestic towers, dense trees, plenty of antiques and valuable heritage from those famous people in the history. It is one of the four Buddhism temple complexes in Guangzhou and the other three are Guangxiao Temple, Hualin Temple, Haizhuang Temple. Therefore, it is an important unit for the preservation of antiques.

Temple of Six Banyan Trees was first built in the 3rd year of Datong (537 A.D.), the reign of Emperor Wu in the Southern Liang Dynasty. It was originally called Baozhuangyan Temple. It was changed successively into Chaoshou Temple, Songchu Temple in the Southern Han Dynasty. But the temple was damaged in a big fire. Later, the temple was rebuilt in the 2nd year of Duangong in the Northern Song Dynasty (989 A.D.) and was named as Jinghui Temple. In the 4th year of Shaosheng in the Southern Song Dynasty (1097 A. D.), the temple was repaired and people buried Buddha's relics under it and built thousands of Buddhist statues in the niches and hence it was changed into Qianfo Temple later. In the 3rd year of Yuanfu in the Northern Song Dynasty (1100 A. D.), Su Dongpo, a great litterateur, seeing that the six banyans were verdant and entangled with each other and full of power and grandeur, autographed the words of "Liurong"(means six banyan trees) when he visited the temple and was asked to inscribe for the temple by Daozong, a monk in the temple, on his way to the north after he was relegated from Hainan. Later, people valued Su Dongpo's handwriting and inscribed it into a wooden slab and hung it above the temple's gate. In the 9th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1411 A. D.), the Jinghui Temple was renamed as Liurong Temple, and hence the Dagoba Tower was called Temple of Six Banyan Trees, also the Flower Temple.

Next it was off to the Pearl Market for all types of jewelery...we are dressing now to head to the US Consulate and then our last dinner at Lucy's where we will be celebrating little Melynda's birthday.

The Red Couch

On Monday night it was Kajsa's mommy, Cathy's birthday. We celebrated with traditional Cantonese minus the snakes, bugs and dogs...Claudia has really began to show some personality. At night we watched the light and laser show again each time I see it I think I am in some anime cartoon.

On Tuesday we began the day with breakfast..lots of steamed eggs, Chinese meatballs, lychee and dragon fruit for Claudia. Hopefully I can hit the Chinese grocery on the way home from the airport. After that it was time to stroll the town. I really love it here!! I did some shopping. Arguing for good deals is a science that I am attempting to master. I had a great Mocha Latte at Starbucks. tried to get some photos there but were told by management we were not allowed. This happened in a Wal mart and at a fish market. I think every now and then they want to remind me they are communists. We enjoyed watching more brides and grooms get photographs taken. cathy and I jumped in some of their shots and when we asked the bride when the wedding was, she said December??? They love photos here and obviously do them well in advance..the whole wedding thing is very very strange here.

I then returned to the hotel and enjoyed the edited version of CNN..then came preparation for the Red Couch Photo. FYI, each adoption group must travel through Guangzhou and it is a tradition for each group to be photographed at the White Swan on the red couch. Our darlings have turned into little princesses in just over a week. Enjoy the photos below you will see they have on the best silks around!!

After that all the moms met for cocktails in the bar to catch up and enjoy the setting. dads were sent to the rooms with the babes. After drinks the guys and babes were summoned for dinner at Lucy's. The food there is great as are the beers. We were lucky and made it in time for two for one happy hour. Claudia downed two plus bowls on chicken congee. You would never believe one so small could each so much...

After some food drink and banter we did some more shopping. I am trying to get Colton a Pucca and Garo doll set (although on the phone he just said Claudia can have the Pucca) and some transformers..then off to the room for a bottle bath and bed....for Claudia that is...Now I am writing this entry and enjoying the laser light show. We have one more day here then time to go home. I am eager to get to the States and see Colton. Although admittedly this place is great and I will miss it!!

Tomorrow it is off to a Buddhist temple for a blessing of our babies then to the Pearl Market and then to the US Consulate for a swearing in ceremony to make this whole thing certified for real....Enjoy my photos below and see how each day Claudia and all her friends are becoming more and more animated, happy and part of a family...Until next time...