Skipping, giggling girls

I just love how this video captures the sweet bond that these new sisters are forming. 

It was taken just 2 hours after she joined our family.  We met and then we went to her school for a while.  After snack, we decided it was time for a little lay low time before lunch.

They really are doing great together.   TingTing and Grace tend to bring out the wild in each other which is honestly a bit (read a lot) tiring, but they both have very sweet hearts and once we're home and out of the limelight, we can work on that more.  China time isn't "real" time, it's survival time.

Gotcha video

There's probably more than necessary, but I'm not able to edit.

ENJOY!!

We have TingTing!!!

We arrived at about 2 am this morning.  Our flights were great, no problems this trip!  Sara and Aaron woke up to greet us.  We all headed to bed and grabbed a few zzz's before our big day.  I think I slept about 2 hours before my head was atwitter with all that was going to happen to day.  

We got up and got ready and ate breakfast in the recreation building and it was time to meet our little princess!  She walked right in and sat down and started talking to us.  (We have come to find out she understands a lot and also speaks English too.)  LOL  Such a different experience for us.  She is beautiful and chatty and such a helper, and of course living up to her nickname of Little Diva.  It has been amazing!   Most of today's post will be pics as I process everything.  

I'm waiting on the video to load.  I'll post it as a separate post.

Our welcome sign when we arrived at about 2 am this morning!

Loving the bunk room

Here she comes!!!!

Our family of 7--Oh my, this makes my heart sing!

She loves gadgets...a great bonding moment with big brother.

 Opening her backpack

Her favorite present... Troy said she was shaking when she pulled it out.

We headed over to her school to visit.  We found the kids outside for a bit.

Showing TingTing where her new home will be.

  

This was so cute!  I have it on video too, but video loads very slowly here.  I'll post it later.

She was holding hands with the girls when she suddenly stopped, turned around, and ran back to baba and asked him to pick her up.  What a moment....

Itinerary

Aug. 31/Sept. 1:   Loving on children at SF 

Sept. 2:  Gotcha day!!!  Then we drive to Shijiazhuang (provincial city).  We're only spending one night there.

Sept. 3: Registration, Notarization and apply for passport.  After the adoption process, the guide and the driver will take the family and the child back to Tianjin

Sept. 4:   Free day

Sept. 5:   Free day

Sept. 6:   Free day

Sept. 7:   In the morning, the guide will return back to Shijiazhuang to pick up the passport (and bring it to us at the airport), while the family has free time.  Fly to Guangzhou 

Sept. 8:   Photo for the child & Physical test for the child & TB test for the child

Sept. 9:   Free activity

Sept. 10:  Get medical result in a sealed envelope (Do Not Open)

Sept. 11:  Visa appointment, Swearing in ceremony at the Consulate,

Sept. 12:  Pick up visa after 3:30 p.m., free activity

Sept. 13:  Leave Guangzhou for HK by train in the morning

Sept. 14 HK

Sept. 15 HK

Sept. 16--fly home!!

It looks like we have a lot of free time in here, but we are being adventurous this time and doing some touring on our own without our guides so it's not on our official itinerary.

We're on our way!

We weren't scheduled to leave until Wednesday morning, but Hurricane Isaac pushed us out a little early.  We didn't want to take any chances of not being able to get out so we had our first flight switched to Tuesday afternoon.  We spent last night in Atlanta.  It was actually kind of nice to have a break from traveling and some downtime.  I just wish we didn't have to do check in and security again.

Over the last 2 days, I was able to make this:

(oops, I forgot it's on the other sd card and I switched to a new one before we left.  I'll add it when we get back.)

into this:

There's 5 duffel bags, 1 trunk, 2 carryons, and 6 backpacks.  We did good on weight, every checked piece came in between 46 and 49 lbs, but that means I could have added more!

We had surprise visitors at the airport.  Our sweet friends, the Fains, came and helped us pass some time while we waited to go through security.  Thanks!

We scooted through security with no problems.  For me, it's my most stressful part of traveling so I'm always so relieved to get to the other side and be able to relax.  

Dad reading to the girls.

The boys were on their I-gadgets already.  They are both so excited to finally be joining the ranks with touches and iphones!

Today we fly from Atlanta to Seattle (5 hours) and on to Beijing (12 hours).  We leave here at 1:30 pm Atlanta time and arrive at 11:20 pm tomorrow Beijing time.  The time change gets me all messed up each time.  The next time I check in, we'll be at SFCV!!

See you from the other side of the world!

She knows she has a family!!!

After you receive travel approval, they can let your child know they have a family. Here she is after receiving the book we sent introducing ourselves.  There's photos of her new family, her room, our home and yard, pets, etc.  I hear she is excited and asking when we're coming.  Soon, baby girl, soon!

We have....

TA!

It's time to book flights and make our itinerary!