Walmart!

Walmart again!! It doesn't matter where the Walmart is, I still can't stand the store. We went there again. This time we went to the old one.

This is the shopping area we went to taody. There was the Walmart and a department store. Everything is tall and you go up. In the middle are little stands selling Coke or McDonalds.

Savannah slept through most of our shopping experience. Daddy endured the heat and sweat of this little one. She was soaked when we took her out. It is so hot here, you start to sweat as soon as you get out the door.

We managed to leave the department store with only 3 pairs of shoes. Anyone who knows me or Shelby knows that WE love shoes. No squeaky shoes yet! There are more to come.......

Ready Set Go! Almost!

She loves playing on the floor. She's rolling around and on all fours. She is so ready to start crawling. She might start before we come home.


Our smilie is not quite as happy today. She has a really bad cold. She's taking some chinese cold medicine, so hopefully that will help her breath. She's only taking bottles with formula and rice, but not as often as the orphanage says. We've tried to give her food, but she has no clue. She wouldn't even touch the french fry I gave her today. What child doesn't like french fries?

First Bath!

Last night was Savannah's first bath. Daddy took her in the bath, so she wouldn't be afraid. She loved the water.

More Adoption Day Photos

Adoption Day!

We had our adoption interview at the Registration Office today. This is where we finalized all our documents and officially accepted Jiangmian as our child and promised to them that we would never abuse, neglect or abandon her. We also made the promise that we would love and take care of her as our own child.


Her footprint was stamped in her official documents.


This is where we officially received our Adoption Certificate.


Here she is ALL Smiles!

Today was a very busy day for us at the registration office and then the notary office. Tonight we have an appt with a doctor to get all checked out. Tomorrow is a shopping day for all of us.

Thank you all for your sweet comments that you have left since yesterday. It is a treasure to wake up and read. We miss our family and friends and can't wait to see you all at home.

Our First Photos of Savannah Marie Jiangmian!

Gotcha Day Recap!

Today was an amazing day! It started with all our paperwork. Later in the afternoon, we all loaded up into the bus and drove to the Lottery Hotel. We practiced the words we learning early today and her nickname. Which is Mian-Mian. We were instructed not to cry because the babies wanted to see our smiles and would respond better to a smile than they would tears. All the parents did great keeping themselves together.

Each baby was brought into the room one at a time. As one more baby was added, things started to get crazy. She was so wiggly and happy. She was interested in everything around her. Many others had this look of concern on their faces. They are all sooo beautiful. Today was an answer to soo many prayers. Not only for us but for all the other parents as well.

It amazes me when I think about how GOD choose us for this baby! No one else or not another baby, but Jiangmian.

After we received our babies, we all went back to our hotel. Many babies fell asleep on the bus in their mommy's arms. Not our Mian-Mian. She sat with Daddy and played with a few toys. She finally crashed after we took our famaily photo. Just before we took the photo, she was putting on a show for the other families. She was smiling and kicking her legs. It looks like she's a thumb sucker. She wouldn't drink her bottle and she sucked her thumb until she fell asleep.

Tomorrow morning, we meet at the registration office to complete the paperwork we started today. It also means that we have completed the harmonious period and we are still adopting her. If there were any reservations or issues, today was the day that you had to make that final decision. For us, it has been very harmonious. I'm not sure it has been for others. Things can change tonight. I'll have to let you know in the morning.

Time to Go! Mike and Savannah are asleep and I can't stop blogging!

Judy, thank you for checking my blog at 2:30 am and having sweet dreams about my Savannah!

The Official Paperwork! Be sure to read the whole post!

Her passport documents. All the Beiliu babies were photographed in red shirts.


Time for fingerprints.


The bus ride to the Lottery Hotel.


Our Official Travel Approval Letter. We had to hand them this letter so that they could match it up with the baby.




HERE SHE IS!!!!

It was an amazing moment for all our new mommy's and daddy's. She's a wiggly one and gave us many smiles. I can't really give much right now, I need to make a bottle and we have to go downstairs for a family picture.

Oh-I got the disposable camera back from her orphanage. I'll post more pictures later.

Today is the day!

Today will be a really busy day. It is 7:30 am and our day is just beginning. Well, I take that back, I've been up since 2 am. My body is not adjusting to the time change well at all. We've been using Skype to talk to our parents and kids. It has been wonderful! I highly recommend it.

After we eat breakfast, we all meet to start the paperwork. We don't actually turn anything in and officially do the paperwork until tomorrow. Later today, we leave at 3:10 to meet our babies at the Lottery Hotel at 3:30.

It is going to be an amazing time for all 11 of the families in our travel group. 7 of the babies are comming from the same orphanage as Savannah in Beiliu City.

So, stay tunned for photos later today. For my family and friends, it will be late tonight or tomorrow morning before you will be awake to check the blog.

We are in Nanning!

Here we are waiting with our travel group of 11 families for our long awaited flight to the province, Guangxi, where we will be meeting our babies. All the families that we've been to talk with are amazing. It is wonderful to share our adoption stories with one another and get to know everyone.

After we arrived to our Hotel, we decided to have lunch. We had authentic chinese food. It was a challenge because you order based on the picture. We had some help from Michael our guide to help us find chicken and not alligator or some animal's intestine. It was delicious!!! I was warned about the food and I loved it. I'm not very adventurous when it comes to food, so as long as I know what it is, I think I will be OK.

The inside of the restraunt. We are definately the foreigners here. We stick out like a sore thumb.

Well tomorrow is the day!! I can't stop thinking about the long awaited gotcha day. We start our day with paperwork. This is to give us a head start in getting the paperwork started. Once we get the babies, it will be kinda crazy. We don't actually start the paperwork process until tuesday morning. We are just getting it started

We leave the hotel at 3:10 to meet our babies at 3:30 pm. There are 7 babies comming from Savannah's orphanage and 2 other families live in CA near us. One family is sooo close that they drive by our church everyday. What a blessing this will be for our girls to be able to see each other as they grow up.

That's all for now! I'm going to leave you with some information about Nanning, Guangxi.







Nanning, Guangxi

Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi Province, is not only the political, economic and cultural center of the province, but also plays an important role in the economic development of southwest China. Nanning borders Vietnam, is neighbor to Guangzhou, close to Hong Kong and Macau, and faces Southeast Asia. This advantageous location makes the city a commercial and communication center, opening China to Southeast Asia.

Pleasant climate endows the city with evergreen trees and fragrant flowers all year round, hence the name 'Green City.' In such a beautiful land, more than 30 ethnic minority groups have been living harmoniously for 1,680 years. Zhuang is the largest minority group of China. Over 90 % of them live in Guangxi. Their history and ethnic culture add charm to the city.Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi Province, is not only the political, economic and cultural center of the province, but also plays an important role in the economic development of southwest China. Nanning borders Vietnam, is neighbor to Guangzhou, close to Hong Kong and Macau, and faces Southeast Asia. This advantageous location makes the city a commercial and communication center, opening China to Southeast Asia.

Shamian Island

What would life be if there wasn't a Starbucks? We will never know because I was able to have a latte this morning. For some reason they didn't have my green ice tea, so I had an iced latte.


A photo of a very New Orleans style Starbucks.


Smile!!! Mike had to take a photo of me.



This is outside Shamian Park. Not something that I would have a statue made. It shows you how often adoptive parents come through here.


Today, we walked around Shamian Island which is where our Hotel is. We are staying at the White Swan. It is a beautiful Hotel. Tomorrow we will be flying out of here to Nanning, Guangxi. This is the province that Savannah is from. I'm going to leave you with information about Shamian Island.

History of Shamian Island
Shamian is 'sand surface', which is not a true island, and it is now connected to the rest of the city by a series of bridges. From the 18th to the mid 19th century, it is the only place where foreign traders were permitted to set up their warehouses and factories. The land has been increased to 27,000 sq meters, 900m from east to west, and 300m from north to south. Shamian Island is the reminder of Guangzhou's colonial history. It became a British and French concession after they won in the Opium Wars, and is covered with decaying colonial buildings, which housed trading offices and residences. The French Catholic church has been restored and stands on the main boulevard. The boulevard itself is a gentle stretch of gardens, trees and birdsong. Today, most of the buildings are used as offices or apartments blocks. While most of Guangzhou is battling along at breakneck pace Shamian is merely ambling. Along the river, the park area is a great place for people watching and tea drinking. Or walk along the wide sidewalks and dine in the open-air under the old trees.

We Are Here!

This is the last photo without Savannah. The kids are sooo excited that we are leaving to pick her up. Every year I always tell the kids we'll have her for next Christmas. Well Aiden is confused and thinks that it will be Christmas when we return. I have some more explaining when we get back.


Our final photo as a family of four.


The new parents at the airport before the long plane ride.


I'm soooo happy that I'm able to get this post in. We are exhausted. It is about 11:00pm Friday night. We hardly slept on the plan. We have a busy day tomorrow in Guangzhou. We are going to do a little touring with our travel group.


Aiden & Shelby, WE MISS YOU!!!!! LOVE YOU!!! Only a few days before we meet your sister.

I'll try to post tomorrow. The connection is really slow.

This Is It! Off to pick up our Gold!

The Kids are ready to go. This is how their packing went today. In the morning Aiden will probably add more to the pile. I think we will have to pair it down. Never leave home without your nerf gun or metal detector.



Well our suitcases tipped the scales. So, here were are trying to shave of 7.6 pounds of this one.


Here are both piles that were taken out. Mikes suitcase had to shave 9 pounds.


So, here I am at midnight Wednesday night. We are all packed to go and our backpacks are heavier than ever. The baby food has to stay. As it is, I only have a tank top for PJ's. I think all the weight in our bages is all the cold medicines, tylenol, tums, vitamins, dried apples, Pepto, diaper cream, and other misc over the counter items. Yes, we are prepared for almost anything. I pray that we don't need any of it and we can leave it when we come home. That is what you do, leave it for other families that might need it after you leave.

The next time I post, we will be in China. Wow!! I thought it would never happen.

Good Night!!!

PS- We are NOT going to Beijing. Our Gold is in Guangxi.

Baby Shower Tea!

These are Land of Nod letters that I covered with scrapbook paper. They were pretty ugly before. I'm going to hang it above her crib.

Tea for 2!

Of Course, another scrapbook page!

My little helper!!!

On Saturday, my sister spoiled me with a wonderful baby shower. We love tea! So, it was time for a tea party. It was a great time to just talk about out little Savannah and share the time with Shelby as she helped me open the gifts. I was blessed with sooo many gifts that I think most people had to leave before I was finished.

I was blessed by one card that just touched my heart. I had to read it to everyone and then the water works started. I still tear up when I read it. So, I have to post it here for you all the read.


Your baby will have.......
Your eyes, as she learn to see how you see
Daddy's hands as he guides her through life
Her brother's smile, when he makes her laugh
Her sister's feet, when she follows her...
and she will have all of your hearts forever.

Thank you Sara, for such a wonderful card! Thank you to everyone else for blessing us with your friendships, generosity and PRAYERS!!!! Savannah has 3 years worth of prayers stored up in her.

We'll I'm exhausted and have a million things to do. We leave on Thursday.