We're getting geared up to leave tomorrow evening. Have a consulate appointment this afternoon to obtain Miss Em's visa and tomorrow morning will be spent doing some last-minute shopping and packing. This will probably be our last post from China, so wanted to leave you with some more photos (including a couple extra of 2-year-old Nathan, his dad Steve, and Steve's parents. Nathan's mom wasn't able to travel to China, so she's going to check our website to see some photos)
Nathan, Steve, and Grandparents
Steve and Nathan
Ladies doing their morning dance routine on Shamian Island
Joey, Denny, Emma
The amazing Judy Wu sitting on the famous red couch (where all babies staying at the White Swan must have their photos taken) and the five children in our travel group, from left: Alyssa, Nathan, Emma, Lydia and Anna Mae. The three other girls are all about a year old. Nathan just turned two (I think he and Emma have a crush on each other. We've planned for them to attend prom together some day; will have to arrange for travel to or from Minnesota). And yes, Kristen, we did get our complementary White Swan Barbie Doll (a curvey blonde holding a dark-haired little girl; Nathan's doll is holding a little boy).
The entire group: Paul, Staci, and Anna Mae; Joey, Denny, and Emma; Todd, Patty, and Alyssa; Steve and Nathan; John, Sheila and Lydia.
On our way to McDonald's yesterday, we walked through more "real China" and saw this collection of dried seahorses for sale, spread out on the street corner; take your pick.
Alley with laundry drying above.
Emma playing in the "Swan Room"; she's a pretty good speller!
We took Emma to the Guangzhou zoo Thursday morning. As you can see, she wasn't impressed. She decided to take her 1:00 nap at 10:30, just to mix things up a little; fell sound asleep five minutes into the zoo and woke up promptly as we were leaving. I think her cheeks have plumped up some after the last 10 days of abundant eating. In the last two days, though, she has decided she does not like some things as well as she used to. Watermelon, for example. She used to consume it in huge, lip-smacking mouthfuls. Now? Ack phooey!! Forget it.
The lovely Guangzhou zoo. This was one of our favorite outings of the whole trip. It was just beautiful -- so peaceful, with tall palm trees and a variety of exotic foliage. And there were surprisingly few people there (for a city with 12.5 million of 'em....)
The north end of a southbound Guangzhouvian elephant. Are they not the most unusual creatures??Well, folks -- This will wrap up the China reporting. Thanks for joining us on the most wonderful, amazing, thrilling trip of our lives. We feel so blessed to be able to welcome Emma into our lives as our dear daughter -- and we are grateful for our family and friends who have been so supportive. We love you!!
See you soon,
Denny & Joe
PS. Our adoption agency writes a newletter every month, and this month's features Emma. If you would like to take a look, go to:
4 comments:
Emma has her chubby cheeks back! I think she was hungry. I wonder what she'll like on Thanksgiving.
Please to bring to sister of mother of girl child in the gift of dry sea horse and tusk of the elephant you are commanded with respect.
I would like the seahorse which is 17th from the right on the 4th row, the entire glorious elephant to play with (we'll keep it in Max's cage) and a huge and a smile from Emma.
Maybe 2 out of 3?
Thanks for all the wonderful photos and reporting from halfway around the world. And just think - when you leave - they actually keep it up! They keep eating cabbage, speaking Chinese and putting things on sell. It's an odd thought, somehow.
Have a safe trip back and we'll see you soon.
Julie
uh, make that hug. Ok, make it a HUGE hug. Or a huge smile, or both :)
That zoo looks awesome. Too bad Emma missed out on it. You'll have to take her to Hogle Zoo to make up for it. Ok, might not be quite the same experience.
And I loved the comment on the newsletter about the "radiant" new mother. :)
I've loved following this journey. Thanks, again, for taking the time to share it with us.
It's been so fun to follow your journey in China that I almost don't want you to leave . . . except then we'd never get to meet Miss Emma in person! Can't wait to see her and hug (or huge:-) her. The Hiatt family always had a little bit of a boy imbalance in cousins, so it's great that Emma is coming along to keep us an even 4-4!
We're so excited for you and can't wait to see you soon. My thoughts (and prayers!!!) are with you as you come back across the ocean with your little girl.
Angie
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