Home One Week

We've been home one week and a day now!  Everyone is settling in and we are finding a new normal.  Noah has adjusted really well, is sleeping thru the night and loving life with a family.  Everything isn't sunshine and rainbows-he is still very afraid of animals and there is always something he and Beckett don't want to share...but overall this is easier than I expected.  We are venturing out a little bit each day and slowly introducing Noah to our routines.  He's already seen the church we attend, played at a local park, jumped at Catch Air, shopped at Target, helped with groceries, visited the preschool and gone on numerous walks in our neighborhood.

Many of you have left or sent presents, flowers, cookies, and meals for us in the past week; thank you so much for your generosity!  Here are a few pictures from the past week:

Wednesday-Thursday, Traveling Home!

After Noah's visa arrived we packed up and left Guangzhou on Wednesday at 9:30 pm.  Noah slept for 7 1/2 hours on the plane!  The other 5 hours passed fairly well filled with snacks, Play-Doh, potty breaks and a few games on an iPad.  The we had a 5 hour layover in Los Angeles as well as the trip thru US Customs & Immigrations.  We were lucky enough to catch a break and breeze thru.  Noah fell asleep again before boarding and slept another 2 hours on the flight from LA to Atlanta.

We were weary but had the best welcoming by our families.

The kids insisted they all sit on the same row so we moved the car seats and booster around to accommodate and the ride home from the airport was so special.  Noah took to Ella immediately and is calling her "jie jie" (older sister).  She lovingly carries him like a baby and entertains on demand.  Beckett was so excited to meet his brother and couldn't get over their similarities.  Noah is calling him "ge ge" (older brother) for now even though technically he is older.  The sharing between them is a work in progress but we expected that.  

Thanks for all the prayers, well-wishes, gifts and meals.  It feels surreal to be home-all 5 of us together.  And amazing to think it's almost been a year since I first saw Noah's picture and prayed to God to lead us in this adoption.  He sure did.

Tuesday, US Consulate Appointment

Yesterday morning at 8:30 am we had our appointment at the US Consulate in Guangzhou, along with 11 other American families.  It was rather quick-we took an oath on Noah's behalf, an officer reviewed the documents and then the passport was sent off to receive the Visa for Noah to leave China.  You are not allowed to bring in any cameras, cell phones or watches...but isn't he cute in his American t-shirt and blue jeans?!

We spent the afternoon walking around the island, eating lunch at a local restaurant and playing in the hotel's gym once the weather changed.  Noah is so happy and pretty much enjoys anything we do.  We ate dinner at Subway (again) and then stopped by Starbuck's for dessert-Noah chose an oatmeal raisin cookie.

Sunday, Safari Park

Yesterday we had so much fun at the Safari Park.  It was about a 40 minute van ride from our hotel.  We took the train tour and got to see so many animals up close.  Noah enjoyed it although for a child that hadn't seen a dog or cat until a week ago, the pictures and gift shop were equally entertaining.  :) We stayed for about 4 hours with another family from our same adoption agency.

For dinner we met a large adoption group from Facebook at The Paddy Field restaurant.  It was a nice change to eat familiar foods and see other Americans in China.

Saturday, Medical Exam & Exploring Guangzhou

Sorry I have missed a few days.  Guangzhou is great but the internet is slow and our VPN makes it almost impossible to upload pictures.  Today (Saturday morning) Noah had his medical exam which included a TB test since he is over 2.  I'll spare you the details.  It was rough!  But afterwards we explored a little, had lunch at Subway and bought him a singing lamb toy/phone at the store.  

Then we upgraded our hotel room at the Victory because the suite didn't have a bath tub.  Noah LOVES baths so it was worth the extra $20 a night.  This was his second bath of the day...

Then he napped and we met 2 other American families and headed out to explore Guangzhou.  We bought gifts for Ella and Beckett and a set of chopsticks for each the kids at Jenny's Place.

And finished up with dinner at Lucy's.  Noah ate noodles (again).  Other things he eats: eggs, congee, bananas and candy.  It's a work in progress.

Friday, 1st Flight

Thursday, Henan Museum

Visiting The Orphanage

Yesterday afternoon we took a 50 minute van ride to the Zhengzhou Children's Welfare Institute.  This is where Noah has lived for almost his entire life.  We felt it was very important to visit and see with our own eyes.  Although it was an emotional day for all of us-it was absolutely the best decision.

Noah clung tightly to us even after our guide explained we were there to visit not return him (this is commonly what children think).  A man met us at the front door and gave us a long tour.  I believe his name is Yan Bo.  He was proud of all the facilities and it was clear we were being shown their best.  We barely saw any children and when we asked where they were, we were told it was a holiday.  That didn't seem like the truth to me.

This is the outside of the Bethel apartment where Noah lived from July 2013 until Monday morning.

It was nice and warm inside.  The nannies were friendly and clearly loved him.  Many were in tears.  We got to see a few of the children with visual impairments and most importantly Noah's friend, Jian Shan.  He was happy and excited to see Noah (Jian Ang to him).  Noah did not want to get down from my arms.  We did not force the issue and left the apartment when he got upset.  We did have the opportunity to ask about Jian Shan's file (4 times actually) and are hopeful that because we were persistent the staff will complete it and I can continue to advocate for him successfully.

We also visited the New Hope unit.  Noah spent 3 months there in 2011.  They called him Angelo.  This room is sponsored by Show Hope.  We were lucky enough to carry 5 bags of donations and a gift for the head nurse.  She was glowing.  The pictures all came out very dark because we are not using a flash.

Then we visited the Lily Orphan Care Center.  Noah lived in this room for quite some time although the records are spotty.  It is here we believe he was at the same time as our friends' daughter, Mae.  We cherish that connection.  I did not take pictures of the children in this room.  They are all very young and many were sleeping.  I believe this room is sponsored by CCAI.  At one point Noah's file was with that large adoption agency.  The nannies here were excited to see Noah and his picture is on their wall of fame.

Then we toured more empty rooms and finally went into the main office.  Here we were given a hat that was supposedly on Noah when he was found.  It is very colorful and ornate.  It has a name that means something like tiger hat.  The man told us it was a traditional hat that Chinese people that pick apples might own.  Such an amazing piece of our son's past.  (I will upload a picture of it later)

I think if you are an orphan and have to live in an orphanage this is a good one.  I hate the thought that any child is an orphan or has to live without a family and a home of their own.  It is such a blessing to us that we saw Noah's picture and God led the way throughout the adoption.  We haven't done anything that anyone else isn't capable of.  The road was long but the reward was worth it.  

McDonald's

We ventured out yesterday for lunch instead of eating at the same place like we have the past 3 days.  We made it as far as McDonald's.  It was about a 15 minute walk into Zhengzhou.  Luke carried Noah the whole way.  The streets are very crowded and dangerous (cars have the right-a-way not pedestrians).  I truly think they would hit you if you were in their way.

Noah was a trooper, taking everything in and smiling the whole time.  He didn't like the cheeseburger but did enjoy the fries.  We got in trouble multiple times yesterday when his bare leg showed.  It's hard to hold a child without their pants creeping up!

Family Day

Yesterday there was a short ceremony at the Civil Affairs office where we officially became Noah's parents.  Then our guide took us to a crowded office to notarize the paperwork, to another crowded office for Noah to have passport photos taken and finally to another crowded, large building to apply for his passport.  It was a lot of waiting and Noah handled it pretty well.  Luke and I were tired and frustrated but trying to be flexible since that's what our adoption agency has recommended through out this whole process.

China and being away from home and our other children is wearing on us.  We have eaten plenty of rice and noodles.  We are being looked at funny everywhere we go.  There are no other Americans at our hotel.  The internet is slow and i can't blog daily without taking time away from our new son (which I am not going to do).  Although our guide speaks great English as the days go on we feel like we are not her first priority and we paid a lot of money for her services.

The bonding with Noah continues to go well.  He is happy and so smart.  There are lots of cute things he has said/done to share but the funniest of all was during all the waiting yesterday he told the entire staff at the crowded passport office "don't worry-when i get to America with my new family I will buy you each an iPhone 6".  Yes, seriously.  The guide laughed as she translated for us.

Here he is trying ice cream for the first time:

He Loves To Eat

Up Half The Night

Sorry I wasn't able to load more Gotcha Day pictures last/tonight...Noah didn't settle down and go to sleep until after midnight.  He wasn't upset though-just not sleepy.  I think the 4 hour nap we all took might have had something to do with it or maybe all the new toys and books in a completely new setting.  We had a great time playing and bonding regardless.  He loves Ni Hao Kai Lan, gloves and light up toys.  The stacking cups and HotWheel cars are also a hit.  And the pajamas his bigger but younger brother Beckett outgrew fit perfectly (size 24 month & 2T).

Gotcha Day!

Today has been great.  Noah was in the 3rd group of children to arrive at the Civil Affairs office.  He seemed to recognize us and came bearing snacks and his own backpack.  I don't think he has stopped eating or drinking since the moment we got him aside from a 4 hour nap we all just took.  He hasn't cried but instead smiled all day long.  Its clear he was well-loved and cared for.  His nannies were so helpful with the transition and he is indeed potty-trained (uses a squattie potty and traditional toilet).

We have lots of pictures to share but want to FaceTime with Ella and Beckett and then eat dinner.  (finally uploaded more pictures)