Nanning Day 3: Adoption Day

Day three in Nanning started out a bit chillier than before, but it was refreshing after heat and humidity. When our guide picked up Justin, Liena and I to attend our adoption proceedings he was shocked at our lack of jackets, stating that people in Nanning were freezing. For us it was still warm compared to the weather we've been having in Washington state. Thank goodness we dressed Liena in pants and a sweater! I didn't realize that mid 60's was cold here.

We rode back to the government building where family day occured to sign more documents, go through an adoption interview, and then ceremony. We started out waiting in an office for the government official who would conduct the proceedings. While we waited Liena played with her teacher and orphanage official, then decided.toneat a snack they had packed for her. It was exceedingly crumbly and I had my hands full keeping her from spreading it all over the space.  

The official entered and spent time reviewing documents and having us sign a few more. He then completed the interview, asking why we wanted to adopt Liena and having us promise to never abuse or abandon her. I felt a bit intimidated at first, as he was very serious. As I began to talk about why we wanted to adopt her I relaxed and his expression became softer. Still, I felt relieved to finish that part. 

We then went into the next room and stood with Liena before a podium. The official stood behind it and in front of the Chinese flag and gave a brief speech including a welcome to Nanning and wishes that we will be a happy family. He then nodded and left, and we posed for a picture with Liena's teacher and other staff member. 

Afterward we all went to a notary office where we were again interviewed with the same questions. More paper signing occured and then it was time to give gifts and say goodbye to the orphanage staff. They said some meaningful and heartfelt words which I have written down. The love they have for Liena(especially her teacher) is obvious and even while we are so happy I feel for the loss they are experiencing.

The afternoon and evening were spent first exploring, then napping, then exploring before. I'll narrate the latter part of the day through the pictures below.

Just after the adoption ceremony!

Waiting for the notary. Liena is so playful and loud, thankfully the notary and other office staff didn't seem to mind.

Liena and her beloved teacher.

Time for lunch! Proud sissy took charge of the stroller.

Hardware store, just because.

Ordering lunch was fun. I took pictures of the menu and zoomed in on the pics of what we wanted, only to be told no repeatedly by the server. So instead we pointed at random to a few items and waited to be surprised by what came out! 

I thought it was delish.

So did Liena!

Nobody else loved it, but they gave it a brave try! We followed up with ice cream, so all is well that ends well.

Waitng for her noodles.

After nap was homework time. Girls teamed up👍

We then took the subway to a steet market and walked to food street.

People keep taking pictures of Aria because of her blonde hair. Most don't ask, but the sweet dad of these two did ask, so Aria agreed to pose. Usually she gets frustrated to look up and see someone pointing or taking her picture.

Busy but amazing day!

Nanning Day 2: Family Day!

What an incredible day yesterday was! That's definitely an understatement but there's too much going through my heart and mind to be more eloquent at this moment.

Justin arrived at 1:00am yesterday, we were so happy to welcome him here with us! After breakfast we showed him the park near our hotel. Everyone was a bit tired, especially Aria, Calin, and Tamsin. Aria and Calin woke at 2:00am due to jet lag, and Tamsin, who is absolutely golden managed to keep them calm and in bed until 7:00. It'll take a bit for us all to adjust.

After a late morning nap for our kids and a quick ramen lunch, we met our guide to head to a government building for family day. On the way we had to stop and exchange money to pay in country adoption fees as scheduled. It took forever and the wait was torture! There was so much anticipation as we waited to finally meet our daughter.

Once we arrived at the government offices we signed some paperwork agreeing to care for Liena for 24 hours and show up to the adoption appointment the next day. We then waited in a small room for her to arrive. 

Suddenly she was there, in the arms of her school teacher and accompanied by an official from her orphanage. She was alert and curious, and her teacher explained that we were her new "mama, baba, jie jie, and ge ge." (Mom, dad, big sister, and big brother). She reached for me, and I held her briefly before she wanted to go back to her teacher. During the next half hour we interacted with her and were able to ask some questions of the orphanage staff. They presented us with a baby book and items that were left with her at her finding place. This is pretty rare, most children adopted bring with them only the clothes they are wearing. How amazing that she gets to bring pieces of her story with her into the future!

The afternoon and evening were so fun as we wandered the hotel, played in our room, and went to a mall to eat dinner. She is such an engaged and cheerful girl! We were amazed by her calm  and her fun personality. She did not cry, and neither did she shut down as can often happen during this stage. At some point the changes will hit her and she will go through adjustment but at this time she acts very happy and relaxed.

The process has felt exceedingly long and invovled and difficult, but it has been worth every minute of waiting, every worry, and every frustration along the way. We are overjoyed to welcome Liena into our family and look forward to our future together!

Calin gave her a doll that was an instant favorite! She has been carrying it around in her little back pack.

Dad is already teaching her about things with two wheels, though he prefers motorcycles. Nanning is known as scooter city because there are over 2 million scooters in a city of 3 million people.

Riding from Family Day to our hotel. Yes she's on my lap, no we don't have a car seat with us. Taxis and vans driven by hired  drivers rarely have functional seat belts, so here we are...

Liena is such a fashionista! She insisted on all the bows, can do her own ponytail (this astounded Aria and Calin who have declared her "amazing, super smart, and epic), and looked in every mirror thought the hotel and mall, asking for jewelry as we passed by stores in the mall on our way to dinner. We love her personality and her sass!

She has such chopstick skills.

Bonding with Dad over pictures of tigers on his phone.

All ready for bed! 

Nanning: Day One

It is so fun to be back in Nanning! Eleven years ago I had the pleasure of traveling to China with my friends who were adopting their fourth child. I played nanny for their family and was able to visit a few orphanages and witness their adoption. It was an impactful trip, which might go without saying as here I am with my family on our own adoption journey. Now I find myself back in Nanning with Tamsin, the oldest daughter of the friends I traveled with! A few things have changed as she is now 20, instead of 8, and I too am much aged(ha!). 

Justin has spent the day traveling and is about to board his flight from Beijing to Nanning. He will get here around midnight. We missed him on our adventures today but are so grateful that he will make it on time.

We started the day with a taxi ride to Walmart to pick up snacks for Liena as I mentioned yesterday. The Walmart is in the basement of a mall, so we wandered the mall for a bit, easily entertaining ourselves with Starbucks and window shopping. 

In the afternoon we walked in a large park near our hotel. It is as beautiful as I remembered, and it was so fun to see it again through the eyes of my kids!

Speaking of my kids...today we have two, tomorrow we will have three! It hasn't quite sunk in yet. This dream has been so long in the works that I can hardly believe it's finally time to meet our new daughter. I pray for her as she will be leaving everything and everyone she knows. As exciting as this is for us, it is scary for the adopted child. We have been researching and preparing ways to help her feel as safe as possible during this transition. She is already so loved, we hope she can sense that when she is ready.

Next time I write it will be as a mother of three, and Justin and I will officially be outnumbered by our children. We can't wait!

View from the taxi.

So many floors and stores in this mall. We barely scratched the surface.

We really aren't fans of Walmart, but it's fun comparing this one to what we know.

Can't get fish like this in the US Walmarts.

Their decor is better too.

Wish I knew what all this is.

On to the park!

Tamsin can't let the kids have all the fun !

I really wanted to join their tug of war!