Sunday, December 30, 2007

Getting Closer


Val here. Well, we received updated info on our little one this weekend along with these priceless photos.  We noticed everyone in our travel group was posting new pics of their babies and we thought we were left out.  But, lo and behold, when I rechecked my e-mail a few days later I found the attachment.  Its so nice to see her as she is today... and with a little more hair.  She weighs 9.7 Kg (21 Lbs) and is 73.5cm (29") tall and now has 8 teeth.  You can see her showing off two of them.
We are in the semi-calm before the storm.  Waiting for visas. Waiting for consulate dates and travel appointments.  Then, the scramble will begin: plane tickets, hotel, packing, packing, packing.  Our current list contains over 130 items but we'll try to edit that and pack as compact and light as possible.  I've heard of people that have pulled it off with carry-ons. Not us.  Rumor has it that we could travel as early as the 10th, but the 17th is also likely (apparently travel dates typically start on Thursdays). 
And yes, she will soon have a new name... stay tuned. 

Friday, December 14, 2007

Where is Baby Yan?

It's just after 9pm in Utah, and Baby Yan should currently be enjoying Saturday's lunch. It is just afternoon in her city, Lian Xian. It is so strange to think my daughter is so far away... so far away in fact that she is well into tomorrow. I remember when I was in New Zealand the novelty of this would never wear off. I could call home and have the opportunity to tell my Mom how tomorrow would be.

I have started to do a little research on Yan's birth city. From the Swallow's-eye-view of Google Earth, Lian Xian appears to be in a fertile valley, surrounded by 1200 to 2000 foot peaks. The headwaters of several rivers appear to be within a short distance from the city. It is very green and fertile area. Lian is in the northern most part of Guangdong province and I speculate that the border between it and Hunan and Jaingxi to the north is a small mountain range. Within the province, it is as about as far as you can get from the South China Sea.

And what else do I know about Lian Xian? Well, I can tell you the weather. I did a search on Google and the first six to seven listings are links to today's, tomorrow's and yesterday's weather. Could it be that the only thing to talk about it this little village in the hills is the weather? It would be nice to imagine that little Yan is in a "village" where not much is going on and all the townspeople have to discuss is whether it is going to be hot or hotter today, but in a province with a population 74,730,000 humans, I sort of doubt that is the case.
We don't know yet whether we will get an opportunity to visit this place, but I am going to try.
I think we are going to be thankful that we are in this area in the month of January. Evidently mid-summer can be sweltering.

It has been a week today, since we found out our amazing news. Now, we will travel in 4 to 6 weeks! It still is hard to believe that this little being I have a photo of beside me will soon be in my arms (probably wailing). We haven't heard anything about travel plans from our agency, but we did get one ginormous packet of info and forms we have to fill out. The paper work for adoption is never-ending. I am so thankful Val has the stamina for it. 

As this big adventure looms over us, we can just take one day at a time. We learn new information from friends and fellow "adopters" about what to expect, what to take, what not to take, and why you NEED to be in business class. There are so many things we have yet to figure out, not to mention this parenthood thing.

But for now, I know one thing for certain...tomorrow in Lian Xian it will be partly cloudy and around 57.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Package of Anticipation



Saturday morning, we received a FedEx package from our agency in Denver. 
The package included our certificate on acceptance (we signed and returned promptly),  a physician's report from our daughter's last physical (all looks good, and she seems to be developmentally on track), some info about her daily routine (up at 7am, two naps, very busy through the day, in bed at 9:30pm), and her likes and dislikes (favorite toy- rubber ball, and likes playing games). Probably the most precious contents were the two additional photos of our "little swallow" (the Chinese translation of the name Yan).  Her new name is still a work in progress.  
As we continue to communicate with our fellow parent's-to-be, the photos have become somewhat humorous. Many others have a very similar image, with their little child placed in the same spot on the green carpet- almost like there is a little "x" on the floor for the photographer to use to capture the perfect shot. None of us seem to care. The important part of each photo is the visual confirmation of the health of our child and the little expectant eyes, staring back at us. 
We continue to spread the word of our exciting news and have been touched by all the well-wishes from everyone.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Hi Grandma and Granddad!

Here she is, our little dream come true!
Lian Cai Yan
Born: 2006
Southern Province of Guangdong
She's around 20 lbs and 28 inches
We will meet her in person in 5 to 7 weeks!!!