Wednesday, September 15th was our visit to the US Consulate. We had an interview and took an oath to finalize Willa's Visa. She is no longer a Chinese citizen and when she touches US soil, she will be a US Citizen.
It was actually a pretty emotional ceremony. There was definitely a finality to this whole procedure. Our right hands went down and she was ours! Paul was the one who helped me recognize the moment. After the oath in which I was holding Willa, he took Willa, hugged and kissed her. He then leaned over to me, kissed me, called me "mom", and we hugged as a family; Paul, Willa & me. Tears filled my eyes as the moment and the dream were recognized. Tears of pure happiness!
Paul & Gwyn? Parents? is no longer a question...it is a statement! Paul & Gwyn! Parents!
Tonight, we had dinner with the Weiss's, Brian, Richel and Megan. We went to Lucy's Resturant. It was great to get to know them in person and I look forward to future contact with them, great family. They leave Guangzhou Thursday morning.
The other two families in our travel group leave Thursday as well. They leave from Hong Kong. We are going to have breakfast with them. Our last activity with them. But we do have plans to get together once a year. This sounds wonderful!
We leave Friday morning from Guangzhou back to Beijing. We have a 5 hour layover in Beijing. Then we fly to Chicago (13 hrs). When we go through customs/immigration, Willa becomes a US citizen! Then we fly to Minneapolis. We arrive in Minneapolis at 8:22 pm. It is going to be a long traveling day, but the reward will be being home.
So, Thursday is our last day in Guangzhou. We have a couple of gifts to get and Willa's Visa will arrive today. It will be a great day!
Willa had a tough night because of a cough, so we all laid low most of the day. Our only big event was our Red Couch pictures. The babies were dressed in traditional clothing and posed on the White Swan Hotels famous red couches. It really didn't go too smoothly. Willa had a hard time holding herself up and the other two were a little scared of all the attention. It was fun to see the girls together and to get our first real family picture.
Let me finally introduce you to our traveling group. There are only three families in our group. This was actually perfect. We really got to know each other, and Paul and I really enjoy being with them. First, we have the McIntyre family. Doug and Nancy are here for their second daughter, Lily. They came to China with their first daughter, Rose (7 1/2 yrs) and Nancy's sister, Marion. It is really nice to be here with someone who has gone through this process before. It has really been a gift. The second family is Debra Sholl. Debra is here to get her first baby, Sophie. She came to China with her sister, Lisa. We have been on all the tours together and we got our babies together. The longer we are here, the more connected I feel to them.
Yesterday, we went to a Buddhist Temple to get the babies blessed. It was a beautiful site and even though it was raining, the value was not diminished. Definitely worthwhile. Then we went to a government store, where we bought a porcelain tea set from Jianxi province (Willa's province), a beautiful Jade bangle, and stamp with Willa's Chinese name (a Chop). We went back to Shamian Island where the White Swan Hotel is, and did some more shopping. All in all, a pretty great day!
Even though Paul was completely tired of shopping, today was a bit of the same. We went to a Pearl Market. It was incredible. It was a huge mall, all dedicated to jewelry (every store). Then we went to a whole sale shop. It was crazy! Everything was sooo inexpensive. I wish I had more money. I could have gotten gifts for everyone. It was another great day out.
So, the last couple of days have been a little rough. Nanchang being a little less inviting than Beijing. Paul and I felt a little cooped-up in our hotel. It was a beautiful hotel, but it wasn't home. It was a long week. At the end of that week, I got a SICK and was out of commission the night of the 7th and the day of the 8th. Paul was single parent for the day. He did awesome. He had to change his first "stinky" diaper. Proud to say, no gagging! Now, Paul is still battling an "iffy" stomach.
Then on the 8th and 9th, Willa became "Whining Willa". She cried from the morning til night, only to stop crying to eat. We were scared. We started wondering if those first few days were a fluke? A ploy to make us love her..do do do...and then poof, new Willa. This morning, we discovered the root of the problem. Willa cut her first tooth! We got a major first, a first tooth....and... a second by the end of the day.
Our flight to Guangzhou went well. And now we are at the White Swan Hotel. It is a beautiful hotel in a very inviting area. Willa got her Visa picture and her medical check-up. Everything went well. She was a trooper. I have to say, I am more comfortable in Guangzhou. However, I am still worried to go out and about. I don't know why. I think it has a bit to do with not liking Nanchang, being a new mom and being home SICK. So that is now the sickness I feel. I want to be home. Tomorrow should help. We are going on a tour and will be getting a Buddist Blessing for Willa. I am really excited about that.
I'll write soon. Hopefully, we'll be a little less SICK.
Willa has a very pleasant personality! She wakes up with a smile! She eats well and is usually content. But how quickly they learn what they like! Willa likes being held. In fact, most of the time she won't let us put her down, the little stinker. No, we know that is good! She likes us and we love her!
Today, we went for a little tour in Nanchang. It was beautiful, but it was HOT, HOT, HOT! One more full day in Nanchang and then we fly to Guangzhou. Both Paul and I are looking forward to that. Neither of us are too into Nanchang. We are in a beautiful, five-star hotel, but we aren't too comfortable in the neighborhood. It's very congested. So it's a bit boring stuck in the hotel.
Yesterday, September 6th, Willa Song Roos legally became ours in China's eyes! We went to the Adoption Center in Nanchang to file all the necessary paperwork. We walked into the room, surprised to find so many other adoptive families waiting. We met with the director of Willa's orphanage (in picture), we were interviewed, we had to sign a million papers and we paid our LARGE donation. When we finally sat down, I looked across the room and I saw two fairly familiar faces, but I was not sure until I saw the face of their baby. The baby turned around and yes it was the Weiss's. Paul and I have met them through my brother-in-law, Dale, but never met face to face. We talked via email and through blogging. It was great to meet them in China. Funny that we had to come to China to meet. We look forward to seeing them again in Guangzhou.
It was a very long wait. And Willa was wonderful. She is so laid back. We were there for over three hours. It was HOT and busy. We were all exhausted after this part of the day. We went back to the hotel for lunch, and again Willa was wonderful. One last stop to the notary office to make it official, but on the way we stopped at Wal-Mart. Very interesting. You were right, Shawn. Very interesting sights...and SMELLS. After we got our supplies, to the notary, we went. This only took a few short minutes. It's official! She's ours!!!!
It all feels right. She feels right. This whole thing is right! We are very happy!
Here is the blog entry we all have been waiting for.
Dear Willa,
Well, we are on the way to get you! We have dreamed of you for a long time. We have prayed for you all our adult lives. We have wanted you from the moment we knew your name. We loved you the moment we heard your story and we are so thankful that we get to be a part of your future story. Your story...that is what this is all about, Your Story!
While we have waited, Willa, we worked on setting up our lives to be able to share it with you. We have worked hard. We have a beautiful home. We have awesome pets, and the most amazing family & friends. They all have been waiting for you as well. There is no pressure...seriously! They love you already. When we meet, I'll tell you all about them. Quite a group of lovely characters!
We are ready for you Willa! We may not know how to make formula or recognize what it is,at that, but we are ready to be your parents!
Love Forever, Your Parents
Today at 4:30 pm, we met Willa for the first time. I didn't recognize her at first. And even though there were only three babies, the commotion was such that I didn't realize what I had until we returned to our rooms. By 6:00 pm, she was smiling at us, laughing ( raspberries on her belly), and babbling to us both. So far she seems relaxed. We are waiting for her to want someone else, but we truly enjoyed our first evening with her. And we look forward to getting to know her better. I'm going to totally embrace this time away from home as a time to get to know our daughter and for her to get to know us.
Day Two in Beijing was just as exciting as the first. We started the day at a Jade factory. Beautiful things! Something we learned, instead of getting a ring for the finger to symbolize marriage, here in China they get a larger ring for the wrist, a Jade bangle. This bangle can be handed down from the husband-to-be's family or become a family heirloom. Very cool! (and pretttty!) It was a neat stop, but I was eager for our next stop. The GREAT WALL was great! The mountains and the terrain were beautiful, and the wall was very impressive. We only had a short time to hike, but Paul and I did pretty well! I would have liked to stay longer and picnic there, but we had a very important plane to catch. Which reminds me again of why we are here! He he, its not just to sight see! Tomorrow, is the day! What a strange reality! Tomorrow, our family becomes three! Paul, Willa and me.
Hello All! Well, I guess we shouldn't be surprised that China has blocked access to the blogspot website for Gwyn and Paul while they are over there. So, long story short, Gwyn will be e-mailing me their updates and I will post them when they arrive. Without further ado, here is their first update from China! ~Betsy
"September 3rd was our first real day in China. We met the two other families that we will be traveling together and getting our babies together. They are lovely people and we enjoyed being with them immediately. We also met our Chinese Representative, Nancy (a very sweet girl).
After introductions, we went sightseeing. It was a full schedule. We went on a Hutong Tour. Hutongs are areas of old Beijing villages. These villages still house people today. We rode through in rickshaws, toured the Mansion of Prince Gong, visited a family who has owned the same Hutong for 5 generations, and had lunch at another. It was a wonderful way to compare the differences of royal life and ordinary lives and a wonderful way to see life today in Beijing.
After lunch, we climbed the drum tower, Beijing's origional CLOCK TOWER. There we saw a demostration of how they were used...very cool. We could see a lot of Beijing from the Drum Tower. Then it was off to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace was where the "Dragon Queen" lived. She was the Empress Cixi and was one of China's most powerful women. It was beautiful. "Girl Power".
It wasn't until the end of the tour, when I remembered why we were here, to get a baby. The culture is very rich and intoxicating and it's a great distraction while we wait.
Tomorrow, we have another big day of touring. And then we fly to Nanchang where we meet our babies! September 5th in the afternoon is the long awaited moment!!!!!!"
We truly ARE excited as we prepare to leave this morning. It's just early. Lia delivered us to the airport at 7 am. As we pulled up to the airport, my heart started to beat a little faster. This is it! Our next post will be from Beijing!
