Saturday, September 22, 2007

We're Home!!!!


Well, Sawyer loves the swing...he is a real joy. I think just a few days and he seems to be coming out of his little shell!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Catching up folks...sorry



I have been quite ill the past few days and still feeling under the weather, but I did not want to keep everyone in suspense. Sawyer has been adapting quite well and when we get out he is always the center of attention with the locals...lol! He is so extremely happy all the time. We had the medical exams today and the Dr.s wanted to take pictures of him because they had never seen anything like this before they were quite intrigued.





So we agreed and he loved the attention. We ran into another family that knew Sawyer from all the blogs and were quite excited to see him in person. He passed the medical as far as we know. We also filled out all the ppwk for the Visa, which only took a little while as well.







We took the babies to the Swan Room to play and Sawyer was the fun of the place, he would go to anyone that would bounce him and just laughed...he is quite the little charmer and he walks like a sumo wrestler. I have no idea who this man is, but Sawyer didn't mind. Sorry for the delay, I am still trying to get well so hang with me. Talk to you soon.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Riding the train September 13, 2007


Well, I've never rode a train before in my life. The Wanderlingh's were going to Changchou City to see the outside of the orphanage where Nicholas was, so I decided to go, just because I wanted to ride the train. This was Sept 12th. We walked to the subway and then took that to the train station and rode the train for about an hour at 140 miles per hour...pretty cool!
Once there, we rode a cab to the orphanage, Nicholas went nuts thinking he was going to have to stay, although the guide had told him that we were just visiting. When the guard reached for his hand to say hello, I thought they were going to have to sedate the little guy. He is 5 years old. We left immediately, then the director called us and told us this orphanage was off limits. We were not allowed to view it...hmm. I could pretty much tell by the looks of it from the outside, why.

Sawyer playing more with blocks September 13, 2007


Sawyer is taking some baby steps, he is playing with the blocks and toys more often, he is showing more facial expressions as well. He is also making more sounds as I beg him to say "Mama"...he just smiles at me. As with all my other children he plays with my hair when he is tired, nice to know he will carry on a family tradition...LOL! I was able to get a taste of his real temper last night. He was furious and boy can he yell...he wanted Pepsi...

Hmmm, cute dog! September 13, 2007


This little fella belonged to one of the beggars, funny dog was in better shape than she was....

When we were in Changchou city a little girl about 6 or 7 was begging in front of one of the dept stores. She was very dirty, her hair was a mess and she was very skinny. I felt to badly for her that her parents had her out there begging. It was very difficult to see that.

Good Morning Sunshine! September 12, 2007


Today started very well, Sawyer sleeps great and woke up with some angry screams. He doesn't really cry he is a whiner...preparing for adulthood, huh?? LOL. We ate breakfast, although I wasn't feeling like eating much this morning. We are getting less stares and it's funny that the Caucasian foreigners don't stare at all??? About 9:00 am we Micheal brought me some fruit and clean laundry and we were off to hail a cab to the orphanage. I took several pictures. Nanjing is very clean and the children appear very well cared for, however all the children in his class were similar in delay, with the exception a few, so I didn't feel so impacted. He also behaved much differently in his normal environment. He was very verbal, although nothing I could really make out to be words and very active and smiley.

Shopping at the Mall September 12, 2007


We headed to the mall after the orphanage visit, myself and the Wanderlingh's. Dawn and I shopped while Al had a massage, just a regular massage...not a massage, massage. Hehe! He said later it was the worst massage he had ever had. They massage you fully clothed with a towel over your clothing and he felt as if they beat the heck out of him...lol! We headed to the hotel for some lunch, I didn't eat much at all, as I am getting progressively sicker as the day goes on. Sawyer is finally playing with some toys which is great and he has a string fetish, due to having limited toys to play with, he taught himself to pull strings out of everything in order to play with the string...There's a pretty good picture of him trying to give me a mean face when he finally realized I meant business.... :-)

The mean look! September 12, 2007


Whatta you mean I can't pull the phone off the desk for the 10th straight time. LOL!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

More Pictures of Sawyer! September 11, 2007









Document Signing... September 11, 2007


Well today was the day...Sawyer is now officially in the Young family. He did very well today and stayed on his normal schedule. He is having trouble with the change in food. He was being fed rice cereal and fruit, he can't keep his hands off the cookies and will eat anything in front of him. Oh those wonderful diapers!!! lol!

Brocade Museum Visit... September 11, 2007





This place was really cool! Check out the looms, it takes these folks all day just to make 5 cm of fabric....wow! I purchased a really nice framed piece for Sawyer.


We just can't stop shopping.... September 11, 2007

We decided we wanted some steak tonight. Al can sniff out the USDA New York Strip, we went to Henry's Place, cost $1.50 USD to get there via cab...unfortunately they only had one steak left..hehe, so I HAD to have the $6.00 USD Fillet, that tasted like $20.00 USD in the USA. Was very good. I'm having a little trouble finding something that Sawyer will eat aside from cookies...maybe since he is not used to having them. Orphanage visit tomorrow!

Cool City! September 11, 2007

This city, once you get into the main streets is pretty cool. It was funny because all the lights and "Big City" atmosphere and wouldn't you know a man sleeping in his OOOOLLLDD pulling cart. Amazing

Go Bengals!!! September 11, 2007

Sawyer fits perfectly into his Bengals shirt, but I have to tell you I cannot find a pair of shorts anywhere. I was completely disappointed at Walmart. Everything you buy at the Walmart in the states is made in China and not too bad of quality. Here, in China, a majority of the products are not near as good quality, help me understand that one.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Mommy and Sawyer! (& Coco)

Bath Time!


Coco & Sawyer
Mommy ans Sawyer!

Hey how do you keep this huge towel on?

Sawyer being tickled...

Nicholas & Sawyer (Best Buds!)



Bikes everywhere & I do mean EVERYWHERE!



Pictures of the Nanjing City waterway





Check out all these bikes (September 10, 2007)


You just wouldn't believe all the bikes, okay, those of you that have never been here. Check out the picture...those cool little motorized scooters are only about $300 US here. Wish I could carry one home. lol!

Shopping in Nanjing City (September 10, 2007)


We had a very nice day today, shopping and shopping some more. We also learned a lot about Chinese folks. We had some folks that would walk by and then double back, even bringing friends to take a gander at Sawyer...hehe! We just kept walking and laughed. It was quite funny. We had one fella that got right in front of his stroller and kept staring, then called his buddies over to look. I asked if he wanted a picture...Dawn and I got a real kick out of their behavior. I learned quite a bit about humility today.
Little Nicholas stuck with us, even dropping his drawers to do his business a couple of times on the trees lining the shopping street...this was hilarious and even though we know it's accepted Dawn and I would giggle and laugh to each other. It's funny how that didn't get near as much attention as Sawyer did..

Dawn and Al (September 10, 2007)


Dawn and Al Wanderlingh are with me as well, here's a picture of them getting little Nicholas. This little fella was SSSOOOO happy to see them, it was so emotional. He just smiled from ear to ear. Neither one cried and off we went, like they had been with us for years.

I got him! (September 10, 2007)


Well today was the day I got him!!! Yeah! He is so cute and Coco was very helpful. She gave me a book with pictures of his life since coming to the Nanjing SWI and his birthday party. Sawyer did not cry and he came right to me. I have to admit even though I am a veteran adopter, I was a little worried due to his orphanage delay, but after a call to Char, who is helping with my blog...thank you Char by the way, she assured me NOT to panic. If I didn't know better I would think he was 12 mos to maybe 18 mos. He is very small, doesn't say much that makes sense and his motor skills are delayed. I'm so glad to finally have him, so we can help him grow and advance. Well, off to Walmart!!!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

I'm sick of flying! (September 09, 2007)


Well we made it to Nanjing. I am travelling with Al and Dawn Wanderlingh...thank goodness. My last trip I went to the province alone, so this is very nice. We arrived late, so we settled into the hotel, a very nice hotel and we will then head out at 10:00 am to get little Sawyer...YEAH!!!
After receiving Sawyer I am heading to WALMART...DEB!!! LOL! to pick up a stroller and then we will send a boat load of pictures.

Lunch and the Friendship Store (September 09, 2007)


Had a fun day today getting to know everyone. Dawn and Al Wanderlingh, Shannon and Jeff Beaver and Rhonda and Ryan Kelly. Had some lunch at the Friendship Store where I purchased my Jade bracelet and made the determination that after that I would be eating scraps the rest of the week...sheesh!

The Great Wall (September 09, 2007)


Well, I saw it again, this time without ice forming on my eyebrows. It was very nice, but the exact opposite...HOT! Dawn and I ate a huge peach that was so good. I wish you could bring them back. They were the size of soft balls.

The Olympic Nest (September 09, 2007)


Wow, this place is cool. It wasn't this far along when I was here in January. Thought you might like a picture of it.

Harley of Beijing (September 09, 2007)



OH YEAH! Well, they gave in and took me to Harley Davidson of Beijing. They had 2 motorcycles at the discount price of $30,000 USD. The guide also told me that they are illegal to drive in the city, sheesh. He said in Nanjing it is $2000 USD to get a tag for your bike, WOW! This is due to so many deaths, and if you experienced any driving in China you'd understand! I'm surprised more bicyclists aren't killed. Oh well...I got my shirt.

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Well Folks I made it....

I'm in Beijing, yippie! I am devastated, I chose to come a day late because I didn't care to hit Forbidden City and the acrobatic show again, those stinkers went to Harley Davidson Beijing today.....WITHOUT ME!!! What a fatal blow, lol! Oh well, maybe I can con one of them out of their HD Beijing shirt...

talk to you soon!

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Well folks this is it...leaving Friday

I'm flying out Friday 09/07 from Dayton...arrive Beijing 09/08 @ 9:40 PM. It's going to be a LONG day friends. Gotcha day is 9/10...YEAH! Stay tuned.................................................