At dinner a couple of nights ago we walked into a fancy restaurant and basically most of their main dishes were alive and greeted us in the lobby. The lobby was full of displays of the live foods that they would cook for you in their dishes. There were a few kinds of live worms including one with a sign that said "Sandworms"- there were thousands of them crawling around on top of each other. There were live snails. There were live black Water Beetles in one large bowl and a display area with live baby turtles in little individual plastic crates. And there were many tanks of water with some cool things in them like live Oysters, live Scallops, live crabs, live lobsters, etc but several seafood items I did not recognize. I think a sea slug type creature was in one of the thanks. I guess you have to be really careful if you are just walking in off the street without a guide like we had.
I forgot to mention in the medical examination day blog that Noelle is 17.7lbs and a little over 27 inches long- fyi.
Today we had "the phone call" from our guide at around 12:30pm local time that said "Mr. and Mrs. Howard your travel Visa for Noelle Weifen is approved- congratulations! That is AWESOME!!! Without this we could still have to raise Noelle- but it would have to be in Red China... and that ain't going to work if I may use my Texan.
Tomorrow around 4:00pm we are sworn in at the U.S. Consulate. Unfortunately cameras are not allowed in that facility. This will be a mass swearing in of probably 60 people at once. We basically pledge to be good adoptive parents. Our guide said, "Whatever they say - just say yes!" Ummm- yah I don't think we are going to argue with him on that one.
Today we had a group baby picture on the famous red couch at the White Swan. Everyone has their picture taken on the red couch- its a China adoption tradition just like staying at the White Swan. (there are actually like 5 of them) Noelle got to sit right in the middle. Most of the babies were crying and some of them, like Noelle, were screaming. However she distinguished herself by being the only one who threw herself on her back right in the middle of the photo taking. What a little toot! We also had a group photo of all the families which turned out great.
I am going to show some of the local street shopping as well as these formal photos and some others.
2 comments:
Maddie came home early from school today because she is going to Chuckie Cheese with Grandma & Peypaw Howard at 2:00 PM.
She was really tickled when she saw the picture of Noelle kicking up her feet and laughing. We were talking about all the places we are going to give her kisses and where we are going to tickle her. Maddie put her fingers on her feet like she was tickling her.
She is in a super good mood because she came home before nap time. And she is excited about going with Grandparents Howard.
The Red Couch Babies Picture is priceless.
Our Secret Santa left a beautiful book of cut out scenes entitled "The First Noel". It folds out and makes a round hanging ornament that tells the story of the birth of Jesus. Maddie is really enjoying the daily surprise from Secret Santa.
We are counting the days down now until Thursday and we can hardly wait. It looks like it is going to be perfect weather for flying on Thursday so the Lord is providing for you all the way to the end of the trip.
We are still enjoying the daily blog with pictures, keep them coming.
Maddie says "I love you and I miss you."
Grammy & Poppa
Oh my gosh, are you EVER coming home?!?! Congratulations on getting the Visa. It's all coming together now. The picture of all of the babies crying so reminds me of almost any photo event with Macy involved. It's great that all of these babies already love their new families so much that they don't want to be apart from them for a minute. The difference between the couch pic and the group family pic is really telling.
We, as always, are not ready for Christmas yet, but as in years past, will pull it together just in time. I know you will be busy, tired, excited, and surrounded by family as soon as you get back, but we hope to see you Christmas weekend some time. We have filled our schedule with a lot of activities, but will make time if you have time.
We are praying for a safe, non-eventful flight home for you all. I just want to know where is my Secret Santa stuff??
Love you,
Tia
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