Gotcha Day

our first look at our sweet baby Mia!




other children at the orphanage




Her first smile, sharing goldfish with Daddy!

Mia loves water bottles

We arrived at the orphange early today. We were really impressed with how clean the orphanage was. We were not allowed to see the cribs or the rooms where they play. Everyone was really nice. The orphange was decorated very cute. back at the hotel room, we spent the afternoon watching Mia playing with water bottles. We took a few toys, but she was more interesting in the bottles.

We are here!

the office area




the living room










more of the living room





















you have to put your room key in the switch by the front door to get electricity







































the bathroom































Wow! We finally made it to China. We are staying at the Zhaolong Hotel in Beijing. We were told to ask for a jr. suite because the rooms were a little bigger. This room is awesome! I am sure it is costing us out the butt, but all I have to say is WOW!!!

Long long trip

This was a very long flight. The one from Chicago to Beijing was about 12 1/2 hours. I didn't think we were ever going to get there. I sat on one side of the plane and Jamie was on the other side of the plane about 20 rows back. I sat beside a very talkative Chinese man named Peter. He talk for the majority of the flight. He had all kinds of pointers for me and a lot of info about China.
During the whole flight we never saw daylight. The flight went from Chicago, over Canada, over the Artic Ocean (North Pole), over Siberia, and through China. In between the in flight movies a GPS would update date us with the progress of the flight, how long we had been flying, current altitude, map of where we were located, outside temperature, etc. This was really cool to see. The in flight movies were very good The Bucket List, Spiderwick Chronicles, Definitely Maybe, and 27 Dresses.

We are packed

Mia's new toys. I won't say we are ready to go. I am very nervous. I am afraid I forgot something, or she won't like us, or she will get sick, etc... All of a sudden being a new Mom is freaking me out.

Tomorrow we will be picked up and driven to the airport at 5am by my Mom. Our flight leaves at 8:30am. We will fly to Chicago where we will have a 4 hour lay over. We will leave for Beijing at 12:43pm and will arrive at 3:00pm on June 19th (3 in the morning Indiana time...) I really hope that we can get a few naps on the plane. I am taking a Harry Potter book and some word seach books. Jamie is such a last minute guy, that he will probably be up all night tonight doing last minute things and will sleep all the way to China. I hope I get a window seat, especially if he is going to be snoring....

Her room is complete

Thanks to my friend Lisa, Mia's room is ready. I can't wait to get her home. I think we are going to have so much fun in there.

Happy Birthday Mia!

Today I am really sad. It is Mia's 2nd birthday and she is not at home with us. I know we will be with her in a week, but it is still hard not being with her today. I asked our adoption agency if they would ask the orphanage to take her picture today, but I was told they do not celebrate birthdays so it would be very unlikely that they would take her picture.
I had planned to send her a care package that she would receive on or around her birthday, but when I found out we were leaving on the 18th just a week after her birthday I decided not to send it.
I have decided to have a birthday party for Mia when she comes home. I ordered her a play kitchen today... Shhh.. don't tell her!

Shopping fun!

love these....

awe...

so sweet!

love 'em!

She need to wear this when she comes home! Look at those cute jammies!

I think my co workers and my Mom's coworkers are enjoying the shopping for Mia as much as I am. They bought her all these outfits in the last couple weeks. I really have no idea what size to buy. I am guessing 18 months. I can't wait to try these on her.

Thanks Angela, Janet, and Pam~ my little girl is going to have more clothes than her mommy. Oh wait, she already does

Itinerary

We received our itinerary today.
We leave June 18th from Indy 8:28am.
We arrive June 19th in Beijing at 3pm, stay at Zhaolong Hotel
June 20-21 Arranged tours to the Great Wall, Summer Palace and Forbidden City and watch a Acrobatic Show
June 22 Fly to Yinchuan arrive at 12:40pm, stay at Apollo (Taiyangshen)
June 23 Go to orphanage to receive Mia, go to Civil Affairs Bureau of Ningxia to complete adoption registration
June 24 Notary Office to complete the notarization procedure
June 25-26 tour may be arranged or free time
June 27 Obtain Mia's passport, fly to Guangzhou arrive 7:10pm, stay at White Swan
June 28 have visa picture taken and medical exam
June 29 tour or free time, complete paper work at the hotel conference room
June 30 Coordinator submits visa application documents for us, free time or tour
July 1 have the group-oath taken at the US consulate, receive Mia's visa
July 2 Leave Guangzhou 8:15am, arrive in Indy 9:48pm

Wow! What a busy 2 weeks!