4.29.2008

China Map






The three cities that we will be visiting in China are Beijing, Nanjing and then Guangzhou. Bei is from the city of Suzhou, it is often called the "Venice of the Orient". It is a 2500 year old city that is known for it silk production, beautiful water canals and parks. Suzhou is located between Nanjing and Shanghai. To enlarge the maps, please double click on it.

4.23.2008

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Dan and I want to thank you for all the support that we have received from everyone. We are overwhelmed by people's generosity, prayers and well wishes. Not to mention that Bei has received so many gifts that Disneyland will be boring to him. We are thinking of charging a fee to parents to bring their kids to our house to play with all his toys that he has received from all of you. Wow, there is alot of stuff!!!

We are also humbled by the number of people that have told us that they are praying for Bei or their bible study is praying, or a co-worker of theirs that we have never met is praying for him. It is heart-warming for us to know that he is in so many people's prayers and receiving so many blessings.

We humbling say thank you to all of you.

Red Dot Mystery Cont'd...

Here are a couple more theories that we have heard about the Red Dot on Bei's forehead:

The red dot represents prayers, blessings and good will for his future.

The red dot and dressing him to look like a girl is a way to deceive and ward off evil spirits that go looking for boys to put a curse on them.

Of the three theories, personally, I like the thought of someone close to him praying for him and asking for blessings and good will in his life.

4.18.2008

Finalized Itinerary

Here is our tentative itinerary, the Nanjing and Guangzhou dates may switch around a bit:

April 30, 2008 - Depart for Beijing
May 1, 2008 - Arrive Beijing
May 2, 2008 - Tour Beijing
May 3, 2008 - Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tian'em Square
May 4, 2008 - Leave for Nanjing
May 5, 2008 - Nanjing - "Gotcha Day" - Receive Bei at 10:00 a.m!
May 6, 2008 - Nanjing - Civil Affairs Paperwork
May 7, 2008 - Nanjing - Tour Fuzi Temple
May 8, 2008 - Nanjing - Tour Xuanwu Park
May 9, 2008 - Visit Suzhou Orphanage - Get Bei's Passports
May 10, 2008 - Guangzhou
May 11, 2008 - Guangzhou - Tour Chen Family's temple
May 12, 2008 - Guangzhou - Bei's photo's and Medical Examination
May 13, 2008 - Guangzhou - Tour - Yuntai Park
May 14, 2008 - Appointment with American Consulate in Guangzhou 10:30 a.m.
May 15, 2008 - Guangzhou - Receive Bei's Visa
May 16, 2008 - Depart for home

4.17.2008

Red Dot Mystery

My wonderful new friend in China, Angela angela8436@vip.sina.com solves the mystery of the red dot on Bei's forehead. She wrote:

It’s just being cute. Chinese love to make a red dot on child’s forehead (mostly for girls). I think they just really love him, and think he is as pretty and cute as girls. In China, people could do something for either girls or boys. Such as they could dress up a boy like a girl (it happens a lot ).

Sidenote: Angela provides a service to people traveling to China. She will put together tours of Beijing and all the surrounding sites, book hotels and restaurants. She also will provide adoptee parents a service to contact the orphanage and inquire about your child and get updated pictures. Of course, all of this for a reasonable fee. Feel free to contact her at: angela8436@vip.sina.com

More Updated Pictures


For those of you who like to read chronologically, read the blog below first, so you know where and why we received pictures. This post will make more sense. I'm still figuring out how to use the blog, so I don't always do everything in the right order.

I love this picture of Bei! It is about the biggest smile we have gotten from him yet. Okay, I know, we have only seen four pictures of him. But, it is the old adage that a pictures says a thousands words. I just imagine that the nanny's are off to the side holding up our picture that we sent to him and saying to him. "These are your new mommy and daddy." "They are coming on May 4th to pick you up." You can just see the excitement in his face! ...Or maybe...it is the candy that he is holding in hand, but I believe my scenario. :-)

Updated Pictures!!

We received updated pictures through this wonderful woman named Angela angela8436@vip.sina.com in China. She has contacted the orphanage multiple times to inquire about Bei for us. She told us Bei has received our care package and she asked the nanny's to continue to show our pictures and tell him that we are his Mama and Baba (Daddy in Chinese).
I said to my co-workers that my baby has grown up! I'm amazed at how much he has grown from the pictures taken in October to now. I'm so glad that I received these because I realize now I'm truly getting an active toddler and not a baby.
I can't wait til I get my hands on that little guy. I have a feeling he isn't going to sit still for all the hugs and kisses that await him from me!!! He is going to be too busy being an active toddler boy :-) Dan is in California this week for a convention, so I emailed the pictures to him!

4.16.2008

Updated Information on Bei!

Here are the answers to the questions that Angela angela8436@vip.sina.com in China received from the orphanage:

1. How do they prepare the children for leaving the orphanage and coming to new families?
Answer: We hope family can send him some pictures and toys. So he gets familiar with his family's face. Our staff would constantly tell him that's his Baba and Mama, and the toys are from his parents.

2. What does he currently weight?
Answer: 22lbs

3. How tall is he?
Answer: 31 inches

4. How many teeth does he have?
Answer: 16

5. What do they call him at the orphanage and how is it pronounced?
Answer: We call him Su Ding Bei or sometimes Bei Bei in both Mandarin and our local dialect.

6. What are his favorite activities?
Answer: Play Ball. He is very active

7. Does he have a favorite caretaker? What is her name?
Answer: We have many care givers taking care of him together

8. Is he potty-trained?
Answer: Needs to be asked if he needs to go and sometimes need some help when he goes.

9. Does he have a favorite friend? What is their name?
Answer: 2 friends and they all live in the same room.

10. What does he drink?
Answer: Milk and Juice

11. Other measurements: Head-46 cm, Chest-50cm, Foot-13 cm

12: Updated pictures?
Answer: They are going to send some later.

4.09.2008

Care Package Sent

We are counting down the days to our travel to China to pick up our little guy. Today, I sent him a care package which included a stuff animal, blanket, book, match cars & a camera. It is guaranteed that he will receive it by April 14th! It is my first touch point to Bei!

I'm also waiting to hear back from a woman, named Angela angela8436@vip.sina.com in China that contacts the orphanage in order to get updates of your child. I am allowed to ask 10 questions and request pictures. It is $20.00 per phone call. I'm curious to know Bei's current size because I'm packing for a child the size of an 18 month old, even though he is two years of age.