We are in Guangzhou.....

Well we arrived safe and sound to Guangzhou Friday night!

The plane ride was a bit (OK very) rocky....

but...

we made it (very late I might add too).

We hit the Island yesterday after Alex's visa photos and medical exam....

and...

did a bit of shopping too.

Today we ~ I ~ am doing more paper work for Alex's adoption....

with our group & guide, Jocelyn (who we had when we traveled back in 2008 for Annabelle)...

and...

seeing how we are staying on the mainland this time...

at a Marriott....

we figure we do a bit exploring around the streets of the hotel.

Only one photo to share with you all today.

It was taken on our last day in Zhengzhou...

with our dear, sweet friend, Dawn (who we originally meet when we traveled for Benjamin back in 2010)...

and our guide (which we had for the past three adoptions), Yisha.

We told Yisha last time we were leaving Zhengzhou (back in June of 2010)....

this was the last time she would be seeing us in an adoption travel group.

Well you all can just imagine what Yisha did when we said it to her again ~ this time....

"We truly adore you & love you, Yisha and we seriously could not have taken this amazing journey through Zhengzhou...not once...not twice...but THREE times without you!  You totally rock and we will miss you the most.  Can't wait until you come and visit us in the states!  Between, the Fisher family, the Waite family and the Leonard family ~ you are sure to have a great time!"

last day in Zhengzhou....

Around 2:30PM (China time) we will be leaving our hotel for the airport ~ headed to Guangzhou!

Less than a week left!

While I do have a ton of photos to share with you all....

 {our visit to the city of Jiaozuo ~ photo of old Jiaozuo City SWI where we visited back in 2008 during our adoption trip to Annabelle}

 {front door to new Jiaozuo City SWI which  was where Alex was living for the past 2 1/2 months}

 {Alex reunited with his Nannies on Hope's Floor at the new SWI}

 {Alex enjoying the marine animal show at Zhengzhou's Aquarium}

 {Annabelle getting to feed the fish at the aquarium}

{Benjamin trying to catch some of fish}


I haven't downloaded all of them to my computer.

We have been having lots of fun!

Alex is doing amazing!

And....

Ever since visiting his orphanage this past Wednesday (he had a very hard time there)....

He has truly become the "Zhe-Zhe" we were told about!!!! {and yes still very all boy!}

We miss Francesca and Benjamin something terrible....

And...

As I stated earlier, even though we are having tons of fun...

It is not the same without those two tagging along.

Just waiting on Alex's Chinese passport...

Than soon...

We'll be on our way.

{and Mom if you happened to be reading this any time soon ~ please let me know when you reach MD and with the other two....We so need to do some skyping....}

Love you all...

And...

More to come from.....

Guangzhou.

this little boy knows more than what he is letting onto.....

It is truly amazing what a some English speaking interaction can do for one little Chinese boy ~ who is waiting for his Forever Family....

Our little bugger here knows a lot more English than he is letting onto....

He knows the words...

"No!"

"Come Here"

"Go"

"Cars"

"Mama"

"Daddy" (not Baba)

"Cookie"

"Candy"

"Drink"

"Truck"

"Book"

(I could go on forever here but you get the idea...)

He also knew the answer to this question when asked this morning as he was laying awake in his crib...

"Do you want to come into bed with Mama?"  Without any hesitation, he shook his head "Yes" and reached out his arms to me to be picked up.  He has also started to answer when called by his newly given name "Alex"! 

Yes my friends ~ this little boy knows a lot more English that he let onto in the beginning.

{here are a few photos that were taken last night while Annabelle & Benjamin were settling down for bed...I did not edit them so as you will see, Annabelle had another bloody nose ~ seeing how the air is so dry over here & Alex's face is not cleaned off from enjoying some pizza!}

{And in the next few photos it will probably look like our Miss Annabelle is not too happy to have Alexander right in her face  - but - she is actually puckering up her lips so he comes over to give her kisses}

As I mention in my last post, we are headed to Jiaozou today to get some paper work notarized and to see Jiaozou City Orphanage where Alex and Annabelle lived the first few months of their life.  Annabelle is very excited!  For we have told her {a zillion times over} the story about the last time we traveled to her orphanage.  It was one very special little boy they called "David" that captured my heart and lead me down the road to wanting a little boy.....

an afternoon at the park.....

After returning from the Civil Affairs office this morning, we decided to spend the day at the local park not far from our hotel in Zhengzhou with our friends (and fellow travel mates) the Fisher family! All the kiddos had a blast and we (the parents) had a ton of laughs! It seriously was one of the most funniest days I had ever spent in China! Here are a few photos that were taken this afternooon...

Both Alex and Annabelle LOVED riding in the cars!!!!!

Here are a few other photos that were taken by Daddy yesterday afternoon while I was with the group doing some paper work. 

He truly is a ham and I must admit ~ another special little boy has stolen my heart!

Tomorrow, we head into the city of Jiaozuo to get some paper work notarized adn we are hoping to be able to visit his (and our Annabelle's) orphanage (once again). 

All is well here in China!  I am finally feeling better andthe weather has been great!  The kiddos are doing wonderfully well too! 

And as I mention before - we truly have an "all boy" on our hands this time!  He tries to get into everything & anything - he just smiles at the word "No" - he loves to be chased - he is going to be the little bugger that truly keeps me on my toes!

Welcome Alexander David Zhe Leonard!

Well, here he is! 

Isn't he just the most precious tiny toodler you have ever seen! 

And trust me ~ he is all boy! 

He was one of the first babies at the civil affairs office this morning (we actually walked into the civil affairs office with him & his care taker at the same time). ..

I was just about to jump out of my skin when I saw him....

We were also the first family to be united with our child this morning....

And he did great!

So far ~ so good!

We just had lunch at at the hotel....

And I am getting ready to do some paper work with our travel group!

So without making you wait any longer....

Here are some photos from our "Forever Family Day"

We are here in Zhengzhou!

After what seems like forever, we are finally in Zhengzhou, China!

Not only am I very tired ~ but as you can guess it ~ I am sick...

and having issues with connecting to the internet...

But ~

TOMORROW we will FINALLY be united with Alexnader!

Yes the time has finally come....

As for our spicy Annabelle....

She is having a blast!

Heading out....

Well, it looks like we finally made it to this point ~ we will be leaving for the airport at 8:30AM for that 16 hours flight to Beijing!  After a year of paper chasing - stressing - more paper stressing - and a lot more stressing - we are finally here!   Not sure if I'll post our first night (and only night) in Beijing but you can be sure I'll be posting once we arrive in Zhengzhou. 

And mark your calenders for February 20th ~ is the day we finally come face-to-face with our newest addition!  I seriously can NOT wait.....

China Travel Details

Daily CHINA TRAVEL Schedule

February 17th ~ Leave For China!

February 18th ~ Arrive in Beijing

February 19th ~ Fly to Zhengzhou

February 20th ~ ALEXANDER'S DAY!!!!!

February 21st ~ Adoption Registration

February 22nd ~ Travel to Jiaozuo to finish paper work & notary

February 23rd ~ Free Day!

February 24th ~ Leave Zhengzhou and fly to Guangzhou

February 25th ~ Alexnader's Physical & Visa Photo

February 26th ~ Free Day!

February 27th ~ Free Day!

February 28th ~ Consulate Appointment

February 29th ~ Received Alexnader's Visa Packet {so we can come home}

March 1st ~ HOME BOUND!!!!!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{CA}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{this just in...}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

as of 10:15 this morning, we have a confirmed Consulate Appointment with the US Embassy in Guangzhou, PR China!

flights to & from Beijing have been booked....

we leave here on February 17th and return home on March 1st...

looks like we will be united with Alexander David Zhe on February 20th in Zhenghzou, PR China...

our consulate date is February 28th...

details on travel soon to follow....

~ stayed tuned ~

~~~~~~~~~~TA~~~~~~~~~~

That's right ~ late last night we received our Travel Approval! 

We will not have confirmed travel dates until the US Consulate reopens on January 30th (from being closed because of Chinese New Year) but it is looking like we could be leaving as soon as February 15th!  Only time will tell...

I am once again packing ~ shopping ~ and cooking in order to prepare for our almost three weeks stay in China! 

I still can't believe it ~ WE ARE GOING TO CHINA TO BRING HOME OUR SWEET ALEXANDER!  After a year of working on this miracle to happen ~ it finally is!!!!!

While I do at times find that this chapter in our book of life in coming to an end (adoption/children), I am so looking forward to living our life as a family of six!!!!!

So I have been going back & forth on whether I will be posting when in China...

There are many factors on why I do not want to post - internet connections, free time, being tired, probably being sick, internet connections...{well you get the idea}

~ but ~

I have recorded all of our journeys - since traveling for Francesca back in November 2005 - so it just won't be fair if I didn't do it for our sweet Alexander!

I can NOT promise that a post will happen every.single.day but I will try...

My dear friend, Sara, has volunteer once again to post both on the blog and maybe even on my facebook page - so only time will tell (or should I say interent connection, finding free time, not being tired,  and not being too sick)...

I can promise you this ~ I will try my best to get a post (or two) on here and if not when in China, I will be doing some form of recording (our daily events) and I will be posting them once we arrive home.

Until than -

Here are a few photos that we received from our agency...

While they are dated, November, 2011....

I'll take them!

So Much Has Happen...

OK ~ So I need to do a bit of a catch up here...

Life has been crazy and this process to our precious Alexander hasn't been any exception!

Here are a few VERY important dates that NEED to be recorded....

December 8, 2011 ~ I-800 PA

December 19, 2011 ~ NVC

January 5, 2012 ~ Article 5

As of today we have been waiting for TA {our Travel Approval} for 11 days!

Now if we receive our TA by the end of next week (before the Chinese New Year begins), we could be traveling as soon as February 6th...if not and we receive our TA after the Chinese New Year, than it is looking like we will travel February 15th. 

As we sit here and wait, I have decided to start organizing some of the items that we will be taking for our Master Alexander...

I soon came to realize that we are in need of some new toys & a few new books (ones he can call all is own),  some much needed over-the-counter medicines (just in case one of us gets sick - which most likely will be me), a few new toddler accessories (a few new bottles and binks) and a cozy pair of matching winter hat & gloves set. 

Annabelle is the only one coming with us.  Seeing how she told me (over & over again after we left her last time we traveled for Benjamin) "you are never leaving me again", when we asked her if she wanted to come with us to bring home Alex, she immediately said YES!  When we asked Francesca, she immediately said "No way - that plane ride is a killer" so she is perfectly fine to stay with our dear friends, Lisa (a few days), Kelli & Dale (a few more days) and than my mom.  We didn't even ask poor Benjamin seeing how he is still having some major issues with his bowels, but he seems perfectly fine as well staying with our amazing friends and Grandma too!   As for me, I am OK with leaving them.  I know they'll be in wonderful hands and it's only for a few weeks that we will be apart. 

Since discovering we have been officially waiting on TA, I have been cooking & freezing up a storm!  The one thing I have learned is after those almost three weeks away - living out of hotel rooms - in a country that is 12 hours ahead of our time zone - I do NOT want to eat out and I do NOT want to cook.  So far I have made, an Alfredo Tortellini Casserole, Ravioli Lasagna, {my sister's famous} Egg Bake, a huge pan of Baked Ziti & Pieories with Butter & Onions, and finally a nice serving of homemade wimpees {aka sloppy joes}.  I am also planning on getting a Honey Baked Ham - and separating into meal size portions, for quick defrosting.  As I stated, I have learned that this part of the waiting is necessary - at least for us!

And finally ~ last but not least ~ we got an updated report on our little boy and a very recent photo!  Again, we have a very tiny boy on our hand - but tiny is how I like them! 


So there you have it...

Come on TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!