HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas Pictures

We have now been home for two weeks and things are going really well. Abbi is now on our time zone and sleeping most of the night. She had her first Doctors apt. last week and everything looks great. We will be going to OHSU in Feb. to see a specialist about her cleft lip, no concerns just having it checked. We had a GREAT Christmas, Abbi had fun opening her presents. Like most 2 year olds she liked the boxes and bags the most. Have a Happy New Year !!!

Christmas Eve

Grandma, Ethan & Abbi playing ball
Abbi's not to sure about Santa
Santa & Ethan

It's Christmas Eve and Grandma & Pa are visiting for Christmas. We had breakfast with Santa yesterday out at Sunriver and Abbi met everyone at Church today. Abbi is adjusting very well and is warming up to everyone. I was able to leave her with Daddy yesterday without any tears. I will post Abbi's first Christmas pictures tomorrow. Have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!

First week at home

Abbi feel asleep watching Charlie Brown's Christmas Special

First week at Home

Playing with Ethan
Abbi found her spot on the couch her first night home.

We made it home

Abbi checking out her Big Brother


You are probably thinking we got lost. We made it home safe and sound after a very bumpy plane ride home. We came home the morning of the big storm in Portland Dec. 14th. The only good thing was our plane ride was a lot faster thanks to the wind. We arrived in Portland about 45min. early we had to wait on the plane for customs to open at the airport. I didn't care I was just glad to be on the ground. Abbi did great on the plane she slept and played most of the way. We had several family members meet us at the airport it was great to see everyone. We stayed in Tigard fro a couple of days so friends and family could visit Abbi and then we headed back to Bend last Sunday. It good to be home! We have had some internet problems and a crazy week getting adjusted to a little one in the house again. She is just now starting to get on our time zone, Abbi and I have been keeping some crazy sleeping hours this last week. Abbi has been wanting a bath and breakfast at 2:00am.

Last Day in China

Abbi listening to Dad's MP3 player



It's 11:30pm and we just finished packing. We leave for the airport at 5:30am China time on Thursday Dec. 14th and arrive in Portland at 6:55am on Thursday Dec. 14th if only the flight was really that short. Well, today was an emotional day we took our oath at the America Consulate today Abbi now has her Visa and will be an American Citizien as soon as we land in Portland. We also said goodbye to all of our new friends tonight. We had one last dinner together at Lucy's and then headed back to the Hotel to start packing. Please pray that we have a good safe flight home.
Love,
Sean Jen & Abbi

Farewell Dinner

Playing in the Hall

Our CHI Coordinators took our paperwork to the Consulate this morning, so we all had to stay in our homes for an hour just in case they need to ask any questions. Our rooms are all really close together so we played in the hallway.

Red Couch Picture Day

Today we spent alot of time with our new friends in our group, we have all grown close after sharing this adventure together. We had Group photo's today and a farewell dinner tonight hosted by CHI. Tomorrow will be our last day in China, we will have a free day in the morning and then we will all go to the Consulate to give our Oath and get Abbi's visa. It will be sad to leave all our friends and China, but we are very excited to come home.

Night Cruise

Cute as a Bug

Medical Exam

Medical exam

Medical Exam Day

We had another very busy day in Guangzhou. Abbi had her medical exam this morning she is very healthy and a big girl the Doctors said. Abbi weighs 33 pounds and every thing else looks really good. They also told us that her cleft lip and palete were both repaired and look really good. We did some more shopping and then a dinner cruise on the Pearl River. Hopefully we will get to sleep in tomorrow. Good Night from China.

Ethan,
Only 3 more sleeps until we are home !!!

Abbi at Bedtime

Does she look ready for bed?

She discovered the BBQ chips tonight and loved them. Abbi has on her new squeeky shoes and wanted to wear them to bed (just like her Mom used to do). All the baby's in china have squeeky shoe's. They have squeekers in them, just like the one's you find in dog toys. They squeek when Abbi walks in them.

Abbi and Daddy at Park

Abbi at Park

Abbi at Park

Abbi at Lucy's

Pearl & Jade Market Place

Abbi

Abbi discovered drinkable yogurt at breakfast

First Full Day in Guangzhou

Wow, What a busy day! We started our morning with a wonderful breakfast it was great to have eggs, toast, coffee and OJ this morning. For the last 7 days we had been eating noodles and rice and orange Hi-C. When then met our group from CHI to get Visa pictures taken of the children. It was great to see everyone with their new baby's. We then went to the pearl and jade market place what an adventure, It was crazy!!! We were exhausted after shopping, so we headed back to the White swan and went to Lucy's for a late lunch. Abbi was ready to run after being in her stroller most of the morning, so we took her to a park. We then went shopping on the island some more, it is fun to look in all the local shops and try to bargain. Finally we headed to the room had a lite dinner in the room and Abbi is now asleep. We are up early tomorrow for Abbi's medical appointment and a dinner cruise on the Pearl River.
GOOD NIGHT FROM CHINA !! Love Sean, Jen And Abbi

Abbi's first plane ride

guanzhou

We have made to our final city in China!! We are staying at the White Swan Hotel. It will take a week just to find our way around the place. We finally have air conditioning and it is 50 degrees outside. Our hotel room in Fujian was 80 degrees inside. We traveled all day today and Abbi had her first air plane ride. All went well until we started the descent and Abbi needed to go potty. She cried for a few minutes then went to sleep. We have big shopping trip planned tomarow so Sherpa/photographer/baba/ gopher and husband must get some sleep. talk to you soon. Sean

Merry Christmas

Waiting for Mom

Abbi waiting for Mom to get out of the Shower and eating Cheerio's

Min River

Man fishing with nets.
This is a very famous river in China, the upper class live along the river. This building is a Club, maybe like a county club in the U.S.

Shopping

Men fishing for fun. This would be like a trout pond at home only they don't get to keep the fish.

We are off to Guangzhou Today

Good Morning ! We are off to Guangzhou today our plane leaves at 2:30pm and we have about an hour ride to the airport. We are excited to see the White Swan hotel and Starbucks ! Yesterday we did some shopping and went to the police station to get Abbi's passport. We now have all the official paperwork that say's Abbi is ours. We will have Abbi's medical appointment in Guangzhou and will receive her Visa there.

Shopping

Shopping for books.
African dolls at a junk store
Shops, shops and more shops. Not very many pictures. The photographer/sherpa was tired from the wedding ceromonies.

Park

Wedding Day

Good Morning from Fujian it 7:00am and this is our last day in Fujian. Today we will go to the police station to get Abbi's possport and do some more shopping (Sean's favorite). Yesterday we went to a Park to see some traditional Chinese dances and ceremonies from different regions of China. Sean was married again today at a wedding ceremoney for only $10.00.