Visit to the Xiang Jiang Safari Park at Guangzhou

Today we visited the Safari Park, and it was wonderful. Sebastian had a really exceptional day, for which I was so happy. He fed the giraffes, he fed a baby tiger, we saw pandas, white tigers, chimpanzees, and so many other animals. Little Ms. Gabriela was so wiped out that to tell you the truth we went out for pizza and she was really not behaving, so we decided to get the pizza to go. And guess what? She fell asleep on our way to the hotel.

Little Ms .Gabi is realizing that he can make the most of mami in the middle of the night

So last night was the first night that Ms. Gabi has woken up, and TWICE. The first time she was crying pretty loudly, but it was because we had not noticed that if we left only a bit of the partition between the sitting area and the room open the a/c in the room did not work that good aparently, and she was hot. The second time however happened around 1:30 am, and she had me awake for 1 hour. She would not cry very loud or anything but I guess that she realized that mami would croon to her and take her in her arms and rock her and she wanted that. So every time I would think she would stay in her crib she would immediately roll and begin to cry softly. At one point she also thought we were going to play, she was so happy to be up at that time.. Not me, but the truth is that I liked this much better than when we got her, when one would just place her in the crib and she would literally immediately go to sleep and wake up in prettymuch the same position the next day. I think she is bonding, and feeling closer to us, and she beginning to realize that someone will come if she makes herself be noticed during the night. I kept remembering the seminars that adopting parents had to take for Hague compliance, where we were told again and again about the cycle of need. However, missy, don't get used to this, LOL. Your mami needs to sleep.
In a couple of hours we are going to the Safari Park, which is supposed to be really really really cool, and which I am sure Sebastian will really enjoy.
p.d.- That is the view from our 23rd room floor. Pretty cool, ha? At the distance to the left standing on top of everything is the Canton Tower, which for a while there on 2010 was the tallest building in the world, until the Japanese built an even taller building. I could not get in camera, but during the night the whole tower looks like a rainbow. It lights up completely and is quite a sight.

Ms Gabi got her physical today and is beginning to move herself around

Today we went with the group and our guide Connie to get the children's physical exam. It was pretty chaotic and crowded. So many children being adopted. Gabi was probably the youngest there. She did really well. We had to go to three different stations. Then we came to the hotel to organize paperwork for the Consulate Appointment on September 4, which is the only official appointment left still. Tomorrow we will be visiting the Safari Park, and then next day we will go shopping and visit Shamian Island. Gabi is doing really good. Sebastian is behaving better, with some outbursts. However, he loves his sister to pieces. He is also eating much better since we arrived at Guangzhou. It is a wonderful city so far, pretty modern but with a wonderful feeling to it.
Gabi is already beginning to move by herself in the ground quite a bit . The changes are outstanding. This girl is so resilient and wonderful.
Today I also went to the supermarket, and among other things I got Gabi teething biscuits. Let me just say OMG, this little girl was so excited. As you can see from at least 3 of the pictures, she really got into it. By the time she finally dropped the thing, there was biscuit everywhere, and I mean that literally. But she loved it. Her brother laughed quite a bit from seeing Gabi so dirty. By the way, a lot of people everywhere always stop us about both Gabi and Sebastian, who is quite the chick magnet let me tell you. Sebastian is really loving the food in Guangzhou, which is wonderful for momma, who was kind of getting scared about the fact that he was only eating white rice. Well, that is over, thank God.
The Garden Hotel is probably the most beautiful hotel we have ever stayed at. It is truly beautiful. Tomorrow we go ot the Safari Park.
p.d. The white haired man with Gabi is Dr. Jerry, the wonderful traveling ped who has been traveling with the group.

Pretty tired, so quick post, but could not let the day go by without saying that Gabriela enjoyed her first plane ride today

We are in GUANZHOU, which in adoption lingo means that we are in the last leg of this wonderful trip. Gabi got on her first plane ride today, and she did great. We also presented her passport for the first time today in order to travel as a family of 4, and let me tell you it felt great.
From what we have seen of Guangzhou the difference between it and Nanchang is pretty big. Nanchang is a poorer province, and tehrefore a bit more limited in its economic resources whereas Guangzhou is a lot more industrialized and you could plainly see that the financial difficulties are a lot less. The Garden Hotel is amazing. We went for mexican food today with a wonderful couple from Boston who are also adopting their son, and are with their almost 5 year old daughter. We had a pretty good time. So long! To sleep!

What happens when you wake up at 5 am in China

I guess my turn has arrived. For days now, Florencio has had trouble sleeping because he wakes up too early, and when I say early, I mean 3 and 4 am. Now it is my turn. I am feeling pretty anxious. In a couple of hours we will be going yet again to the airport, this time to travel to Guangzhou, our last let of this trip, where we will have to sign many more documents and take Gabi to her physical for the visa, and we will have to go to the consulate appointment on September 4. Therefore, today we take Gabi away from her province, and for the first time we will go to the airport and check in as a family of 4. That I still don't understand how it happens, since yesterday we were handed Gabi's Chinese passport, where eventually her visa will be posted, and which she will only use for this trip, since once we reach US soil she becomes a US citizen. Anyway, our guide will be with the three adoptive families, because I for once figure we will have to show and say a bit more than just that Gabi is ours to let them leave Nanchang with us at the airport. Gabi will also be in an airplane for the first time. From what I have heard, understandably a lot of the babies get pretty fuzzy in the airplane. Did not happen with Sebastian, and hoping Gabi will be an exception to the rule. And as always, the proud mamma leaves you with more picutres of her BEAUTIFUL children.
p.d. A la familia en Puerto Rico, se supone que las comunicaciones en Guangzhou sean mucho mejores. es una ciudad mucho mas grande. Ahora mismo el internet esta rapidito porque casi nadie esta despierto, pero yo soy l unica despierta asi que no los puedo llamar porque levanto a Floren y a los chiquitines. Los queremos mucho. Esta todo bien gracias a Dios, pero ya estamos algo preparados de volver a nuestra isla y de volver a la normalidad con gabi y seba. Un abrazo, Ode

Chilling out and FAMILY bonding

We have been really chilling out both yesterday and so far today at the hotel. It has been big family bonding time.
A little bit more about Gabi. It appears that her caretakers really took great care of our Gabi. She is a very happy baby, only cries when she is hungry, tired and falling asleep. She now looks for us when she does not have us in her line of vision, grasps everything, puts everything in her mouth (believe there is some teething going on, and good thing I brought Hylands gel and teething tabltets), eats really well (milk, puffs, congee, fish and chicken soup, rice and some noodles) and loves music. Seriously loves music, and in fact is quite the dancer. She is in love with her brother and looks for him quite a bit. Sebastian is also in awe of his little sister, and in fact sometimes I think he believes he is almost like her dad. She grasps toys and takes them from one hand to the other with no problem, turns from one side to the other really fast, and have seen her a couple of times crawling a bit to get to a toy. Since yesterday, she also gabs the puffs herself and takes them to ger mouth. In short, we believe that she is really moving along. We are totally in love. And as to her personality, she is quite the attention grabber.
Sebastian is going through a bit of a difficult phase. Many changes being thrown at him, and all in all he is taking it all in stride. I think he is a bit jealous, and in fact yesterday and I sometimes feel a big lump in my heart from seeing him trying to make sense of it all, trying to understand that he is not the only baby in our house anymore. Thankfully he loves his sister, and I know it will get a lot better. He is the sweetest boy.
Tomorrow we leave for the last leg of our trip. Flying to Guangzhou, where Gabi will get her physical, and we will have to go to the US Consulate for the last consular appointments prior to leaving for Puerto Rico on September 6.
Therefore,we will leave Nanchang, which is our daughter's province. It makes one sad in the sense that it is where she was born and I know that she will be leaving everything she has known in her short life behind. We have been buying things to give her in the future. We really thank her birth mother, and wish her the best wherever she is. I am sure that your decision was very hard for you. Just know that we will always love your birtth daughter, who will already feel is part of our hearts and could not imagine not being a part of our family. Thanks for this immense gift. We will cherish her always.
p.d. As you can see Gabriela has a bit of a punk do. No matter how you brush her hair it stands up. LOL

A visit to the Pavilion of Tengwang, more office appointments and most important, updated pictures of the kids

Today we began the day with a visit to a store that specializes in porcelain, which is one of the things that Jiangxi is known for. We purchased some gifts as well as some keepsakes for Gabriela to eventually have. Then we visited the notary office, and from there we went to the Pavilion of Tengwang, which is over 1000 years old and has been rebuilt at least 29 times. It is totally precious, and we also were able to witness a beautiful show of dance and some traditional Chinese music. Sebastian loved it because there was also a lake full of fish and a couple of other animals.
Tomorrow we have a free day, which is kind of cool.
The kids are doing great, and Gabriela shows her pretty big personality more and more every day. She is a really happy baby, and pretty much laughs at everyone and everything. She does strawberries, signs bye bye, and already learned how to move the hand as per the Linda Manita Spanish lullaby. She crawled a bit I believe that for the first time today. She is a really bright kid that pretty much notices everything around because to say that she is curious is is an understatement. I believe that Seba and Gabi are alike in many things.