2008-09-03
Second Family Day
I have no idea where the time goes. How we go from pining for a little face on a web page, begging and pleading and filling out endless paper work to the pint size tornado that is our five year old daughter today. Its absolutely unreal in every way and at the same time, the sweetest perfection.
Two years ago today, we were climbing the stairs of a photo shop in the middle of a city on the other side of the world to meet the missing piece of our family puzzle. She was tiny, but brave and embraced the family we had to offer her. You all sent us lovely messages of support and we returned to our hotel relieved that after so much time and energy that she was finally and truly our child.
Today, Tian Li is a force to be reckoned with. She is head strong, wicked smart and a huge sense of humor. She loves trucks and cars and has a new appreciation for the Justice League. She is a Kindergartner learning to read and is often covered head to toe in whatever dirt she has managed to get into. Her favorite words are "butt", "fart" and "chicken head". She is trouble personified and its super hard to discipline her when you are trying to hold back the smile that threatens to break out. She is everything we never knew we were missing and I cannot imagine what our family would be like without her.
So, in all of this, where is her big sister? Cleo is now 7 and started the second grade in the public school here. Its a huge change for her and after a little fear she is already totally loving her classroom, new friends and teacher. She continues to excell in gymnastics, moving into the Intermediate class for the fall and is still my stylish little woman. She fights with her sister on a regular basis, but loves her with such a huge heart - the two of them are rarely very far apart from each other and spend a lot of time making up games or finding trouble to get into when our backs are turned.
In short - I appologize that I haven't written more and I owe you all some photos but the reality is that life keeps us busy. This is the part of our adoption journey that I always dreamed of - the part that just is. The every day - the get up and get ready for school, the pick ups and dinners and home work and vacations. This is the part, the part beyond the waiting and prodding social worker visits and endless notarizing and paperwork filing and expiring - this is the part that is our happily ever after.
Love to you all! Kimberly
All Cleaned Up
Okay so I've been lax on posting, you all know how that goes, two kids, school, gymnastics, jobs, life...I also burned out a bit on photos with my 365 project last year so I haven't had anything to post and I can't figure out how to get that silly July post to scroll down my blog (which bugs me...)
The kids are both great - they went skiing a couple weeks back with Dad and had a blast. First time in the snow for T. and she really dug it. I can totally see her taking on the X Games in a few years. She is also in love with the skateboard a certain family on the East Coast sent her (and her sister) for Christmas. She is a total riot, speaks her mind and is looking forward to Kindergarten in the fall. C. just lost her second front tooth yesterday so looks SOOOOO cute without them (alas, no photos yet). She is reading up a storm and looking forward to turning the big 7 in six weeks or so. She talks about it all the time now. *sigh* Where is my baby?
Eric and I are good - both working, he's getting ready for some travel - some for fun, some for work, over the next couple of months while I hold down the home fort.
I posted a few photos I took last week of the girls. They were dressed up for school photos, check them out!
Hope all is well with you and your families!
Love, Kimberly
Happy Holidays to You!!
Hi to anyone still reading this blog...so sorry my updates have been so sporadic and I know I owe some photos...but you'll have to be happy with videos today. Check out the video letters to Santa that the girls recorded today. Kind of cute.
We are all doing fine. Tian Li had a big dr. apt in November where she met with 10 to 12 specialists (they invite a number of patients in the same age range and rotate through different specialties while you stay in one waiting room). It was wonderful meeting all of the different doctors and therapists and even more wonderful to find out that we don't need a thing from any one of them. =) Our girl is doing great and has also been formally released from Neuro Surgery. One of the doctors that we met in November worked for Hope Foster Home in Beijing for a time - volunteeringk, but not during the time T. was there. Still, such a small, small world!
Christmas has totally snuck up and bit me in the calendar this year! I'm really just coming to terms that its this week. I have gifts to wrap and cards finally made it out today but man, I could use an extra two or three weeks. I hear that this will all get better in about 15 years or so!
I'll try to get some photos up this week if I can get myself in gear! Bye for now!!
Love, Kimberly
One Year - where does the time go?
One year ago, we were riding in a van with Hello Kitty upholstery, off to a photography studio in a city that I had never heard of the year before, Urumqi. We were about to meet the little person that we had been fighting for for 17 months, and waiting for for even longer. We climbed a set of stairs, and there she was - impossibly tiny and precious, munching away on some chips and looking at us with impossibly calm eyes.
Its really hard to imagine that a whole year has gone by since Tian Li joined our family. So much has changed - she has changed, grown five or so inches (maybe more), found her voice and opinions, entangled each of us all around her heart. The girls have gone from rivals to friendly to sisters (so rivals again) that truly enjoy each other, stick up for each other, love each other.
The road hasn't always been smooth - the medical bumps were especially rough at times, but all and all - we couldn't have asked for more. Seriously - she is more than we could have ever dreamed of.
Tonight I will take the girls out to dinner to celebrate - T. has requested Elephant Bar (her current favorite). Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive, so loving, has shared in our excitement.
Love, Kimberly
Happy Birthday Tian Li!!!
Today (Saturday Aug 22) is Tian Li's birthday - she is 4 years old!! I can't believe it - where did the time go? This is also her first birthday with her family, her first birthday party and she has been WAY looking forward to it! Yesterday we brought Buzz Lightyear cupcakes to her classroom and then I took the girls out of school early to go see a movie (Ponyo - they loved it!). She was super serious during the Happy Birthday singing but was really happy both of us could come to celebrate.
Today (Saturday Aug 22) is also my birthday. I only write that to tell you (those of you who still read this blog) that her birthday is everything I could ask for for MY birthday. Last year was such a hard, hard day because we were not together, and she had been moved from her foster home and everyone she knew. It seriously was the worst birthday I can remember and now, to share this day with her, to celebrate this day with this little spitfire, well, I can't think of anything better!
I'll try to get some photos uploaded tonight..
Love, Kimberly
Sunday
We brought Tian Li home yesterday. She is doing much better. She has to be home from school for two weeks and can't return to her gymnastics or swimming these sessions but overall is doing great! She gets her stitches out in two weeks as well. We could not be more thankful for the surgical team, their support team or the excellent nursing care we received in the PICU. We were definitly in the right hands!
Thank you for all of your email! It really helped us through the sleepless weekend!!
Love, Kimberly
Alls Well
Tian Li came through surgery really well. The doctors were able to totally untether her spinal cord and I can never say enough about the team that took care of her today and are continuing to care for her in the PICU. She should be home by Saturday!
Love, Kimberl
Happy Independence Day - a day late...whooops!
Hey there - sorry, we've been pretty crazy here with ongoing summer activities, work, a little travel for one of us at least and life in general! I posted some photos for May, June and even a few for July. I know I inundate you guys - I have an art project that I'm doing for 2009 where I take at least a photo a day (which usually means between 12 and 200) so I have a lot to work with.
Cleo graduated from Kindergarten. She will stay in her same school for 1st grade in a very small class and then will transfer to (most likely) our local school for second grade. She already misses the majority of her friends that transfered out this year. Tian Li will be moving to a 3/4 combo Pre-K for the fall and likes school unless you ask her (chuckle). She'd always rather be home, but once there, she loves her teachers and her friends and has a great time. She can spell her name and her sister's name (verbally).
Both girls are in gymnastics now. They really enjoy the classes they are in and Cleo already has a mean cartwheel under her belt! I get a little freaked watching her on the big equipment so Dad usually takes her to her class and I'm taking Tian Li to her beginners class. The girls are also still in weekly swim lessons - Cleo just received her back stroke ribbon and is working on the crawl and Tian Li keeps all of the deck managers entertained as she is under the water more than out of it.
We hope you are all enjoying the summer! Drop us a line or leave us a comment if you get a chance!
Kimberly
Dear Mom..
I received the following note when I picked up the girls today...
Tian Li cut her hair with a pair of classroom scissors. We talked to her about what scissors are used for.
Go look at the latest photos...
...so not too bad. She just gave herself a little layer on one side and I'm about to go get her a trim anyway and the reality is its just hair. Her teacher was way more upset than I was and for the record - they were safety scissors. The best part is another child cut his hair so the entire class had a big sit down with the director to go through what scissors are for, we don't cut our hair, we only cut paper, etc. About 10 minutes after the big talk... teacher notices hair on the floor - so way to go with my nonconformist child. =)
I'll update with more "May" photos later, but had to share our adventure with you all today!
Love, Kimberly
P.S. one note for my photo friends. Eric replaced all of our lighting with compact fluorescent and we picked the whitest lights and suddenly photos are so much brighter in our home! So we are green AND enjoying better photography. =)
Hello Friends
I haven't felt much like emailing this past month. I've been in kind of a funk, coupled by a bad cold so I appologize up front to anyone that has emailed and not heard back. I mean to, I really do, I just never get around to it.
I just uploaded a ton of photos from April. Cleo turned 6, we had Easter and the girls had their ears pierced. Big month for them (and for us). They are enjoying school, totally rocking in their swim lessons, Cleo is also enjoying gymnastics and finishing up her dance for the year.
Kimberly
Love Without Boundaries Art Auction
Wanna have fun while you shop for beautiful items? Wanna raise money for a fantastic, fantastic organization? Its time for the annual Love Without Boundaries Art Auction! The auction starts tomorrow - the following was sent to me by LWOB. Feel free to cut and paste into your own blogs, etc!
Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who donated to this year’s heart auction! We have over 300 INCREDIBLE items to auction this year, with every penny going to fund heart surgeries for Chinese orphans. Your generous contribution will give children the opportunity to grow and thrive, and perhaps even find a family of their very own. So please spread the word and join us at this yearâÂÂs auction! You will be able to reach our auction on eBay through a link on the homepage of our website: www.lovewithoutboundaries.com or directly at our regular eBay store location: http://stores.ebay.com/Love-Without-Boundaries-Store Auction items will be added throughout the day (Thursday, April 23) starting at 9:00 am Pacific Time, and the auction will end Tuesday, April 28, with items closing throughout the day.
We have some amazing treasures this year, all donated by LWB's fabulous supporters! This year once again we have many beautiful original paintings and prints, a beautiful array of quilts, calligraphy, scrapbooking pages, amazing photography, embroidery, gift baskets, jewelry, clothing, heritage items and so much more!
You can also play a part in healing hearts by posting about the auction! If you have a personal or family website or blog, or if you could post to your smaller adoption Yahoogroups, Facebook or Twitter we would be so grateful if you would mention this event, as so many children are counting on us for surgery. Help spread the news that lives can be saved!
THANK YOU for helping us to make this yearâÂÂs auction our best ever!
Love Without Boundaries
Art Auction Committee
www.lovewithoutboundaries.com
Debbie Gentile
Art Auction Co-Coordinator
Love Without Boundaries Foundation
"Changing the Lives of Orphaned and Impoverished Children in China"
Thank you
Thank you for the kind emails and comments. Our family really appreciates the support and love.
Love, Kimberly
Sad Day for our family
This morning, our family lost an important member with the death of my mother's partner, Sherry-Ann. She was a beloved member of our family and was particularly close with Cleo who will miss her terribly - they spent many hours beading and doing special craft projects that Grandma Sherry-Ann planned out for every single visit. I am so sad that Tian Li only had a few months but happy that she was given that time with her.
We will miss her very much-
Love, Kimberly
Ahhhh....home...
We are back from a trip to visit the Mouse. Tian Li's first trip and Cleo's 3rd. We had a good time - Tian Li especially liked the characters and swimming in the pool with dad (she is a total fish - I couldn't capture it in photos but she runs to the side and tries to jump in where dad is not, causing dad to retrieve her from the water to repeat). Cleo loved the parades, the rides (especially Pirates of the Cari - beans as she calls it) and running around Tom Sawyer's island. We also managed a quick stop by Grandma's house on the way home although we were sad that Grandma SA is in the hospital right now and we were not able to see her. We send her our love and hopes for a quick recovery!
Last night we came home and then ran out for a Chinese feast with our good friends to celebrate Cleo's 5th Family Day! I cannot believe that much time has gone by (but in another heartbeat it doesn't sound nearly long enough for as much love as we have for her...). It has been a BUSY week!
I'm uploading a bunch of photos - mainly from our trip to Disney. =)
Hope you all had a great week!
Kimberly
P.S. Tian Li's foster brother is home with his new family and doing great! Just thought I'd give you an update. We are so happy for them and hope to be able to unite the two of them in the future!
Right now....
..a family I only know through email is getting ready to go meet their new son at Hope. I couldn't be happier for them! Later on this evening, it will be afternoon time in Beijing and they will have Tian Li's foster brother. Shout out to you all!!
We are approaching the six month mark as a family - can you believe it? Its just amazing to me that that much time has gone by already. Things continue to go really well for us (two tiny arms are wrapped around my neck as I type just now - she is watching a movie, cuddled right up to me. Its THE best...)
I'm adding some photos finally -
Kimberly
Another Milestone
Hi Everyone!
Hope that the world is treating you all as well as it can these days. We've had a couple of interesting weeks. Poor Eric had a skiing incident that left him wth a dislocated shoulder. He is doing really well, he is great about following doctor's orders and is feeling better this week, although still painful. We've all been careful about Daddy's hurt arm (for the most part) and keeping him shielded from things that might aggravate it.
But thats not what has me writing today. Today was a hard day for me but a huge milestone for our little girl - she started preschool today! I'll put up photos tonight but man she was excited to go. Me, I want to keep my baby, my baby, but she was ready to go. So much so that she was on the stairs, in her jacket and shoes waiting to leave while Dad and sister ate breakfast! Dad reported that she was happy to go, but also happy to come home (just a half day today). We've also started doing "homework" at her request (she is so jealous of Cleo's homework from Kindergarten) and now she can recognize the letter A and also write it! (allow me my brag, I'm pretty psyched!).
Further exciting news - I wrote to you all about Tian Li's foster brother and how excited we are to have made the connection to his new family to be. Well, I received an email today from his mom and they have their travel approval and looks like they will be leaving THIS MONTH for China! WOOT!! We couldn't be happier for their family or this special little boy!!!
Photos to be updated shortly....
Kimberly
January is a celebration month for us!
So - guess what happened 40 years ago today?
Eric made his debut into the world. Today we celebrate his birthday - the girls are very excited, Tian Li has been practicing the Happy Birthday song and Cleo was beside herself with excitement. We will be celebrating all weekend which is probably just fine with Eric so Happy Birthday to Eric.
January is a huge celebration month for us - we have three other family birthdays, my mom's, and two of our cousins (hi guys!). Besides this though, there are some really significant family dates for us:
January 24, 1999 - Eric and I had our first date! I knew that day that I would marry him. =)
January 24, 2001 - Eric and I were married on a really pretty beach, in between rain showers.
January 20, 2004 - We received Cleo's referral and saw the (albeit blurry fax of a fax) first picture of her beautiful face. Talk about a life changing day!
January 11, 2007 - We saw Tian Li's face on the Hope website and fell in love - teaching me that anything is possible if you just keep trying!
And this year we also add the start of Chinese New Year on January 26- Year of the Ox!
So happy birthday to Eric - our amazing Baba and my amazing husband!
Hope you are having a great day!
Love, Kimberly
Connections
At Hope Foster, the children are paired to their nanny's - so are essentially brought up as brothers and sisters, but with a special given they are paired, special relationships form with that one on one sibling. Tian Li shared her Ayi's (nanny/caregiver/mama) with a really wonderful little boy that I have been really attached to, almost as long as we have been with her. He is in so many of the photos that I have treasured and when we went to visit the foster home, he was the person she literally tore off running to go see. She talks about him and asks to see his photos quite a bit. Yesterday I received an email from his new mom! He will be coming home to the U.S. in the next few weeks!!! I couldn't be more excited. While he will not be living near us, his family has ties to our area and we may have the opportunity to continue their relationship! I could not wait to tell T. yesterday that he has his own family and will be coming home with them very soon!
Other good news, we had a follow up with the specialist we see and she has gained 3.9 pounds (20%!!) and TWO inches in height! Woo hoo! No wonder all her pants turned into capris! We have another test coming in two months but things are looking really good so far. She and I both had bad colds yesterday so we spent the rest of the day on the sofa, watching... Cars. =)
Kimberly
Not a baby anymore...
It just happened - she is officially a big girl. Maybe she already was, but this milestone seems to seal the deal. She lost her tooth tonight (and I didn't freak out - for the record). Its out, its out, she is so proud. See the photos. Mom is sad tonight...
Kimberly
Ah! The New Year!
*Whew!* Tomorrow officially starts the new year, at least from a professional standing. Can't believe the holidays are over. It goes by so quickly but it was a wonderful time! I think we are ready for our routine now. Okay, I am ready for our routine now at least!
So the big news in the Pollinger house this week? We have the Loose Tooth watch going! Cleo has one very wiggly tooth right up front. Can you believe it? I can't? Freaks me out. I'm somewhat freaked out by teeth anyway, and to think my little baby is now losing her baby teeth - well puts me over the edge. Thankfully Eric is calm and collected about this stuff and we will all somehow survive the drama. So we are on the Tooth watch - the Tooth Fairy has been put on notice that she may have to make a visit in the near future. Coincidentally, her best friend ALSO has a loose tooth - pretty much the same one so maybe they will sport cute little spaces in their smiles at the same time... we will have to see...
I hope you are all recovered from your holiday experiences!
Kimberly
How was your holiday?
Hi there!
Sorry, we have been super busy this week. I meant to post earlier but just now getting a minute! We hvae had a really exciting Christmas and Holiday season. Our great friends the Levins arrived late on the 23rd and we have been on the go since then! Michele said I could post some photos of the girls so go check them all out together.
Just as in previous visits, Cleo and Shoshana immediately move into each other's space and are pretty much inseperable. We are sure these two shared a bond in China as they spent the first 11 months or so of their lives together. Anna hasn't let them get too far out of her site though and the threesome have been having a great time running around the house, or wherever we have gone. Tian Li brings up the rear in her classic "I don't know what we are doing but it sure seems fun!" way! Besides enjoying the company of the three big girls, she has also fallen in love with her Uncle Murray and is usually somewhere with him and one of his many gadgets (iTouch, flashlights, etc)
This holiday has been extra fun - the Levins have brought Hanakkah to our home, celebrating nights 3 through 8 (tonight) with the girls and us. We shared Christmas with them. You can see photos of the girls hunting for candy and pennies to play Dreidle with and of Michele and Eric making totally yummy potato latkas and lighting the Manora. Check out the December photo folder for those and photos of the girls checking out what Santa left them all.
The 26th we all went to Monterey for the day to see the Aquarium and walk on the beach. It was a super fun time and yesterday we played at a great children's fun center near us. Today we are doing a 4 way joint birthday party (since the girls never get to go to each other's parties). It is all going by so quickly, but has been so much fun reconnecting and spending time together. It is also amazing to see how much these children have grown. I'll try to dig up some old photos of them for you to see.
So the big question - How is Tian Li enjoying Christmas? and the answer is....
With every thing her little heart has to enjoy it with!
You all know (if you've been reading along) just how fortunate we are that she has joined our family. It is TRULY amazing and incredible and seriously the best gift I will ever receive in my life.
I hope you all had a really wonderful holiday and that 2009 bring good things to you and your families and to this world of ours that really needs good things!
Love, Kimberly
Ho Ho HO!
Hi Everyone,
I'm sorry, I've been a bad blogger. December has been really busy with several holiday celebrations so far this year - with both sets of grandparents (hi guys!), the shopping, the wrapping (oh will the wrapping ever end?) the decorating. We also just wrapped up the Fall swim season. Miss Cleo is a total fish and is looking forward to the Winter session. Tian Li earned her
Beginner Preschool ribbon in 3 classes!! Whoo hoo! and exactly the same age as Cleo earned hers. She will also be taking Winter session classes in January.
Tian Li went to her first dental visit - here's to another kid with no cavities - yeah!! She did SO great and when I get a chance I'll post her long rambling video describing the dentist visit. Our good friend Cheryl referred us to a super pediatric practice near our home and they were so wonderful with her. We are SO lucky to have health care - okay that statement alone shouldn't be important, but it is, and to have health care professionals that are so caring and make great exceptions proactively around her situation as a newly adopted child. I can't say enough how much I appreciate that.
Next Tuesday we are looking forward with much anticipation to a visit from our great friends, the Levins, from PA! This is the family that we traveled with to China (along with Amy, Mo and Andy - hi guys!) to adopt Cleo when they adopted their Anna. This is also the family that instigated our love affair with Tian Li so look forward to a big soppy post from me updating you on that meeting. I cry every time I think about it so I can only imagine what will come out of these typing fingers next week. Oh yeah, and the big guy is coming on Thursday I guess. =) Okay, I know because I have two little girls that remind me EVERY single day!
I cannot tell you how much this season means to us. We have had too many Christmas' with an extra stocking hanging empty, waiting for this little girl, hoping we would be chosen for her and this year that will not be the case. This year we live with the freedom of knowing that she is forever and truly our daughter - that we do not stand in judgement and in desperation, that our hopes and dreams have come true. Its absolutely amazing!
So I have two things to share with you - one is an update on the Maria's Big House of Hope, being built by Shaohannahs Hope to be run by Joyce and Robin Hill. The Hills run Hope Foster Home. Check out this great video from Shaoshanna's Hope (and keep your eyes peeled...)
http://members.shaohannahshope.org/site/PageServer?pagename=giv_MBHOH
The second thing I want to share with you is to ask you to go to the 12/20 post on my good friend Margie's blog. I promise, its not to be missed. John - if you happen to see this, you are such a good guy. Okay, I'm tearing up! enough!
http://mississippizen.blogspot.com/2008/12/gift.html
Love to you all, Kimberly
Another Wednesday
So, uploading some December photos - Eric has our lights up. You can see his masterpiece for the year (and the bad "haircut" that our bushes got ...)Also some shots of Tian Li posing in front of the Christmas tree. The last batch of photos - I don't know what to say. We're watching, um, Cars (you knew that right?) and I look at her and she's suddenly covered in marker. Like spontaneous marker coverage. A totally new phenomenon! And what do I do? Wash her off? Sure, right after I grab the camera for your enjoyment!
Love, Kimberly
Watchu bring that flower ina house, daddy?
And more new things - we put our tree up last night. It isn't decorated, but its up and lit and the girls are totally excited to decorate it this afternoon. Tian Li couldn't understand why we brought this big "flower" into the living room, but I think once we get the ornaments going she will be into it. Our theme this year? Princess and Lightning McQueen or I am Frilly Speed! The kids are off to the zoo to give me a few hours to go through my recent shopping adventures and get some things prepared. They are due home soon and then Eric will start on the lights. I need about 20 more hours in the day to get everything done!
Love, Kimberly
Happy Thanksgiving! From One Thankful Family!!
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We enjoyed a lazy day at home. Cleo and I woke up early and baked a pie (check out the photos - I think Food Network may want to consider her for a future series - I'd sure watch! And yes, NO eggshells, that girl is a master!) The girls ordered up their breakfasts - Frosted Flakes for Cleo and Cars soup for Tian Li, followed by our at least once daily viewing of Cars. Pretty much Tian Li's perfect morning!
This afternoon we took over Eric's home made mashed potatoes to our neighbors home and enjoyed an incredible dinner with our great friends! Seriously good food, including two turkeys to taste test - one of which is easily the best turkey I have ever had. Oh yum! Rounded the night off with playing with their cute doggie and lots of great conversation.
I'm calling it an early night - Ket and I are off to the Black Friday Sales tomorrow - wish us luck!
And let me just close by saying I have never been as thankful as I am this day for our incredible family, for the community of friends that we have that supported us these past years and for this special little girl that really completes us. I can't tell you what it means to live my life right now - not in any way that truly expresses the amazement that after such a long wait, that after so many dreams, the four of us are together.
Wishing each and every one of you a wonderful holiday weekend!
Love, Kimberly
They won!
Congratulations Toying with Games! They won tonight!! (see my Super Super Girls entry....) How cool is that?
For those of you looking for new photos - I'll try to post some tomorrow. I did want to post about Tian Li's latest achievement - she had her very first swim lesson yesterday! And, to my surprise, without Dad in the water with her! She loved it, she couldn't stop telling me about her goggles and her kicking in the water. I'm just so amazed by how she embraces every new opportunity. It helps that her sister is a fish and she wants to keep up with her JieJie.
Love, Kimberly
Tian Li Cut Cut
So - I went and had a trim two or three weeks ago and Tian Li started to say "Mama, cut cut? Tian Li, cut cut!" Then last weekend, our good friend Jasmine came over to show us her darling hair and again - little face looked up and said "Tian Li, cut cut?!" So I worried about it for a week and tonight - I ran out and found a place that was open and happened to have a really great gal and ----walaa....Tian Li, Cut Cut!! Go check out the photos - we think she is Tian-Li-cute (as she says)!
Love, Kimberly
Super Super Girls...
If your house has been invaded by the new season of Hannah Montana, you'll know why my children are running around singing "I'm super, super girl, I'm super, super girl". If you have been spared, count yourself lucky! My singing, dancing duo has it burned into their brains and I have to admit its pretty cute.
Things here keep on keeping on - Tian Li continues to just happily float along. If you had told me that we would adopt a toddler that would accept our family fully and completely this fast, I would have told you you were crazy, especially given how easy Cleo has been but once again, I am reminded how truly lucky we are! After waiting so long for her, I just marvel that she is here.
I have a friend whose wife designs games. She sent us the cutest game - its called the Smithsonian Pandamania Game and it gets two thumbs up from us. We are panda crazy, which helps, but its just a darling game. I also found out that she and her business partner are up for the first ever Tagie awards (honoring toy and game developers) and anyone can vote! You can go to this link to see more details.
She is up under Rising Star Inventor - their company is Toying with Games and you can read more about them from the link!
Hope you are all having a great week!
Love, Kimberly
Trick or Treat?
Hope you all had a fun Halloween - we sure did! Eric took Tian Li to his office in SF. She wore her puppy costume and was greeted by the office dogs at work that were dressed up as, well, not dogs. Go figure! She came home and told me she had a big fun time there and they gave her cookies! Off to a great start!! In the afternoon she asked to change her clothes and she put on a ladybug costume thing that I had and ran around in that. Super cute! Not as cute as the puppy but you all have seen that.
We brought Cleo home from school and had dinner with our great friends next door and then Cleo donned her Cinderella get up and Tian Li picked out the Snow White dress (Cleo's second halloween costume) and man, that was super super cute so her third costume change of the day occurred and then she found out what it really was all about! She had a great time chasing after the big kids and filling her candy bag! It was sprinkling here and the kids were so excited to have a reason to use their umbrellas - I think that was almost more exciting than all of the candy!
The evening ended up in a fit of tired kids and one is still calling to me to come to bed - "come on, Mama, come to sleep". So, maybe I'll listen to her. =)
Love, Kimberly
Pumpkins, Parties and HSM3
Hi Everyone,
Thought I'd check in and post some new photos. We have been having a lot of fun getting ready for Halloween. Tian Li would wear her costume every day if we let her (and we might once we get through the actual event - I mean, why not?). This past week, Cleo's school had their "Harvest Festival" (aka Halloween party - umm, not like we are actually harvesting anything but that's another post...) Cleo went to school all decked out in her Cinderella garb with curled, sparkle hair and real mascara - that just about sent her over the moon. This is one GIRLY girl! She was SO gracious to not mind that we brought T. decked out in her puppy costume to participate as well! So we all trooped off to celebrate the harvest. The kids in Cleo's class were SO cute - every single one of them - we had other pricnesses, several witches, a vampire, batman, transformers and an astronaut. Cleo's shool really had a great time this year and had a concert for all of the families with a musical duo they have come from time to time and Tian Li really loved it. Cleo even was called on the stage to participate!
This weekend we had another first - a birthday party! We went to celebrate our friend Keith's 5th party and Tian Li enjoyed herself. It was at a great bounce place (she's already asked me twice if we can go jump today...) and she really just threw herself into it despite being so much smaller than everyone else. She climbed every single giant jumpy and obstacle course and Cleo was so wonderful, shadowing her, protecting her and just plain having fun with her.
Sunday afternoon we spent pumpkin carving - Cleo was WAY into that this year and had great fun scopping out the goop! Dad did a great job creating Cinderella's castle. T. didn't quite get it and was fresh from a late nap so next year will be her year we guess.
Finally we ended the day with Mommy/Cleo date night to see High School Musical 3. There were probably a dozen high schoolers in our show and us and everyone sang along to the music. Cleo was just thrilled to get to see it and I'm sure we'll be back for at least one repeat performance. The girls have been listening to the soundtrack all week in my car and both sing and dance along.
Other than that, things are just going along as normal for us! Its really quite wonderful. =)
Love, Kimberly
Very Exciting Day in China approaching
I am so thrilled - I know three families that are sleeping in China right now and will wake up to meet their children. Two of those children, we met at Hope Foster Home and one is a family from our former agency that has been waiting to adopt an older boy so many of us have been pulling for for over a year and they are all becoming families tomorrow in China! My memories are so fresh, the excitement of meeting this little sweetheart, I couldn't be happier for three children that have been known as Gage, Annabelle and Hale or for their families!!
I've Been Tagged
I've been tagged by Tracy at http://followingtheredthread.blogspot.com/
I am supposed to
1. Link to the person that tagged me and post the rules on my blog
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about myself
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of my post (including links to their blog)
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
(If I tag you - go to Tracy's blog for a cute little graphic with the rules that I can't use in my blog)
1) When I was a kid I wanted to be an auto mechanic
2) I remember to the day when I met my two oldest friends (ie - been friends with longest, I didn't mean to imply you were OLD my dear friends) - March 7, 1979. We will be friends 30 years next year! Wow!
(7 things is hard... I'm really not that interesting....)
3) My great-great grandfather was governer of Idaho and was assasinated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Steunenberg
4) I won a blue ribbon in the California state fair for my 7th grade architecture project. I think technically my mother won, but I think I built the little dog house in the yard at least.
5) My all time favorite actor was Charles Bronson. (Yes, really)
6) I know all of the words to every song in both High School Musical movies (thanks, Cleo)
7) My favorite color is orange
I am tagging:
Tammy @ http://kateandlucy.blogspot.com/ (and seriously - Extreme Home Makeover?!!!)
Margie @ http://mississippizen.blogspot.com/
Diana @ http://dori-love.blogspot.com/
Beth @ WWW.teamraymond.blogspot.com
Nanc @ www.lighthousegal.wordpress.com
Starla @ http://kullstarla.blogspot.com
Helen @ http://scrappingthoughts.blogspot.com/
Happy Wednesday to You
Hi there,
Camera situation has been resolved so I have new photos! Yippee! I added a bunch from the pumpkin patch visit last weekend with our friends (Hi Velasquez family!) and just bumming around the house. Things continue to settle here - we are still getting through all of the paperwork that comes from adding to your family, work related stuff, etc. and trying to get some handle on the house. Man, a new kid comes with more stuff!
On other fronts - Eric taught Cleo how to tie a bow last night! She is totally excited about it. She learns so many new things each week! T. continues to just be her little self. She really enjoyed an evening visit with our cousins last weekend (Hi McGrorys!) and we had lunch today with my friend Dyan and her little girl who is SO good with T.
One mention - this month is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I just wanted to plug a unique foundation that is specifically for people living with stage 4 breast cancer. Their president lost her battle last weekend. She is also a China adoptive mom. If you are interested, consider walking in their Virtual Walk across America for as little as a $5 donation. I'm KimberlyP if you want to walk with me. www.galtogalwalk.org
Okay I have to go get these two hooligans into the shower - Cleo has just come in wearing Tian Li's pants on her head and T. has her nighty on inside out and backwards over her clothes. The fun never ends at our house!
Love to you all - thanks for reading and the comments and email! Oh no I hear the water going...gotta run!!
Kimberly
Our Story - the conclusion
Sorry about that...just noticing that the blog cut off the last couple paragraphs!
But.. hiccup...the CCAA instituted a new electronic system, designed to make the paperwork distribution faster. And we were the first referral to our agency and, we didn't show up. And we didn't show up. And a week went by, and then two and then three and finally four weeks later - EUREKA! Our referral was in our hot little hands!! We turned our paperwork around with next day priority delivery and then got to learn the waiting child terminolgy. We had some new milestones to hit - luckily our home study was all ready to go (we had had to update some of our visa paperwork and fingerprints as those expired during the extended wait period) but we needed some more things. First we needed PA (Pre-Approval). This arrived May 28. Then we needed LOA (Letter of Approval) - this was unfortunately lost somewhere in transit the first time they issued it and the replacement was received July 2. We were on our way - and despite the hiccups with the paperwork, and the time, it felt fantastic to be moving towards the end of our process and to this sweet little girl that had lived in our hearts for well over 18 months at this point.
A good story isn't good without a little drama - so here is ours. July 23, our adoption agency announced that they were closing their doors in as little as one week. When I tell you my stomach was in my shoes, I mean that's really where it sank to. After 20 months of pursuing this child, we were so sad and fearful.
I think I exchanged about 1000 messages in the two weeks that followed. Our China Program Manager was nothing short of heroic. She voluntarily worked to accomplish the miracle we hoped for - she, along with our wonderful facilitator in China, gained our final two pieces of paperwork - our Travel Approval arrived July 30 and our Consulate Appointment was confirmed August 1. I made all of our travel and guide arrangements directly and Eric booked our flights to and from China.
The rest of our story, you know if you read our blog. August 29 we left the U.S. for China and on September 1st, Tian Li became Deja Rebecca Tian Li Pollinger when we finalized our adoption. 597 days after we saw her face, we held her in our arms. When I tell you it is amazing to look into her face every day - I mean that in every sense of the word. It is unbelievable to me that against all odds, this child is now our daughter, our little sister and the missing part of our family, united.
So one more little note..I mentioned that that our friends sponsored three of the bedrooms at Hope Foster Home in honor of their daughter. One of which is the purple bedroom, where our daughter slept for two and a half years. Maybe our thread is in fact already a circle. =)
Love to you all!
Kimberly, Eric, Cleo and Tian Li
Lucky Family of Four
Our Story
An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break. - Chinese Proverb
There is often talk of the red thread that connects families like ours to our children. I wanted to share with you our story and our thread. It all starts with another story that I share with permission. In 2003, we began the journey to Cleo. We were excited, nervous, over the moon and wanted our daughter beyond belief. After several planning years, Eric and I were ready to become parents and as most of you know, we threw ourselves full force into the adoption community. We made many friends, and became immersed in new terminology and a new culture we had no idea we would be part of. During this time I became very close friends with a woman whose family was part of our travel group, adopting at the same time we were, using the same agency. Her family lives on the opposite side of the country as ours, however the phone and internet allowed our friendship to blossom during our wait. We shared our hopes and dreams and stories of our families and just became life long friends. Her name is Michele. In January of 2004, we eagerly exchanged phone calls and details about the two beautiful little girls our families were each referred. The girls were within two months in age of each other and from the same orphanage. We exchanged photos of our girls and her referral was prominantly displayed on our fridge, alongside our own.
About two weeks prior to our trip to China, Michele and her family were notified that the child they were referred was very ill and although the family was more than willing to bring her home, ultimately China recinded her referral. This was heartbreaking for me, as her friend, but obviously devastating to her family. This child had already become a part of so many lives. With the help of our agency, my friend and her family did travel with us in March of 2004 and adopted a different child from the same province.
My friends are people that love with their entire hearts - and their new daughter was welcomed into their tight family. While bonding progressed rapidly, they could not forget that first child still in China. My friends pursued many paths to gain the health care that their China Sweetheart required to live, with the hope that she would eventually be adopted into a family of her own. They worked with a number of wonderful organizations that support orphans in China, as well as their local healthcare contacts. One of the people that gave them advice was Dr. Joyce Hill of Hope Foster Home/New Hope Foundation. Eventually, they were able to obtain the critical medical care required for the little girl in which gave her a much brighter future!
Now the really good part (get a tissue) - that China Sweetheart did get that bright future. She was adopted later that same year by Michele and her family!
Fast forward 18 months - Cleo was (and is) the center of our universe. July of 2005 I talked to Eric about adopting a second time. As I recall, he didn't take long at all to agree. At the time, adoptions were taking as little as six months, so we held off to "time" the age difference of our children, etc. and filed our contract with our agency in February of 2006. In May of 2006 our dossier was completed and logged in with the China Center of Adoption Affairs. We thought we'd probably travel in January of 07. Not long after this, the adoption wait lengthened dramatically.
In January 2007, it was already evident that we would be waiting quite a long time for a referral. In fact, it looked like the six months may have gone up as much as 18 months at that time. Instead of being in China as planned, our good friends flew out to spend time with us. Our girls were now all celebrating their 4th birthdays (or about to) and we had a little party for them together, did some sightseeing and mostly just hung out together. On the last day of their visit, Michele shared with me their increased involvement with Hope Foster Home/New Hope Foundation. They had sponsored some bedrooms there previously, and had recently started sponsoring care for a little boy in Hope's care. She wanted me to see his photo.
The moment that changed our lives - January 11, 2007
Michele and I went to the Hope Foster Home website and as we were scrolling down the page to look for the little boy they were sponsoring - one photo grabbed me. I don't have any other word for it - I just stopped scrolling. There was this little girl - she kind of looked like Cleo, but not and there was a little information about her - where she was from originally and a birth date. My birth date. And I just couldn't get away from those eyes. And out of no where, Michele's youngest daughter pops up and looks over my shoulder and in her 4 year old wisdom, this child that was hard fought and loved, said to me "Is that your Mei Mei?" (little sister) and all I could say was "I think so".
So to recap - the child that was withdrawn and eventually granted, against all odds had just verbalized what I could not believe - that this was our child. And that our child resided in the place that had provided advice and offers of assistance on her behalf.
I couldn't wait to show the photo to Eric and he was also taken by her and agreed that come the next business day we would see what we could do. Hope Foster Home is not an adoption agency and in fact, has no ability to influence or participate in an adoption. We did contact them however and offered to sponsor this child's care. In parallel I contacted our adoption agency but was cautioned that it probably was not possible. In general, the only way to adopt is either through a published list of available children or through a referral and our baby was not on any list. While this wasn't unheard of in the past, recent changes in the Chinese Adoption program including tighter restrictions and policies made this request impossible.
So, have you met me? I'm not much for no. I proceeded to contact other agencies that had reputations for accomplishing this type of a request but I was also told no, repeatedly. I put the word out to different lists and individuals, I looked for her on waiting child lists, but nothing. And we watched her grow as we received quarterly updates from Hope Foster Home. I started to make an unhappy peace with the fact that she would not be our daughter and saved every scrap of information, photo, anything to hopefully pass on to the lucky family that would become hers.
In May of 2007, Eric had a business trip to . We talked about the possibility of him visiting our little girl at Hope Foster and went back and forth on whether he should see her or not. On Mother's Day, the night before he was leaving, he decided that he would make the visit to go see her. I rushed out the hour before Target closed to buy some things for him to give to the little girl that had taken over so much of my heart at this point - I cried the entire shopping trip, I'm sure everyone in Target thought I was crazy. Eric made the trip to Hope Foster Home and was able to spend about 10 or 15 minutes with Tian Li. He was able to take about 40 photos for me. They were and are like gold to me. One of the most amazing gifts he's ever given me.
During his trip to , Eric was able to speak to a good friend of ours that works in adoption and to tell her in person that we were really would love to adopt this child - if there was any way possible, that we wanted to become her family. By the end of dinner, she agreed she would see what she could do, but could make no promises, emphasizing the new policies and processes. We let a little glimmer of hope shine at this point, but continued our wait not knowing what the future would bring and quietly holding this child in our hearts.
In the following months, we heard nothing. The wait for adoptions continued to increase to at least two years from what we could see and so we just went along with our lives, raising Cleo and secretly dreaming about our little girl. I have lots of photos from this time - volunteers often travel to HFH and I was able to find photos on blogs or make connections. I also received the precious quarterly updates. I put a few photos up in my office and I started a scrapbook for her.
In late November our agency contacted us and asked us to quickly write a letter appealing to the CCAA for Tian Li and why we thought we were the right family for her. I had a good friend translate it and we sent it off in record time and...heard nothing. More waiting. Another Christmas with the extra stocking hanging over the fireplace. We had been waiting 18 months for a referral and 10 months since we had seen that little face.
In February of this year (2008), I had planned a weekend getaway with two girlfriends to . The day before I left was Valentine’s Day. That morning, in my email was the one we had been waiting for - from titled "Good News -----Shi Tian Li". The email read that her file had been received to the CCAA and that yes, we could adopt her! After 13 months of hoping against hope and quietly dreaming, this was the news we had waited for! That was a GREAT weekend in . I brought photos of both of my girls to decorate my hotel room! I was over the moon. We were told we would probably travel in May.
For Your Enjoyment
I have one of those cool Flip Video cams and I finally decided to take some of the videos off of it. Posted two taken tonight of Miss T. May get to a third one. =)
FYI the Flip is SUPER easy - so easy I have about 20 weird 10 second videos of my legs and parts of conversations where the Miss T. was recording me.
One more note - camera problem will be solved tomorrow so expect some new photos soon!
Kimberly
Hello October!
Can you believe we have been a family of four for over a month already? Honestly it feels like forever. It feels like so long ago I was longing for this little girl in the photo and now that photo and the girl before me are nothing alike! Its really quite crazy.
Things continue to progress - she has been coming with me to watch her sister's swim lessons and can't wait to get into the pool. Eric is going to sign up for a Dad/kid session.
Speaking of swimming - our big fish is amazing me! She earned another ribbon for Breather class last week (3rd one this summer - we usually get one a year!!). Today she was reluctant to get into the pool as she had a new teacher but man, once she was in he had her doing the backstroke across the entire pool - by herself first time out! I could not have been prouder! The swimming is really kicking in for her!
I'll try to post a few photos from the last two weeks. I don't have a lot of new ones - sadly my trusty Rebel has taken a turn for the worse and had to be sent off to the Canon hospital to diagnose its outcome. lets hope its an easy fix! Kills me - so many things I want to capture and Eric's big monster camera is a little bulky to tote around.
Kimberly
Back to life...
I have been overwhelmed at everyone's response to our blog - thank you so much, everybody who has taken the time to read our journey. It has meant so much to us as a family to share with you all. I am working on that detailed story - its coming soon.
So the big questions everyone asks-
1. How is Tian Li adjusting?
She is great. Really great, unbelievably great. This kid is just fully embracing her life and its amazing to watch and participate with. She is doing fine with the switch off schedule - surprisingly well. The only thing I run into is her increasing insistance that it is time to pick Cleo up from school. I think this is a major highlight of her day - she already calls hello to everyone, loves the cracker basket in the lobby and walks into Cleo's classroom like she owns it. She will eventually attend the same school so its all a great start. She is funny, affectionate and totally three years old.
2. How is Cleo adjusting?
Cleo is doing well. The girls get along really well. Cleo does compete for attention and acts like any only child that suddenly, isn't. =) We do our best to make sure she gets special attention and she's been the happy recipient to some big sister gifts and acknowledgements that have made her feel really cool (thanks most recently to Leslie who gave the girls two really cool bags that they immediately filled and carried around). She was very happy to get back to her kindergarten class which she absolutely loves!
3. Are you sleeping yet?
Yes!
4. How is it going back to work?
Well for me, its good. I am so far liking the split - adult time and total Mommy time is working great for me.
5. When will you adopt again?
Um, not on the table at this time - I think two is a great number of kids and they are two more than I ever thought I'd have (and am so lucky to have) so I'm quitting while I'm ahead! LOL!
So that's us this week. I'll try to get better at writing - just not that many exciting things going on in San Ramon this week. Oh - one more thing. Eric said that we have another full fledged mermaid - Miss T. is officially an underwater girl having jumped under water repeatedly in the hot tub tonight with him.
Kimberly
Wednesday
Hi everybody -
So the sleep saga continues although some of us have gotten more than others. Maybe tonight, we are hopeful but probably delusional. Didn't do much today, we're still just getting through the daily routine. Things are much less exciting here in California as opposed to our tours and appointments in China. =)
Tian Li continues to be Eric's little shadow although she likes me at 3 in the morning when she's up for a meal and some play time. Cleo is looking forward to returning to Kindergarten next week and we will be returning to work.
Trying out some new foods - turns out my new kiddo LOVES edamame! So now we really have to invest in a second freezer because the way she goes through them, she and I will be keeping the market in business with our weekly purchases! She also had a great romp in the hot tub yesterday - doesn't go all the way under but doesn't mind getting splashed and really enjoys the water. Her other big fun thing this week was her first Target trip. We all went (we were trying to stay awake to get these internal clocks reset) and she loved picking things out and putting them in the cart. Her fav purchase - Cars PJs (she loves pajamas).
I uploaded some new photos for your entertainment.
Love, Kimberly
4:24am - and what are YOU doing?
If you are a member of our family, you've been up for about 90 minutes. Maybe tomorrow will be more normal. =)
Out of Whack
We are still a bit jet lagged so today was pretty much a wash - it was like 2 before we got everything going as a household. Hoping for a bit more normal tomorrow but it will depend on how everyone does tonight. We are all home this week - no school for Cleo, no work for Eric and I and today we didn't have to be anywhere or really do anything so that was a nice change after two weeks of ongoing appointments and events. We are getting our rhythm down as a family in the house, Tian Li is adjusting to where everyone is. She isn't so happy about the tendency for Mama to be working on something downstairs while Baba works on something upstairs - she likes everyone to be in the same proximity. I emptied out a lot of the suitcases and started sorting everything and she insisted on plunking down on my lap and stopping the whole process so I didn't get that job completed. Happy little diversion that she is - I mean, that's what its all about, right? The suitcases will wait.
Tian Li is a little joy - she has her cute little phrases - the way she says "How are u?" (sounds just like that), Key-Oh (Cleo), Jammies, Sway (Chinese for water). Also Kwinkle, kwinkle, little tar. She has the cutest little voice, its so darling. She also is pretty funny about the level of detail she notices. I pulled out a pair of size 12 mo capri pants (that fit her perfectly - whoo hoo) - well the fly had no real zipper (fake) so she wouldn't wear them. She drags out size 18 mo capris to show me the zipper and then puts them on and walks around looking like half the teenagers at the mall with her pants sagging to her knees. =)
Home Sweet Home
Hi Everyone!
Would have liked to have posted earlier but Comcast cut off all of our services the day we left (evidently) with no reason so we came home to no internet, no phone and no tv (and sadly - none of my zillion reality programs recorded on the DVR). They will get the what for tomorrow, but after waitingfor 5 hours, they nice repair guy hooked us back up.
Our flight was pretty good - have a cold that came up over the last two days so the flying part was a little painful. The girls slept about half the way, and I got in mybe 4 hours myself. Our friend Mike picked us up at the airport this morning and we are home! Our friends the Velasquez's had decorated our house - I'll post photos in a little while - we were so excted! We are having dinner with them this evenig for the Autumn Moon Festival! This is one of the biggest holidays in China and within many Asian cultures! Guess what we are having? Uh huh...Chinese food!
Tian Li is adjusting to her new home. She took a nap in her new little bed and has already sat down to pat Madonna (who graciously and patiently let her). It is so good to have her home. She also became a U.S. Citizen this morning in the SF airport (thank you Dave Thomas and Bill Clinton - both of my children have benefitted from this automatic change in immigration policies thanks to them!)
Okay - I have to grab a shower and try to stay awake for dinner. Thank each and every one of you for your support, messages, everything. We love you! We are home!
Love, Kimberly - Mama to the Lucky Family of Four
Last night in Beijing
Well, most of the packing is done. We have another early morning but hopefully that will mean that we'll all catch some sleep on the flight tomorrow! We will really miss China - there is so much more for us to see and do here but it will have to wait for return trips in the future. I think you'll agree, we've packed a lot into these two plus weeks. It is hard to believe this little peanut baby just joined our family less than two weeks ago. She feels so much part of our family - as if she has been here forever and at the same time we learn more about her every day. We cannot wait to introduce her to her new home, her new life in the U.S. and all of you!
Thank you so much for all of your kind emails, comments and thoughts during this important time in our life. I've really loved blogging to you guys and will keep posting if you'll keep reading. =)
I'm sure I'll get one more entry in tomorrow before we take off! Good night!
Love, Kimberly
Day 15 - Hope Foster Home/New Hope Foundation
Hi there,
The girls are finally down for their nap and I'm uploading some photos of the most gorgeous children after our morning at Hope Foster Home in Shun Yi. We took about a 20 minute cab ride to a hotel on the edge of the city and Robin Hill picked us up at the Starbucks there and drove us to Hope. It was very exciting, emotional, amazing to be at the place that Tian Li has called home for so long. Joyce and her Ayi's (aunties or nannies) were so excited to see her but she would not really go to them. She did run to see the little boy that she has shared her Ayi with for all of this time. We went into all of the different rooms and were able to take photos of her bedroom, playroom, dining room, everywhere as well as of the gorgeous children. Some of these children have families waiting for them already and it was nice to be able to see them and know that they have anxious Mama's and Baba's at home - just waiting to get through the paperwork.
The work at HFH is flat out amazing - these kids are so loved and are given as normal a home life as they can have in a group setting. They were friendly, happy for attention and well attended to by their Ayi's. The ratio at hope is 2 children to one Ayi and that Ayi performs all of the care taking duties for the children including feeding, holding, putting to sleep, dressing, etc. I was able to see Tian Li's bed and also they presented us with a scrapbook of her life so far that included artwork from the preschool!
The Hlls (Robin and Joyce) have a 9 year old daughter that Cleo immediately took a liking to and they spent most of the visit over in her room at their house on the property.
I was very sad to leave - under other circumstance (ie without a brand new child that doesn't want me to hold other children) I could have played with these children for weeks and maybe I'll get my chance some day! If you are going to be in Beijing or are looking for a unique and rewarding volunteer opportunity or an incredible charity to get involved with - I just can't say enough!
This afternoon we are probably shopping some more and then packing up for our big flight tomorrow! Can't believe this trip is winding down. We will definitely miss Beijing!
oh and Levins and Milligans - funny thing. Last night we took a cap to the Silk Market from our hotel. Coming back the other direction from Shun Yi I figured out this huge mall we hit last night is actually the one they built on the Silk Alley that we shopped at in Beijing toether. Our hotel is the same chain but not the same location and just happened to see the original one.
Anyway - love to you all!
Kimberly
Day 14 - are you still reading?
Hi there,
okay so today's post so far is really for the other adoptive families out there, but the rest of you can feel free to follow along too! This morning we met our friend, Ming right after breakfast. Ming was the Facilitator for our agency in China and has been our friend since we met her during Cleo's adoption trip. She has come to the states and we have kept in touch all of these years and Ming was instrumental in making our dream of adopting Tian Li a reality.
So Ming had a surprise for us today - we went and toured the CCAA building in Beijing. For you non-adopters, the CCAA or Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs is where all of the magic happens! We met several of their employees, toured all four floors of their offices (Receiving, Translation, Review, Matching, Consulting, conference rooms and even the break room!) and watched a great video of the Heritage trips that they now arrange for families to come take part in. I have to say, the video was incredibly impressive. I've suggested that they make it available on their website for other families to see. The children average about 9 years old and the 12 day trip is designed to give them all kinds of exposure to their birth country - including some classroom instruction, arts in crafts (caligraphy, painting), touring the sites and also reviewing their files at the CCAA. Part of the tour is also to go to their orphanage and in the video the children were again, allowed to review their files as well as meet up with their foster parents (if they had them), play with the children, meet orphanage personel, etc. The video was from a specific trip two years ago with 5 gorgeous nine year old girls (if you are out there somewhere - your children are incredibly poised and fun to watch!) It was all very emotional for me to be there and to see the place that has been so critical to our family for so long. Everyone was very warm.
After we had a DELICIOUS lunch at Southern Beauty restaurant in Beijing - Ming ordered and you can never go wrong with Ming's choices! We were joined by another friend - MaRui, who also make our entire journey with us during Cleo's adoption as well as the Vice Director of the CCAA and the former Director. We had a really delightful (and did I mention delicious!) lunch. My favorite was the Autumn Pears - wow! Never have I had a pear that tasted like that and the Mandarin Fish prepared dish called Squirrel Fish (did not taste like squirrel - no worries!)
The girls are both back and sleeping. We plan on hitting the Silk Market this afternoon once they are up.
I wanted to share one more wonderful surprise that happened to me this week. As a lot of you know, my hobby is digital scrapbooking. As part of that hobby I am lucky enough to belong to a number of incredibly talented digital designer's creative teams (I use their products to create scrapbook layouts for promotion). One of those designers, Janet who designs as As You Wish Designs at shabbypickledesigns.com did such an amazing thing for me - she created a kit to honor Tian Li! All of the proceeds are going to Hope Foster Home and other members of her Creative Team have put together quick pages (pre-made pages -just put in your photo) with the kit. It is a really lovely thing for all of them to do and so if you are a scrapper - take a minute and check it out! I'll link it up. And Janet and the AYWD CT team - thank you from the bottom of my heart - you could not think of a nicer baby gift or a better cause to support!
Have a great day!
Love, Kimberly
Getting to the end of the trip now...
Hi Guys,
We made it to Beijing - our hotel is so-so. Mostly the last so not the first. I didn't book quite the same level of accomodations and man we are missing the Shi Fu! I only have a few minutes -there are limited working outlets in this room and the main one is being used so power is precious. Our flight to Beijing was uneventful. Tian Li screamed the first 10 minutes and then promptly conked out for the entire flight until landing - NICE! Cleo watched two movies.
Beijing is beautiful - the sky is clear blue, flowers everywhere, lots of new buildings. We didn't have a chance to do or see much more than our immediate area, but we did walk over to dinner which gave us a little more viewing time. We met some of Eric's coworkers for dinner last night - we had met most of them previously on a trip to California that they took. They took us to dinner for Roasted Duck (Peking Duck). It was delicious! We had a really fun time.
Today we are seeing Ming and also Mary, our main guide from our first trip and having lunch. I also need to get some shopping done - I have done very little this trip!
Uploading some photos before the battery dies out!
Love, Kimberly
Early Thursday Morning...
We leave early this morning to go to Beijing. I have been up late packing us up for the next leg of our journey and just wanted to pop in and tell you about our day before I finally collapse into bed! We are so sad to be leaving Guangzhou. We absolutely love this city and wish we had at least one more week here, and will be especially sad to leave the Creel's. These life changing events are opportunities to build bonds not only within our family but with others sharing the same journey and we have definitely built them with the Creels.
Wedensday morning we had breakfast with our new friends and then the Pollingers headed out to the Children's Park with Connie in the morning. This is a small amusement park in Guangzhou with rides (check out the photos). It was really fun - the rides were between 5 and 10 rmb each (so between .75 and 1.50 us per ride) with no admission. Cleo rode most of the rides, Tian Li was small for some but suprisingly enough did ride a number of them (we have had limited success in this area previously...) It was incredibly hot, but we had a great time, picked up Chinese Happy Meals for the kids and ice cold Coke LIght for me at the corner store and then tried to nap them before our big trip to the new Guangzhou consulate.
The U.S. Consulate was located on Shaiman island when we came for Cleo's adoption, but it has since relocated to a building in the "new" section of Guangzhou, about 45 minutes from our hotel. We arrived with about 30 families to receive our children's visas and to be sworn in (that all of the information we have provided is true) and then to get congratulated. Its a little emotional (and a little excessive - the paperwork is actually filled out by the guides so we are just showing up to pick up our packets). The consulate official was really great about it though - reading off all of the U.S. States represented (3 from California),many of the occupations represented - including 7 teachers, an OBGYN, a police officer, a bunch of us software types, etc. and then went through and had each type of adopted family stand up to be applauded - so those adopting for the first time and their first child, those adopting their second child (us!), all the way up to those adopting their SEVENTH child! Wow - too much for me to think about! I did run into another friend from the Adoption House list with her new gorgeous 18 month old daughter so that was cool.
There have been so few families here that we've run into the same basic crowd most days. Not like the old days when this part of the city was truly crawling with new families but still more than Urumuqi for sure!
It took about an hour to get back to the hotel for traffic and then Cleo and I hit the local department store to get some fancy dresses and some shoes. Little sister had been getting all of the new goodies so needed to balance it out a little and then we met up with Eric, Tian Li and the Creel family for dinner at a very famous restaurant - the Guangzhou Restaurant - which is very famous and known as the best in the city and conveniently, just a block from our hotel. A very nice police officer helped Cleo and I find everyone and we had a FANTASTIC Chinese feast! Everyone agreed it really was excellent!!
We all came back and decided to go up and try the 14th floor roof pool. Wow, we were not disappointed! I do not have photos, but suffice it to say we all had a really great time. Well, Tian Li might not be as enthusiastic as the rest of us, but as long as she was with Baba she had a pretty good time floating around in the pool boat Margie had with her. I loved playing with all of the kids - Cleo really loved chasing Margie's son around the pool and we were all charmed by baby Raegan who really got into splashing and just about submerged herself - it was crazy cool to watch!
So tonight has been packing and we leave in like 8 hours to head to the airport. We will truly truly miss our time here. This completes the actual adoption process, which I am very happy about, but it is also some of the most fun time we have had on our trip so far.
Okay - got to catch what little sleep is left for me tonight!
Love, Kimberly
Our little bag lady...
So, the photos today so far are of our little bag lady. Those two bags have accompanied Tian Li just about everywhere for the last day or so. The white one had the red tshirt she is wearing in the photos and the orange one had either her or her sister's shoes, depending on where we are going. She loves having her own bag - not a purse, but a bag.
We had a packed day - we had to stay in our room until about 11:45 while we waited for the all clear form our guide, Connie and she has confirmed that we are all clear for the swearing in tomorrow for Tian Li's visa to come home! We took off from the room and went over to Shaiman Island to shop and for Eric to have lunch with the girls (while I shopped some more). The girls are both especially in love with their Wa-Wa dollys.
After the shopping we came back to the hotel and Eric napped the girls while I went to a great Women's and Children's department store just down the way from the hotel with Margie and three of her kids. We had a great time shopping for our little girls. Then both families headed over to Shaimen Island for dinner tonight and met up with two more families. We had good italian (believe it or not) and then a stroll home. The girls are bathed and runnig around with toy cell phones before bed! I'll upload more photos later...
..so one more thing to tell you all about. On the island there are lots of businesses that cater to adoptive families. Some have closed down, and many of them keep their lights and air con off until a family comes by to browse. In every case, we were the only family or only person (when I was alone) shopping. One of my favorite shops from our first trip is A Gift from China. It is a full charity shop run by the Good Rock organization and there are lots of fun hand made items and interesting things to buy. One thing I bought during Cleo's adoption trip was a silver mother/daughter pendant that I wore exclusively until the Cleo and Eric bought me a new one last year for my birthday. I have saved the first pendant to give to Cleo some day and I wanted to buy a second one (and some additional goodies) so I headed over to check them out. So here is your red thread ...I never really paid attention to what Good Rock does beyond orphan care. Well, they run a preschool for one orphanage. A small orphanage, in the North Western province of Xian Jiang (following me?) by the name of Shihezi! This is Tian Li's orphanage. So 4 years ago I bought items and wore one every day that benefitted my daughter directly. The world is truly small!!
So I had a great time shopping there today and even bought a beautiful book about Xian Jiang as well as said pendant for Tian Li's "some day" box!
Love, Kimberly
Sorry the photos are late..
I tried repeatedly to upload them last night but was getting an error from Shutterfly. They are finishing up now. The weird light photos were taken by Eric - we bought these rubber toys that you swing around from your finger that light up and so he was playing around with some fun photography. I was giving Miss Tian Li a bath and enjoying some one on one time with her.
She is very funny - she loves to copy what we are saying and has grabbed a lot of new phrases. When we are in the bathroom, she will say "Wash your hands" which means I need to put her up on the counter so that she can wash her hands. She doesn't ask to brush teeth - she signs it - she puts her finger up to her mouth to mimic brushing. I don't think I showed her that, although I sign quite a bit to her to get her to understand if she doesn't get the English.
She has two little shopping bags she has been carrying around for two days now. One has a tshirt I bought her and the other has a new pair of shoes for Cleo. Both accompanied her to the Creel's room yesterday and then on to dinner. Cleo took the shoes and wore them and when she was done last night, Tian Li took the shoes and put them back into her bag.
She has her own sense of style - we bought clothes yesterday and I hold up things to get her to tell me what she wants. She only wanted shoes but was okay with what I bought otherwise I think. The store owners think I'm crazy but then I explain she is three and definitely has an opinion and then they start selling to her!
Okay - gonna go add the photos from yesterday! More later....
Love, Kimberly
Wanna see some more cuteness?
Of course you do or you wouldn't be visiting our blog today! Our friends, the Creel's became a family of six today and received their two year old daughter. Please take a minute and pop over to see the lovely Miss Raegan
http://mississippizen.blogspot.com/
This child is SO lovely and so loved and we feel so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to watch her first hours with this lovely family. We are wishing we were going to be here much longer, we have truly found some cool friends in the Creel family that I think we will keep for a long time!
Our day wasn't anywhere near as eventful as there's, but busy. We met Connie in the morning and walked the 10 minutes over to the island. It was so fun, the main street we walked down was filled with pet shops - all kinds of cute little dogs, all types of gold fish and fresh water fish, turtles, chipmonks, rabbits and kittens for sale. We have seen a ton of people walking the cutest dogs here. Great news, Tian Li doesn't seem to be at all scared, really excited! After the walk we went to the medical examination on the island that is required as part of Tian Li's visa application. We filled out the rest of our paperwork and she went through the different stations - there were maybe a dozen families in the clinic. We seem to run into the same 3 or 4 families whereever we go so its fun to stop and say hi. The doctors weighed our Mighty T. in at 21.8 pounds! Whoo hoo! You go little girl!
After the exam we hit one of my favorite little shops for dresses and loaded up on some super cute outfits and then over to the White Swan for a so-so sandwhich but very good ice cream (it wasn't nearly as hot but the humidty still gets you). A lot of the shops we were familiar with have closed on the island, including Susan's which was one of the big ones. We went into The China Doll and Anne, the owner remembered us right away, including what we had bought from her 4 years later. We spent some great time with her catching up and buying some treasures. When we popped out it was pouring rain for about 10 minutes which the girls thought was cool and then we caught a quick cab back to the hotel so that Eric could clean up and meet the Creel's to go video their adoption.
So you can go to the Creel's site to see what he got and the minute he returned I ran on downstairs to meet their little girl! Such a darling little girl. Really - if you haven't gone yet, go now.. I'll wait....
...cute, right? Really cute! They have great kids - their teenagers are so patient with their little girls and so loving and were the same with ours! We all had dinner tonight together, here at the hotel and it was just such a fun time. Tian Li and Cleo were so happy to have some new adults to entertain and be entertained by.
Tomorrow we have to stay in our room in the morning to make sure that we are available for any phone call the consulate might make but then will go do some more SHOPPING! Yeah me!! and dinner tomorrow with the Creel's.
We'll post some photos in a little bit!
Love, Kimberly
Met the Creel's!
So last night we met the Creel family - who also used our agency and are adopting a two year old today!! You can read their journey on the link on our page here if you haven't already. They are a great family and their son spent hours last night entertaining my two girls. We haven't met their youngest daughter, who is 3 like Tian Li, she was asleep, but I am looking forward to meeting her and Raegan today too!
The storm yesterday was SO cool - very loud. I haven't heard thunder that close for that long that follows you through a building this big and the lightening was out constantly. We didn't have plans to be out so it all worked out. We ate at one of the hotel restaurants and I did a repeat of the delicious curry chicken and Eric joined me. Yum!
This morning we will go to Shaiman Island to complete the medical exam that is required for Tian Li's visa application. Connie, our guide, will then go and start the visa process for us and we will spend the rest of the morning shopping on the island. They have lots of baby clothes there and other things. Cleo is excited to do some shopping for her friends and school mates and cousins. She really misses kindergarten - she talks about it every single day and how much she is looking forward to going back. I'm so happy she loves school!
Okay -more later when we've actually done something today! And if you want to see more cuteness - check out the Creel's blog (link to the bottom right of this page) because I'm sure they will be showing off their new edition later!
Love, Kimberly
Can you hear that? Can you?
Me niether!! I finally put my youngest daughter down for a nap! It took 50 minutes but she finally relented and is out like a light. My oldest daughter had a head start on her and Eric and I are sitting in our quiet hotel room listening to the awesome thunder outside the 13th floor!! The clouds are going to open up any minute now and pour and we have a front row view!
Busy today so far! Had breakfast in our new hotel - pretty good. Have to say I missed the fried rice, but good anyway, then met Connie and our driver and she took us to the Six Banyan Temple. This Budhist temple is over 1500 years old (although the structure burned 600 years ago and was replaced). This is one of the most famous temples in this province and I have to say it was quite beautiful. It was named by a famous Caligrapher for the Six Banyan trees that were planted out front and the Banyan is all over Guangzhou. It was a hot day, so the girls were done a lot earlier than I would have been but I was able to catch some beautiful shots! After that we went to the Jade shop and spent a little (maybe more than a little money). We found lots of goodies including some gorgeous rice bowls that I might save for Tian Li's wedding and a really pretty jade bangle (Cleo has one for when she's older from her first trip). After that it was a trip to the department store for bottled water and misc supplies - we always need something! and Eric smuggled a Papa John's pizza into the hotel (no hot food evidently can be brought in but we made it somehow). I don't know when I'm going to have Chinese food on this trip!
The girls are down for a nap and Margie and her family should be her already. We will try to meet them for lunch. We've seen SO many cute babies here in the past day - although two we run into everywhere. The jade shop was filled with adoptive families - its so fun to coo over each other's new additions. Connie was so great, helping us with the kids while we shopped and everyone was very patient for my active 3 year old. She likes to be busy - that is for sure!
Okay - the rain is coming down - I'm gonna go watch! I'll get some photos uploaded shortly!!
Love, Kimberly
More about our Saturday
So the girls are watching Kung Fu Panda and I'm uploading photos and catching up. Today we had our last breakfast at the Hong Fu. It really was my go to meal here - for whatever reason, other meals rarely have worked out for me and they kept me guessing by changing up the fried rice every day. The wait staff were so nice, and they had just about everything going for us at the big buffet, despite our being an hour early for their normal breakfast time. Then we were off to the airport - about a 35 minute ride. As we got near the airport, the main road was lined with people with boxes of fruit for people to take off on their travels. The region has quite a variety - with grapes being the main choice. We also saw a lot of pomegranetes (also native there).
We said good bye to our guide Lily and our driver Mr. Fu. They were both so incredibly kind and helpful to us. Lily made sure we were all the way through the second security check before heading off on her way. And by the extent of the second security check, I'm pretty sure I'm now dating the woman that checked me... but I digress..
Our flight was just short of 5 hours. We sat 3/1 with an aisle between Tian Li and Eric, then me then Cleo. Tian Li did pretty well, she cried from time to time, mostly she switched back and forth between Eric and me. Cleo konked out for about two hours and otherwise occupied herself, but Tian Li kept us on our toes until she switched off like a light for the last hour of the flight! We were met at the Guangzhou airport by Connie. She was our guide during Cleo's adoption in Guangzhou and it was so good to see her again today!
We set off for the Holiday Inn Shi Fu in Guangzhou. Traditionally, most families stay at the White Swan hotel on Shaiman Island but we elected to stay off of the island (but still within a 10 minute walk) and we are SO glad! The hotel is in the middle of a bustling neighborhood - an older neighborhood that has this huge gorgeous hotel at the center. I can't even begin to describe how gorgeous this hotel is but I am posting photos of our room. I bet its 650 to 700 sq. ft of beautiful design. Wow! Eric thinks I did great on the choice and our travel agent did great on getting us the fly digs! We have a beautiful view of the city. We ran right down to walk through the shops and streets for awhile.
We were famished after our travel so hit the hotel restaurant. Also see photos... Eric ordered Chicken Parm and it was much better than it looked. Yes, it really was gray sauce. I had the winner dish - thai chicken - yum! The kids tried out the burger and hot dog with big success and everyone was happy!
Tomorrow we are heading to the Six Banyan Temple and to shop for some Jade, then Monday we go to work again with some processes and paperwork to apply for Tian Li's paperwork.
Oh - one more awesome thing about Guangzhou - we are no longer alone! We ran into 2 adoptive families at the airport and then two more so far right outside our hotel room tonight! Such beautiful children and beautiful families. Always my favorite part of being in Guangzhou.
Finally I wanted to add some things about Tian Li - now that we have been a family for an entire six days! So she eats like a champ mostly - like most toddlers, some meals she is a hoover and some not so much. She can be picky, she chooses what she wants to eat but this kid does put it away. She especially loves watermelon (like our big girl), bananas, warm milk, most things on Baba's plate, ice cream, little dum dum suckers from Mom's back pack and bottled water. She touches everything with her tounge before deciding if she is going to go ahead and eat it or not. She LOVES Baba. She has to know where he is at all times. Connie says her Mandarin is excellent - we are learning to recognizes a lot of what she says. Sometimes she mixes English in with her Chinese and vice versa. She often breaks into Twinkle Twinkle or the ABC song. She is kind of a neat freak - except when given chocolate ice cream or ball point pens (I'm always hiding those). She LOVES talking on the telephone. She hates to go to sleep and she hates to wake up. She is pretty sunny. She copies everything her sister does. She is pretty willful and very charming which is a powerful combo for a 3 year old - overall she is really easy, especially for as limited a time we've been together!
Okay, I guess that's all for now!
Love, Kimberly
We made it to Guangzhou!
We have two starving little girls to go feed but let me just tell you - our room here in Guangzhou, well if the last one was "Rock Star" this one is "Presidential Suite"! Flight was okay - Tian Li fell asleep for the last of the 5 hours and spent the first four jumping the aisle between Eric and I and somewhat annoying people but believe me it could have been so much worse!
I'll post more later with photos!
Love, Kimberly
On our way to Guangzhou this morning
Just wanted to check in before we get out of here. We are flying from the very north western border to the very south eastern coast today - about four and a half hours. The time is all the same here so we'll be arriving at around 2pm. We will be sad to say goodbye to Lily today. She has been so wonderful to our family - the girls absolutely adore her and so do ERic and I. For any future Xianjiang families reading this - I hope you are lucky to get Lily as your guide!
In Guangzhou our guide will be Connie - who was also our Guangzhou guide during Cleo's adoption! It will be nice to see a familiar face!
Okay - gotta go, checking out in an hour!!
Love, Kimberly
If it's Friday in Urumqi
it must be Thursday everywhere else. Today was our last full day in Urumqi. Tomorrow we will be getting up very early (even by non-Urumqi standards) to go to the airport and take our first flight with the baby to Guangzhou. Oh please wish us luck!
We went to the Provencial Museum of Xianjiang. They did not allow photos inside the actual exhibits but it was pretty cool. The museum is divided into three parts - one part displayed costumes and relics from all of the different minorities in Xianjiang and history of the different people, the other part was more the overall history of the province from early man and the third is what they are known for - the mummys! They had four actual mummys, between 4000 and 1800 years old with all kinds of information about them, artifacts found with them, information about why they so well perserved and their nationality. The oldest are European - including the most famous mummy in the exhibit - the Lowland Beauty. It was really interesting to see. We then ended up in their jade shop for a few purchases and back to the hotel for one nap and one not tired baby - again.
Tonight we ventured out to a different Muslim restaraunt - Mawar, just down from the hotel (for any future Xianjiang families staying at this hotel). The owner spoke a little English and served really good food. I especially enjoyed the kabob and Eric liked a somewhat spicy chicken and potato dish. No cameras with us, sorry, but it was good. The kids are now doing their customary laps around the apartment while we wait for 8:30 when we will meet Lily to go to the Night Market, down the street from our hotel.
Not sure I'll get a chance to post until tomorrow night in Guangzhou -
Love, Kimberly
The Bazaar
Hi everyone,
Yesterday was kind of a long day and the login to Shutterfly was giving me some trouble. We had a fun time at the bazaar yesterday. We drove through Urumqi and first walked through the outside bazaar. This is for the Uyghur (pronounced "wee-ger") people to shop, not for tourist shopping but they didn't mind us walking through. I don't have a lot of photos, I didn't want to offend anyone but I did catch a few and posted them. The stalls were mostly selling food - some spices, a lot of naan (the local bread), shishkabobs, fruit. There were also quite a number of tin work shops that made all kinds of buckets, and fixtures like shower fixtures and the like and many tool shops that looked like they made repairs. There was also a loca mosque down the main path we followed, that was calling the men to prayer so there was a lot of activity around us. For the most part, people didn't even give us a second look. After the outside bazaar, we went to one of the inside bazaars which was a big multifloor building, like a multi floor department store, set up with individual tables and keosks for tourists. Tourist business is down this year - anyone that can afford the high travel prices went to Beijing for the olympics. We were the only customers in the place so we received a lot of attention. We found some fun things to buy, the girls loade dup on little trinkets and liked that.
The second floor was all scarves and a few local clothes - more like costumes for dance, etc. I found some really nice scarves there but had the most fun with one woman towards the end of our little tour that just charmed us into her stall and started modeling the scarves for me. She and Lily had great fun bargaining back and forth and if my two kids weren't totally bored with scarves and ready to go, I could have sat there with her all afternoon. She was such a sweet/funny lady.
After the bazaar, we went to the big official square that has a beautiful tower in the center. We were looking for a camel - sometimes there will be one to see and take photos of (but not a working camel otherwise I guess - or maybe so, but tourist for our purposes). This day, we did not find one but did post the girls in front of a statue while we were there. And no square would be complete without a KFC! Eric took the girls there for some lunch and to play while I rant into the department store in search of some small summer shorts or pants for Tian Li (everything I brought just falls off of her). Success - 1 pair (I don't have a lot of choices this time of year - lots of padded, long sleeve outfits available so 1 pair was a good find!)
We came back to the hotel after our big adventure and let the girls do laps around the hotel suite. We have two big rooms with a hallway so they literally go round and round the center structure. We finished up with dinner at the hotel (the people here know us almost by name at this point) and then back to bed.
Today is our last full day in Urumqi. We will pick up Tian Li's passport at the police station this morning and then head to the provencial museum. The big exhibit there is the 3000 year old mummys! I also might see if Lily will take me to the Night Market tonight by our hotel if Eric is up to hanging with the girlies. Then I will get us all packed and we have a pretty early flight to Guangzhou tomorrow morning. NO clue how my monkey baby is going to do being confined for so long on an airplane -but the 4.5 hour flight is a good test for the big one coming home!
Another day, another early morning
So, up at 3:45, gonna try to get some more sleep. I'm hopeful that I'll adjust to the time changes right around September 13!! Today we are going to the bazaar! Who out there can say they've been to a real life bazaar? Have no idea what to expect, but it sounds really cool and Lily, our guide has been very excited to take us there.
Kimberly
Wednesday
Hi Everyone-
We had a "free" day today which meant we had a quiet day without appointments or activities. We hung out at the hotel and played around. In the morning we all went swimming at the hotel pool (sorry no photos although we all looked stunning in our swim caps). Tian Li is pretty fearless - it was a huge pool - big oval affair and COLD. She didn't like the cold part but had no fear of getting into a big body of water. We moved into the hot tub (really a nice warm tub) and hung out there while big sister and dad braved the cold pool. Tian Li tried to follow Baba into the big pool but was finally happy enough to watch him from the hot tub.
Tian Li is picking up(or using) more English words and Eric is teaching me more Chinese words so we have a whole hybrid thing going on. She sings the abc's, counts to 10. She imitates everything we say. She kisses us all often and she is super super into Baba, but is also pretty smitten with Gie Gie (Cleo). They tried to nap together (not so successful but VERY cute) and she wants to do eveyrthing Cleo is doing. Cleo is pretty happy with that. =) (don't get me wrong - Mama gets her fair share of affection too...)
Tomorrow we are off to a bazaar - should be really fun! We posted a few photos today and Eric is working on a cute video of the park yesterday so stay tuned.
Love, Kimberly
P.S. Happy Birthday Jasmine (9/2 in the states)
Hope Foster Home
Good Morning to you all - well evening really to you, but way early for me. Everyone is sleeping and I'm up super early as usual. My normal routine, except everything runs about two hours later than I am used to here so its making my evenings tough!! Everyone else is stil sleeping which is great - Cleo wakes up each morning when I do but then falls asleep after 30 minutes or so.
I wanted to take a minute this morning to tell you about the wonderful organization that is responsible for Tian Li's care over the past two plus years. Tian Li spent those years at Hope Foster Home outside of Beijing. HFH provides medical assistance for infants from orphanages all over China and some of those children remain with them for (in Tian Li's case) several years, recovering and enjoying the wonderful environment that Joyce and Robin Hill have created, along with their great staff and the volunteers that spend time helping throughout the year.
HFH has become an extended part of our family in that we have been able to watch not only Tian Li grow over the year and a half that we have been waiting for her, but all of the other precious children that we have come to know through the internet, email updates and getting to know their new families through a fantastic Yahoo Group that was set up recently for volunteers and Hope families like ours to remain in contact. We will be excited to visit HFH at the end of our trip, in Beijing and meet Tian Li's caretakers, the Hills, her teacher Rose and all of these precious children.
If you want to take a minute to go out and read about the incredible work that HFH does - they have a great website. www.hopefosterhome.com
I'll post again later, once the family is up and we've actually done something today. =)
Love to you all -Kimberly
Another good day!
Hi Everyone,
Thanks SO much for your comments and emails - we love getting them! We don't get a lot of "down" time to check email but we do love getting them!
We had a great day today - we all slept in a little later. Cleo and I woke up around 5:30 but managed to get back to sleep until about 8:00am. Everything here runs so late - its been hard to get on schedule. My mind says to wake up at 6 but six is 8 here so that's been interesting. We started out with bath time. Both girls at the same time and it went so well. Our little girl likes her bath so that was awesome.
Our big activity was a vist to Red Hue park in Urumqi. It is a big park that overlooks the city and has lots of different things going on - children's rides, some games set up, I have great photos of Eric and Cleo in this crazy ride where they peddaled a huge circle high up in the air on a track above us - I think he's going to post a video tonight and I'll get to photos very soon - I have some really good ones today!
Tian Li is doing great - she is calling us all by name and tonight she and Cleo really connected and she gave Cleo the attention and affection she has been hoping for for a day now. Very sweet to see and Cleo was so happy.
Tomorrow we have a free day - so no plans. We may take the girls swimming at the hotel pool. I bought the girls the cutest swim hats (required for the pool here). Again - see photos!
Love, Kimberly
Family Day!
Hi Everyone -
So we are all together today - after over two and a half years, Tian Li is right now across the hotel room from me, climbing all over her Baba. She is carrying around her backpack of art supplies and sporting her new crocs. She has a wicked sense of humor that we never would have guessed had. She loves to laugh and has done so over and over and loudly today, cracking us all up!
We met her in the photo studio - there was a private little area upstairs and we came around and she was there, wearing the pink sparkle shoes we had sent earlier this year and an Ultraman t-shirt. She was a little wary of us but pretty quickly came around to first Mama and then Baba (who I think is the clear favorite at this point). After our family photo (which I have to say was taken by this awesome photographer - so I think we have THE best adoption paperwork ever - AND bonus, the photos on disk! Whoo!!), we all jumped into the van, our family of four, our guide Lily (who is really fantastic - did I mention that about Lily yet?) and the Dr. from her orphanage who is also a really sweet person.
We went to the Civil Affairs Office and met the officer there. Again, a very very sweet and wonderful lady. Very personal, and we had quite a bit of time to get to know one another. We both had her laughing pretty easily and Cleo was pretty smitten with the new baby. She was so helpful during the entire appointment cycle - she even took many of the photos from the day! What a great big sister she is already!!
After the Civil Affairs Office, we went to the Notary. I had to leave Eric with Tian Li to run to the bank to cash enough traveler's checks into RMB and that took quite awhile but the Dr. stayed with Eric and Tian Li (who were already pretty much an item at that point). After all of this, we picked up lunch (KFC - I have yet to have any Chinese food in China...) and returned to the hotel room for awhile.
Our final stop of the day was the police station down the block to apply for her passport. That should be ready by Friday.
She understands quite a bit of English - she calls me Mama, Eric is Baba, Cleo is either Gie Gie (big sister) or Pleo. She can show me her nose, eyes, ears, hair and mouth, she can say uh-oh, bye bye, all gone and repeats a lot of what we tell her. She is pretty smart - sees us do something once and she repeats it. Mostly she likes to laugh and be silly quite honestly.
I'm sure we are in for some bumps along the way, but honestly I could not have asked for a better first day. She is beyond amazing - she is sprited, smart and cute as the little button that she is. For anyone wondering, the size 18 clothes are pretty big for her and she has a serious shoe thing. The crocs have yet to leave her feet for longer than the minute or so they fall off!
I really just want to add how incredible Cleo has been through this day. She has really been a trooper. This has not been a "fun" day - lots of standing around, listening to grown ups and sharing your folks with a new child, but she has really been so helpful and supportive and patient. She is growing into an incredible big girl (as she reminds me all of the time!)
I'll try to get some more photos posted. Eric has posted a youtube of our meeting so check it out. We are supposed to meet our guide in 25 minutes nad Eric and Cleo are sound asleep - Tian Li is not giving it up, she is busily going through her backpack of "stuff" and adding to it as she finds things she thinks she has to keep with her!
Love to you all-
Kimberly
Okay - so wish us luck!
We meet our guide in 20 minutes in the lobby! This morning has been excrutiatingly long. We are all ready for this moment to finally happen...hopefully more later!
Love to you all!
The Pollinger
Heading to breakfast
I was up at 4:00am, the rest of us up at 5:00am - nervous, anxious, excited for the day. Those are the words of the day! Breakfast doesn't start service here until 7:30 so we've just been killing time in our room and getting things ready for later on this morning. We meet our guide at 11:45am in the lobby of the hotel!
My turn to be awake...
So as Eric mentioned, Cleo and I went to sleep around 6 I think. Today everyone was still off kilter from the travel and we had a really quiet day. We walked the six or so blocks to the supermarket which was in a very big multi-floor shopping mall. Lots of people were out walking today (Sunday) and the weather is very nice (around 75 maybe). It was a nice walk. While tempting, we didn't buy anything more than snacks and water - although once we got home a couple of our choices were interesting. The potato chips we bought were "meat and red sauce" flavored. Hopefully the kids will like them. And we did actually buy some fruit as well.
Things tomorrow should be really interesting. As Eric mentioned, we will first go to the photo shop. When we adopted Cleo, everything happened in the same location - we went to the Civil Affairs office and they took our photo, had the notary and our interview in one location. Very few adoptions are performed here in Xian Jiang province so it would make sense that they don't have a regular set up in the Civil Affairs office. We will meet Tian Li around noon time at the photo shop and then go to the Civil Affairs and finally the Notary - so three trips, but from the photo shop we will all be together. Not quite sure what to expect - I'm guessing we wont be the first to have this experience here so I hope the photorapher and staff understand the emotional situation.
Our guide, Lily, has been extremely helpful and caring and very perceptive. We were going to meet for lunch today but between our late breakfast and Cleo needing a nap, we did our paperwork and spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out at the hotel instead. Ordered some room service and crashed out. Lily is from this province and is a teacher when she is not helping adoptive families. She's really helpful, providing us already with a written list of helpful phrases and taking great care of us.
I guess that's about it. We probably wont be able to post anything about Tian Li until later in the afternoon tomorrow (Monday) given everything we will be doing with her and the various appointments so by Monday morning your time we should have something up.
We love you all - thanks for your comments and email - they are very welcome!!
Sunday Morning
Good Morning! It is pitch black outside, the family is still asleep, but I must already be on China time as I am wide awake at 6:30am, just like at home! The room is an all or nothing light situation that works off of the coolest hotel key I've ever seen (I'll take photos later). The beds are the hard beds I've read about but didn't remember, but I had a great night's sleep so maybe that is the secret?
So, some more thoughts on yesterdays travel - we have about 15 Paralympic Atheletes on our plane from SFO - US, Jamaica, El Salvador team members and their support staff. That was cool to see! The Paralympics are being held shortly in Beijing and will be there when we are at the end of two weks. Someone (either our travel agenent or the people at United) has managed to assign our seats together by the time we checked in so we didn't have to worry about sitting apart, as we had been told AND all of our luggage met weight criteria/etc and made it safely here. So all of you that had to listen to my worries over either of those things can now say "I told you so". Eric has resisted so far! Oh, and the carry on restrictions seem to have been a suggestion not the rule although we are both finding it a relief to have just the one bag apiece to deal with so that all worked out!
Cleo received a lot of attention and we did on our second leg of our trip. No one else that looks like us on the plane -one gentleman asked if we were Russian. We did meet the sweetest couple with a super cute baby boy that we played with for probably 45 minutes (see photos). He and Cleo chased all over the waiting area and Eric entertained them both with his iTouch. They also traveled to Urumqi.
Cleo did very well on the trip - she only slept for maybe 4 hours total of the 16 or so flight hours but other than finally feeling done by the end of the second flight, she really was so well behaved, enjoyed all of her plane activities and movies that dad recorded for her. We were all relieved to make it to our hotel and grab a shower to cool off.
I'll post more later about our Day 2 adventures! Happy day to all of you-
Day One, well really, Day two as well!
Ni Hao everyone!
We left California at 11am Friday morning and at 1:00am Beijing time we arrived at our hotel. We had a really LONG but fairly uneventful trip. Urumqi, like all of China, is on the Beijing time zone, however because they are so far away, things tend to start later and stay open later. We were amazed by the amount of activity as we drove through the city tonight post midnight. We were met by our guide, Lily, who has already been very very helpful and are now getting a little unpacked in our rock star room (seriously - this room is cool) before we finally freshen up a little and go to sleep!
Tomorrow (really today for us) we have a light day, we will get some of our paperwork completed in advance and expect to meet Tian Li mid day Monday. Not too much longer now!
Ready to go!
We are all packed - well for the most part and ready to go. It feels like we have the whole house packed and both cats have taken their turns at stow away attempts! They should enjoy the peace and quiet while they can, that's for sure!
Not sure if we will get a chance to post tomorrow, it will be mid day Saturday when we arrive to our first destination so wish us safe travels!
Love to you all!
Day After Tomorrow!!
Wow, we can't believe how quickly this week is passing which is fantastic on one hand but stressful on the other as we get everything ready. I didn't know we needed so much STUFF. I was sure we already had all of the STUFF we could possibly use but no, I was wrong. To everyone who has asked - yes, Cleo is excited, nervous, but excited. She also LOVES Kindergarten! She talks non-stop about everything she is learning and proudly showed me her first completed homework pages.
Packing, Packing, Packing
So tonight we're finally starting the packing process. We spent a lot of the weekend shopping for all of the things we might need along the way and now we've busted out the cases and are working on filling them! Its a little overwhelming to tell you the truth!
Happy Birthday, Tian Li!
Today is our little girl's 3rd birthday - and the last one we are missing! We celebrated my birthday this evening with a small cake - Cleo blew out a candle for her sister. We'll wait for a bigger celebration once we are all together!
This weekend will be the big packing weekend - just a few things left to get ready for traveling next Friday.
11/14/2008 12:01:32 AM - 000061451328
We want a movie of em singing Super Super Girl.
Latest pictures are the cutest yet.
Love, Grandma
10/31/2008 2:32:26 PM - 001043720212
Hey Guys - we are all geared up for Halloween too! I am sorry to say that Cleo and Em have broken the trend of having the same costume every year...although Princess still appears to be the overall theme. Em will be Arial this year and I have already told her that Cleo is Cinderella. She is very glad to know that Cleo will be a Princess. Love to T and all, Amy
10/14/2008 3:50:45 AM - 002027468264
I love, love, love your story!! It is fabulous how God arranges our families for us!! We are loving our "Jenna" from HFH beyond measure-been home for 11 days now and it's as if she has been a part of our hearts forever.
10/4/2008 10:35:37 PM - 002032855118
Oh my - Cleo has grown up so much. What a beautiful little girl!! An Tian Li is adorable!! Many many blessings to all of you!
Sara Lang
9/22/2008 4:45:30 PM - 002026376094
Hi Kimberly,
Hope you all already caught up on sleep and get back to normal CA time zone. Just gone through your week 1 at home pictures…it’s so much fun and everyone looks so relaxed.
The little ‘Shadow’ Tian Li seems enjoyed her hand painting a lot. And I can already see that the little sister is trying to ‘participate’ in big sister Cleo’s activities…and Cleo looks very cool so far with a nice smile on the face…I bet they will bound a lot more and enjoy each other’s company in the days to come.
Welcome back to work, I hope to see you soon and catch up with all the new and exciting stories….
Cheers,
Lu
9/16/2008 5:05:19 PM - 000044623058
Welcome Home! It's been so fun to read this blog and see all the pics and videos. Hope you continue to settle in and get to know each other. Call us when you settle in! Love, Murrays
9/16/2008 4:36:02 PM - 001012897949
Kimberly,
hopefully U all will be feeling better soon. That is the hardest part of the trip,the readjusting.
I recall and still do recall the newest baby wanting everyone to be all together. I am sure its a security thing as well as,you were all pretty much always together in China and gotta admit,that's a pretty nice way to be when possible.
i am running the place while Stan is down after his surgery,man this aint no fun wither, its fun to do it all together,not so fun to do it all alone,lol and take care of him as well. not so bad if we didn't have so much going on,pre school,gymnastics class and so on although that does save us from eachother being home all day together. LOL
Beth
9/16/2008 4:36:01 PM - 001031341926
Hi Kimberly & Eric,
I loved following your journey. I’ve had a couple of rough weeks with long hours at work, but your journal is the bright spot in my day. Tian Li has bonded so well with the rest of you and it was wonderful to watch her blossom day by day. I loved all the pictures and the videos. And it melts my heart to see the sisterly love between Cleo and Tian Li. Cleo is such a great Jie Jie. And your girls are absolutely gorgeous. I remembered that it took “months” for Tori to tolerate James, so it’s great that Tian Li attached to Eric almost immediately. I loved seeing all the places you’ve visited. I’m taking notes as we are planning a Heritage-type trip in 2 years. I’d love to continue to follow Tian Li’s transition at home. Once you’ve settled, we should definitely plan on a playdate for Tori & your girls. It’s been too long since we’ve gotten together.
Cheers,
Delina
9/16/2008 3:45:17 AM - 000053767597
Welcome home Pollinger family of 4!!!! It was wonderful to follow your journey, especially after just being there myself with Jackson. TianLi is gorgeous and she and Cleo look adorable together - what great sisters they will be!
See you over at CDS!
All the Best!
Tracy P.
9/15/2008 6:22:25 PM - 002026376094
Hi Kimberly,
Welcome home, the Lucky Family of Four!!!
Hope you feel better with your cold…..and hope you catch up some sleep already.
You get home at a perfect timing, as Mid Fall Festival is the #1 holiday for family re-union in Chinese culture. You have a full family of Four this time, what a perfect ending of this trip J.
I can’t believe your China trip ended…we were so attached and looking forward to read your journals and viewing the pictures daily about your adventures, fun play, nice food, happy moments, love thoughts and lots, lots more…..really appreciated you taking us along your trip and share with us about this memorable and important event in your family life.
You are now back home and we really wish you and your family a wonderful life together as the happy family of four!! I definitely can see from the pictures in the last two weeks, Tian Li has become more and more associated with each and every one of you and became a part of your family. One picture really struck me was that one Tian Li was shouting (not sure?? Picture 8 of 29 of Day 16) ….Believe or not, as least that was my experience, when the child totally trusted you, and feel like safe to be part of your family, she/he started to show her/his real character and feeling, means happiness and sadness etc..She does not have the fear to hide anymore; maybe she never has one as you all are meant to be one family at the very beginning. Personally I think it’s a great milestone in her life, you, Eric and Cleo all must give so much effort, care and love to her in the last two weeks. Tian Li definitely felt the love and caring now and in a life time!!
One last thought I would like to let you know, I admire so much about you and Eric for your courage and life time commitment for adopting both Cleo and Tian Li. As a mom of two, I knew how much time, effort and love will need to have two children. I also wanted to say thank you to you and Eric from bottom of my heart for adopting these two Chinese girls, Cleo and Tian Li are the two most fortunate girls in China to have a love and caring family like you, Eric and your extended family. Thank you all!!
I’m sure we will meet Tian Li some day when you settle down, but we’d love to see the pictures and stories of luck family of four for sure in the future. Hope you can still find some time to update us.
Again congratulations and welcome homeJ.
Cheers with lots of love,
Lu
9/15/2008 2:34:26 AM - 000040940399
Dear Kimberly, Eric, Cleo and Tian Li,
Welcome home!!! We are so happy that all of you are home safe and sound. We're sorry that you have a cold, Kimberly. Hopefully, you can get some rest tonight after the Autumn Moon Festival. It's amazing that Tian Li (and Cleo in 2004) were able to become U.S. citizens as soon as they entered the country. That's great! Have a wonderful dinner with your friends and we are looking forward to seeing all four of you soon :-). BIG hugs to all!
Love, Denise, Mike, Sean, Shannon, Dylan and Sinead
9/14/2008 10:21:04 AM - 000061434864
I have missed seeing all of you for far too long now. Eric & Kimberly you continue to astound me with your love and joy with your children. I can't thank you enough for allowing me to share and participate with all of you. I am hoping that you will be able to come down once things have settled down a bit for all of you. This is absolutely the most wonderful experience I have ever had just to walk through China with each of you. I have been missing seeing Cleo for far too long now. and of course I am anxiously awaiting an introduction to Miss Tian Li!. Come to see us at the first possible moment!. It seems so hard to wait our turn but we do understand that you will let us know when the Lucky family of four is settled and able to come to see us! Hoping for you to have an uneventful journey back to SFO. Hopefully both of your little ones will catch up on some zzzzzzzzz's and you will be able to get into your family routine with an easy transition. You look like you have all been together forever and I am convinced this is all as it was meant to be. I love you all very much. I am so proud of Cleo and how well she has fallen right into the "big sister" role. That child is such a blessing to us all as Tian Li is adjusting to change. It is so joyful to see both of your girls together. Cleo, grandma Sherry-Ann loves you very much and I am so proud of you and the way you have become such a sweet big sister for Tian Li. I can hardly wait to see you again. Love to you all...Grandma Sherry-Ann
9/14/2008 12:16:02 AM - 001012897949
Lucky family,
WELCOME HOME!!!! hope the trip was not too terrible.
sure you are glad to be home but what a sad thing to have to leave China.(knowing that it wont be for a while that you will return). Congrats again and cant wait to see you all.
Love to you all,
Stan and Beth
Laurel and Zakary
9/13/2008 7:36:10 PM - 000032482847
Thank you so very much for sharing your amazing and wonderful journey with all of us! Isn't technology grand :-) !!! I hope you keep up the journal when you get home -- I'll miss my morning routine -- have my cup of coffee and read your blog! We love you all so much -- and cannot wait to meet your youngest daughter!
love and hugs,
Carolyn, Alan, Kailee and Gillian
9/13/2008 5:42:12 PM - 000040940399
Dear Kimberly, Eric, Cleo and Tian Li,
We love you very much and hope that you have a safe, fun flight back home to California! Thanks, again, for sharing this wonderful journey of yours with us. The New Hope Foundation seems like such a incredible place. Those babies are so blessed to have such amazing people to love and care for them! The children seemed so happy and content in your photos :-). What a heart warming visit it must have been. We look forward to seeing you folks soon. BIG hugs to all of you!!!
Love, Denise, Mike, Sean, Shannon, Dylan and Sinead :-)
9/13/2008 2:13:07 PM - 000061451328
The pictures of New Hope are wonderful. I have viewed them several times this morning (or evening, depending where you are).
I wish you all a safe and pleasant journey home tomorrow. I will be anxiously awaiting word that you are all home safe.
I love you all very much.
Love, Mom/Grandma
9/12/2008 5:19:16 PM - 000040940399
Thanks for being so great about posting new photos and videos. All of us are enjoying your journey as a family. The children love watching Cleo and Tian Li on the videos :-). Every day we check this website for updates on your adventures! We can tell by your journal and photo postings that you folks are going to miss China. We wish you a wonderful weekend and a safe trip home. BIG hugs to all of you :-).
Love, Denise, Mike and Children
9/12/2008 12:07:38 PM - 000061451328
STILL READING AND LOVIN' EVERY MINUTE OF IT..GRANDMA SHOUTS!
9/10/2008 6:53:16 PM - 002026376094
Hi Kimberly,
Congratulations on getting the visa!! Did you have video with consulate? It was also a very memorable moment from the story on your journal.
Love reading your journals, seeing all these candid pictures and ‘travel’ with you for a virtual vacationJ. Never been to Guangzhou myself. That’s definitely on the list for my next trip to China.
Oh, I like the red T-shirt (says Mei Mei) Tian Li is wearing, did you buy in China or custom made in US here.
Also love the Album of ‘Seeing Double’, never see Cleo’s pictures when she was baby, Cleo was so cute as a baby. It’s so sweet to see Tian Li in Cleo’s old animal outfitJ.
Loved pictures with Tian Li putting the coke can on herself and then on your head, she has her own way to amuse and convey love.
One last thought to share, and can’t agree more and I’m still learning is that, need to balance out parents’ love and attention between two kids now. Even though Kevin and Shannon are 10 years apart, Kevin still gets jealous occasionally if I keep praising Shannon. And Shannon also gets upset on almost everything about Kevin. We will have a lot to talk on this topic I betJ.
Hope you enjoy Beijing for your next stop, compare to the hot and humid weather in Guangzhou, you will have a much cooler and pleasant weather in Beijing. You catch the best time of year in Beijing.
Have fun in Beijing and send us pictures pleaseJ.
Cheers,
Lu
9/10/2008 5:41:52 PM - 000040966516
Kimberly - Congratulations on completing the process, the last time we lrft GZ we aere also very sad we love the city. I have enjoyed following your journey I look forward to reading about your trip to the Hope Home. Safe travels.
Elizabeth Zoschnick
9/10/2008 3:19:40 PM - 002027921698
Loved the journal it really is a small world. The pictures are great they have such beautiful parks .Time is flying by ,only a few more days and you start the long road home ,hope it is uneventful. Love you all NANNY & Grandpa
9/9/2008 5:13:50 PM - 000061451328
Oh, the necklace story just gave me shivers and has me bawling!
Thank you for sharing that story with us.
Good thing I wasn't there with all those cute little turtles and other tiny pets, I would have been smuggling them in my pockets.
I love you all and can't wait to see you all and hold my granddaughters in my arms. Much love, Mom/Grandma
9/9/2008 4:58:48 PM - 002026471846
You are a beautiful family and look so happy!!! I love seeing the pics each day and reading about your adventures. What a sweet way to share your bonding time with all of us. I look forward to meeting Tian Li and seeing you all once you are home and settled in!!!
Love,
dy
9/7/2008 6:57:43 PM - 000040940399
Hi Kimberly, Eric, Cleo and Tian Li,
We LOVE reading about your daily adventures and viewing your pics/videos! The city of Guangzhou is sooo pretty! The pics of the storm, the temple, and the children about the city were beautiful. We're so happy that all of you are having a wonderful trip and time together. We wish you an amazing time in Bejing, too. Sinead keeps asking for a "pleep" (sleep) over with "that girl" (Tian Li) and Cleo :-). We keep telling her that she's too small still! Our children can't wait to meet their new cousin and to hear all about the trip from Cleo.
Love, Denise, Mike and Children
9/7/2008 2:22:21 PM - 002027921698
Another wonderful chapter, I love reading it every morning and the pictures are great.The girls are beautiful and will be great friends I know.Sorry I missed your call last night Eric.Can't wait to see you all, enjoy the rest of the trip and keep those chapters coming .Love Nanny &Grandpa
9/7/2008 1:04:55 PM - 000061434864
You are in China in a hotel and munching on Papa John's Pizza?????? Just try finding one of those anywhere in this county much less in Paso Robles! You all look radiant and like you've been a family of 4 forever! Can't wait to get you back home. Cleo you are so beautiful in your pictures. What a great big sister you've turned out to be! I love you all... Grandma Sherry-Ann
9/7/2008 12:42:29 PM - 001043720212
Hye Guys - I get up every morning psyched to see your next entry. I have to say my favorite pictures are the "seeing double" piece. I so remember that outfit four some years ago.....I guess a three year old is quite different than carrying a baby around that is not walking yet - hope you are sleeping some! Love to all, Amy
9/7/2008 9:27:01 AM - 001031341926
Hi Kimberly & Eric,
I’m working late tonight, so I finally have some quiet time to enjoy your photos & video. I’m so happy for all of you for bonding so well. The girls are beautiful. Cleo is such a great big jie jie & Tian Li is gorgeous. I really enjoy reading your journal and following along your journey. I look forward to it every day. Gotta get Tori & the girls together once you are settled in. Have a safe & happy travel for the rest of the trip.
Delina
9/7/2008 4:05:07 AM - 000053767597
Kimberly & Family - It sounds like things are going great. I always love Guangzhou. I think your guide Connie helped us at the consulate as our guide had to stay behind to collect a family that was late b/c they were shopping - long story.
Enjoy the rest of your trip - I am off to check out your pictures now!
Tracy
9/7/2008 2:23:16 AM - 000039445495
Sounds like your trip is going so well! The new room is just as gorgeous as the last. Looking forward to lots of new layouts with the cutie patootie sisters. Isn't being a family of 4 fun? We love it and it looks like you all are settling into it perfectly.
Hugs from CDS,
Pam in Missouri
9/6/2008 11:59:14 PM - 000061451328
Hello my darlings, I am just living from journal to journal, picture to picture right now. How blessed we are to have this technology. Seems like I spend every waking hour of this trip thinking of you all, where you are and what you are doing. I can convert to China time without thought and often find myself thinking in China time not PDST.
Thank you for getting us connected thru video calling, how close that brings you all. Love, Mom/Grandma
9/6/2008 12:25:23 AM - 002026376094
Hi Kimberly,
Just get chance to read most of your journals, watched some of the videos and photos. They are all so wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
What a BEAUTIFUL FAMILY OF FOUR!!! Congratulations again!! All your hard work and patience finally paid off. You are not only having two most beautiful daughters and they look so much alike, especially when they dress alikeJ.
I specifically like the 3 videos from day one, it’s so moving and touching, I was in tears while watching them. Tianli is so fortunate to have a wonderful family like yours. Another video I love is Stir Crazy when Cleo is chasing Tian Li round and round…you are going to have this in your house very often J….
Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip, and can’t wait to see you back in US and meet with lovely Tian Li in person.
Cheers with love.
Lu
9/3/2008 6:21:05 PM - 001012897949
ohhh my goodness,your stir crazy video looked like it was a WONDERFUL day. (stir crazy and all)
u were having so much fun!!!
Beth
It's only a deal if it's where
you want to go. Find your travel deal
here.
9/3/2008 5:50:33 PM - 002027921698
The pictures and videos are fabulous.Have a wonderful day .Love you Nanny &Grandpa
9/3/2008 4:30:13 PM - 002026471846
Each day I look forward to seeing your cute family and what you have done that day. Your videos and photos are heart warming and I am so thankful that you are all together at last!!!! What a beautiful family you are!!!! Cleo is such a natural as a big sis!!!! Thank you for "taking us along" on your journey. Can't wait to see you once you are home and settled in!!!
Love,
Dy
9/3/2008 4:15:20 AM - 000096536622
Hello Auntie Kimberly, Uncle Eric, Cleo and Tian Li,
I hope you had a geat time in China. Have a great time Cleo! I hope you have fun playing with Tian Li. I hope you have a great time in your hotel.
I wish I was there in China with you cuz I could see you. I wish I was there so I can see you but I have to ask my mommy and maybe she will say yes.
Can Cleo and Tian Li come over my house for a play date and a sleepover because it's my birthday? And some day you can watch a movie and go to a Cold Stone with me.
My mom, me and Christian and my Dad loves you. I miss you!
Love Jasmine!
9/3/2008 3:41:07 AM - 000096536622
CONGRATULATION FAMILY OF FOUR!!!!!! She is sooooooooooo adorable, cute, precious, and everything a mom can ask for in a little girl. Everyone looks soo happy and just amazing! Cleo is such a great big sister. We all can't wait for your return home and meet Tian Li. Jazzy and Christian is soo excited. Jazzy is helping me count down the days till your home.
Miss you all!
9/3/2008 3:15:12 AM - 002027921698
It was great talking and seeing you all this evening.Kimberly & Eric you have two beautiful daughters enjoy them .I'm looking forward to seeing the video in the morningOLove you all Nanny &GRANDPA
9/2/2008 6:35:02 PM - teri.iaconis@...
The pictures and the videos are so precious. You are all very lucky to have one another! Enjoy this special time with your new/second little princess. Both girls are beautiful!.
9/2/2008 5:17:17 PM - 000044623058
Dear Family of Four - congratulations! Sounds like everything is going really well. I am off to watch all the videos and look at the pics. Tina Li is just beautiful and she looks like a lot of fun! She and Cleo are going to have so much fun together. Tell Cleo that Noah says hello. Thinking about you guys a lot. Love, Murrays
9/2/2008 3:07:52 PM - 000040966516
Congratulations!!!! Tian Li is so perfect. I love the video's. What a happy time for your family. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Zoschnick
9/2/2008 2:39:24 AM - 002027921698
Hi Pollinger family of four,those videos are awsesome.Tian Li seems to have settled in as if she'd known all of you all her life.I can see how good Cleo is with her .Love you all Nanny & Grandpa
9/1/2008 11:31:54 PM - 002026471846
Tian Li is beautiful and Cleo is going to be a wonderful big sister!!! The video was precious and I loved watching Tian Li playing the game with you all and her bear. She is a sweetie!!! Congrats to you all.
Love,
Dy
9/1/2008 6:48:23 PM - 000040940399
What a wonderful video! She is absolutely PRECIOUS! It was adorable how she transitioned from shy to playful as she let the teady bear slip from her grip :-). She really enjoyed your laughter every time the bear fell! The pictures of all of you together are amazing. I'm sure that Cleo will be a great big sis. They look so cute together. Please give both of them a BIG hug from all of us. We look forward to seeing/reading your daily updates!
Love, Denise, Mike, Sean, Shannon, Dylan and Sinead
9/1/2008 3:28:01 PM - 001012897949
Congrats to you all.... i just jumped out of bed Monday morning to see your pics and video,she is just a doll and we are so glad that Cleo is doing so well with it all. Its a fun but difficult time for the big sibs.
have a great time,will be following you along.
Beth
It's only a deal if it's where
you want to go. Find your travel deal
here.
9/1/2008 1:01:43 PM - 001014442733
Congrats!!!!!! I was SOOOO hoping that we would see photos of Tian Li with you all before we headed to China today! She is just so beautiful and it sounds like she is just adjusting wonderfully! Cleo looks like an awesome big sister. We can't wait to meet you all. Best wishes for the next few days! We are off in a couple of hours for our long flight :)
Margie
9/1/2008 12:53:44 PM - 001043720212
It is amazing to me how very quickly she let you guys in....that little game that she created with the stuffed animal was so tender. Congrats to you all - Em saw the video and although very happy for Cleo and her new sister but a little more interested in Cleo's long hair! Love to you all, Amy
9/1/2008 10:24:03 AM - 000061451328
I am so full of joy...
9/1/2008 3:53:01 AM - 001012897949
boy do i recall that nervous,anxious and excited feeling,esp last year when we were there. We had to wait until 4pm to meet Zakary. That was a day to remember. After all,what does a family do,across the world for an entire rainy day while waiting to meet their newest child? LOL be excited,nervous and anxious.
our thoughts are with you that it all goes very very smoothly for you all.
cant wait to get up in the am and look here to see what there is to see. Good luck,you are on your way to meet Tian Li as i type. I have been watching the clock all evening here.
Beth,Stan
laurel and zak
It's only a deal if it's where
you want to go. Find your travel deal
here.
8/31/2008 4:11:01 PM - 001012897949
Good morning and Happy and easy forever family day to you all.
We are thinking of you this morning!!
Beth and family
It's only a deal if it's where
you want to go. Find your travel deal
here.
8/31/2008 3:13:35 PM - 000061451328
Kimberly & Eric...I just want you to know how much I am enjoying and appreciating your updates. They mean so much to me and help me to feel close when you all are so very far away.
I know tonight I will be checking all night long, waiting anxiously for your first news and pictures of Tian Li.
I love you all very much. Mom/Grandma 
8/31/2008 1:00:20 PM - 001043720212
I have butterflies thinking of the "gotcha" ...love to you all..cant wait to hear, Amy and Em
8/31/2008 9:33:03 AM - 000065818104
Yeah to all of you Lucky Family of 4! You are all probably getting to know each other as I type...
Can't wait to hear more!
Mo
PS: Okay, so your hotel room looks NOTHING like the ones we stayed in on our first trip to China.... :)
8/31/2008 8:02:13 AM - 000053767597
Glad you made it here. Tomorrow is family day - I can't wait to see the pictures. Beware it is very, very hot in Guangzhou. I feel like I am melting. All the best.
Tracy P.
8/30/2008 10:15:32 PM - 000044623058
Dear Pollingers - congrats on arriving safely in china. We've been thinking about you guys a lot. We cannot wait to hear about the moment you meet Tian Li. What a day that is going to be. Looking forward to hearing all the details and seeing some pictures! Love,
Murrays
8/30/2008 6:32:53 PM - 001068824694
Kimberly,
It does look like a rock star room. Love that bathroom. I am so glad you arrived safely. Can't wait till Monday!
8/30/2008 11:38:01 AM - 000061434864
Your mom was tied to the maps and the clock all day yesterday plotting where you were in your travels. She could not go to bed until she knew you were in
safely in Beijing. I imagine the trip has een long for you all but the prize is yet to come. Cleo, Grandma Sherry-Ann loves you very much. you are going to be a wonderful big sister! I can't wait to see the first photos of all of you together. What a great blessing for you all to find and adopt Tian Li. We will be so excited to see you all when you come home and when Tian Li can travel. Love to you all!
Grandma Sherry-Ann
8/30/2008 4:16:37 AM - 000061451328
I have been thinking of you all day today and waiting to see that your flight has safely landed in Beijing. Wish I would have told you to call during your Beijing layover.
I will be so glad when all four of your are safely back home!
Love, Mom
8/29/2008 5:52:57 PM - 000040940399
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Wow! We're so excited that you are finally off and away to bring the newest addition to your family home :-). She is absolutely precious. We hope that all of you have a safe, fun trip to China and back. What a wonderful experience for Cleo to travel with you and Eric to welcome her new sister into the family! We're sure that Tian Li and Cleo will be fast friends :-). We look forward to seeing photos of all four of you together soon!
Love, Denise, Mike, Sean, Shannon, Dylan and Sinead :-)
8/29/2008 11:50:01 AM - 001012897949
pollonger gang,
we are back east and will be returning home to calif late tomorrow night,the day when u r flying. you are in our thoughts and cant wait to follow your trip to and thru china. have a wonderful time,and Cleo,give your new sister aa big hug for us,will ya?
So glad Cleo is loving kindergarten,Isaiah seems to be enjoying as well,but not so enthusiastic. LOL
We will be watching your trip closely.
Safe travels and wonderful China.
Beth And family
8/28/2008 9:58:28 PM - 002026376094
Hi Kimberly,
Wish you and your family a safe and smooth trip to China.
I can’t wait to meet your little angel Tian Li. Let’s have a gathering with Cleo, Tian Li, and Shannon after you come back. Shannon is at the point trying to practice more mandarin, I’m sure she would love to do that with Tian Li.
Congratulations again with lots of love.
Lu
8/28/2008 5:10:18 AM - 001014442733
Congrats to your new kindergartener!! Can't wait to meet the Big sister and the little sister!
Sending you lots of good wishes and prayers on Friday!
8/28/2008 2:15:16 AM - 000038651046
Congrats Cleo on your first day of K. We're so proud of you and wish we were there to tell you ourselves. Have a safe trip and congrats on being a big Sister. We love you, Aunt Tara, Uncle Mike, Nanny, Grampa, Lauren & Will
8/27/2008 12:59:23 PM - 000065818104
Hi Everyone!
I can't believe you are doing this! No, I don't mean adopting one of the cutest little girls I've seen. I mean, going to China WITHOUT me! How could you?! :) I know you will not laugh as much however you will be filled with love and grace as you welcome your new little lovebug into your arms. Thinking about you and sending you good wishes...Aunt Mo
8/27/2008 12:21:01 AM - gmallon627@...
I cannot believe how grown up Cleo has gotten. You are going to have so much fun with your two girls. Be sure they read lots of books like Auntie Anne!
XOXO
Grandma Gayle
It's only a deal if it's where
you want to go. Find your travel deal
here.
8/26/2008 11:53:01 PM - timjunder317@...
Hi
Got your card yesterday, and I'm glad that you enjoy the book.
I hope your trip goes well, and I am looking forward to coming out
to see the new member of the family when the dust settles.
What do you think about X-mas? If you have plans for then, I
could probably come out sooner or later. It's all up to you guys, OK
Love, Tim
It's only a deal if it's where
you want to go. Find your travel deal
here.
