Day 1 with Olivia

Just a quick short post....

Today was a day of signing papers and more papers and more papers....Olivia did very well until the end when she had her first meltdown...I believe she was getting sleepy and hungry. We got back to the room so she could eat and finally baby girl was off to dream land!

Here are a few pics....

Hugs and kisses from Miss Olivia!!

GOTCHA DAY

We are a family of 3!!!

We do not have any video of the occasion since when we arrived at the hotel Olivia was sitting in the lobby waiting on us!!

More to come as Baby Girl is Hungry!!

Love and kisses to all!!

Chris, Leslea and Olivia

We go walking and walking and walking...

Today we toured Tian En Men Square, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace.

It was a very busy day for us today. We were up and at em early to have some breakfast so that we could meet Lifeng (our guide) in the hotel lobby at 8am.

First stop was the Forbidden City and Tian en Men Square. The size of this complex is staggering!

As you can see from the pictures it was very hazy. I was quite surprised that it was not more humid than it was, just hazy.

I must say that I do not think I will ever complain about the traffic again!! WHOA, this place is nuts, people walking, riding bikes and cars all share the same road....just plain nuts!!

We had lunch at a local Chinese restuarant for lunch that was really yummy, although I was a little nervous to eat but did try a little bit of everything. Really good food. Chris and Marty got the good eater awards for today....lunch and dinner. Dinner was...are you ready for this....make sure your sitting down...well of course you are sitting down, you are on your computer....ok ok ok ...we had dinner at Pizza Hut!! HAHAHAHAHA it was GREAT!!

Chris, Marty and Leslea trying to pull silk....we failed.....HAHAHAHA

Jet lag is setting in so I will sign off for now.

Tommorrow at this time Chris and I will be the proud parents of Olivia Jade!!

Blessings to all,

To be continued...

The gates are open.....and their off....

So we thought!

Chris and I got up at 3am Thursday morning, showered and packed out things in the car for our journey of chasing the sun!! HAHAHA

We got to Rochester International within 10 mins of leaving! Thanks Uncle Lou for the lift!! We were through the gate check and security like a bolt of lightening! Our flight was set to leave on time at 620am. After some coffee the boarding began!

And their off.........smooth beautiful sunrise......better get used to that since from this moment on we are chasing the sun!! WOW....

We are going to be early into Newark!! What luck we will have plenty of time to get something to eat and relax.

HOLD IT

The captain just announced that some fog had rolled into Newark and they were only allowing a few planes every fews mins to land.....ok so we are in a holding pattern! I can deal with this, it is only 700..plenty of time!!

Fast forward an hour and we are sitting on a tarmac in Allentown PA....with about 15 other planes that were holding with us!

Not to worry we are just going to refuel and be on our way!

HAHAHAHA

Fast forward 3 hours, it is now 1030 and we are beginning to worry that we will make our connecting flight out of Newark. I called the airline to see if that plane were taking had arrived!! I did, one of the first planes to land!! HAHAHAHAHA Can you believe it?!?!?

Anywho, we finally made it to Newark at 1110 and the race was on since you know, as with most airports, the connecting gate is always 17 miles away!!!

But have no fear, we made it, and with time to stop and get coffee and some breakfast.....woohooo cuz i was one hungry camper!!

Fast forward 25 hours!!

NiHao from Beijing!!

It was a great, fantastic, awe inspiring trip!! Hard to believe that I was on my way to get my little girl and that we were doing this in China!!

This post is getting long but I just wanted to quickly share our meals while in flight....you are not gonna believe this!!!

First meal - Leslea:

Filet, dinner roll, rice, salad with smoked salmon, and a cookie.

Second meal:

Cheeseburger and haagen das ice cream

Third meal:

scrambled eggs, augratin potatos, and cookie

First meal - Chris

Cod, rice, snap peas, carrots, dinner roll, salad with smoked salmon and a cookie

Second Meal:

Cheeseburger and haagen das ice cream

Third meal:

Dim sum and noodles

All I can say is ....YUMMY

As I finish this post it is 1230, local time, I laid down for a rest and woke up at 1133pm....HAHAHA, do you think I was tired??

Tomorrow we are off to the Forbidden city, Tian En Men square, and Summer Palace.

More to come!!

Love you all

Chris Leslea and soon little Olivia

Twas the night before....

We are coming baby girl!!


Today is the final day of preparations before we travel, I do believe we are all set to go. We just need to throw a few last minute items in the suitcases and we are off!! Oh yeah, I packed the suitcases last night due to the weight restrictions I wanted to have plenty of time to pack and unpack and pack and well, you get the picture! Here, I am upstairs packing my things, chris's things and and putting Olivia's things back in the suitcase since she has been packed for months!! HAHAHA I zip and carry them off to our bathroom so I can weigh them.....drum roll please.......one is 39lbs and one is 42 lbs....weight limit you ask......44lbs for international travel!!



I MADE IT!!! Dont touch those suitcases!!



:-)



Not much has been going on today, I have a dentist appt at 3:45, I think I either cracked part of my filling off or chopped my tooth!! UGHHHH how I loath the dentist!! But I am getting this taken care of since the last thing I need is a toothache in China!!

Well, I am off to the dentist...I will try to post something again tonight or maybe tomorrow morning as we get ready to travel.

As my Mama said this morning, and I have been singing this all day!!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow I love ya tomorrow, your only a day a way!!

Until tomorrow......Love to all!!

The Gift Of Life

"I didn’t give you the gift of life, but in my heart I know
The love I feel is deep and real, as if it had been so.
For us to have each other is like a dream come true!
No, I didn’t give you the gift of life, Life gave me the gift of you!"

Author Unknown

It's the final Countdown!!

Well, today is Monday 7/16 and we leave in 3 days!! It is hard to believe that Chris and I will soon be a family of 3!! It has been a long, sometimes challenging, sweet, and glorious road!!

Yesterday was Chris's birthday so we had dinner at a local steak house! It was very yummy!! But it dawned on us in the middle of our salad that next Sunday we would be having dinner with our little one!! After a few tears and deep breaths it felt good to have "GOTCHA" day so close!!

I need to finish a bit of packing and make sure we have all the paperwork ready! Yes, Mom, I have indeed checked this time and again and know that I have everything but you know me, a little control and neat freak!! HAHAHA LOVE YA MOM!!

I am not sure if I will have a chance to post anymore before we leave so I would like to take this time to THANK my entire family for their unwaiving support, kind words and always an ear to listen to me!! I could not have made it without you!!

My prayer today is this:

"God thank you for allowing us this journey to little Olivia. Grant her peace and strength during this time of change. Grant her Mommy and Daddy the peace and strength she will need! Be with us during our final preparations, moments of panic and moments of bliss. Wrap your loving arms around my new found friends Sharon and Marty who will be traveling with us on Thursday and who are also making their final trip preparations."

Isaiah 43:5 "Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the East and gather you from the West"

Well, I am off like a heard of turtles to finish my last few chores!!

Take Care and love to all,

Chris, Leslea and soon miss Olivia Jade

Itinerary~

Good Evening,

We have the long awaited itinerary!! See below where and when we will be while getting our precious little one!!

Hugs and kisses from
Chris and Leslea

Friday, July 20 Arrive Beijing
Arrive Beijing on your own. Trader’s Hotel for 2 nights.

Flight: CO#89 Newark to Beijing arrives at 1:45pm

Trader’s Hotel Beijing (4 star)

Saturday, July 21 Beijing
Tian An Men Square, Forbidden city in the morning. Summer Palace in the afternoon.
Lunch is included. Dinner on your own.

Sunday, July 22 Beijing
The Great Wall in the morning. After lunch you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Hohhot.

Flight: CA1114 Beijing/Hohhot 4:00/5:10pm

Holiday Inn Hohhot (4 star)

Your child will be brought to your hotel in the late evening. A family photograph will be taken immediately.

Monday, July 23 Hohhot
You will be interviewed by a civil service official and a notary at the hotel. In the afternoon you will go to the Public Security Bureau to apply for your child’s passport.

Tuesday through Thursday, July 24 to 26 Hohhot
While waiting for the paper work to be done, may arrange some outings as you desire.

Friday, July 27 Hohhot
The completed documents and baby’s passport will be done in the afternoon.

Saturday, July 28 Hohhot/Guangzhou
You will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Guangzhou. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Victory Hotel for 5 nights.

Flight: CA1381 Hohhot/Guangzhou 7:40/10:45am

Victory Hotel (4 star)

Sunday, July 29 Guangzhou
Half day city tour.

Monday, July 30 Guangzhou
Child’s visa picture taken in the morning followed by medical examination.


Tuesday, July 31 Guangzhou
Lifeng will submit your documents to the US Consulate in the morning.
Leisure day for you.

Wednesday, August 1 Guangzhou/Hong Kong
You will come to the Consulate to take an oath in the afternoon.
The visa will be ready by 5:00pm.
You then will be transferred to the train station to catch the train to Hong Kong. Stay overnight in Hong Kong (hotel reservation on your own.)

Thursday, August 2 Hong Kong depart
Flight: CO#98 Hong Kong to Newark leaves at 10:25am