All is well...

Today was Olivia's wellness visit with Dr. Taylor and she just "loved" it....NOT!! I am sure patients waiting in the waiting room were wondering what the heck was going on and what kind of doctors office they were in...but we walked out!! HAHAHA

The doc does not believe that she is 16 months old either but we are going by 3/27 as that is the date on the paperwork.

Today she is starting to babble a little more. Which makes me believe she is getting more and more used to her surroundings. She will still sing lalalalamamamamlalalala over and over again. During lunch she was singing mamamama so I started singing dadadada and you could just see her little lips trying to get dadadada out. I dont think it will be long before she is talking up a storm.

She is getting used to the time change. She slept a full 10 hours last night and took a nap from 130pm-315pm - and so did Mama!!

She is getting used to western food and is more than willing to try anything. Last night I was feeding her leftovers from Grandma, beans and greens, she very willing took the beans from the spoon, started chewing, and I watched!! Well, she got this look on her face like "mama what are you feeding me?" I started laughing and asked her if she liked it, she shook her little head no and spit the food in my hand! HAHAHA ....Uncle Chuck at least she tried it! She has a stash of peas and carrots she wants you to try! I will fed ex them to you tomorrow. All you need to do is flash them in the microwave and they will be yummy!!!!

She loves bath time but we found out that we need to let the water drain before we can take her out, if not whew we have one Miss Cranky Pants on our hands! Not pretty~

Well, that is all for now, of course Olivia thinks it is time to EAT....and it has only been and hour since she ate!

Take Care we love everyone!

Leslea

Official Oath

To catch you all up on the activities...

On 8/1 we met Marty and Sharon for breakfast at the Victory, this would be our last as we needed to be checked out of our room by and downstairs to meet Judy at 230. Judy is our guide that took us to the Consulate for the Official Oath. We did a bit more shopping - although we really did not buy much at all. Chris and I had a hard enough time leaving Hohhot with our Luggage and Olivia, I could not imagine adding any more to the load. There really is alot of shopping that can be down while in Guangzhoa and many families will buy another suitcase for the trip home. Heck, I could not imagine it, yeesh, we had enough! HAHAHA

Anyway, we were downstairs at 200, boarded our bus at 230 and off we go to the Consulate. We were actually the first family there but it really does not matter as the Oath is taken all together. We logged walked through security and into this bank teller looking room. Olivia did really well during the wait. Within about 15-20 minutes Chris and I were called to the bank teller window, the lady behind the window look at us, the passport, and a picture of Olivia to ensure we are all who we say we are. We got a receipt and sat back down. Marty and Sharon did the same. There were maybe 50 other families there so we needed to wait while the same thing happened for everyone. This complete the Consulate Director came out to start making the official announcement. She went over the coveted brown envelope and the importance to take this in your carry on and NOT TO OPEN the envelope. Now normally, just like a kid you tell them not to do something and what is the first thing they do??? Do what you have told them not to do.....BUT in this case I was good, curiosity was there but there was NO way I was going to open that envelope!! Nope not gonna do it!! Then the director asked us to stand and repeat after her...."I solemnly swear the information I have provided is accurate and true....."then I started losing my marbles. I did not go into a full blown cry but I was emotional. After years of waiting, this was truly happening. I was really a Momma! Oh and yeah, I did say ALL the oath, just a little ragged at times. :-) Unfortunately, not video or cameras are allowed in the consulate so we will only have our memories,

After this was completed we were whisked off to make our train to Hong Kong. We only had about 40 minutes to get there and get loaded. Got sneakers and baby will run if needed....we did!

To be continued....

We love everyone
Leslea

Last Entry from Guangzhou

Sorry I did not post anything yesterday, I do believe my daughter gave me the creeping crud. YICK!!

Yesterday was an off day although Chris needed to go downtown with Lifeng to make sure one of our documents we had notarized did not have a raised seal. In NY, a raised seal is not required, all is well. We did a bit of shopping but mostly I stayed in the room and rested. Chris is an excellent Dad, he took charge to make sure his baby girl was taken care of, everything went off without a hitch.

Today we must be checked out of the room and in the lobby before 2pm. We will get on the bus and head to the Consulate for our Oath. Cameras are not allowed in the Consulate so we will not be able to get any pics of this but we have Olivia to show for it. Then we are off to the train station for our 711pm train to Hong Kong. Tomorrow morning we head for Newark!! WOOOHOOOO

Uncle Frank, I have to upload a pic of your truck but of course it has air conditioning, you think I would stear you wrong..... it depends of how fast you get her going and how far you hang your head out the window!! HAHAHAHA

Hugs, Kisses, and blessings to everyone,

We will be home soon!

Chris, Leslea and Olivia Jade

Pictures

Medical Exam

Today we had medical exams and filling out tons of paperwork for the Consulate appt. We arrived at 8am and the tests were underway.

Olivia did not like the Doctor near her ears and began crying. She has not been tugging or pulling at her ears so I hope she does not have an ear infection. She did very well at the hearing test. The Doc started playing this little piano - I assume to distract her - and the started squeaking this toy at her right, she immediately turned her head to the right to look at the toy. He kept squeaking the toy and started snapping his fingers on her left side. She turned to the left. I was beaming with pride! The doc did this about 3 times, gave a hmmmm, and noted something on her file.

The next room was weight and length. Once again Olivia did not like to be taken from her Mama and started crying. Olivia weighs 22 lbs and is 28 inches tall. The ladies handed her back to me and the crying stopped. I think she is a Mama's girl!! I LOVE it!!

The final room was head circumfrence, but we were not given this measurement. Although I can tell you she has a BIG head! Sometimes her head gets stuck in her shirt when taking it off! She does not like it but I think it is funny. Her head is the biggest thing on her. Oh yeah, I also had to undo her diaper to prove she was a girl.

Chris and I took a short walk after lunch but other than that we did not do much today. None of us - Sharon and Marty included - are feeling all that well. In fact while Olivia took a nap I took one with her. I am not sure what I have but it is all in my throat!! IICCKKK Olivia has a little congestion and some green icckies so we started her on amoxicillin the other day. She seems to be doing a little better but she still rattles a little and has the runny nose. Currrently she is sitting on the floor having a little temper tantrum. She wants to touch this huge clay pot and will not take no for an answer. She does NOT like to be told no! So, she has learned some English words, no, eat, more and her name. Though, when she is mad we have better response calling her by her Chinese nickname, Miao Miao. Another bad habit, she has starting biting, WHEW, not good, she has gotten me once and Chris 3 times. The 3rd time with Dada and she was in serious trouble. He gave her a stern talking to and she has not done it since. Very smart girl!

It is 430pm here and we are going to order from Danny's Bagels. This resturant is owned by a guy from NJ, so we are excited!! WESTERN FOOD!!

Take care and see ya soon,

Chris Leslea and Olivia

Shopping, Shopping and More Shopping...

The Colonel has gone international!!


Today was a leisure day for us once again so we hit the streets for some bargains. Our first stop was to get baby girl some shoes. Not just your everyday run of the mill shoes, oh no those will not do, we had to get Miss Olivia some squeaky shoes! Indeed, shoes that squeak when she walks. At first she did not understand what made the shoes squeak but once she learned she would just stand and stomp her feet and giggle! Oh what fun she had in her new shoes.





Chris and I bought some shirts, well I say Chris, I bought some shirts today...hahhaha and an authentic Chinese dress for Olivia. It fits her now so I may be back to get her one that will fit her a little later! It would be cool to have one that would fit her for the Chinese New Year next year.





Just a short post and some pics for now. We have medical exams at 8am tomorrow morning and little miss takes after her Mama so she is not an early bird! Nope Mom, never have been never will be, some things never change! :-)

Good night for now! We love everyone!

The Caschette's

First Plane Ride

We left Hohhot this morning about 740am on our way to Guangzhou. Olivia did very well for her first 3 hour flight. She only had a few moments where she wanted to get off at the next cloud. I had to stand in the aisle for most of the trip and thankfully the rest of the passengers were helping to keep her occupied! Since we needed to get her up at 430am I thought she would soon be asleep, oh boy was I wrong!! She went to sleep the last 5 mins of the flight and promptly awoke when I got out of my seat.





We got to the hotel about 1130, went for a quick walk to get our barrings, had lunch at the Cow and Bridge - this awesome Thai place - Olivia and Mama was asleep at 2pm. Whew, much needed sleep!





Sharon and Marty arrived safely at 4pm, it was nice to see some familiar people! Dinner was at Lucy's, Chris and I had fish and chips and ice tea!! Yes, I said ice tea!! It was heaven in a glass. Since we can not drink the water here we have been drinking bottled water without ice! Not my favorite thing. I am a full glass of ice girl with a little drink :-)....





Mom, Aunt Katsy and Aunt Ann you are going to love this, last night Olivia sang to Mama and Dada. We were trying to get her to go to sleep, after the initial cry fest she laid there for a while twirling her hair. We were laying in bed next to her cuz if you leave she will wake the whole hotel! Anyway, she started bobbing up in the crib to see if we were still there and then back down, she did this 11 times! You bet we counted...HAHAHAHA. Once she was done with the bobbing she started to sing, mamama bababababa lalalala, over and over and over and over and over and over! Mom I was truly re-living nannerleeler!! HAHAHA





IT WAS GREAT!! We were lying there trying our best not to laugh out loud!



Good night for now! Talk to ya'll soon!

Hugs and Kisses,
Olivia