Bittersweet day

Emily brushing her teeth, well trying too!

Brusha, brusha, brusha!

Emily and Aunt Chimene in the pool!!!!!

Enjoying the water!

Sun bathing...with the thumb!

Mommy and Emily

Emily had to put all the link toys on as bracelets!!! She loves her bracelets!

The Guangzhou gang having one last dinner together!

Andrea, Mike and Autumn

Amanda, Jeremy and Ezra

Kevin, Leann, Lidia and Natalie

The Cow and Bridge Restaurant

Today is our last full day in China and I am a little emotional about it. It is very bittersweet for me. On the one hand, I am so ready to go home and see my family, Brian, the pooches and kitties, but then we are leaving my little girls homeland. Her parents are here some where and the reality is that she will never ever know them. If in the future she would like to try and find them, I will do everything that I can for her, but most likely she will never have the opportunity to meet her birth parents. One of the reasons I chose Chinese adoption was so that her birth mother could not take her back. It just breaks my heart that she will never know them. I know they gave her up, but I know her birth mother is out there wondering if her little girl is alright. I wish I could tell her that I will love her as my own and care for her the best I can. I hope that she is at peace with her decision to abandon this beautiful little girl and I am so thankful that God has chosen me to be her mother. I promise to bring you back to China someday my little one and we will see your birth country together. We have her visa and Chinese passport and are ready to come home.

I am excited to bring Emily back to the US and see the faces of her Grandma and Grandpa for the first time when they set eyes on her. I can't wait to introduce her to her new "Forever Family" and friends. You are loved my little peanut, oh how you are loved. We have many exciting firsts ahead, some good and not so good. Her life will never be the same and I want her to have every opportunity possible.

I love my baby girl and I know my sister loves her too. She already is asking for her to come over on the weekends so that she won't forget her. Chimene, she won't forget you, she loves you and has bonded to you too. She cries when you leave at times, so I know she won't ever forget her favorite Aunt. Thank you sis, for leaving your family for 15 days and coming with me to get your new niece. I cannot tell how much I appreciate you being here with us. You are a great mom and I hope that I can be just as great as you are. I know you secretly are smiling inside, thanking God for giving me a little stinker just like her mom! Thanks sis!!!! I love you and I am so happy that we got share this experience together. I have a lot to learn about being a mom, but knowing I have such a great role model to look up to means a lot. Again sis, thank you for coming and Emily and I love you very much.

We went out to dinner to Cow and Bridge one last time with our Guangzhou group! It was so nice to get together one last time and talk about our new little ones. Emily was surprisingly very good. We took her to the pool today after breakfast for a couple hours and then did some last minute shopping to get rid of some yuan. I tried to give her only about an hour nap today because I wanted to put her to bed early. We are leaving in the morning for the airport at 5:30am. It is going to be such a long day for all of us. I don't think I am going to sleep well tonight because I am so excited about coming home. Anyways, poor Emily only got an hour nap and then we woke her up. Chimene and I laughed because she didn't not want to get up, poor thing. We thought we would take her to the playroom one more time and she laid down on the floor as soon as we got there, poor little peanut! She was so tired. We went to dinner early and got back to the hotel and she wouldn't go to sleep...of course! So I think I am going to have a cranky little girl in the morning. Hoping that she will sleep some on the way to the airport. We leave for Beijing at 8am and then leave Beijing at 4:10pm. I am hoping that Emily will stay up till about 8pm or so and then sleep her usual 10 hours or so and then we should be in Chicago! We arrive in Chi-town at 4:15pm and then depart for Traverse City at 5:44pm. Hope we can make it through customs and still make our next flight! Look out people and get out of our way..here come the two Polish sisters and the Chinese chick, LOL!!!!! We are longing for home and arrive in TC at 7:46pm, ALLELUIA! Home, Sweet, Home!!!!

This trip has been amazing and I will never forget it or the people I have met. This adoption has been a long journey for me with many bumps in the road, but I wouldn't have changed anything about it. It has made me a stronger woman and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I only wish that I could adopt again from China. Yes, I would do it all over again, but this time I would start with special needs and request a boy or girl. I would love for Emily to have a brother or sister from China. It is a dream that will never happen now due to the new laws, but a girl can dream. I just know that I love Emily with every ounce of my being. She is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I love you Emily more than words can express.

In My Daughter's Eyes

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero

I am strong and wise and I know no fear

But the truth is plain to see

She was sent to rescue me

I see who I wanna be

In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal

Darkness turns to light and the

world is at peace

This miracle God gave to me gives me

strength when I am weak

I find a reason to believe

In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand

around my finger

Oh it puts a smile in my heart

Everything becomes a little clearer

I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart

has had enough

It's giving more when you feel like giving up

I've seen the light

It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future

A reflection of who I am and what will be

Though she'll grow and and someday leave

Maybe raise a family

When I'm gone I hope you see how happy

she made me

For I'll be there

In my daughter's eyes

by Martina McBride

I want to thank everyone for following our journey. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope that you will continue to follow our blog when we get home. I will continue to update my blog with pics and Emily's new life in America. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and new little girl. Next post we will be home and in America!

Oath appointment today!

Emily with her new doll

Emily trying to take out her dollies hair ribbons

Almost has them pulled out now!

Mommy and Emily before the Consulate appointment!

Emily and her favorite Aunt!

Emily with her ice cream

Yummy!

Big grin

Big bite of ice cream!!!!

Today, we are on our last step before we can leave China with our children. We went to the Consulate and took an oath today and signed the last papers before we receive Emily's visa on Wednesday. I was acknowledged as one of the last remaining singles to be able to adopt from China. That was such a nice feeling to know that I made it through before all the changes happened. I feel blessed that I was able to adopt this little girl, she truly is my daughter and I love her so much. We decided to go to Lucy's for dinner tonight for one last time. On the way back to the hotel I suggested we stop and get an ice cream from the 7-11. Emily loved her ice cream, she even ate it all by herself. I will probably only be posting one more post from China and then we will be back in the States. My sister and I can't wait to go home. Emily has no idea what is in store for her, but I know that she will adapt well, just like she has here these last few days. Her life will never be the same now and I am thankful that I was chosen to be her mommy.

An afternoon at the pool!

Aunt Chimene teaching Emily to pose

Another pose, you go girl!

Work it!

Mommy and Emily in the pool!

Loving the water!

Taking a break!

Em's new floaty, Thanks Aunt Chimene for going to get it!!!!

Well, we finally made it to the pool! Aunt Chimene didn't want to go in because she wasn't feeling well so it was just Em and I. I first took Emily into the big pool and she started to cry. I couldn't believe that a girl that loved her baths so much, didn't like the swimming pool. So I took her into the kiddie pool and sat with her and tried to get her to splash around like she does in the tub. After a few minutes in the kiddie pool I thought I would try it again in the big pool. This time she started to like it. The girl finally had no fear in the pool. She jumped in too. I am so happy that she likes the water since we live by so much of it. Aunt Chimene went got Emily a floaty for the pool. She liked it a lot. Emily even went under the water a few times too and didn't seem to mind. I taught her to hold her nose and put her face in the water, she actually did it, so cute! So mommy and Emily spent the afternoon in the pool while Aunt Chimene basked in the heat of shade. It was fun to watch Aunt Chimene try and take pictures of us in the pool, they do not like you to take pics at the pool, but we did anyways! It was a nice relaxing afternoon followed by a dinner at The Cow and Bridge for our usual. We are so going to miss that restaurant, but Chimene and I can't wait to come home. We both miss our loved one so much!

Pics!!!!

I thought this photo was so sweet! We were

in the bathroom and she started looking in the

little mirror at herself. I called to Chimene

to grab the camera and this photo is priceless!

Thanks for capturing the moment, sis!

This is a new fav of Emily. She likes to come and sit

on our laps when she is tired. It is so sweet.

She will grab her blanket and of course put the thumb

in her mouth and just lay on your lap. I especially

love this photo of Aunt Chimene and her. It is so precious!

Ok, I post all the sweet Emily pics, but this is the

real Emily! Sassy and wanting mommy to hold her.

She will let Aunt Chimene hold her sometimes, but

she is a mommy's girl all the way. With that being

said I know how my sister secretly is laughing.

She has been a savior on this trip for me and I am

so glad that she was able to leaver her family and

come with me to get my daughter!

I love her little hands!

The first night we brought her back to the hotel

we decided to give her a bath. Her little legs were

so dry. I heard that most of them had dry skin so after the

bath, I laid her on the bed and lubed her up with Johnson's

Baby lotion. Well after that first night she will sit and put her

little hands out and wait for you to put some lotion in them.

I taught her to rub them together and then rub them on her body.

It is so cute! I love bath time and Aunt Chimene and I have

been sharing in the fun.

The famous Red Couch photos and the Pearl River Cruise

Emily in her Red couch outfit

A new face Aunt Chimene taught her, thanks again sis!!!!

Mommy and Emily

Mommy and Emily making "The face"

Mommy and Em in front of the waterfall at The White Swan

The Kuhagen's from Wisconsin

The Sheron's from North Carolina

The Norris' from Tennessee

The Guangdong Province girls and Ezra

Emily and Ezra on the Red couch

The whole travel group

The famous Red couch photo, only one crier!

The Pearl River Cruise

Aunt Chimene and Emily

Natalie and Emily on the boat

For those of you not familiar with Chinese Adoption when you come to Guangzhou, to the White Swan Hotel, they have red couches in the lobby. These couches have been famous for many adoption group photos over the years. They place all the adopted children from the group on the couch for a group photo. Some of the children cry and some are really good. Emily did really well on the couch, she just never looked at the camera. So I am hoping that I can get a photo from someone else in our group that actually got a face shot of her. Ezra was the only boy amongst the sea of girls and he was a ham. She is such a sweet little one. Emily and he are friends and enemies too! They share at times and then hit each other at times too. The group photo went well today it was just warm being in the spot light, lol!

After Emily's nap and her lunch we decided to go out and see if we could find a suitcase for Emily's stuff and all the souvenirs I bought. We luckily found a great deal and bargained even further to get the piece of luggage (which is quite nice), two pair of shoes for Emily, a ball for her that she likes in the play room, at little purse, a wallet, and a jade turtle for $31 US dollars! Not too bad!!!!! And Jordan, the store owner wrote Emily's name in calligraphy and Chinese symbols for free. Gotta love shopping in China!

This evening we went on a Pearl River cruise. Shiyan ordered us Papa John's pizza and we ate on the boat. After eating we went up top and looked at all the buildings along the river. We also were entertained by a clown on the second floor. She juggled and Emily was captivated by her. We were all exhausted when got back. Tomorrow we have to get up early and walk to the Medical Clinic to get Emily's TB test read. It looks good so I am hoping it all goes well. Night all, only 4 more days and we will be headed home! Funny thing is my sister and I have been craving Doritos and popcorn and of course, I miss my diet Pepsi...Coke Zero just isn't the same.