Monday, September 13th

For those of you who know me well you know I'm just a little interested in fashion trends. Well, for the life of me (and i think I'm pretty good) i can not figure out the Chinese fashion trend. it has been bugging me since i stepped foot in this country. Its like hello kitty meets Jane Jetson. There is not one thing i can put my finger on and say, "oh that's so Chinese." this is actually good because it means i am not tempted to buy anything to be on the cutting edge of the market. The typical Chinese dress is actually only worn by "women who work in restaurants." Well there goes that idea. This really has absolutely nothing to do with our adoption...

Brooks :)

Sunday, Sept 12th

Evidently the Chinese don't eat a lot of sweets because we haven't had any until...we got to Guangzhou. Rebecca, our guide, took us to a little place down the street that has PEANUT ice cream. It is soooo good-not like our ice cream but only mildly sweet. They were out tonight and we had green tea sorbet. Blah. Noa still wont eat much of anything but yogurt and cereal which i am running out of!

Till next time,
Karee, for Brooks

More Pictures

Here is the latest batch of pictures from Brooks.

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Noa enjoying a dumpling at lunch.

The terra cotta soldiers.

The drum tower in Xi'an city center.

Our terra cotta visit.

Outside the Yellow River Digger Factory. This is where Noa was found on February 10, 2009.

Noa and momma sleeping.

Noa and momma enjoying time together over a bag of potato chips.

Till next time,
Karee, for Brooks

First update from Guangzhou

One word, "AAHHH." We have just survived our first flight with Noa and we are in Guangzhou, China. Yesterday i got to see where our baby lived and all of the people who loved her. I see why she is having such a hard time. She was loved beyond belief. The letter her foster mother wrote to her was the sweetest thing i have ever read. I loved hearing stories and history about our baby. The home was located in a beautiful part of the city. I found out that her Nanny had left just a few days before Noa left so the hardships were plenty for her. She was VERY close to her Nanny. They said she was very independent and found a way to get what she wanted. its funny because we really had this figured out even from the pictures we had seen of her. Now we call her our little princess or empress. And yes, she gets whatever she wants! I also found out she really does eat food and she loves chocolate! i hadn't tried that one! We are starting to find things she will eat like wonton soup and the Muslim soup. Her favorite is still my oatmeal squares and the yogurt melts. And she loves dumplings as you can tell from the picture. She keeps food in that little mouth for a very long time. I think she had to stick things in there fast so no one would take them!


i felt really guilty about leaving her with her Daddy to go visit her foster home but it was the best decision we have made because when i got home i got the biggest smile I've gotten and she even let ME put her to bed! Troy said she cried a lot when i left and boy was she excited to see me. She still has to have Daddy all the time but that was a big step for us. And i cant say i was too upset on the plane when he had to hold the crying baby while i swear every person on the plane was staring at us.

We are in Guangzhou now where we will get her medicals done and get her visa so we can go home! its like home here but a lot nicer! I just knew things were looking up when i walked in the hotel and there was a Max Mara. There is even a remote in the bathroom for the shower curtain that is a huge glass window into the bedroom. What a change for us. I think I'm going to make it and i might have to just have one trip to the pizza hut across the street. Troy has found ESPN and is so happy.

Brooks ~
 
(Brooks sent pictures with the blog post - I will get those posted as soon as I can in the morning! Karee)

More Pictures

From Karee: I was able to Skype with Brooks for a few minutes yesterday and they are doing well. They were getting ready to spend a few hours exploring Xi'an a bit more and then were flying to Guanzhao last night for the last part of their journey. She sent a few more pictures this morning and said she would send a blog post later when she had more time.

Enjoy!

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

Daddy, Noa and a buddhist monk

Touring the Wild Goose Pagoda Buddhist Temple In Xi'an

Noa showing a huge interest in her hometown's history.

Till next time,
Karee, for Brooks

Wednesday, Sept. 8th

We cannot figure out how this daughter of ours is so fat! All she would eat today was potato chips and a few bites of cereal! It was funny to see her face when she recongnized a noodle. She ate two of those finally. She is still having a hard time, but we are beginning to see some of her spunky personality. She is really living up to her nickname of "little princess". All she has to do it grunt and point and look at Daddy with those big, brown eyes and he gives her anything she wants. She also let me hold her a little today (ok so i had a chip) which was very nice for me. We went to see the terracotta warriors today. Very cool. Tomorrow we get to see where our baby was found.

Till next time,
Brooks

Pictures!

Brooks was able to send some pictures today. Some are from their time in Beijing and the others are of Noa. I'll post her comments below each picture. As with all pictures on the blog, you can click on any of them to make them bigger. Enjoy!

At the "Temple of the Heaven" This is where the emperor would make animal

sacrifices to the unknown "God of Heaven" for good harvests.

On a tour boat at the Summer Palace in Beijing. You can see the
palace in the background.

We were waiting for Noa to arrive at the Civil Affairs office. Our heart rates were sky high at this point.

Noa arrives and this is the first time we laid eyes on her. Olivia, a
volunteer from Starfish (orphanage) brought her to us.

Noa not wanting anything to do with us. What an incredibly difficult day for her as everything she has known was taken away from her and she is sent away with two people she doesn't even know.

Noa is calming down some as she looks out the window at the people and traffic with daddy.

Noa standing at the door ready to go. She is quite the adventurer and wants to be on the go all the time.

Noa playing with Carmen from Starfish and holding onto Brooks' leg
at the Civil Affairs office on day two of our new life.

Noa sprawled out on the bed after the second long day. She is so emotionally and
physically exhausted, she slept from 4pm until 6:30am the next morning.

Till next time,

Karee, for Brooks