It's a Great Day

Nanchang

Here are a couple of photos from our travels to Nanchang.

The day started out with breakfest again, which was once again very good. We were then off to the airport for a 2 hour flight. Some minor complications at the airport but Zhou took care of them. Its very nice having Zhou with us during our travels.

The travel from the Nanchang airport to the hotel brought some mixed feelings for sure. The area is very impoverished which makes you feel good that you are taking at least one person away from it but sad at the same time. The hotel is very nice and the room very comfortable. The "Tour" of the local Walmart was one that I hope to forget soon. The Walmart was crazy busy and unbelievably loud but Tara and I managed to find some food that was true to the culture and an experiement for our taste buds.

Well, today is the day. In about 3 hours we walk across the street to pick up our little girl. Ok, now my heart is starting to pound.

More photos from June 5

Day 3, June 5

June 5

Action packed day. I'll have to be brief because we need to get ready to fly out this morning to Nanchang, the province where our daughter is located.

Started the day, once again, with an excellent breakfast then off to Tiananmen Square, which happened to be the anniversary of the student protest that ended up changing the country. The Square was very interesting, huge open space surrounded by government buildings but the feeling you got while being there was one of peacefulness and happiness...a cool place. Oh yea, and Tara was a star there. Everyone wanted their picture with her. We then visited the State Opera House, visited a silk factory, the pearl market, rode a rickshaw thru an entertainment district in Beijing and then visited a Hutong, which is the name for a traditional house of a local resident (this was probably the coolest experience of the day).

That's it for now. Off to Nanchang and one day away from meeting our daughter for the first time!!!!!

Friday, June 4, in Beijing

Well, today was filled with activity. Started out with a great breakfast at the hotel then off to the Jade markets. We then ventured into the country (which we prefer over the city) and started our trek up the "Great Wall" which is very appropriately named. This climb is not for the faint at heart (literally, they warn you before the climb). Very steep at times and strenuous if you were ill prepared. This is not only a beautiful place, but also an engineering marvel when you think about how they could have possibily built it.

We were then off to another market where we had lunch and purchased some are art work. The picture shows a piece we purchased from the artist that shows some flowers that match the mural on Emmaxia's wall.

We then ended our day at Olympic Stadium. Weather was great although a bit hot at times. Food was great always and the company I kept doesn't get any better.

See ya tomorrow.

We are in Beijing!!

The flight was surprisingly easy. Apparently, a book, a few movies and food can keep us occupied for 13 hours! Our sleep schedules are messed up, of course, but we should be fine by the time we leave Beijing on Sunday.

We're visiting the Great Wall today...will post pictures later!

-Don't forget to give Gruzin lots of love for us, family! : )

Emmaxia at 6 1/2 months!

Look at how much she's grown! We were surprised with these images of Emmaxia today--what a wonderful Mother's Day gift!

Travel plans--finally!

We're flying into Beijing in early June...a few days and another flight later, we'll be with Emmaxia! We'll continue discovering China and completing official documents until our return home mid-June. Hey-if you'd like us to pick up something from China, give us a shout. I'm sure we can find room in our two 44# bags for three people for three weeks, including diapers and formula. I think we have 2.5 oz. to spare. Shall we start the bidding for the 2.5 oz. souvenir at $3800? (yea, just purchased tickets, ouch!)

No definite travel plans yet...

Thank you for all of the well wishes and support, everyone. We know many of you have been wondering about travel--as have we! We do not know our departure date yet and will, most likely, not know until the week prior to leaving. (Yea...so much for planning) We are hoping for a mid-May departure and will share our news as soon as we receive official word. Oh, and for those dog lovers out there worrying about Gruzin during our absence--thank you. We promise he'll be well cared for (aka spoiled) when we're in China; we've roped family into doggie/house sitting. : ) (Thank you, family!)

The Importance of a Name

We'd love to share more details about our daughter, including her full name! In mid-October, 2009, a kind person found a newborn and brought her to Zhang Shu Social Welfare Institute in Zhang Shu (Jiangxi Provence, China). The caretakers at the SWI named our daughter "Zhang Man Chang". The family name (what we would call the last name) is Zhang (pronounced "Jawng") because she is the child of the city. "Man" means "full" and "Chang" means "prosperous". This very moment, her caregivers are calling her "Man Chang" (pronounced "mawn chawng"). This very moment her caregivers are calling her "Man Chang" (pronounced "mawn.............. chawng")................................................................................................................... .........We created our daughter's name from the joy we know she'll bring into our lives and from the energy we feel from the gift of each new day. EMMAXIA=Emma (universal or whole)+XIA (glow of the sunrise/sunset or summer)--pronounced "emma-see-ah". We will keep her given name as her middle name to honor the first step of her life's journey and to accept the wish of her caregivers--that she thrive and prosper...CHANG. ................. .........................................................................................EMMAXIA CHANG ROCKWEIT, We are honored to be your parents and send you all of our love until we are able to wrap you in our arms and tell you, "You are home; you are safe; you are loved."

It's A Beautiful Girl

Our minds are whirling with little tidbits of info on our daughter. Born in October, laughs out loud, can be obstinate at times (how cool is that), loves to play and her whole body shakes when she is happy (how cool is that). In general, she shows healthy signs of development and is a regular pooper (how cool is that). It's been 3 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and one day, so, without any further delay, it is with great joy that we introduce our daughter...

Emmaxia Rockweit

How cool is that!!

No news...

We're told not to expect a call today (Friday, April 2). Boo. Our agency's courier service said it has no packages to deliver today. What a long week--with our phones never out of reach and our hearts skipping a beat with every ring. Oh well, the weekend of spring cleaning, yard work, and Easter with family will be wonderful. Thanks for watching the blog closely, everyone! Take a break, but tune in early next week! : )

Soon...very soon!

The word on the street is a cut-off date of April 17th (which means the next referral group is expected to match families with a LID of at least April 17th, 2006). Today's news basically confirms that we will, indeed, be in the next group of referrals! Lately, the trend has been to see referrals in the mail one-three days after the rumors started. Is it possible? Could we really see BabyRock's face this week?! Crazy!

Still waiting...and planning and waiting and planning...

We owe you an apology. We suggested you stalk us; we said we'd post often; then, we give you nothing for nearly two weeks! We are here. We are here. WE ARE HERE! (Had to throw in a little "Horton Hears a Who") We have not heard even a whisper of a rumor, but that happened last month too--nothing and then, without warning, we hear referrals are in the mail! We are hoping to hear by the end of next week although our agency is suggesting the week after. (Our prediction is Friday, April 2nd--Tara's dad's birthday. How cool would that be?!) We are so close now. Actually, it doesn't seem real. We've been waiting for so long, not knowing how much longer and constantly being disappointed by the reality of the wait. We may just have to wait to see Baby Rock's face before we believe this is finally happening. Wow--we are going to see our baby's face in the very near future...okay, maybe it's sinking in a little bit now. Thanks for your continued support and the heal clicking! We will post again soon...promise. : )

No News Yet

Our main source is killing time just as we are--so we continue the nesting process. We've nearly finished BabyRock's room now and finally organized the stacks of paperwork from this entire process. So, we're on schedule with our pre-referral checklist (according to Todd). Not bad for a few days, even with a nasty stomach flu interruption and the distraction of 60 degree weather! We are still anticipating news by the end of March or early April. Thank you, all, for your continued support! We hope you realize how much it means to us! (Please continue to follow the blog for updates. We look forward to posting the first pictures we receive of our little one and will continue to use this blog to share text and pictures once in China!)

Officially nesting!

Today is all about baby prepping! Yes, after four+ years of waiting, we still have a lot to do. After devoting two hours to creating our three master lists--until the referral, after receiving the referral, and after receiving our travel arrangements--we are good to go! Today is all about "making room for baby"; Good Will is going to have to clear a few shelves for us! We've also decided to update this blog more often since so many of our wonderful family and friends are stalking now (thanks!). Well, we've just accomplished one list item with this post; clearly, this is going to be a very productive day!

Congratulations to the new forever families!

Families are receiving referrals through April 11th! We are so excited for the many friends we've made through Chinaadopttalk.com and continue to keep those who have not yet received "the call" in our thoughts. What does this mean for us? Well...are you sitting down? We believe we'll be next! (April 12th's numbers are a bit large, but the 13th and 14th are small; the three days combined are about 2/3 of this group's numbers.) Thank you for all of the clicking heels, everyone! It seems to be working!

Holy Cats!

We've just learned that CCAA mailed referrals today. The rumors suggest April 11th or the 12th as a cut off day! We won't know the cut off until the referrals arrive next week, but we are elated either way! We think we'll be in the next group! Yea, you read correctly--THE NEXT GROUP!!

Our predictions

For a long time now, we've avoided making predictions--just too frustrating to be wrong... Now, though, we are close enough to make some guesses, so here it goes!

Feelin' Optimistic! LID April 6-11 (8th and 9th fall on a weekend)...March referral group, April 12-14...April referral group, April 14--That's us!!

Feelin' a Little Less Optimistic LID April 6-7...March referral group, April 10-11...April referral group, April 12-14...May referral group (That's us!!)

Okay, everyone, we need your positive vibes. Maybe if we all

click our heels at the same time...

One, Two, Three--

CLICK and WISH!

Referrals through the 5th!

Congratulations to those with families with LID of 4-4-06 and 4-5-06!