Friday,
November 9, 2007
Thanks to all those who have signed our guestbook. We read all
the entries and love hearing from everyone back home as well as
other fellow “My Adoption Website” families.
Sorry for the short post yesterday-just too darn tired! Ella’s
birthday was fun. Our group started out by shopping at the
Guangzhou Metro Department Store. The store was enormous. Try
putting one of our malls going straight up into a high rise
building. We bought Ella a stroller, pj’s and a sweater. The
prices in the mall are about the same in the United States so we
did not by much. Around the mall there are about 100 different
shops selling everything you can imagine so we bought Ella some
Disney DVD and CD in Mandarin.
Later in the afternoon, Ella had her medical exam to be approved
for her Visa into the United States. The doctors checked out her
heart and told us that her heart sounds very healthy. Although,
the doctors told us that her bronchitis is not clearing up so we
are going to have to take her back into the doctor on Sunday for
some more antibiotics.
We went to dinner with some people in our group and had a lot of
laughs.
Today our group ventured out to the oldest Buddha Temple in
Guangzhou. We were able to watch a special Buddha ceremony. When
Ella heard the Monks chanting, she put her hands together and
chanted along with them…so funny. Next, we went to the Chen
Family Gardens which was built by the Chen Family. Apparently in
the providence of Guangzhou, Chen is the most popular last name
and since there are so many of them, they built a beautiful
place for all the Chen families to come celebrate their
heritage. The place is open to the public and I bought the most
gorgeous embroidered hanging for our home made by some famous
artist-last name Chen. Last, we headed off to the Jade Market.
Jade is very symbolic here in China so we see a lot of Chinese
women wearing Jade.
We just found out that Ella is Cantonese. (Hello-I think Ella’s
parents need to brush up on their Chinese History.) Apparently,
the Guangdong Providence used to be called Canton and since Ella
was born in Huizhou, she is Cantonese. She does not speak
Cantonese because her nannies at the orphanage spoke Mandarin.
(Henry: When we come to SoCal to have a feast in Ella’s honor,
could you get a PowerPoint presentation ready about the history
of the Cantonese people-I’d appreciate it. HaHa =)
Ella has been so much fun. I cannot believe what a miracle this
whole adoption process has been. Bart and I scratch our heads
about the fact that half way around the world is the most
perfect child to add to our family. We are in awe about how much
she is so like us. Ella is the perfect combination of our three
children and she laughs just like her daddy. She is so funny and
so smart and so sweet. Ella was definitely meant to be in our
home and we are so in love with this special little spirit that
has been brought into our lives. We are so lucky and blessed. |
Birthday Girl
Make A Wish
Humidity + No Hair Dryer=Bad Hair
Chen Family Center
Addy, Grace and Ella |
