Shower Photos

Emma and friends, Layton, Haley & Emily

Emma getting loves from Corina.

Elliott, Emma, Sarah (feeding Emma) & Emily

Elliott and Emma

Shannon and Emma

Hannah with Emma, Linsday & Carson
Theresa reading Emma's new book, Lovebug.

The morning after the big day, trying out her new ride.

She loved the bow!

Settling In

Hi Friends and Family:

It has been a fast and exciting two weeks since we arrived home from China. I must admit we hit the ground running and Emma is quickly getting up to speed. She has about 750 "frequent rider" miles around Wichita already. She has gotten around and many have come to see her. She is doing great and has fully recovered from a little "crackle" in her chest thanks to a good round of antibiotics.

She has had quite a long list of visitors many eager to see their little blog star from China. It has been overwhelming the support and love shown by our friends and family. It is so nice to see so many people cheering and praying for her. We are greatly blessed by the addition to our family. It feels as if the house is complete with each room securely occupied by two gifts from God.

Jake is doing well. He loves to be back in his routine and hanging out with his friends and classmates. Baseball practice has started for him and he is ready to go. He has really taken to looking after Emma and is always there to give her a hug and a smile of encouragement. Jake has responded with unconditional love and no jealousy for Emma at all. We are so proud of the way he has adjusted and how he gives without reservation.

Come and visit anytime!

The 36 Hour Day, Home At Last!!

We made it!! After a 90 minute delay in Chicago we touched down in Wichita at about 6:30 pm our time after leaving at 4:30 am China time, which made our travel time almost exactly 24 hours to the minute. With the time change and the 14 hour flight the "day" for us turned out to be about 36 hours long by the time we went to bed.

Sleeping was another story last night. We are mostly tired and ready for sleep but our stomachs and other parts seem to be on a different schedules right now.

Emma, the first night in her new home, slept for about 4 1/2 hours and was up and fussy from about 2 am on until we got around this morning at about 6:45. Long night to say the least. Come to find out she has a pretty good cold and was beginning to run a fever. It didn't break until around noon today and when it was gone the Emma we know was back and smiling.

Jake had a fun time last night; we took him to his last basketball game and he had a great time seeing his teammates for the game. It was a surprise to most of the team and parents that we were there, but Jake wanted to go and he had been talking about playing for the entire trip. It was hard to ignore basketball because Yao Ming was on every advertisement in China. He did great and had the best time just being with his friends and being a kid having fun. When he did go to bed he was up at about 2:30 with Emma but only because he couldn't sleep anymore. 2:30 am to him was really 4:30 pm in the afternoon in China so he was really supposed to be up. He was really good, just reading his new book for an hour or so and still trying to rest a little but at around 6:00 got up for good and watched some cartoons that he could understand. We tried watching cartoons over there but it was hard. Later in the morning we got him some pancakes like he had been asking for for almost 2 weeks, since Beijing. Today he also had baseball practice and did very well. Once again great to see his friends and teammates and have some fun.

We had a few visitors today to welcome us home and help us get some things we needed for Emma. It was great to see our friends and family and for those of you we have not seen or heard from we can't wait for you to meet Emma. Give us a call and come on over. We would love to hear from all of you.

Lastly, thanks again for all of you checking out our adventures. We may not be posting quite as often for a little while as we get back to normal. Thanks again and give us a call or drop a note on e-mail, we would love to hear from all of you.

Just a note, I know some of you are having trouble posting comments. We are working on an answer. Fellow bloggers if you have any suggestions let us know. Thanks again. See you all soon.

Made In China

After 17 days and about to be a total of 20,000 miles travel per person we will be arriving back in Wichita on Friday evening. The journey has been long, and at times tedious but when you see the bundle of joy we bring home you will know it was pure joy and worth every minute.

We would like to take a moment to thank each of you for sharing in our journey especially while we have been in China. It has been amazing the responses and the many people that have been following and sharing in our joy from Dallas, to Fort Worth, to Plano, TX; Dillon, CO, Minneapolis, MN; Missouri, North Carolina, Iowa; Topeka, Kansas City; Hunan, China and of course all of our friends and family in the greater Wichita area.

Just a few parting words from Guangzhou, China:

After spending these past weeks traveling and experiencing another culture up close and personal, I feel each of us have been changed by what we have learned from other families, from the people of China and from of course the reason we came, Emma.

As I have said earlier many of the people here consider the girls and boys that get adopted to be the "lucky" ones but you all know we all are the lucky ones to get to experience their innocence and joy unhindered by the life they were destined to live in an orphanage. We are truly blessed, each one of us. Through prayer and love this chapter comes to an end with a happy ending. But the story goes on and life begins anew for all of us in our new family. We still need your prayers as we all get adjusted to our new life together at home.

Lastly, a short story about our trip to Walmart in Nanning, Guangxi. Our guide who knowingly or not made a very funny joke. She said, "You will notice that all of the things in our Walmart, unlike in America, are "Made in China!" When you think about that statement many thoughts may come to mind but for me that phrase has a whole new meaning!!

We love you Emma (Made in China)

Valentines Day 2007

Happy Valentines Day everyone. Our day was fairly uneventful except for one very important and final step in our journey to bring Emma home. Today we received her VISA, no not her credit card; but I am sure that she will be soon receiving those solicitations soon. We had to take a 45 minute bus ride through terrible traffic in the middle of nap time to get to the U.S. Consulate where we waited in a big room and waited for a lady to come talk to us for a few minutes and then we raised our right hands and took an oath affirming all of the years of paper work was correct to the best of our knowledge. We did.

We then received here VISA packet that is sealed and can't be opened by anyone but the immigration officer in our port of entry, Chicago, on Friday. This last thing was the official end of our trip. Now we are just on vacation in China with our family waiting to come home on Friday.

At the consulate no pictures were allowed and no video or electronics, so the memories will be preserved on here Chinese passport and in our hearts as the favorite valentine we received in 2007.

Later to night we will rap up our blogging from China and look forward to seeing all of you at home. It has been fun and exciting but as you might be able to tell we are all ready to come home.

A day of relaxation, February 13th

Today was a free day for us. We had breakfast and headed out to do some shopping. Yes, shopping again. Scott and Jake are becoming pros! Emma and I are just along for the ride. Scott attended the checkout meeting and what to expect for tomorrows visit to the US Consulate. We get Emma Visa and then we can come home.



I had a surprise this afternoon. Can anyone guess? Scott found me enough power so I could use my flat iron. I'm back!!! Thanks babe!

We loaded up at 5:30pm for our dinner cruise. On our way to the boat we saw two different men walking monkeys on a leash. When we got to the dock we had to wait to get on. The boat had 3 levels. We were on the 2nd level and we all had window tables for viewing the city. Our ride was 2 hours long and they had a buffet dinner. Of course there was nothing that Jake would eat. But once again Dad came to the rescue. McDonald's, (they told us that the children would not like the dinner and suggested we have an alternative plan) The dinner was okay and the beer was great! The beer always seem great! We have been drinking a local brew, Tsingtao.

We're back to the hotel and everyone is tired, even Jake. Tomorrow is a big day. We go the the Buddhist Temple for a blessing in the morning and to the US Consulate in the afternoon to take an oath and receive all the documents for Emma so she can come home.

Sorry, no pictures tonight. I tried, but it was taking over 10 minutes to load just one. I will try again tomorrow.

Good night!

Red Couch Day, February 12th

Our mornings are quite busy. We get started at 6:30am when Emma wakes up. She is so happy. By the time we all shower and Emma eats it is already 8:30 and time for breakfast. This photo is taken where we eat very morning.

This morning was group photo time. Looking at this picture you could only imagine the chaos. From left to right, Katie Classe, Emma, Tessa Burkle(they were in the same orphanage together), Waverly Au, Jolene Hernandez and Violet Ramsey.

All the mommies.


Two peas in a pod.

In the park, Emma meets her first dog and he was just her size.

After the group photos we went shopping. We picked up a few souvenirs and had Starbucks. Emma and Scott were all shopped out. We stopped at Lucy's Grill for lunch.

The last bit of energy for the day.

We are all ready to come home! Tomorrow is a free day for us until dinner. We are going on a River Boat Cruise. Emma is getting pretty spoiled and Jake has been such a grown-up boy. We have been doing homework about every other day if we are lucky. The last few days we have been working on math flash cards. It is now a timed game for both Scott and Jake. Jake wrapped up two books today! Hooray!! We get to start a new one tomorrow, "The Mouse and the Motorcycle".

Good night everyone!

Play Time

See how I've have changed, February 11th

Gotcha Day, 02/05/07

Gotcha Day, 02/05/07

First Bath, 02/06/07


Nanning Zoo, 02/07/07


Nanning Square, 02/08/07


Nanning Park, 02/09/07

White Swan Hotel Play Room, 02/10/07

Daddy's girl, 02/11/07

Saturday, February 10th

The White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou bills itself as "one of the World's finest hotels". It has virtually everything you need, especially if you are adopting. It has numerous restaurants, a variety of shops, a driving range (no he has not been out on it yet...), health club, pool, night club, two lobbies, and hundreds of rooms. There are probably as many employees here as there are guests. We even have a floor attendant and their assistant.

Breakfast...what can I say, it had everything you could imagine except for what Jake wanted, waffles and pancakes. Have I told you about the rules for in line at restaurants and boarding airplanes and anything else that requires waiting in line? There are no lines, if you do not push your way to the front you will be standing there all day. Cutting in line is considered normal. Which brings us back to breakfast. We are lucky there was lots of food because every businessman from China kept butting in line. It felt like we were at the busiest intersection in China waiting to cross the street without traffic signals. Can you say road rage at breakfast?

The babies play room is wonderful. Emma loves the freedom to crawl and play with every Matel toy ever made for little people. Her favorite toy is the Elmo learning center that she can stand at. Even Jake had fun there too.

Today when we returned from having Emma's Visa photo made and the medical exam, we had a gift waiting for her. A souvenir from Matel, a Barbie, an American mom and her Chinese baby.

We ate at a good Thai restaurant with our group. The restaurant looked just like you might imagine a restaurant in China would look like. It had many beautiful Chinese lanterns hanging from the trees.

The weather was hot and humid but cooled down nicely after dinner. Smoggy during the day and as the afternoon progressed this smog lifted.

Tomorrow we go to the Jade and Pearl market.

Good night.

Jill and Scott

All about Jake!!!

Climbing the Great Wall of China

Hanging out at his Summer Palace

Nothing is Forbidden in this City

Watching out for Emma at the hotel play room.
Furnished by Matel.

Eskimo kisses.

Saturday, February 10th

Visa photo, coming to America.

Having coffee, chocolate milk and a bottle.

Starbucks opens on Monday, a block away from the hotel!!!

Medical Exam.

Physical exam, measurments, and ENT.

Big Brother getting it all on tape.

Eating lunch. One of her favorite foods, congee.

Friday, February 9th

Today we skipped the museum trip and decided to go to the park instead. It was beautiful and the weather was great.

Zig Zag Bridge, Nanning City Park

This little boy came right up to the stroller and started pushing it with Jake. I am not sure if you can see this or not but he is wearing "split pants". These are potty training pants. They do not wear a diaper. These pants are 24/7 open access. Can you say "COMMANDO"? I won't tell you actually were the "bathroom" is.

Today was another day of firsts for Emma. She got her passport and had her first airplane ride. We sat near the front of the plane, by the end of the 45 minute flight the passengers in the back knew her well.

She has trademark "silent cry". It is quite amazing, I have never seen a baby cry mouth wide open and not one sound. She can hold her breathe for about 12 seconds with the only side affect being slightly blue lips and an ear drum piercing scream. It at first appears you are watching a silent movie because you have to swear that she is suppose to be making a sound, but there is not one. She treated the passengers of the flight to several of these.:)

It was a really long day and the kids did not get to sleep until after 10:30pm and not much of a dinner.

Thursday, February 8th

Another outing...today we went to a village outside of Nanning, Yuling. It was rather interesting. I guess if there was one word to sum it all up it would be primitive. The bus dropped us off and we walked through this 1000 person town. It had dirt roads, cement floors in the homes, they grow their own vegetation and skin their own meat. One of the first things we saw was a man killing a chicken and cutting it's head right off. I'm not too interested in eating chicken anytime soon.

We all brought candy for the children of the village. Apparently, they are a custom to Americans site seeing. They know they get candy when we come. We saw the ladies in the fields tending to the crops and washing their clothes in a pond and scrubbing them on the rock. We also had an opportunity to see a home in the village. Cement floors, a well in the middle of the main room with an open ceiling and a chicken running around inside. The bed room was cramped and had a wooden bed for sleeping.

An old lady wanted to hold Emma and she did great! She is not afraid of anyone yet. The ladies loved Jacob. He even sat on a ladies lap. She said he was heavy. He was a good sport. The people there were very friendly and loved having visitors.

Tonight, we went out to dinner at a restaurant that had engagement ceremonies. Well, the Miau (minority) tradition is the lady comes and picks her groom by tugging on their ear and tapping her foot on their toe. This a sign that she wants to marry him. Well, Scott was chosen to get married. They had a ceremony, they danced on a bench, he carried her on his back and then they toasted wine. The good news is after 3 days they can back out with out

Emma is making so much progress. She turns her head when you say her name, she will let anyone hold her, she eats great and sleeps very well. She is still working on cutting in her sixth tooth. Thank goodness for Tylenol.

Jake has really changed the past several days. He is learning so much about the Chinese culture and traditions and has even learned some Chinese. He writes in his journal daily. So he does not forget a thing. He is an awesome big brother too.

Tomorrow is travel day. We travel to our last destination, Guangzhou to finalize Emma's Visa and Passport. What we hear is the White Swan Hotel, were we are staying is wonderful. May Western traditions and great shopping for souvenirs.

Talk with you all tomorrow!

Wednesday, February 7th

Sorry, for not getting anything posted last night. I am was fighting for time on the computer with Scott.

Wednesday, we headed out to tour a museum here in Nanning, but when we got there it was closed for a special showing. So instead we went to the Zoo! Which is just what we all needed, fresh air!

Now this was not our zoo and it did not have any pandas, but is had dancing, bicycle riding brown bears. We saw brown bears, moneys riding bikes, a goat with a money on it's back walk a tight rope and elephants play soccer. When they first came out I thought they were people dressed like bears. But no, real brown bears.

We also saw the sea lions and dolphins. Jake was entertained and Emma liked the music.

From there we headed back to our hotel for lunch and a nap. We ventured out with another couple around 5pm to go to McDonald's for dinner. I never thought I would so happy to have something other than Chinese food. The french fries taste just like the ones back home. We also did a little shopping at the mall. I had to break down and buy a new backpack for all of Emma's stuff that we need to carry around. I guess I forgot what all you need to carry. Before we went in for the night we stopped for cake at a little bakery. The chocolate cake was awesome.

Thursday we will be traveling to a village outside of Nanning to see what "real" Chinese living is like outside of the city.

A couple of new pictures of Emma.