The goal today was to get a picture of Havensong on the red couch at the White Swan Hotel. For some reason, the tradition once receiving your child in China is to make it over to the White Swan hotel and get a picture on the big red couch. What I found so odd was after getting to the hotel, not many of the employees knew what I was talking about when asking where the red couch was. Beau and I must have spend 15-20 minutes searching the hotel for the couch but finally found it. Actually nothing too spectacular but when in Rome, right? We snapped the picture and then spend an hour or so exploring Shamian Island.

The White Swan hotel is on Shamian Island. The White Swan hotel is a very popular place for adoptive parents to stay when coming to Guangzhou. All Chinese adoptions are finalized in Guangzhou. One reason for the popularity of the hotel is because it is adjacent to the United States consulate, making it convenient to file paperwork and handle bureaucratic matters. 

Shamian Island is a small sandbank island in the Liwan District of Guangzhou. The island's name literally means "sandy surface" in Chinese. The territory was divided into two concessions given to France and the United Kingdom by the Qing Dynasty government in the 19th century. Shamian Island was an important port for Guangzhou's foreign trade from the Song to the Qing Dynasty. It's a really amazing place.

The other item on my check list was to find Havensong a pair of squeaky shoes. These are the traditional shoes infants wear in China and they literally squeak when walked in. (Like the Lindsey home needs any more noise!) I found a cute pink pair. I also found Havensong the cutest traditional Chinese jacket for a keepsake. 

Beau and I found the nicest Starbucks we've ever been to on Shamian Island and took the opportunity to take a break with a Venti Iced Carmel Macchiato.  Yum!!!

After a few hours of sightseeing it was time to head back to the hotel. Havensong was very happy to be back in her familiar hotel room and within 15 minutes she was down for her nap. 

At 5pm we met our new friends Ann & Tim Roen from Minneapolis for dinner. We decided on Italian and found a really good Italian restaurant a block away from the hotel. Ann and Tim adopted the cutest little boy named Max. Max is the cutest Chinese food vacuum I have ever seen. This kid can put down some food! :-) Ann and Tim are new parents and Max is a very blessed little boy.

One of the funny conversations we had at dinner was how our lives feel like the movie Groundhog Day. Everyday is almost identical. Get up, feed, change diaper, cloth, eat breakfast, change diaper, adoption appointments, paperwork, feed, change diaper, nap, change diaper, eat, play, walk around the city, eat, change diaper, put on PJs, put to bed... and wake up the next day for the same exact routine. I will be sooooooooo glad to finally be heading home to start our new life with Havensong.

We got back to the hotel room around 7 and Havensong couldn't wait to get into some fresh PJs, play a little, have her bottle, and go to bed. Whew...

Tomorrow we wait at the hotel while Rebecca submits all our paperwork to the U.S. consulate. If all is approved and in order, we will head over to the consulate at 2:30 to take the adoption oath.

Today was a big day.

After another amazing breakfast at the hotel, we met Rebecca in the lobby this morning to head over to the Civil Affairs office once again to have our official interview with the Chinese Adoption Agency. 

It was a bit intimidating. It was just me, Havensong, and a government official. A very big office, one very clean desk, and the Chinese flags behind her on the wall and on her desk. She asked me why Michelle and I wanted to adopt and if we would raise her well and never abandon her. I silently prayed that my answers were to ones she was looking for. After a 5-10 minute time of questions about our family, our parenting, and our aspirations for Havensong, she signed the documents.

With China’s approval, Havensong is ours!

On the way back to the hotel, I asked Rebecca where the best place might be to get a new, cheap, digital camera. The little Nikon I brought has always caused problems: not focusing,  not zooming, etc. So, I wanted to make sure I get as many good photos as possible while here so it was time to get a new camera. Rebecca called her husband, the electronics buff, and he suggested the “Electronics Market” of Guangzhou. 

When we got there, I thought Beau was going to die. He had never seen some many electronics shops - literally hundreds in a few city blocks. Audio/Video equipment, audiophile stuff, cameras, speakers, etc. I wanted a cheap Panasonic and so after a few stores and Rebecca’s bartering in Chinese I was able to score a great little Panasonic camera for about $175 - half the price at Amazon.com right now. I wish we could barter at Best Buy or Costco.

Beau was in need of some new headphones too so we asked the camera store if they knew where we could get some and after being told to sit down for a few minutes, someone showed up with a few headphone options. Beau picked a pair of really nice Sony DJ headphones for $25! When we got back to the hotel room and checked Amazon.com, we couldn’t believe our good fortune: normally $125! Beau was one happy camper. He actually fell asleep with them on tonight. 

After getting back to the hotel, we played with Havensong, took a nap, and I got to change my first Havensong poopy diaper. I forgot that cute little babies make stinky little presents. Oh well, I figure I owe Michelle a few on the Daddy vs. Mommy official diaper change count.

In the evening we went the mall across the street to find a few mixing bowls for Havensong’s formula and cereal, stopped at Starbucks, and hit the local 7-11 to get some snacks. Havensong was fussy the whole time but as soon as we got to the room, changed her and gave her some toys, she was a happy girl once again.

I gave Havensong a bottle for dinner, put her in some cute pink pajamas, prayed with her and put her in bed. She was out in minutes. I think she in enjoying being a Lindsey... and now it’s official.

(New pictures being uploaded later in the day. Check back later.)

This is the day we thought would never arrive. We are going to meet Havensong.

As with the last few days, I couldn't sleep too well last night. Of course I couldn't, I knew this was the day we get our baby girl! I got up around 6am and had my quiet time. So thankful to the Lord for being so faithful through this entire process. I knew today the Lindsey family's life would change forever.

I woke Beau up around 9am so we could go down and have breakfast.

After breakfast, Rebecca (our adoption liaison) met us at our room to go through all the paperwork we would need to bring to the civil affairs office today in order to get Havensong. I was very nervous because one missing piece of paperwork or something not notarized or signed properly could delay our adoption for weeks. Rebecca went through our paperwork for today and next week's visa application and announced, "Everything looks great. You and Michelle did a great job!" Whew... what a load off my shoulders. Now I could concentrate on meeting my little girl for the first time. 

Rebecca left the room to tend to a few other adopting families. Beau and I now had to wait 2 hours before heading over to the civil affairs office. 

It was the longest 2 hours of my life!

FINALLY, it was 2:30pm. Time to meet Rebecca in the hotel lobby and head over the the civil affairs office. After about a 10 minute car ride, we were finally there.

We went to the 8th floor of a huge office building and found ourselves waiting with about 10-15 other families who were waiting for their children to arrive too. Havensong had about a 3 hour car ride today from her orphanage, south of Guangzhou. 

Beau and I mingled with some of the families talking about our long waits and the disbelief that it was almost over. The children arrive from various orphanages throughout the area and are held in a room called “The Playroom” where they wait with their orphanage directors. Our director was Lady Zeng and little did I know she was counseling Rebecca on Havensong’s fear of strangers and to be prepared for Havensong to not be too happy when she is handed to me. 

After about 15 minutes talking with the other families, Rebecca interrupted us to announce that they were ready to give us Havensong. I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest! I was about to meet my baby girl for the very first time. I told Beau to fire up the camcorder and stood by the entrance to “The Playroom.”

After what seemed like an eternity, Lady Zeng emerged with the most precious and beautiful little girl ever born in China. My baby girl Havensong. They handed her to me and all the doubt, all the paperwork, all the stress, and all the waiting was totally worth it. Havensong was finally ours. She just stared at Beau and I as I held her. Who in the world were these weird looking people that had traveled half way across the world to rescue her? 

Lady Zeng stared in disbelief because Havensong didn’t cry. She didn’t even try to get out of my arms and back into the familiar arms of the lady who raised her. After a minute or so she actually rested her head on my face as if to say, “You’re finally here. I’m safe. I can rest. I belong.” I was now a bawling mess. Even the tallest and biggest guy in the whole room, Havensong’s big brother Beau, was teared up pretty good.

As I wrapped my arms around her, I thought about home. Her new home. Havensong’s beautiful, and loving Mommy, her pretty and fun sisters Tayler and Autumn, and her handsome and energetic brothers Beau and Chase. Havensong finally has a family. We finally have Havensong.

Havensong Eleanor Joy Lindsey... welcome to our family. Your family.

We love you so very much.

(Go to the pictures section of this website to see the pictures from today.)

Happy New Year to all of our friends and family!!!

I know we have  such  a long wait ahead of us. I am just glad I can say we were logged in LAST year. The CCAA is  taking 2.3 moths to get through one month of referrals.  They are about to refer to the end of September, so you can see how far out we still are  with a log in date of September 13, 06.  I have to just enjoy each day and before we know it Haven will be here with us!

How can I long to hold someone who may not even exist yet?

How do I know her name, yet I have not seen her face?

How do I call myself the Mother of five when I only gave four bedtime kisses tonight?

She is mine, she is mine, she is mine!

She goes with me all day. She is in my thoughts, my prayers, my dreams.

This journey is so long, and it seems never ending, but she is worth the wait.

Nothing is too hard to endure when I think of  her in my arms, in all of our arms.

Haven...we  love you.

You seem far away but you are really right here in our hearts.

It seems as though things are barely moving, yet I know each day brings us closer to Haven. Our official Log In Date is 9-13-06. As you can see they are only at 9-08-05! Oh Lord just give me patience!!! And help me to "Endure Boldly!"

It's so exciting to see all of the families receive their referrals. It gives me hope! If you go to www.chinaadopttalk.com you can see photos posted of everyone's sweet babies. The end of the month is a good time to see the new photos. Congrats everyone!

The ladybug is the symbol for Chinese adoption. Here is a photo of Autumn with ladybugs all over her hands...