The Final Countdown!!!!

Only one more day of leisurely strolling down the streets of Guangzhou, window shopping at the market, getting suckered into a purchase here and there and seeing almond shaped eyes everywhere we go.

Today was a wonderful day. It was the first day Graycn and mommy got to sleep in! Daddy went to the city zoo and took lots of pictures and video for us. Mommy and Graycn woke up late (9:30), had breakfast w/ "Aunt Amy" (Gracey's mom) and came back to the room to play and get ready for the day.

We had a sweet time at the US Consulate ~ It was so fun to go up the escalators and see the American flag greet us! There were approximately 35 families taking the oath today ~ we all sat in chairs, waiting for our paperwork to be gathered, and then all of a sudden our names were called to get in line. We handed our paperwork to a gentleman behind a glass window and sat back down and waited. Nothing seemed too spectacular (no photos or video could be taken). Before we knew it, a lady came out and greeted us and congratulated us on our adoption being official and informed us that after the oath, Graycn would now be a "resident" of the United States of America! We received a brown envelope that has been sealed 3 different times (to ensure it's authenticity). We were informed to NOT open it ~ it contains papers we give to the immigration officer in Chicago that once filed and stamped ensure Graycn as a "citizen" of the United States of America!!!!!!! We all stood and held up our right hand ~ it was then that the ENGLISH speaking US Consulate employee shared with us that we are joining over 70,000 US families who have adopted children from China! The oath was a formality of promising that all the paperwork provided (over the last 3+years and current time) was accurate ~ WOW!!!! 70,000 families ~ that is a home for at least 70, 000 orphaned children..... Oh, I am just blown away that God has chosen us to care for this little sparkle ~ What a BLAST!!!!

We came home, did some shopping and met many of our Chenzhou families for dinner (we chose Italian tonight!) ~ Last nights' German was AWESOME!!!!!! oh~ I thought about it many times today!!! ha!!! ;) yummmmmmmmmmy!!!!!!

Graycn is tucked in....all fresh and clean! You should see her in the tub ~ she is hilarious!!!! She splashes....kicks....swings her arms....squeals.....and wiggles like a wild woman!!!! The whole time she is doing this, she is GIGGLING!!!! She is so fun!!!! Quite the perfect addition for our family!!!!

Off to bed we go......not sure if I will be able to blog any more until after we are home....if not, love to you all!

w&h

Red Couch~ Guangzhou's People~ Dr's Appointment

Woooooooooooooooooo~Hoooooooooooooooooo!!!! The "Red Couch" photos are "official"!!!!! What a cool feeling to have gotten our sweet baby Graycn dressed in her EXTRA SPECIAL Chinese outfit for her most memorable "post~adoption photograph"!

The beautiful pink outfit she wore was soooooo precious to her mama! Some of you know, but there are MANY that do not know how that outfit came about........back in Spring 2007, one of my dear friends at Children's Mercy South ("Sha-nay-nay") told me about this sweet outfit she had bought for her sister's daughter and that she would ask her sister to save it for me for our little china bundle! Well................approximately 2 years later, it was "delivery" time at the Godshall houshold :) She was able to get her hands back on that outfit, but it had been a little worn (better known as "chewed up by the washing machine") ~ ha!!!! :) :) :) Anyway, another dear friend of mine at CMH~South ("Ramsey") saw this as a "challenge" and took the 'sad' little outfit home to provide some TLC ~ lo and behold........she performed a miracle!!!!! Graycn's outfit was the talk of the "Red Couch Fashion Pre~Show"!!!!! (Thank you girls for making this day even more special than it already would have been! ~ I love you all soooo much and can't wait for you to meet your Graycn! She has so many "Aunts" waiting for her arrival!)

We also had so much fun just walking the town of Guangzhou ~ it is such a quaint province. The people are so nice and seem very excited about their "girls" going to America. You will hear the older ladies telling you "good, good" as they give you a thumbs up. You can also hear them saying "happy baby, happy mama and baba" as they clap their hands.

We had been commenting on how there are NO obese people in China....I don't think there has been one! Today, I think we figured out why......for those of you receiving the snapfish albums, look for the photos of the park and you will see what age group is taking over the playground "equipment" and who is encompassing the majority of "free space". We were just blown away! I think each of us are making plans to retire in Guangzhou! It is as if time stands still! You feel so safe to walk around at any time of day/night ~ even by yourself (Don't worry, my UCC friends....I was ready to practice my "self-defense" moves!!!!!) ha!

We also had Graycn's physical exam today. She did so good! She was 6.1kg (definitely smaller than they measured with ALL her clothes on before she became a "Godshall"). They did actually use an otoscope to check the babies ears~ however, we did find it "funny" that all the people in the clinic (today was National Ear Day - EVERYBODY in Guangzhou was getting their ears checked today) "shared" the same disposable otoscope tip! (yummy!!!!) Dr. Rauf~ be assured that I am finding HUMOR in this.....not JUDGING the socialism of Graycn's 3rd world country!!!!! ha!!!! Also, on that note: I am so proud to tell you that Graycn passed her "hearing test"!!!!!! They held a brightly colored "squeak" toy by her right side of her face (she could see it) and then they "squeaked" the toy! Guess what????? eventually, Graycn looked at the toy as if to say "Are you going to hold it closer? I can't reach it!" She had the same response with her left ear :) ~ good thing I wasn't worried about "if" her ears were working :) ha!!!

Okay....off to get some pictures downloaded for ya...and then off to bed!

love to each of you!!!!!
w&h