Happy 2010

Happy 2010

Christmas in Mexico

The Childers' side of our family spent a whole week in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. There were 23 of us flip-flopping our way through the streets, markets and delicious restaurants of my parent's favorite vacation spot! We had a blast swimming, splashing, banana-boating, wave jumping, sea shell searching, body surfing, eating and drinking TONS of virgin pina' coladas, dancing and dancing and dancing (not that any of us looked good- except Uncle Wade) *what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico :) ha!
This was Graycn's first family vacation, and yet, she has been to more countries than the boys. All of Graycn's paperwork came in before any "panic" mode had to be thought about...that was a huge blessing since our homestudy girl up and left the country w/ no assistance or direction ~ augh!!!! (that was a little stressful, to say the least)
We had such a wonderful time.....here are some photos....but I can't download enough, so you'll just have to believe me when I say..."there was nothing like it in the history of "Childer's family fun!" :)
~w&h

The Godshall Girls...

The Godshall Girls...
"gg" is sooooo kissable!

The World's Cutest Kids!

The World's Cutest Kids!

Pumpkin Shopping!

Pumpkin Shopping!
Graycn was just itching for Haydn to let go of her....she was ready to just "squeak" (squeaky shoes) her way from one pumpkin to another!

The BIG chair at the pumpkin patch

The BIG chair at the pumpkin patch
The poor people in line behind us thought we would NEVER get all 4 people to stop moving and to look at the camera at the same time!

Soooooo big!!!!!!

Soooooo big!!!!!!
Graycn loves to twirl in circles and then runs at you with her arms down and back :)

One of Mommy's favorite photos!

One of Mommy's favorite photos!
All dressed up for church.....Paytn LOVES the "job" of getting sissy ready :)

Surrounded by LOVE!

Surrounded by LOVE!
Oh my goodness.....Wade and I walked into our house (excited and exhausted) ....we were met by the most overwhelming sight we have ever experienced! Our home was filled with "love letters" from our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors.....I remember feeling so confused when I walked in and saw faces of people all over my house.....and then all of a sudden I realized who they were ..... and why they were there ~ we have never felt so loved!

Welcome Home!

Welcome Home!
Jenny, Kathy, Karen and Rachel....THIS was AWESOME!!!!!!!

Love that kept going...and going....and going!

Love that kept going...and going....and going!
I found "love letters" in my cabinets, drawers, pantry....I had "surprises" for days!!!!! We had no idea we could be loved so much...WOW!!!!!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

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

2 comments:

  1. I got goose bumps reading this!! So happy for you guys!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hope ya'll are having a great flight home!! I'm so excited to hear how the kids react when see her!! :) I hope ya'll video it!! :)
    HOpe to see you this month!!

    ReplyDelete

Our Beautiful Chinese Princess

Our Beautiful Chinese Princess
Look at this gorgeous outfit from "Aunt" Sha-nay-nay and "Aunt" Ramsey!!! My heart was so full as I put her in that special outfit! I just loved telling her about the "hug" she was wearing!

Our little "exclamation point"!

Our little "exclamation point"!
We refer to Graycn as being the "exclamation point" to an already AWESOME family!!! We are so excited to bring her home so we can all be together!

"Sisters"

"Sisters"
It is said that girls from the same province call themselve "sisters" regardless of whether they have a friendship connection or not. Our Graycn and her sweet Gracey have such a tender bond. They seem to respond to each other differently than with the other "sisters" :)

"Red Couch" ~ brings such "emotion" to the girls!

"Red Couch" ~ brings such "emotion" to the girls!
Doesn't Graycn look concerned about her Gracey?

Dominos.....

Dominos.....
"It's all fun and games until one baby cries and slides"

"Chenzhou Girls"

"Chenzhou Girls"
Graycn's China family! :)

"High-Tech" hearing test!

"High-Tech" hearing test!
read the blog entry to get more info on this photo :)

2/3 of Daddy's Girls :)

2/3 of Daddy's Girls :)
Graycn is the talk of the travel group ~ she seems to have the best "seat" when touring her land of birth!

Mama's Girl

Mama's Girl
Graycn is just "chillin" in her "mom-made" carseat!

Oh No..... Another "Kissing Bandit"

Oh No..... Another "Kissing Bandit"
When you say "kiss, kiss" Graycn will lean in to kiss you :)

So Tiny~ So Exhausted!

So Tiny~ So Exhausted!
Graycn is so funny! She likes to fall asleep all snuggled up in a "nest" of things :) Look at how little she is in comparison to the little snuggly blanket next to her! the jammies she has on are 6-12 (she is 8.5 mo) ~ they are baggy on her :)

Sealed with a kiss.....

Sealed with a kiss.....
as far as we were concerned....the adoption was complete before we even laid eyes on Graycn! (a fellow adoptee caugh this on camera, we had not seen Graycn, but knew she was in the building!)

You just can't get much more comfortable than this!

You just can't get much more comfortable than this!
we are in "hog heaven"!!!! EEEEeeeeeee!!!!!

~Settled in~

~Settled in~
Graycn is clean....full.....warm and absolutely AMAZING!!!

Graycn and one of her Chezhou girlfriends~ Grace Lynn

Graycn and one of her Chezhou girlfriends~ Grace Lynn
we have become so close to these families already! We are loving getting to know the Harts!

Bringing our Graycn home to our "home away from home"...

Bringing our Graycn home to our "home away from home"...
getting her off the bus and taking her into our room to independently take care of her was an AWESOME feeling! She will be "officially" ours tomorrow....

Mama's snuggle bug!

Mama's snuggle bug!
Graycn is so touchy-feely and huggy....I am just loving that!

Daddy's newest little girl!

Daddy's newest little girl!
Pay~Pay.....do you think you can share your daddy with this little bundle? :)

The wait is over!

The wait is over!
And it was well worth it!

Home away from Home......

Home away from Home......
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Doesn't g~g's "first" night at the Godshall look promising for "sweet dreams!" :) ~ it's been "ruffle-ized"!!!

Getting ready for Graycn's "delivery" :)

Getting ready for Graycn's "delivery" :)
looks so sweet....but a little lonely.....

Graycn's "stash"

Graycn's "stash"
bottles...formula....cheerios....toys.....books....and lots more!

a "baby bed"!!!!

a "baby bed"!!!!
notice Graycn's sweet crib right by our "Lucy & Desi" beds! :)

Our 2nd Gas Mask found on our 1st night in Changsha!

Our 2nd Gas Mask found on our 1st night in Changsha!
We were at a "Western Style" chinese restaurant for dinner tonight, and we look up and see a gas mask on the wall of the room that the 30 of us were eating in.....hmmmmmm.....1 gas mask/30 people??? The odds are NOT in our favor! I told the table not to worry...I had my "inhaler"! :)

Gas Mask.....that's right.....I said "gas mask"!!!!

Gas Mask.....that's right.....I said "gas mask"!!!!
oh my word! We opened up the closet to put our things in the safe, and look what was "waiting" for us.... a genuine "chinese gas mask"!!! We both looked at each other and said, "I think China might be a little more dangerous than Memphis, TN!!!!!" (Sorry Gambrells!) - notice there is only 1.....wonder who can run the fastest to the closet?? hmmmmm!!! :)

LUGGAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LUGGAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it seems to just keep multiplying! ;)

our chinese cuisine on the flight

our chinese cuisine on the flight
notice the "pork" sticker in the right corner......poor Dr. Rauf would be STARVING in China!!!! ha! :)

Chenzhou Girls' mamas & babas

Chenzhou Girls' mamas & babas
the "intimate" 11 families leaving from Hong Kong to Changsha (the capital city of Graycn's Hunan Province)

Jumbo Floating Restaurant

Jumbo Floating Restaurant
This is the largest floating restaurant in the world. It is capable of seating 3,100 people! That would be a lot of food!!!!!!

HK Skyline

HK Skyline
the building in the back on the left is still being built and will be the tallest building in the world! The building to the right of that (with a "chopstick" on top) was apparently in the most recent Batman movie.

Overlooking Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Overlooking Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
There are 9 islands behind us, but you cannot see it with the haze from the weather.

the Regal Hong Kong Hotel

the Regal Hong Kong Hotel
You know it is a nice hotel when you turn on the tv and it is has a personalized message for you!

CCAI guides for Hong Kong

CCAI guides for Hong Kong
Patrick (the tall one) will lead our tours

our personal "United Airlines extra ammenities" historian

our personal "United Airlines extra ammenities" historian
This is the family we traveled 15 1/2 hours with. Read the blog for some fun details of how they made the LONG trip seem shorter!

One of Wade's "carry~on" items!

One of Wade's "carry~on" items!
we had so many people ask us where our baby was....we had fun answering them with "she is in China!"

"Flat Stacy" ~ on her way to China......

"Flat Stacy" ~ on her way to China......
Poor "Uncle Freshy" had no idea he was taking Flat Stacy to the airport too.....Flat Stacy is a school project for Paytn...you may see her popping up periodically throughout our journey :)

"It's Hot Time" ~

"It's Hot Time" ~
a "Childer's family" tradition! ~ Yee haw!

Dropping off the kiddos....

Dropping off the kiddos....
First Stop: Nanny and Papa

American "Chinese Food"

American "Chinese Food"
eating our last chinese dinner without our little china doll at our side!

Graycn's stuff ~ way too much for such a little bundle

Graycn's stuff ~ way too much for such a little bundle
1/3 of our 500lbs to stuff into our (2) 40lb suitcases.

Sitting all by herself!!!!!!

Sitting all by herself!!!!!!
We are so grateful for the orphange God has placed her in... Graycn appears to be right on schedule!

Oh......couldn't you just eat her?

Oh......couldn't you just eat her?
Our hearts are just leaping for joy!!!! As Paytn would say...."we just couldn't imagine loving her any more than we already do!"

Our "nosey" little g~g.........

Our "nosey" little g~g.........
She look so strong and healthy!

"Hi Guys!"

"Hi Guys!"
Looks like Graycn will fit right into our "social" family!

Graycn is getting so big!

Graycn is getting so big!
updated photo taken on 1/5/09. Her hair is growing and look at how strong she is!

Dear Sweet Daughter ~ a poem by Gayle Leubecker

As a girl I had a common dream, to be a Mom someday. My baby would have eyes of blue and hair the hue of hay. But now my dreams have been transformed, new visions fill my head. Now the tresses that I love to stroke are raven black instead. And in my dreams those eyes are not so big or blue or round. Now in my dreams their almond shaped and colored cocoa brown. And in my dreams my arms can stretch across enormous seas. They reach half-way around the world and hold you close to me. As you grow in your mother’s womb, carefully knit together, you’re also growing in my heart where you will stay forever. And in my dreams the moment your mother says good-bye, I’ll be right there to comfort you and hold you as you cry. Our features may not look alike, we’re different as can be. But still I know the Father has created you for me. And though I’ve not yet seen your face, or held your tiny hands, and though we’re half a world apart in very different lands, I’ll be right there to get you just as soon as God allows. But ‘til He says the time is right I give to you this vow, I’ll pray for your protection every day on bended knee….For God to hold you in His arms, until
you’re here with me.