News Flash, First Smile!

We've been so blessed that Autumn has been very content since we got her. Many of the babies have been crying non-stop. Autumn didn't cry at all until she was tired and hungry today, and even then she was pretty easy to calm. She has just been very curious, checking everything out, very possesive of her toys, and no emotion at all.

But just now Kathleen was playing pat-a-cake with her and we got our first smile and a few minutes later she was laughing out loud.

She's being very picky about food. She's probably eaten about twelve ounces, so that's better than some of the babies. She seems to be quite an actress, she starts acting like she's gagging as soon as you move the bottle toward her mouth.

Gotcha Day! It's Official!!

Praise the Lord!

We began the morning waking up at 4:30 to leave the hotel at 5:50. We boarded a plane at 7:50 for Guangzhou. We arrived at 11:00, met our guide, and went to the hotel. At 2:00 we left the hotel for the provincial adoption office to get all 16 of our babies. We were in a room just waiting---however, we didn't have to wait that long because our name was the second one called.

It all happened pretty fast, but we got our baby Autumn Xiao Fen Caley that we have been waiting a long time for. She immediately came to us and didn't cry at all--(still hasn't and is now sleeping as we speak). She seemed very curious about me and was very interested in the toys that we had for her. She played with them and just looked around. She did take the bottle for just a bit. She crawled on the floor for a bit as well. We waitied for all of the families to receive their babies.

It was quite chaotic--some babies very quiet--other babies not so quiet. There were a few babies around 17-19 months old--one just kept crying out Mah Mah--wanting her mama (caretaker). It was very heartbreaking. There was also another girl who was about 5 or 6 years old going to a family from another group. They already had a girl around that age that they had adopted--however, it was very emotional for her and tramatic. I was getting emotional just watching the situation. She had obviously been taken care of by a foster family.

We brought Autumn back to the hotel and gave her a bath. She has a very dark skin tone and obviously has lots of hair. We put her in some new clothes and a bow in her hair--she's ready to roll! She played with her toys very well--she has great eye hand coordination and seems to hear just fine. She is very curious! The caretakers said that when she is tired that she will throw her head back--that proved true. I walked around the room holding her for a few minutes and now she is sleeping sound. Autumn and Esther (another little girl from our group) were cribmates in the orphanage we were told.

We had pizza hut for dinner tonight delivered. Guy is right now out getting some of the paperwork filled out. We did visit the Forbidden City yesterday--we visited a local family's home, and took a rickshaw ride while being attacked by some locals trying to get us to buy their stuff. Guy bought a little of everything--they just stood right in front of him while our guide was talking waiting for him to buy--they must have read the word "SUCKER" on his forward. I kept looking over and there was something new they were pulling out and there he was pulling out more money--however, he has learned to bargain pretty well. We will post pictures of that later.

Well my back is hurting and I should rest while Autumn rests. Enjoy the pictures. We love all of you very much and can't wait to have Autumn join our whole family.

Blessings,

The Caley6 (It's official!!)

The Great Wall and..a Squatty Potty?

This is the last post until we get Autumn...the day after tomorrow! That'll be Monday night as you sleep, Tuesday afternoon for us.

OK, let’s get the obligatory “Tourists standing on the great wall of China” photo out of the way.



It’s still a little surreal to actually be here. We called home on our Panda Phone (Chinese rental cell phone) and spoke to Kathleen’s mom and the kids while we were at the great wall, just so we could say “Guess where we are?!”

We also got a chance to see a lot more of this city of 17 million, the patches of poverty and the transformation it’s been undergoing for the last couple of decades. Everywhere you look new highrises are going up. You have to wonder what was there before and where do they get the skilled labor for hundreds and hundreds of major construction projects simultaneously.

For those wondering, here is the “squatty potty.” If you can’t figure out how to use it, just let your imagination roam awhile.



We also went back to the silk street market for some more gifts, since we heard the prices might not be as good in Guangzhou.

Shopping tip for the day: You probably got a good deal if the merchant throws the merchandise at you at the completion of the transaction and refuses to look at you or say goodbye. “Why you treat me so bad? I don’t make any money this way. I try be your friend but you not friend to me.”

The Caley's Have Arrived In China!

Well, we really are here. It was a really long trip. We left our house at 6 a.m. Thursday and arrived at 0:30 Saturday. Yes, That's after midnight. Of course we lost a day and gained 12 hours. In other words, the trip was over 24 hours.



Breakfast in the hotel was great, then we made a trip to the grocery store where Kathleen broke out into the Halelujah chorus at the sight of Diet Pepsi.



Next was a trip to the Silk Market--actually an indoor market with all kinds of vendors. We bought too much. Chinese Decor for our home, gifts and silk dresses for the THREE girls and a cool silk outfit for Aaron. The calculator is how you communicate price when there is a language barrier. The vendor types a price, you counter with something 1/4 to 1/3 of that, go back and forth ten times and eventually reach a sale. Yes, you do always reach a sale, because if you try to walk away, suddenly your last offer is enough, "But why you treat me so bad? I offer you best friend price."



Kathleen and I got some Chinese shirts too. Kathleen got her first experience with the "squatty potty." No graphic descriptions here, but those of you close enough to her will eventually have to endure the full living color instant replay, I'm sure.

Tonight we went to see the children who are in training to be the acrobats of China. It was absolutely amazing. Kathleen, however found it necessary to inspect the insides of her eyelids for most of the show. Jet lag? Nah, not us, we're long time international travellers.

It looks like we have no access at all to blogger, so we can't see your comments until we get back, but feel free to post. We can get e-mail, however at our regular e-mail address. It's difficult to reply though, because we have to go to webmail. Maybe we'll get that figured out later. We plan to post again tomorrow and then won't post again until we get Autumn.

We love and miss you all. And, oh, by the way, Two days until we hold Autumn for the first time.

Two Days and Counting!

So we're officially freaking out. Everything that it seemed like we'd have time to do later, well, how's that working for you? So what to pack? and oh, we better get another battery for the video camera and will we be able to recharge that thing in China? and what about pictures? who will take those as we officially get Autumn? and still or video? how can we get both? Are you packing Baby Shampoo? Do we need Diarhea medicine? When are we going to buy snacks?

Did we mention that the official "Gotcha Day" is April 3 in the afternoon? It's 12 or 13 hours earlier over there, so let's see that'll be in the middle of the night over here.

Also we heard that blogspot is not accessible over in China now, so one of my students, Matthew, has agreed to do the posting for us. We'll e-mail him the photos and posts and he'll upload them. A great big "THANKS" to him for that.

I'm working on uploading video clips via Youtube as well hopefully, that's still available in China.

WE ARE ON OUR WAY!!!!! MARCH 29-APR 14TH

We made our trip to Congressman Holden's office on Thursday afternoon. We received a phone call that afternoon stating that our form was being mailed that afternoon. It came in the mail today. Praise God!!!!! He must always think "why do you doubt me o ye of little faith?" He truly is faithful and now we are officially on our way. We will be leaving two weeks from this Thursday. Guy is currently putting in new flooring for our beautiful new kitchen. Thank God this remodeling will be done before leaving. It is definitely worth it!!

Thank you for all of your prayers. We appreciate continued prayers for our whole family during our travel. Keep posted!!

Travel Dates!

We will be traveling to China on March 30th and returning home with Autumn on the 14th of April. That means she'll be in our arms around April 2. Continue to pray that our imigration paperwork comes through, we're not to nervous about it because we have 3 weeks and we're going to our congressman tomorrow to get some help (nothing like a "congressional inquiry" to grease the beauracratic wheels). Still we need that form to go but we're buying the tickets on faith.

Big sister, Alexandra is a little bummed that we'll be gone on her birthday (April 12). But she knows that we have no control and, hey, she may get a really cool brthday gift from China. I mean, really, when have you ever had anything that was made in China!

P.S. Kathleen wants to have "Made in China" tatooed on Autumn's behind, but I'm trying to talk her out of it, Love Guy.