Medical Examination

Autumn with wet hair before getting her bows!

We took all of the babies today to have a physical examination in order to state that they were in good enough health to immigrate into the US. They measured their heads, did weight and height, and checked their ears and throat. Some of the babies cried--however, Autumn slept through half. That was nice!

Another baby we passed on the walk back!

A bride getting some pictures taken--one of them by us! -:)


Autumn getting a little tickle from Mommy!

It's [Really] Official!!!

This is our official adoption registration certificate. China says she belongs to us. We went yesterday to apply for her Chinese passport; this will take about 5 days. We need this done to get a visa for Autumn to come home with us. As soon as we get to the states she will be a US citizen, but until then she is a Chinese citizen with American parents. Today we go to have an immigration physical and that's it until we have the passport. The Chinese paperwork is complete, everything else is for the US.

Autumn continues to sleep well. She is laughing more and crying more(but no more than any one year old). We had a meltdown over hair bows, Autumn made it clear that she was not in favor of this and Mommy made it clear that it doesn't matter what she thinks. Both the laughing and the crying are good because she is opening up, the first day or two she was pretty flat emotionally.

She is eating consistently, but not nearly as much as she needs to. Eventually she'll get hungry enough and used to the American formula we're giving her. We've been encouraged to get her to transition because the nutrition is much better.

Flashback Beijing!!!

Our visit to the Forbidden City.

I have been making Guy take pictures of the "faces in China"--could possibly be someone with two girls--who knows!

Our rickshaw driver!



We visited a local family--this is the husband Mr. Lu. He is famous for raising fighting crickets in Beijing. This is a sport--in years past people would gamble on the cricket fight--now it is illegal (however in some places it still might be happening.) He showed us a grasshopper which are raised specifically to hear their song kind of like song birds.

Soldier on the Tian'an men Square

Tian'an men Square

Another face of China

End of the Harmonious Period!

Well we had our first night with Autumn. She fell asleep at 9:30 and woke up at 6:30. YEAH God!! She slept with me (mommy) in a twin bed and did great. I know all of you are thinking (you shouldn't be starting that, but we are bonding and it's OK!!!)

We had a great buffet breakfast this morning before going back to the Guangdong Adoption Office where we had a family photo taken. The period between yesterday when we got her and today when we went to the adoption office is called the "Harmonious Period." This is a time that they give you to decide whether or not you want to keep the baby. Of course you do--however, I guess that there have been some instances where some people decide they don't. We can't imagine how that could happen. We had an interview with two different officials asking us basic questions and making sure that we wanted to keep Autumn.

This is Autumn and Lilly. Lilly is a couple weeks younger than Autumn, came from the same orphanage, and will be moving with her parents to York, PA, about an hour from us.

We came home and took a great nap--woke up and toured the hotel a bit. They have a big playroom for all of the babies where Autumn enjoyed herself. We ate (all 16 families with our babies) at a great Chinese restaurant across the street from the hotel. It was only $12 per couple--super cheap.

We are now back at the hotel where Autumn is enjoying her stacking cups. She loves to feel the textures of everything.

We are able to view the blog site now and see all of your comments. Thanks. We will talk tommorrow. Love, the Caleys

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.”