We are a family that have been expecting our second child for over four years now. We started the adoption process in the spring of 2006, submitted our paperwork to China in September of 2006 and have been waiting patiently for a child since. We finally we got our referral and plan to have the process completed and travel to China this coming spring!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

I do not think it means what you think it means

On the website for Bea's orphanage I found a bunch of stories. This in one of them that I am sure is about us. (or at least about Jennifer) However, Google Translate leaves some to be desired. The first paragraph is about us and the rest is kind of a marketing piece for them.

If anyone can translate the original text at the bottom, I would appreciate it.

From Google Translate:


Jade is very smart sensible small South, we all love her." March 10, loving mother of Jennifer from the United States came to a return visit Longgang District Social Welfare Center, moved to the center staff said. After three days of the integration period, they decided to adopt 3-year-old orphan of the center a small South jade, give her a warm home.

It is understood, Longgang District, to promote social welfare centers to achieve a major breakthrough in foreign adoptee, since last year, a total of 79 children adopted by foreign families. Foreign adoption, is a foreigner or a stateless person in the PRC adopted children of Chinese citizens. China Center of Adoption Affairs is currently 16 countries with approximately
157 adoption organizations were established. Foreign Adopted orphans and disabled children can not only help recover the warmth of the family, but also give them a good education and a bright future.

Longgang District Social Welfare Centre from the end of 2008 to carry out the work of foreign adoptee. To enable more children welfare centers as soon as possible into the home, went to the Beijing Center for repeated contact with the China Center for Adoption, and ingenuity to 188 children burn CDs, well-designed foreign adoption information uploaded to the China Center of Adoption Affairs website. July 2009, the Center for the first time the organization older orphans and disabled children to participate in "Journey of Hope" foreign adoption activities, so that nine older children returned to their homes. In early 2010, the center has been actively fighting for the first year, "Hope" was held in the center, causing the United States Madison Adoption Association, American AAC (Adoption and Family Network) and other concerns of foreign adoption agencies, and establish long-term partnership to accelerate the pace of foreign adoptee. Currently, the center has 95 children adopted by foreign families, located in the United States, Canada, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and other nine countries. Through feedback that the current of these children live a happy life in a foreign country, is growing up
healthily.

Original text:



小南玉很聪明懂事,我们都很喜爱她。310日,来自美国的爱心妈妈Jennifer一家来到􅗉岗区社会福利中心回 访,激动地对该中心工作人员说。经过三天的融合期,他们决定收养该中心3岁的孤儿小南玉,给她一个温暖的 家。

据了解,􅗉岗区社会福利中心推进涉外送养取得大突破,自去年至今,共有79名儿童被国外家庭收养。涉外收
养,是指外国人或无国籍人在中华人民共和国境内收养中国公民的子女。中国收养中心目前与大约16个国家的157 个收养组织建立了联系。涉外送养不仅能帮助孤残儿童找回家庭的温暖,还能给他们良好的教育和光明的未来。􅗉岗区社会福利中心从2008年底开始开展涉外送养工作。为使更多福利中心的孩子尽快走入家庭,该中心负责 人屡赴北京与中国收养中心联系,并别出心裁为188个孩子刻录光碟,精心设计涉外收养资料,上传至中国收养中 心网站。20097月,该中心首次组织大龄孤残儿童参加􀂳希望之旅􀂴涉外收养活动,使9个大龄孩子回归家庭。 2010年初,该中心又积极争取本年度第一期􀂳希望之旅􀂴在本中心举行,引起了美国麦迪逊收养协会、美国AAC(收 养与家庭网络)等国外收养机构的关注,并与之建立了长期的合作关系,加快了涉外送养步伐。目前,该中心已有 95名儿童被国外家庭收养,分布在美国、加拿大、荷兰、西班牙、瑞典等9个国家。通过反馈得知,目前这些孩子在异国生活得很幸福,正健康地成长。






Monday, December 26, 2011

First Christmas





Our first Christmas with Bea was great. Although she decided to sleep in and O was not happy about having to wait to run down to open presents. As O was up at 2, and 2:30, then 4 and 4:30, then 5 and then 6 and 6:30, we finally woke Bea up at 7 to open presents. She was not as excited as O, but she got into the spirit after her second pack of Sixlets that was in her stocking.

Present unwrapping took quite a while as she would open one present and then want to play with that present instead of doing it the "right" way and just tear through all the presents fast as possible.

This is the favorite present. She likes to both sit and watch the trains and make fiery crashes.


Another favorite that quickly becomes annoying.


The background sound to my life is now those trains that are always on and running. Bea likes to make sure they are always on, even if they are not always on the track.


Monday, December 5, 2011

Caveman Singer Part III

Here, in no particular order, Bea sings the ABC song.


Caveman Singer Part II

Rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with some great dance moves at the end.


Caveman singing Part I

Caveman singing by Bea.


Pay close attention at the 11-12 second mark.