Catching up...

Time to catch y'all up on the goings on from Thursday and Friday.  Seems like ages ago!!!  Let's see... Thursday was and adoption ceremony at the civil affairs office in the morning and then a trip to the memorial park in Changsha.   We started out with a great breakfast buffet again and this morning sat in the area with the playground.  Here is some footage of Ian and Emmy playing...  Emmy and Ian Playing at Breakfast   The children all get along really well!  It is so amazing how we had this wonderful family before, but NOW it feels COMPLETE!   Sometimes it is like Ian has been with us all the time. 

The ceremony was pretty quick and simple.  Just giving us a certificate of the official adoption and a sort of swearing in that we promise to love and care for and never abandon our son.  Guess we're "official" now. 

This day was the day we had Celia asked Ian (Mu Mu), which name he preferred to use, his Chinese name or his American name.  Up till now we were using the Chinese name.  When visiting the orphanage and finding out that he was using his American name in school on his papers and such, we decided it might be time to see what he wants.  He has a definite opinion on just about EVERYTHING, so why not this!?   As it turned out... he prefers us to use his American name... His choice... WE ARE THRILLED!!!!! 

It was a beautiful day to go to the park!  

 

COME ON Baba!!!!!

 

 

 

The highlight has to have been the feeding of the fish! Ian yelled "yu!!!! yu!!!!" (fish!!! fish!!!) so much!!! He LOVED them. The video is fun. You can see it at... Feeding the Fish in Changsha

 

 

The neatest ice cream eating 5 year old ever!!

After the park, we had some lunch and Ian got his nap... along with Baba and Emmy... so cute... meenie, miny and mo and in a row.. same position!!! 

Later we broke into some of his kindergarten papers that Mrs. Huey sent with me.  While coloring seems to be one of Ian's top 5 loved activities, it would appear that CUTTING likely ranks #1!!!  With "scotch taping" a close second!  This video is of Ian cutting out the paper doll of himself to put into his booklet for Mrs. Huey.  I was utterly stunned!  I never expected this child to have this level of skill and concentration, given his situation.  Ian Cutting With Scissors

Friday we pretty much hung out for most of the day.  We walked to the shopping mall and experienced New York City style stores and prices!!  WOW!!  The place was beautiful, but way out of our league. 

Afterward we relaxed in the hotel waiting for checkout.  Ian is very much enjoying going through his papers from his teacher at the orphanage, as well as his papers from Mrs. Huey.

Around 3pm we checked out of the Huatian Hotel, Changsha and went to pick up Ian's passport to head to the airport.

Pics on the way out of Changsha

 

We checked in and took a few photos with our wonderful guide/translator, Celia before she left us on our own.

We had time for some dinner and got some noodles...not many choices in the airport, so we went for it.  Ian is our "spicy" little man!  He eats like a horse and the spicier the better!!!

Sarah likes spice normally but this picture says... DON'T DRINK THE BROTH!!!!!!

 

Lookin' adorable at the gate

 

Goofy-ness in the airport

 

Ian's last moments in his home province

 

The kids ALL have an obsession with escalators!!!

Getting ready to board...Pretty small plane... Ian's first ever!

 

Ready to go!!!  WHERE'S MY PEANUTS????  And yes... he wanted those peanuts after all those spicy noodles!!!

HELLO Guangzhou!!!!!