Tuesday 21st July

Today we had to get meet our guide in the lobby at 8.30am. No mean task when you have a little one who loves her sleep. Mae slept very well and wanted to dally over her morning bottle. Unfortunately, Mum was wondering at which point she could shower, dress and apply the make-up. By 8am Jude was knocking at our door reminding us that we had 30mins for breakfast. Mum still had to dress Mae but the make-up had to give!

Not only did she take a full bottle but she ate a massive amount of scrambled egg for breakfast. She certainly loves her food.

Off again to the Civil Affairs Office for an interview and final paperwork to legalise the adoption and then another interview and more paperwork with the notary (very odd little Chinese man who kept asking me questions in a Chinese-English accent which I just couldn't understand!). At one point he appeared to be telling our guide off for missing paperwork - we kept calm but it was very unnerving. Eventually, we left with all the relevant paperwork AND our daughter.

We spent the rest of today checking out Shamien Island.

Later on Monday

Back at the hotel.....

Monday 20th July

'D' Day - Daughter Day!!

Wow! Actually woke up with butterflies in our stomachs this morning. It was a very long wait until 2pm when our guide came to collect us.

We arrived at the Civil Affairs Office at about 2.25pm only to find approximately 30 other couples all grouped in the reception area also waiting for their children. It wasn't really what we'd imagined - certainly not an environment to revel in such a personal moment! The bulk of the group were Belgian families but there were also a couple of families from USA and us (the only British couple).

My heart sank, (and I could see the Jude was equally upset) when the first little boy was brought in to be united with his waiting parents. As his carer passed him to his new Mummy, the little boy open his lungs and filled the whole building with the sound of very traumatic crys. He was absolutely devastated and everyone in the room grew more anxious immediately. He was about 4 years old though, so this must have been so difficult for him.

Our daughter arrived next. A tiny little bundle, wide eyed and curious. I took her carefully and spoke softly to her - she stared at me hard and then took a long look at her new Daddy. Again, she stared at him for the longest time and then held her arms out for him to take her. We couldn't have hoped for anything more. It seemed that she knew who we were instictively and knew that she was safe with us.... she checked us all out some more and then fell asleep in my arms. Wow!!

Saturday 18th July

Finally.... on our way!

Although our Quantas flight was booked for 1.10pm, we left at 7am - wanted plenty of time to get there, check in and have breakfast. Unfortunately, it all started rather badly when I realised that I'd forgotten to print out the car parking details and had to go back. At 7.30am we began our journey. All went swimmingly until we were flagged down by a police car whose job it was to slow traffic in advance of a nasty accident. We spent a good 3/4 hour doing about 20 miles per hour but still arrived at Heathrow in plenty of time.

We checked in our baggage but realised that the seats allocated had place Judy 5 rows in front of us. Not only that, she was wedged between two teenagers who unsurprisingly sank into their ipods throughout the journey. Poor Jude - I think it was a very uneventful flight for her.

Following a VERY dodgy landing (apparently Hong Kong had suffered from very bad weather that morning and there was talk of diverting us via Singapore), we landed and made our way through the many bureaucratic check points. We gave up putting our passports away as there was yet another check point hiding around the next corner. We then prepared to the 5 hour wait for the internal flight. Southern China Airlines was excellent - clean and well equipped plane and very friendly flight attendants. No sooner had we taken off and had a coffee, we were preparing to land.

Thankfully, our guide Michael was waiting for us at Guangzhou Airport with a mini bus and escorted three completely exhausted but excited English people to the Victory Hotel.

Am overwhelmed by the kindness of the people around us. Having only worked at Eastbourne Borough Council since May, the lovely group of girls that I work with schemed and plotted to throw me a surprise baby shower! I came home with bags full of little goodies for Mae, all of which were so special...

Came home from work this afternoon to find Mae's cot/bed had arrived and looked fantastic in her little room. A perfect birthday present for the man who has everything (today being Will's birthday). He was delighted.

Still madly panicking but gradually getting there - where is the time going? Only 2 more days til we fly!

Invitation to Travel

The invitation to travel arrived by 'signed for' post yesterday at 8am. We had already booked our flights to leave the UK on 18th July but without this document we wouldnt' have been going anywhere. Phew!!

Have ticked off most items on our list now too. Mae (we're trying out the Chinese spelling of her name) has at least 6 little outfits now as well as numerous baby grows and vests. Friends and family have been donating and buying her all kinds of lovely things and there's a general sense of excitement in the air. Her new cot/bed arrives on Tuesday from Mum which is also Will's birthday - couldn't have asked for a better birthday present! I spent a good half hour staring at items of baby food in Sainsburys but finally deciding on packets of rice/noodles/pasta which can easily be rehydrated once we arrive. It's so difficult packing for a little one we've never met and know very little about............

Am attaching a picture of Mae forwarded by our lovely Chinese guide Chris. He kindly asked her Social Welfare Institute to take it for us recently. She still looks a little warey. Can't wait to catch her up in my arms and reassure her that everything will be alright.

Creating May's bedroom...

Today we've collected all sorts of lovely items for May to use, wear and play with, all of which, belonged to our gorgious nieces Saff & Bea. Thank you Tasha for donating these prescious belongings for our little May.

Her bedroom really is starting to look like a nursery now and it almost feels as though she's with us already.

We can't wait to receive the Invitation to Travel from China so that we can book our flights and hotels. Our wonderful guide Chris Tao Ping suggests that we may be able to fly as early as mid July. WOW!!


ps. Must make a note to everyone that Judy (Will's fantastic sister) wants to call her Blossom. So, it's highly likely that this will become her nickname............