23rd August - Hottest Day this year!

Wow!! Searing heat and poor little Mae can't cool down. We decide to try her in the paddling pool and, like everything else, she takes to it like a duck to water! We did have loads of giggles, chuckes and belly laughs but couldn't manage to catch any of that on camer - hence a few rather serious faces. Believe me though, she absolutely loved it!!

August 17th - So many people to meet...

Well, we've been home just over two weeks now. Little Mae Jiao is the perfect baby, taking naps morning and afternoon as well as sleeping right through the night. She eats everything and smiles all day long............ we're obviously completely in love with her!

Here are a few pictures of family gatherings - she's the star of the show!!

Sunday 2nd August

Home at last!!!

We arrived home safely but utterly exhausted on Thursday lunchtime having been travelling for about 18 hours. Mae had slept 2 of those!!

She was a darling on the flight, only crying when we took off and at landing... the cabin pressure obviously affecting her little ears. Otherwise, she played happily the whole time. I must admit though, I did feel very sorry for the poor cleaners who would have to deal with the debris she managed to create and we left behind.

Once home, Mum was here to greet us, followed swiftly by Chris, Tash, Tim and the girls (Saffron & Bea). They couldn't wait to meet their new cousin and it seemed the feeling was mutual, as Mae beamed from ear to ear when she saw them.

The house was full of balloons and gifts which was so lovely - again, we just can't believe the kindness of all our fabulous friends and family. I guess they've also been waiting 5 years for this little one to join our family too.

Mae's settling in to her new nursery - although we're struggling a little with the adjustment to UK time but we're getting there.

Will post more pics as soon as we have a chance to download more of the China trip. In the meantime, here are a few taken since we arrived home.

xxx

Thursday 29th July

Lizzie wants more pics...........

Monday 27th July

Today we decided to visit the local market with Michael. We were rather dubious as to what we might see but actually, it wasn't as bad as expected. Most of the stalls were selling very strange ingredients for Chinese Medical Remedies. Others were selling pets - little puppies, kittens, budgies and fish. We were so worried about seeing dogs and cats in cages but mostly they seemed well nourished and reasonably well kept. (Although, some looked very sad and far too hot!) One of the worst sights was a woman who had three very large plastic bowls (about 1m dia). Inside were hundreds of scorpions which she was mixing rigorously with a stick. We discovered that she was, in fact, drying them - gross!!! We managed about half an hour and then decided it was far too hot and made a hasty retreat back to our hotel. Michael and Judy carried on and discovered the most beautiful Chinese temple.

Later today, we visited the Police Station where we were handed Mae's Passport. Almost the last bureaucratic hurdle! Tomorrow, we apply for the Visa and Wednesday (hopefully) we collect it.

We then took a short trip to the Sun Yat Tsen Memorial Hall. The Hall itself was fantastic but the grounds were something else. The Banyan Trees were amazing - one tree hosts 10 baby trees which grow within the main trunk but send out their own trunks which root themselves outside the mother tree... amazing!

Mae getting a little better every day. She's revelling in every new experience. Today she decided just how much she loves baths. She now lies in the bath, rocking on her tummy, dipping her head in an out of the water. Can't wait to take her swimming. Think she'll be a natural!

Sunday 26th July

Today we visited the Huizhou Social Welfare Institute where Mae, or 'Jaio Jaio' as her carers called her, spent the first 14 months of her little life.

It took us approx 2 1/2 hours by car and it was interesting to watch the scenery change from the industrial chaos of Guangzhou to the still and rolling hills leading into Huizhou. Huizhou sits on the other side of those verdant hills and is about 45 mins from the sea. It's a pretty town with quite a mix of traditional and modern architecture. It has a river runnning through it and wide promenades.

The Huizhou SWI sits in the centre of the town and, I think, was built about 30 years ago. It's entrance and exterior walls have been painted with colourful pictures of children and animals. Inside it's clean and reasonably well equipped (for Chinese standards). It's called a 'Social Welfare Institute' because it's home to 78 occupants, only 12 of which are children between the age of 0-16. Of these children only 5 were likely to be adopted. The other occupants were adults with mental illness.

The Director was very welcoming, pouring us tea and answering all our questions. He explained that his policy is to ensure that the carers are very well trained. His motto is that the children must be treated as if they were the carers own children and the adults as if they were their own parents. He also ensured that Mae's main carer was with him to answer any of our questions. He then took us on a tour of the orphanage and many of the adults and children came out to greet us. They were obviously very curious as to who 'Jiao Jiao's' new parents and Aunty were but seemed very happy for her.

All in all, it was a very emotional journey but one which we are so glad to have undertaken. We've taken lots of photos for Mae's Lifebook, obvioulsy, much of which is very private to her. But I'm posting a few pics of the day which I'm sure you'll all be interested in.

I have to say the Director looks rather like 'Oddjob', don't you think?!!

Saturday 25th July

Here's the photo we've all be waiting for...

Little Mae is still poorly. We've had some very troubled nights but she still does her best to play between meals. We had to cancel sightseeing today as both Jude & myself have come down with nasty colds as well as Mae now. Just hoping we'll all be well enough for the orphanage visit tomorrow.