The Victorian Nutcracker

Elizabeth saw her first ballet with Mama, Nanny, and Papa--the Victorian Nutcracker. She loved it! We had first row balcony seats, so no one blocked our view of the stage. The music and costumes were wonderful, and the performance held her attention until (almost) the very end! At one point, she began to take off her shoes and socks. I almost stopped her, but I then had visions of her hurling her shoe over the balcony and hitting someone in the head below with it, so I put her shoes and socks in my bag until the end of the performance. Is ballet class in our future?

Santa pictures

The first time that Elizabeth met Santa Claus, in 2005, she reached for me but she didn't cry...

The second time that Elizabeth met Santa Claus, in 2006, it didn't go nearly as well as the first...

When Elizabeth saw Santa Claus in 2007, she didn't reach for me and she didn't cry, but she didn't smile, either. She and Santa did sing Jingle Bells together, and she told Santa Claus that she wants a "bitar" (guitar) and a "'puter" (computer) for Christmas. Progress, not perfection!

Thursday, November 3, 2005

At 5:30 am, we left the White Swan, along with Rick/Denice/Thomas/Gemma and the Huangs/Ada. Our little bus was filled to overflowing with us and our luggage. It was still dark. All of us were so ready to come home. It was a quick flight to Hong Kong—beautiful brand new airport, beautiful view of the mountains surrounding HK. Our flight home was long but made easier by the fact that Elizabeth, Auntie and I sat in the middle of the plane, with five seats in a row all to ourselves. Elizabeth was SO good—she never cried. Elizabeth played with her stacking cups, listened to the movie with headphones, slept a little, ate, and drank her bottles. I talked with another new mother whose baby girl was the same age as but was bigger than Elizabeth while we walked our girls up and down the aisle. In Chicago, we had to say goodbye to Auntie—that was hard—but all of us were anxious to get home. In our haste to say goodbye and catch our connecting flights, Auntie left with Elizabeth’s pink cotton blanket (would you believe, she mailed it to us almost immediately after arriving home in Texas—what a wonderful Auntie!). Before boarding our flight to Portland, I changed Elizabeth into her “coming home” outfit: maroon corduroy dress, white tights, and squeaky shoes. She couldn’t have been more adorable!

Well, the best-laid plans and all that…Shortly after boarding the plane, but before we’d even taxied out onto the runway…diarrhea, through her tights and even onto my jeans as well. I had to wait until we were airborne to change her. We probably weren't too popular on that flight. Consequently, when we arrived in Portland at around 5 p.m., Elizabeth was bare-legged and shoeless (but nonetheless absolutely adorable!). So many people met us at the airport—what a wonderful surprise! My niece and nephew had even made (with their Dad’s help) a Welcome Home poster for Elizabeth. I was so very tired and sick with a sinus infection at that point, so much of our arrival remains a blur to me. We were last off the plane. The flight crew helped me maneuver down the aisle and off the plane. Due to being so sleep-deprived and not feeling well, instead of going through the revolving door and out to meet everyone waiting for us, I walked past the revolving door, pushing Elizabeth in her stroller, and continued quite a ways through the airport before I’d realized what I’d done. I think I confused everyone who saw me through the glass windows—where’s she going? I was so happy to be home and so excited to show everyone my beautiful new daughter! We collected our luggage and then headed home. I sat in the back with Elizabeth, and she didn’t protest a bit about sitting in her carseat for the first time. Once home, Dad and Elizabeth opened presents—Dad had celebrated his birthday while we were in China. One of Elizabeth’s gifts from her Auntie Sue was a stuffed pink-and-white cat, which she absolutely LOVES—my cat-loving sister’s attempt to influence my daughter, I think, knowing how much I love dogs!—and now Elizabeth won’t go anywhere without her Kiki! And it was so good to see Baxter! And best of all, Elizabeth was not the least bit frightened of him, even when he barked. What a huge relief! I also learned that Mom and Dad didn’t exactly have a relaxing day before going to the airport to meet us—apparently, the pump to my well broke that morning, so they scrambled to find a plumber to come to fix it before they had to leave for the airport at 4 pm. They did, and he finished up just as they were leaving. What a day for them. What wonderful parents I have!

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

I bought a great red wheeled duffle bag from one of the shops across the street from the hotel to hold many of my Chinese purchases for only a few dollars. Auntie, Elizabeth and I ate lunch outside at Lucy’s (cheeseburgers—yum!). At 3 pm, our group left the hotel for the U.S. Consulate for our consulate interview. We traveled in a large bus this time, along with other adoptive families who we had not met before. I must admit that it (the consulate appointment) wasn’t what I’d expected at all--we took a group oath, received the babies’ visas, and then went back to the hotel. Kirsten, Johnny, and Amelie left for the airport from the Consulate. I was so sad to see them leave—our group had become very close in China. We ate dinner that evening outside at Lucy’s (I had quesadillas—yum!) with Rick and Denice, Steve and Annie, and all of our children. I have a confession to make: I “borrowed” a terrific little metal baby spoon that evening from the restaurant…I took Elizabeth down to the Swan Room to play after dinner while Sylvia packed and rested in the room. Elizabeth played for quite a while with a little girl named Alayna from Virginia who was a new jie jie (big sister) to a little girl from China. We were back in our room by 9 p.m. because we had to be up before dawn to leave for the airport.

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Shopping, shopping, and more shopping! Shihong submitted all of the babies’ documents to the U.S. Consulate, which is located in a brand new office building. I had to go there with him because I’d forgotten to have the vaccination affidavit notarized before leaving the U.S. We went by taxi (Elizabeth stayed back at the hotel with Auntie), and after my signature was sworn to, I waited until Shihong was finished, and then we both came back to the hotel. We chose to skip the optional Pearl River evening cruise to stay back at the hotel and relax.