Friday, December 30, 2011

We're coming home!!!

We are on our way home!  We took a train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and just got to our hotel and ordered room service.  We're wiped!  I can only imagine how tired we'll be after 17 hours of traveling tomorrow....whew!  I'm tired just thinking about it!  The train was interesting.  The only downside was that we sit backwards and it goes fast, so not good for those of us that get motion sickness.  I had to turn around in my seat so it looked like I was going forward or turn away from the window.  Molly did great though!  It gives me hope for the plane ride tomorrow.  


I didn't get many good pics today since we left around noon and have been traveling, but I'm hoping to get some good ones tomorrow for our big reunion!  As soon as Molly steps foot on US soil, she becomes a US citizen....Woohoo!!!  Can NOT wait to see my boys!  I have to give a HUGE thank you to my parents and my sister for taking such good care of the Coco boys.  I know it wasn't easy, and we couldn't have done any of this without y'all.  We love y'all so much and will always be thankful to y'all for taking care of them and easing our minds while we were gone!

I also want to thank everyone who prayed, emailed, texted, and commented on our blog and facebook.  If you all only knew how much it meant to us to hear from all of you.  We felt the love in every way!  We love all of you so much!






our awesome guide, Kelly

The sweet Devore family who we did everything with.  We'll miss them!

passing time with a cracker while we wait on the train

being entertained by the Devore boys on the bus to our Hong Kong hotel.  She loves these boys, so I know she'll love her brothers!




Next time I post will be from home:))))))))))))))))))

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Last Day in Guangzhou!!!


Can I get an AMEN!!!!  We're almost home!!!!  We leave tomorrow on a train for Hong Kong and we'll spend one night there and then homebound!!  It's going to be a LONG day but I'm ready to take it on!!  We need to go stock up on some new toys for the plane ride....and snacks!  


All of the pics were in the hotel today because after our consulate appointment we came back and Jon and I weren't feeling great.  We all took a marathon nap and then just hung out in the room most of the day.  We did venture out to our favorite restaurant down the street.  I told Jon if I eat one more dumpling I'm going to turn into a dumpling!!  I may need to do a cleanse when I get back.  I've never eaten so many carbs in my life, but I wasn't about to venture outside the box while I was here.

Molly is getting way more confident with us as she comes out of her shell more and more.  Up until today, she didn't like for us to set her down for her to walk on her own.  Not anymore!  We set her down and she takes off running and is into everything!  I forgot what that 16 month old stage is like, but I love that she feels comfortable enough with us to do it now.  I guess I've been nodding my head when I give her a bite of something and say "mmmm, yummy" because now everytime I give her a bite of food, she starts nodding her head and moving her eyebrows.  So stinkin cute!  I need to catch it on video.

she's into everything, including breaking into our safe!

I've been reading brown bear every day and she's just now getting excited when I do

and will look at the pics by herself.  would never have done that even a few days ago






1st time standing on her own in the lobby


running to me:)



chopstick war with daddy







I can't believe how much our little girl has transformed right before our eyes everyday!  It's truly a miracle! That scared little girl placed in our arms 12 days ago has blossomed into a funny, sweet, outgoing(with us), amazing little girl.   It's crazy to say, but I don't remember life without her!  She has blessed us beyond words.  It's only going to get better when the family is finally together, and her brothers get share in the love.  They are going to LOVE her!!   


It's hard to believe that this is the same little girl from just a couple of months ago.  God knew what he was doing when he handpicked her for our family.  She's a perfect fit!  She is a true Coco!!


For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
Psalm 139:13-14



                    

                      Eyes are the window to the soul - an Old English Proverb



Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Day 10

We are officially counting down the hours until we're on our flight back home!  Tomorrow is our consulate appointment and Friday we leave for Hong Kong!!  I'm dreading the LONG 17 hour flight but am hoping a lot of snacks and a few new toys will help pass the time.

Molly's nap has now gone on 3 hours and we are officially bored and tired of being cooped up!  I think we're a bit delirious because we're laughing at our own stupid jokes!  I think it's time for her to wake up so we can get some fresh air!

In the past couple of days, Molly has started to play with her toys a little.  When we first got her, she wouldn't even touch a toy.  We think she had never played with them so had no idea what to do with them.  It's taken this long of us playing with them and showing her that they're fun, for her to start doing it.  We love watching her try new things and be so proud of herself when she does something for the first time.  Love her!!!


  



this panda plays music when you press his paw.   She has been so scared to even touch him up until today.  I looked over and she was trying to push his paw.

so proud of herself for pulling the stacking cups apart

and putting them together:)

coloring

trying to put her shoes on.  This girly girl loves shoes, clothes and jewelry.  I got her a bracelet today that she hasn't taken off and she always playing with my necklace.  She's going to love the one I have for her at home!

We went back to Shaiman island today so we could get a stroller for the airport and to take her red couch pics.  Usually families stay in the white swan hotel, which is where the couch is, so everybody takes a group photo, but it's closed for renovation, so no group photos for us.  Molly got the whole couch to herself.  I didn't really get any good ones because some older ladies kept coming up to her and telling me she needed a jacket(in chinese).  I just pretended I didn't understand.  They were hovering around us like vultures, so we just left.

popping the bubble










Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Molly Day 9

We turned it down a notch today and it was so nice to take it easy! We ate breakfast and then strolled down to a really nice park about a mile away.  Molly fell asleep most of the time, so no pics of here there, but I did get some great pics of people enjoying nature all over the park.  They were dancing, exercising, playing ping pong, sword dances....it was so cool to see how everybody was just enjoying being outside and having fun together.  They were mainly senior citizens and they are the most flexible and in shape people I've ever seen!!  They put us americans to shame!
playing hackey sack




outdoor gym!  Look at those stairmasters:)



One of my friends suggested that I tell how this experience is different than what we expected, better and worse, so here are a few:
1. We are amazed at how we felt this strong connection with her from the moment we laid our eyes on her.  Words can't even describe how in love we were with her from that moment on.  She may not have felt the bond right away, but we sure did.   For anybody wondering if you can love an adopted child like your own flesh and blood, we're both here to tell you, YES!!!
2. The people here are very curious.  We thought they were being mean and hateful at first, but when Jon decided to start using his "kill them with kindness" approach, we soon realized that the majority of them are just very curious people.  When they stare, we say hi and smile back and they usually always smile back and are very friendly.
3.  Smiles and laughter is the only universal language we all understand.  We may not speak the same language, but we both know what it means
4. That a child before and after a family with love acts and looks like a totally different child!
5. Everything tastes just a little bit different here.  Even the one restaurant that serves "american" food like hamburgers and fried chicken.  Starbucks coffee, Papa John's pizza, and McDonald's.....it's all off just a little bit.  Oh how I miss American food!!
6. Just how much I would miss my boys!  I knew I'd miss them, but there's an ache in my heart that only they can fill right now
7. Just how much it'd hurt me to hear my baby cry out for a mama that isn't me
8. Jon wanted me to put that he's taller than most people for the first time:)
9. I guess I knew that they ate anything that flies and crawls, but to see first hand animals like little bunnies, turtles, snakes, ducks in cages in restaurants waiting for their death really makes me sad!
10. How CRAZY the drivers are.  They don't yield to pedestrians and will not hesitate to run you over.  I could never drive around here!
These are off the top of my head.  I'm sure I'll think of more later.

I think it's so funny how they translate the English language.  I tell Jon to mind his head everyday...he says it's getting a little old...haha

lost her little black shoe clip today, hence the missing one:)
















Today is the first day she attempted to play on the playset.  She was way to nervous before.  Love seeing her try new things


Oh!, and Molly said mama today and reached for me!! :))