2000-03 (March 2000)

2000-03-08 Wednesday

We received pins today with crossed US and Chinese flags from Celebrate the Child.

2000-03-09 Thursday

Tammy received a call from Great Wall with a lot of updated information. This was most likely from a social worker visit to the foster home. One thing we learned is that she has been with a foster family since Wednesday 15 December 1999. This would have been right around the same time that we were matched up with Xing.

She is trying to crawl. She naps twice a day. She's eating solid food, noodles and soft rice. She takes 5 bottles, 210ml (about 8 oz) with the first starting at 2am! Whew! I think this will be the first change we will introduce. By dividing that 5th bottle among the others, and maybe small amount of food in the evening, she will be full for the night. She should be able to sleep through the night easily. Eventually....

The two bao pins that Louie Yi from Lotus Travel sent us arrived today.

They are a symbol in Chinese for adoption.

2000-03-10 Friday

We received an updated photo by mail, and our final travel itinerary in email.

2000-03-12 Sunday

My sister was visiting today. We wanted to show off the nursery, I stacked all of the luggage and contents into the closet. It afforded us the first chance to take pictures of the finsihed room.

	The room is grass green with lattice and sky blue with clouds. The three bears were made by Shawn and Dustin, Mike's nephews. The desk is Tammy's from when she was a girl. The shadow box has space for special items for the baby. The geese were made by Tammy's Dad. The chest was her sister's.
This is the day bed that she can use when she's older. We can share the room if she's sick. Plus, it's a trundle bed. Up in the clouds, you can see some of the shelf that Tammy's Dad installed.
	Here's the crib. Tammy made the dust ruffle and bumper pad. Then there are the shelves with her (and quite of few of our) books. Many are Tammy's from when she was younger. Then there is Tammy's dresser.
Here we are, back at the door. The cow was a present from a friend. Mike would like to get some kind of moon up by it. We are planning on putting a tree with red knobs, like apples, in the green area below the cow.
	This is the baby's view of the nursery. We think she'll like it.

2000-03-13 Monday

We received a hard copy of the health report that was given to us over the phone back on Thursday 9 March. Eight point five kilograms! What a whopper! Changed from carrying one ten-pound bag of flour to two bags in the sling. (Actually, I've not been doing this and I think she's going to be heavy!

I'd really like to watch Raising Arizona once more before we go.

2000-03-17 Friday
to
2000-03-30 Thursday

Our Journey to China and we finally become parents!