Levi and Alex

Saturday, July 31

Today we went back for Levi's TB test to be checked and all was well with that. We were able to spend some time on Shaiman Island and do a little shopping. Our large group is back together now so it takes us a while to get together. Last Monday each family traveled to the province their child is from for the adoption and we all come back together in Guangzhou for the US Consulate appointment and swearing in. This is where we will get the children's visas. Our appointment is not until August 4 and we get the visa on the 6th. That is why we have to stay here this coming week.

Levi has come into his own and the quiet boy we picked up on Monday is now an independent boy who is seeing what he can get away with. He is more excited in the mornings and today he has been wound up. He is a good boy and has a precious smile, but he is all boy. We have to do things to help him get his energy out. Thankfully we can go swimming now so that will be a big help.

Scott has been having a sore throat and we believe it is allergies so pray that he gets better soon. I was sick our last trip and he has been having trouble this time. I left both guys taking a nap to come use the internet.

We have a family from Atlanta that adopted a girl, Alex, from the same orphanage as Levi. The picture is of the two of them. We found out we have a connection because we know families that are adopting or have adopted older girls. Criss and Cristy - they are Betty's aunt and uncle. We will have to talk!

We want to wish Corey and Ashlee the best today as it is their wedding day. We love you guys and are sorry to miss your big day, but we are so happy for you!

Getting Checked Out!

Thursday July 29

It's 5:00 am on Thursday and I am having trouble sleeping so I thought I would share a little update. Levi is sleeping extremely well and is pretty compliant going to bed. He has been taking 2 hour naps each day and that is good because he has been through a lot.

We had our appointment at the police station yesterday and basically we went to appear before them, no questions and they took Levi's picture. When the lady tried to get him to look at the camera she called his name and Levi looked up gave a big cheese grin and held up two fingers on both hands. All of the police officials got a kick out of that and laughed with him. We have found that he is very compassionate toward others especially the younger children. One family has a 12 month old and he was crying while they were trying to make him a bottle. Levi walked over to the dad who was kneeling down and put his arm around the father's shoulder. After that he ran over to one of the other dads and gave him a huge hug. He has also been allowing the other kids to play with his cars.

We went to eat at Pizza Hut and Levi tends to get a little excited in restaurants. He did not want to be still or sit down. We finally figured out how to say "no" and "sit" in Chinese and he pouted! It was funny to see because he did not want to eat or turn around. We left him alone and when everyone else was eating he decided to join in. I have a feeling we will not be going out to eat much because now I have 2 three year olds who don't want to sit still.

We are looking forward to seeing Hope on Skype again this morning. That has been awesome to video chat with her and it is free. We are still not able to view our blog or any comments that folks are making on that. If you would like to email us we are using the following email: crystal.setzer@yahoo.com. We do not have access to the internet unless we go to a certain area of the hotel and sometimes our emails do not go out so we may or may not be able to respond. Will post more later.

We have had free time from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon. On Tuesday we went to get groceries after our Notary appointments. Levi liked going to the store. We came back and the boys took naps while I blogged and caught up on email. Levi and Scott are buddies. They watched their first baseball game together. I gave Levi his baseball cap and he really liked wearing it. He put all of his toys in it and tried to carry it like a bag so I found a bag for him. He has put everything we have given him in it and carries it around the room. I guess we will find him a man bag sometime! After nap time we went to a play room at the hotel and to Food Street to eat. We ordered Sweet and Sour pork and fried rice. Levi was all about the pork and kept wanting more. He was pretty feisty at mealtime not wanting any help from Mama. He is independent and likes to do things for himself.

This morning (Wednesday) we were able to Skype with Hope againg and we are really missing her. She was not so sure about brother this morning but I am sure that is normal for any kid having to learn to share her parents. I was able to sing with Hope and play some of our silly games so maybe that helped. She is doing great at preschool camp this week and we are thankful for Tina and Meg keeping her.

We also went to a park this morning but it was so hot and humid that we couldn't stay long. When we returned to the room it began thundering and lightning. We do have an appointment this afternoon and then we get to go to Pizza Hut for supper!

One last thing we were able to snuggle before bed last night and we got Levi to say I love you. He doesn't know what the words mean but he knows he is special to us. He will know we love him and are proud to have him as our son.

Our New Son!

Gotcha Day!

The past two days have been overwhelming and exciting. We traveled Monday morning from Beijing to Guangzhou. We knew when we arrived in Guanzhou that it would be a short time before we got to pick up Levi. Of course the plane was delayed landing an hour because of thunderstorms. We ran in to check in our hotel and grabbed a few things and off we went tot the Civil Affairs office to get our children. It was very crowded when we arrived and a lot of the children were screaming and crying. It is a huge shock to their system because many of them have never traveled in their lives and more than likely they traveled a good distance to get to the Civil Affairs office. We were 3 in line with our group to get Levi. The first two girls cried when they were given to their parents so we were prepared for Levi to do the same. The called our name and Levi came bouncing out like he was saying "Here I am!" He was smiling and posing with us for pictures. He held up the peace sign just as he had done in the pictures we received from the orphanage. We had a matchbox car, stuffed animal and ball for him and he began playing with us immediately. The only time he cried was when the nannies left. The nannies told Scott they were very attached to him and want to keep in touch with us. He is definitely a ladies' man. We found out today that he has been called Kai Kai. His Chinese name is Xin Kai (pronounced sin kai) - the affectionate term is Kai Kai. We have been calling him that and Levi to get him used to that name.

Levi slept all night, we actually had to wake him up this morning. We are thankful for that. Yesterday when we were going through the belongings the orphanage brought for him we found the picture of our family we had sent to him. As I was pointing to the pictures and sying "Mama, Baba (Daddy), and Hope" he lit up and smiled at Hope's picture. That was so sweet. Levi has a sweet mild personality. He is all boy though. He loves his cars and he likes to climb. At the grocery store today he started climbing the railings. The sweetest thing last night was when we showed him his new shoes he wanted to put them on and leave them on. He kept looking at them and smiling. Even after we put on his pajamas he wanted to put his new shoes on. Levi did try to say Mama, Daddy and Hope yesterday, however he has spoken a lot of Chinese today. He seems to understand when I ask him to do something but we do point a lot. Thankfully he is using the potty and can use the squatty potty with no problems.

We miss Hope very much but we are able to Skype with her nearly every day. She seems to be more interested in seeing herself on the computer screen than us. She saw Levi for the first time this morning (Tuesday) and she didn't know quite what to thing. She will adjust and be glad to have someone to team up against Mommy with! I'll write more later. Enjoy the pictures of our new SON!!!

Rock Star!

We made it to Beijing at midnight Beijing time with ALL our luggage! However, one couple was not so fortunate. They hope to receive it by Sunday morning. We traveled for 30 hours and we were exhausted. After sleeping for a few hours we were up at 5:45 am getting ready for a day of sightseeing. Today we toured Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Summer Palace. We also went shopping at the Pearl factory and Silk museum. Scott has been stopped a couple of times and asked to have his picture taken with the nationals. He is a Rock Star here!! We have eaten at 2 nice restaurants where one had table cloth covers that were ECU colors.

Tomorrow we go to church, jade shopping and the Great Wall. These first couple of days are packed with activities. With all the places we have been shopping we have mostly "window shopped". We are thankful to be able to Skype with Hope but she seems more interested in seeing herself on the computer than us. That's Hope Girl! Meeting Levi on Monday and we are ready. Will blog more later and try to have pictures.

In Beijing!

Hi everyone! This is Tina Cook reporting for Scott and Crystal who are finally in Beijing, but are unable to access the blog or facebook! So for the moment, I will be sharing updates via Skype! (which is the coolest!)

After an unexpected switch in flight destinations, and thirty hours of flight, Scott and Crystal made it to Beijing a little after one o'clock (pm our time, am theirs!) They got checked into the hotel and were able to rest a bit.

Hope had her first Skype experience tonight, and was really excited to see momma and daddy - until she saw herself! She is such a monkey!

Hopefully we will get to talk with them by skype each evening and I will update anything they want to share!

China - here we come!

We will leave on Thursday to get Levi. So many emotions are happening right now. We are so thankful for this to finally be happening but we will miss Hope so much while we are gone. Looking forward to Gotcha Day - July 26th!

Going to China

We have received our travel approval and will travel to get Levi later this month. So thankful to finally have a date to travel. We're coming for you son!