Father's Day 2012

Happy Father's Day Daddy!!!!!

Oh how I wish we could say that to him in person, but we are thousands of miles apart right now.

The girls and I took off on an adventure to Florida while Daddy is still at home, taking care of business.  We all miss him terribly, and talk to him every day.  

In the mean time, the girls and I are thoroughly enjoying our vacation in sunny, and hot and HUMID Florida. The girls go swimming almost every single day, and are loving the opportunity to improve their swimming skills.

The girls love spending lots of time with their Nana F., as well as their cousin S.

While here we visited the zoo and an amazing children's museum with wonderful hands-on activities for the girls.

Despite the fact the the girls are having loads of fun, being away from Daddy on this special day is pretty hard on the girls and I.

So, we created a little video for Daddy that we are sure he will enjoy.  This is a Part 2 to a video that we created a few years ago before we had the Butterfly, and we thought Father's Day would be a great opportunity to update the video.


So, here it is Daddy... Enjoy!!!

(If there is no video above or you would like to view a high quality version, please visit this link at YouTube where I have the video uploaded.)


We love and miss you Daddy!


~~Aloha!

A Night With the Girls

This is finals week for Daddy, which means he has a few late nights so that he can do a couple review sessions with some of his students. Thus, mommy is hanging out with the girls all by herself and having a blast!

When we first arrived home the girls both received some mail from Nana F.  They were both so excited to receive something that was addressed specifically for them.  What was even cooler was that each card came filled with stickers for the girls to play with however they saw fit.  Well, that was all the Butterfly needed to know.  She immediately started tattooing her arm with the stickers and had a blast!  They may have been a short lived gift, but they were thoroughly enjoyed!

Tonight we made some delicious noodles, salad, and fruit for dinner. The Butterfly decided to help me with making dinner. Specifically, she played with and ate some olives while I cut them up to go in the noodles (yup, I know... big help!). What was so cute was what she did with the olives. She found the perfect spot for them... on her nubbin. Gotta love how this girl can now give me a thumbs up!

After cleaning up we played a few games. We did play a few rounds of Hungry Hippos, but the girls' favorite game was the caterpillar/chopstick game (as they like to call it!). All three of us had a blast playing the game and often giggled along the way.

What a fun night. I love spending time with my girls!

(By the way, I am not really sure why the Butterfly has decided that she needs to squint when she smiles, but it is pretty funny and she is very consistent.)

~~Aloha!

Nana is on TV!!!

"My Nana is on TV!!!"


That is what the Ladybug said just a couple of weeks ago when she saw the new promo for this season's Dancing With the Stars. Apparently, her Nana F. is Florence Henderson (wow, I never knew!).

Nana F.

Flo

Nana F.

Flo

Nana F.

Hmmmm, I can kinda see it. So, I am thoroughly looking forward to watching this season and seeing my mom (and the Bug's and Butterfly's Nana F.) on the show. I am all smiles... and full of giggles.

~~Aloha!

Day 11 - Baby Butterfly Day!

Day 11 - Baby Butterfly Day! (short version)
~Slept in
~Nice breakfast
~Walked to Walmart
~Baby Butterfly!!!
~Lots of crying
~Family of 4!
~Long night...

Day 11 - Baby Butterfly Day! (long version)

When we arrived in Guizhou yesterday we were informed by Jonathon that because of the busy, hectic schedule of a Monday, we would not be getting the baby Butterfly in the morning, but rather in the afternoon, when things were not so busy on the roads and the Adoption Affairs Center. My first reaction was, “No! I want her now!” (I didn’t really say that, I just thought it.) But as it turned out, having that extra time was wonderful.

We had the opportunity to sleep in a bit, enjoy a nice, casual breakfast, and finish getting the room ready for the baby. With a few hours left before our departure, Daddy, the Ladybug, and I ventured out to do some last minute baby shopping at Walmart, an adoption family tradition! Fortunately for us, the mega-mart is right across the street, within walking distance from our hotel. Walmart was a hoot, and although similar in some ways, still very different from a Walmart that we would find in the states. I will talk about that at a later date though (trust me, I realize that you all want to see the baby photos). Eventually we made it back to the hotel and met Jonathon in the lobby.


Our drive to the Guizhou Adoption Center lasted about 30 minutes because of… you guessed it, more Chinese traffic (yup, we are getting used to it, and apparently waiting didn't make much of a difference). Apparently the building where the Adoption Center is located is just temporary, which is good to hear since the place seemed to be located at the top floor of a non-descript building which I believe to be a run down hotel. As a matter of fact, the elevator only goes up to the 14th floor, and we then had to hike up some steps to get to the 15th floor, where the Center is located.


As soon as we got to the Adoption Center, I looked around the corner and barely saw our baby girl in the other room being held by, what I found out later, her nanny from the orphanage. I immediately put my bags down, grabbed my camera, and tentatively walked into the room with my family. As we rounded the corner I saw the Butterfly and her nanny. The baby was very quiet, just looking around trying to soak everything in. Naturally, she was very shy, so I did not run up and grab her from the nanny’s arms. Instead, I sat down on the couch next to the nanny and the baby. The Ladybug and I had some strawberry puffs (a small cheerio-type of snack) which we offered the baby. She was tentative at first, but eventually started enjoying the treats.



After being there for almost ten minutes trying to acclimate the baby to our presence, the nanny handed the Butterfly over to me. As can be expected, this hand-ever did bring about tears and sadness. It was pretty tough on all of us in the room, but we had anticipated this reaction. Daddy and I took turns walking her around from room to room to keep her occupied, which actually did keep her busy and content most of the time. We learned from the nanny that walking her around helps to soothe her when she is sad, and this technique seemed to work nicely in calming the Butterfly. At one point, Daddy took her into another room and I was able to take two gorgeous profile photos of the two of them together. Daddy bonding with his new daughter, a priceless moment.





After numerous signatures and thumbprints (the official way that the Chinese seal their signatures), as well as our first official family photo,



we loaded back into the van and headed back to the hotel. Once there we realized that the Butterfly had a wet diaper so we changed her. I wasn’t expecting to see her wearing a diaper pad with no tabs, held together by an elastic strap. We were all very surprised to see this and thought the strap might be binding and irritating her. I realize that at least for the poor rural areas of China, this is what they have the babies wear, but it was sad to see.




After being in the room for a few hours, we wandered out to the river in front of the hotel where many people gather. The baby loved being out of the room, but soon fell asleep in my arms. We headed back to the room where she quickly awoke and continued to whimper and cry, even after we went to bed. The Butterfly has a very quiet cry. Daddy describes her cries as a car alarm that has a battery on the fritz, they seem to trail off at the end. The baby eventually fell asleep between Mommy and Daddy and we were all able to get a little sleep.


The baby is beautiful and delicate, but super strong. She is now 14 ½ months. She can stand, but cannot yet walk. She does have some little spots on her face that are bug bites in the process of healing. Those should clear soon. We have seen the start of little smiles here and there, but nothing solid yet. Seeing the photos of our girl, I do know that smiles will come soon, but in the mean time she is grieving, big time. We will see what tomorrow will bring.


~~Aloha!

Day 8, Great Wall, Cloisonné Factory, Hu Tong on Rickshaws

Day 8 (short version):
~To the Great Wall
~Hike up part of the way
~Good luck padlock on the Wall
~Good Lunch
~Hu Tong
~Rickshaw!
~Dinner at McDonald’s
~Szechuan chicken sandwich?

Day 8 (long version):
With the rain beating down on us yesterday, we were expecting more of the same weather today. However, Mother Nature decided that we had had enough rain, so she cleared the skies completely and gave us weather in the mid-nineties. It was hot! But, with the nice clear skies, it was a great time to hike the Great Wall.


We met about six other Holt families in the lobby in the morning and climbed onto a bus headed north of Beijing for the Great Wall. The bus ride took about one hour and gave us time to introduce ourselves and get to know the other families. The Ladybug found a couple new friends around her age, all boys. They were all fast friends.


Last time we visited the Great Wall in 2006, we went to a place called Badaling. Because it is a common place for tourists to visit, I figured that we would be headed there today. But much to my surprise, we made our way to a different part of the Wall, a section called Juyongguan (darn, it was so much easier pronouncing the other place). This section was absolutely gorgeous and stretched over the road onto both sides of the mountain. At the valley of the mountain was a beautiful reservoir where thousands of colorful fish swam freely. It was a beautiful site, and one that is very different from Badaling.


After taking the typical group photo at the base of the mountain, we started our ascent toward the top. Nana made it up part way, but as the steps got steeper and much taller she opted to go back down. The Ladybug, Daddy, and I climbed a little higher together to a section where we came across a large chain that had thousands upon thousands of padlocks attached to it. Chinese custom is that you place a lock on the chain for “good luck and prosperity.” We purchased a really nice lock, which they engraved with our names and the date, and found the perfect spot to affix it to the chain… right under the shade of a large, lush tree. The Ladybug did he honors for our family by looping the top of the lock around the chain and then locking it closed. Great job!




The three of us made it a little bit further up the mountain, but the heat was really getting to the Ladybug so she and I decided to begin descending the mountain and make our way to the ice cream shop at the bottom. Daddy on the other hand still had a lot of “umph” in him so he continued his ascent toward the top. The Bug and I easily made our way back down and quickly found Nana in the air conditioned gift shop where the three of us enjoyed a delicious ice cream. It was just what we needed to help cool ourselves off after the rising heat and scorching sun.


Eventually Daddy and the other people from our group made their way back down the mountain. We all piled back onto the bus and headed toward a cloisonné factory and “Friendship Store” for lunch and a little bit of shopping. The lunch was delicious. Shortly after many people in the group finished their meals, they headed into the gift shop to do some shopping. Not feeling the shopping bug myself, I opted to stay at the table and visit with a couple families. Daddy and the bug stayed as well. We talked with two other families and enjoyed some nice Chinese beer with our conversation. After our amazing morning at the Wall, this was a nice way to unwind.

(Photos of the cloisonné process)




After lunch we were all taken to the Hu Tong area of Beijing. The Hu Tong is an amazing area that dates back hundreds of years. In it are many little houses with courtyards that are highly regarded in the Chinese culture. To travel through the Hu Tong we all piled onto rickshaws and we were driven through the tiny roads that meander their way through the area. Riding on one of these rickshaws is quite an experience because as we are making our way through Hu Tong, we are also dodging pedestrians, dodging cars, avoiding inanimate objects, and barely avoiding other rickshaws. It is a crazy ride that everyone should experience when they visit Beijing. At one point we stopped at a person’s house and were invited in to ask questions and learn more about the area. The Ladybug found a new little friend while there, a little dog named Bibi. The Bug is normally very afraid of dogs and steers clear, but something about this dog warmed her heart. By the end of our visit the bug was ready to take this little dog home (sorry kiddo).





For dinner this night we opted to walk to the mall and eat somewhere familiar… McDonald’s. I know, seems a little funny to travel half way around the world and eat at a place that we can find at home. But, last summer we did the same thing while in Belgium, and it turned out to be a fun thing to do. In Belgium, McDonald’s actually does not serve a “Quarter Pounder.” People who have seen the movie “Pulp Fiction” may remember that it is called a “Royal with cheese.” Knowing that even something familiar like McDonald’s can be a little different, we decided to see for ourselves.


Surprisingly, most items seemed pretty much the same… then again we couldn’t read the menu to know what the items were called. Instead we were presented with a picture menu where we just pointed to the item(s) or meal that we wanted. My “Quarter Pounder” looked and tasted exactly the same. Daddy’s Big Mac was also just the same, as were the Ladybug’s chicken nuggets. However, Nana's chicken breast sandwich seemed to be Szechuan style. It was so hot that after one bite she couldn’t eat anymore (and truth be told, neither could Daddy. He took a bite thinking that she was just being a bit of a wimp, but he immediately realized that she was not joking). She ended up ordering a Quarter Pounder and enjoyed every last bite. Interestingly, the only thing on the menu that seemed different was the pie. We didn’t see any apple pie, but instead they serve Taro Pie. I just love the desired cuisine of other countries.

Tomorrow will be a great day. We have our agency orientation in the morning. It is at this meeting where we will get to see a recent photo of the Butterfly. I cannot wait! I hope she is doing well. I would love to see her smile, something we have not yet seen in any of her photos. Until then, good night!

~~Aloha!

Day 7 - Summer Palace & Temple of Heaven

Rain, Summer Palace & Temple of Heaven (short version)
~Rain!
~Summer Palace
~Dodging umbrellas
~Princess Ladybug
~Lunch
~Temple of Heaven
~Kung Fu Show!
~Clear skies


Rain, Summer Palace & Temple of Heaven (long version)
The weather today decided to throw something totally new into the mix… rain! So, on top of all of the heat and humidity, we now had to try to dodge thousands of umbrellas. It was crazy. But, all wasn’t bad because we received a new tour guide today, a really nice man named Jerry. Now, for those who do not know, my father’s name is Jerry, and he passed just over a year ago on June 22. When we came to China almost four years ago to get the Ladybug, he and my mother traveled with us. My mother is here again with us for this trip, and we fondly remember how fun it was to have him here as well last time. Each day brings us lots of laughter and a little sorrow in wishing that he was here with us again to enjoy this trip. So, when we met our guide today and learned that his name was Jerry, we all felt a sort of peace and happiness come over us. We knew instantly that my dad is here with us, in spirit… enjoying every single moment.


Today’s journey took us to two beautiful places, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. However because of the rain, both places were rather difficult to see and enjoy thoroughly. Fortunately, we did have the opportunity to visit both places the last time we were here so we do have some amazing photos that we took then to look back on fondly. As soon as we arrived at the Summer Palace, we had to slither our way in through hundreds of other tourists while dodging all of their umbrellas. We had one heck of a time trying to make our way through the first few stages of the Palace, but we eventually made our way to a less crowded area near the lake. As we walked around the side of the lake, we noticed a few boats mading their way back to shore as the rain came pouring down even harder.


Soon we made it to a familiar place, the “Royal photo place.” Last time we were here we all dressed in ancient, royal Chinese clothes and had our pictures taken. We had so much fun the last time that we wanted to do it again, but this time with the Ladybug. The ladies inside dressed her up and took some photos. She looked absolutely darling, just like royalty. We are so happy to have the photos, another special memory of our trip to China.




We eventually made our way out of the Summer Palace and were taken to a nice Chinese lunch. Following lunch we went to the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven is one of my absolute favorite places to visit while in China. I love the architecture, the grounds, and I especially love the people. Young and old go there to “play.” We saw people playing badminton, a form of hacky sack, miscellaneous card games, board games, and “Go,” while others knitted and painted and meditated. It is at the Temple of Heaven where I love to see Chinese people just being themselves and enjoying life. I could spend hours just wandering around taking photos, but we unfortunately had a schedule to follow so I could only take a few photos. I didn't capture nearly what I had hoped to this trip. None-the-less, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time there and hope to spend some quality time there again in the future.








Following the Temple of Heaven, we were taken back to our hotel to relax for a little bit before an amazing night of Kung Fu. The show is called “Chun Yi, The Legend of Kung Fu.” It tells the story of a little boy who becomes a Xiaolin monk. He is on a journey of self-discovery and eventually learns enlightenment. The kung fu throughout the performance is absolutely amazing, and the visuals are spectacular. The Ladybug loved the program, and was so impressed to see young boys doing, “kung fu and flipping on their heads.” It really was extraordinary. Unfortunately, photography is not permitted so I couldn't take any photos. Just the memories will have to suffice.

One of the common children's garments in China is something called split pants. All of my friends from the adoption community are very familiar with them, but for those who aren't let me give you a brief description. Split pants are regular pants that children wear, but around the "private" area and down part of the inner leg is a hole. The hole does serve a purpose... for the children to go to the bathroom easily. I remember seeing several children wearing split pants on our first visit to China almost four years ago, and this trip is no exception. What is quite cute though is that the little kiddos have absoutely nothing else on underneath the pants. So, basically you get to see everything that would normally be covered. Honestly, it is quite a site, at least for us Americans. What is even funnier (at least from our perspective) is seeing these children, when they have to go to the bathroom, just squatting right there on the ground. Often, parents will try to hold the child next to a tree or bush, but not always. the kids go just about anywhere. This is definitely a big cultural difference that we are not used to, but interesting to see anyway!




We are now back at the hotel, getting ready for bed. Tomorrow we are off to the Great Wall. Only four more days and we will have the baby Butterfly in our arms. Getting closer!

~~Aloha!