Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Today was a lazy day where we were stuck inside most of the day. We woke up expecting to get out of the city and go to White Cloud Mountain Park with our group of other adoptive parents and their babies, but plans changed because it poured down rain almost all day. So, the day pretty much went like any other with morning playtime, breakfast, walking, shopping, eating, nap, etc. (the routine and monotony are starting to get to everyone, so we were disappointed that we did not get to go to the White Cloud Mountain Park).

To mix things up a little bit, Ainsley spent a lot more time today with the “traveling grandmas” without Daddy. Ainsley went to breakfast and took many walks and shopping excursions with her grandmas. This was good for her and Daddy!

This journey to receive Ainsley in China would have been nearly impossible without the help of the “traveling grandmas” (David simply could not have done all of this by himself), so David and Shannon thank them for their sacrifice to make the long journey, spend the time and money, extend themselves in love…all for us and Ainsley. (I guess you are a parent for life, right? Even when your babies are in their 30’s!)

Of course, Daddy and Ainsley still kept their morning playtime date. This morning Ainsley learned something new – she learned how to climb off of the bed properly (well, almost). She is becoming more and more mobile and more and more curious and adventurous every day! That is both exciting and terrifying as the Clubb house in PA is in for a major invasion of little hands and feet!

“FIRSTS FOR THE DAY”
(some of these may or may not really be the first time Ainsley has done something, but right now they are definitely “firsts” with her new family)

• Ainsley learned how to slide off the bed by herself (well, almost by herself) and onto the floor
• Ainsley spent a lot more time being with the “traveling grandmas” without Daddy around – went to breakfast with grandmas, went on a long walk with grandmas, and more (it is good that Ainsley feels more and more comfortable being with them)
 

Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 11, is free in the morning then David meets with Shiyan and the other adoptive parents in our group around 1:30pm to prepare all of our documents for our appointment at the US Consulate on Thursday, April 12. There are LOTS of documents that must all be completed accurately to ensure a smooth process on the US side.

We are so excited that all of the processes in China will soon be completed and we can finally start the long journey back home this coming Saturday, April 14, 2007! There are lots of mixed emotions – happy and expectant to soon be seeing friends and family; nervous about how Ainsley will do on the long journey; anxious about how Ainsley will handle the transition to her new home in the US (not to mention how Mommy and Daddy will handle it! Ha!); and much more. How grateful we are for family and friends who are being so supportive and helpful during these major life events – the birth of our son, Griffin Everett, on March 9, 2007 and the adoption of our daughter, Ainsley Xia’an, officially on April 4, 2007! Thank you!