The Empress is Out of Her Shell!

Oh, what a difference a few days makes. As of Saturday, she was sad, watchful, wary of us (though she consented to let Daddy hold her and tote her around). She continued to launch nuclear tantrums at bath time, at changing time, when we took her into the hotel playroom (she HATES that place) . . . most any time she wasn't in daddy's arms or asleep (at least she does THAT all night, like clock work). On Sunday, she woke up a new person, and left us breathless: she eats, she walks under her own power, she talks (though we don't understand a syllable), she sings softly to herself, she smiles, she LAUGHS hysterically.
Ah, bliss.
She has even (slowly) begun to warm up to Mama Katie, consenting to let her feed her, change her diapers, bathe her (though not without a principled cry, which soon fades into contented play in the bath). Now don't get the wrong idea; Daddy is busy too: toting her around, in a Hip Hammock or a borrowed stroller. he does his bit.
In an hour we leave for the United States Consulate, where Her Majesty will receive her visa (her permission -- as if THAT were necessary) to enter and permanently reside in America, her new realm. Tomorrow, it's on to Hong Kong, our last stop and her last look (at least for a while) at her birth land. The following day, we fly home to America, and Virginia.

Gotcha photos!

We're Back....

We've been gone a few days because we've had our hands full with the little empress. What a pair of lungs this child has!!! It has been very hard for her and us for all the many changes the past few days. Her shock - our awe!!! We have been overwhelmed with it all, and we are very tired, however we have much to be thankfull for. Elizabeth is very heathly, just a bit on the thin side. She sleeps all night and is eating for us. We thought she would be sick, but instead Curtis is sick. Fortunately someone in our group gave him some antibiotics.

The group we are with has been very supportive. There are 22 families, most of them from Michigan.

We saw the province she came from. It's very poor compared to Beijing and Guangzhou. Guangzhou is very warm. We had to buy some tee shirts because of the weather.....sunny and pleasantly warm....temps in the 70s.

We tried to upload photos however, our camera battery just went low. We will post photos on our next post.

Crashing the "Forbidden City"

Ni hao from Beijing!

Yesterday we were taken to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. It was beautiful weather, as you can see, a bit cool but bright, great photo weather. It was all very impressive, and reminded us of the deep culture that our daughter will continue to enjoy as her birthright, regardless of her U.S. citizenship.

A highlight of the day was a rickshaw tour through some of Beijing's "hutongs" -- tiny alleyways that preserve the flavor of old Beijing (before the recent modernizations began to make the city look a lot like Vegas). It was indescribable, so I won't try to describe it. Let's just say we saw a city that probably few tourists see, and got "up close and personal" with some of these marvelous and friendly people.Today (Tuesday, November 22 -- we're 13 hours ahead of EST) is the last day that Katie and I are non-parents -- sometime this afternoon (early morning for most of you) Zhang Xiang Bing will be handed over to us in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi province, and will become Elizabeth Xiang Bing Morgan. More as we have opportunity (i.e., once we've overcome the shock!)

Curtis & Katie Storm the Great Wall Nov. 20

Ni hao! (Hello!)
Well, we've been in Beijing for just over two days, and have decided we love this city. The people are very friendly and know a lot of English. They are pleased (apparently) by our ham-fisted attempts to speak Chinese ("xie xie" -- pronounced like "sheeye sheeye" -- "thank you"). They smile constantly (as well they should -- we've spent a lot of money here!) Yesterday (the 19th) we visited the Summer Palace of the Emperors. Today we were taken to visit the Great Wall and were truly amazed -- pictures don't do it justice. We also visited a "cloisonee" factory and ourchased a few "treasures." Tomorrow it's off to visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Watch for more pictures!

Zai Jian (goodbye!)

We're Here in Beijing!!!

Greetings everyone! We arrived in Beijing yesterday (or was it today??) Anyway, in our time zone it is Saturday the 19th. Our flight over was smooth enough, especially as, due to the airline overbooking, our seats were assigned to us and a Chinese pair. Suddenly we were "bumped" to Business class! It was pretty neat--we could recline our seats, we had fliet mignon for dinner, complimentary everything . . . We pitied our poor traveling companions, stuck in "steerage" eating beans and franks!!

So we arrived relatively rested (we actually slept part of the way) and arrived in Beijing at about 3:30 pm their time (2:30 AM EST) on Friday. We were met by Joy, a Bethany representative and taken through the worst traffic I have ever seen to our Hotel (where I am writing this). It is very comfortable, and we are meeting the other families in our travel group. Several of them are back for a second (or third!) adoption. Beijing (at least what we have seen so far) is VERY modern and Western (lots of McDonalds, Pizza Huts, etc.) but at Joy's suggestion we ate at a place called "Beautiful South" which featured real Cantonese cuisine. It was awesome (though we passed on the braised shark's lips).

We are having a GREAT time so far, and my next post will have photos.

Watch this space!

Packing for Departure Day, November 17

Just a quick note to all of our friends eagerly awaiting the Empress's advent. Pictured here is a pair of shoes (they light up!) that will be (probably) her very first pair of her very own. They reside in an open suitcase, still being filled with all manner of things we think the three of us will need on our very long journey to and through China and then home. The other photo is of her very first piece of luggage, a "Hello Kitty" backpack that doubles as a "roll-along" bag. It isn't empty; it holds a green cloth bunny, a bag of goldfish and various other necessaries for the Chinese girl-on-the-go. That will be her "carry-on" luggage! A Chinese co-worker tells me that the character for Elly Bing's name (Xiang) contains an element representing flight. "This girl's gonna fly!" We know that is true, in every sense.