Introducing Little Miss Gioia

And now we are three. Gioia is very serious and contemplative. She LOVES to be held. Thank goodness for the Mei Tai. She is absolutely beautiful. Chris and I spent the whole day just staring at her. And she stared back.



The formal adoption process is tomorrow. This is technically an "adjustment period." Adjustment period or no, she is our baby now. Forever and always. Until she becomes a teenager, until she gets a family of her own, until we all pass away. Family.

I am sitting here typing this with a Bobby McFerrin lullaby playing on the laptop. She sleeps close to me in a sleep sack in her pack and play. We are parents now for sure.

Chris has posted pictures and movies, if you have the patience to dig through it all.

Peace to you all tonight.

One More Day

Such drama. Our travel approval letter was stuck in Guangzhou over the weekend with all the weather troubles, so it did not arrive Monday afternoon. After much freaking out, I discovered where it was and phone numbers of people handling it. After much sweet talking through intermediaries, I managed to get the EVA courier people to allow me to come straight to their handling facility at 7 a.m. to retrieve the package.

Letter in hand, I jumped on a plane to Hong Kong and then another to Chongqing. And I am here! Chris and I just spent 30 minutes packing our stuff for the trip to Fuling tomorrow. It is a 2 hour car ride, and I swear we are taking enough stuff to enable a baby to survive a nuclear holocaust.

So, a little baby will be here tomorrow. Whooooooo!

Trials and Tribulations

Small hiccup in the plans - the travel approval did not arrive over the weekend as anticipated. Odds are really good that it comes today. So I am flying out tomorrow instead (hopefully!), but Chris went ahead today. There was no way for him to get to Chongqing on a OneWorld carrier on Tuesday (no flights), so we took a chance and sent him along as planned.

To pass the time while I wait and fret, here is some crafting news.


This past Saturday, I took a two hour watercolor class at a little studio by my house. I really do not know how to paint with watercolors. I really, really love oils, but you cannot travel with oil paint. So if I ever want to paint something on vacation, I really can't. Unless I learn how to use watercolors.

As you can see from my oranges above, I am not very good. Turns out watercolors are pretty tricky. Unlike oil, which is really forgiving, you have to get the paint on the paper in a very deliberate way, with pretty calculated timing. Blending is hard. Really hard.

I must admit, my teacher was pretty flustered with me. He would look at my work and then say, "OK, let me show you again." Are a reference, you can see his apples below.


And now my apples, which honestly look more like tomatoes. The teacher goes: "Apple? That is an apple!?" All love, let me tell you.


Try, try again is my motto. I will be back!

Baby Bell Bottoms

In the 11th hour before we leave for China, I managed to finish one more project. These pants were started back in the fall. My interest in knitting has been touch and go lately, though, so they sat unfinished in a plastic bag for the longest time.

The pattern is available here (for free). This is the 18 month size, knit on size 6 straights and circulars with KnitPicks cotton.

Very nice pattern, very cute pants. Now I just have to go pick up the little baby bottom to go in them.

Travel News!

Beijing says that the travel approval was mailed yesterday and should arrive this weekend. Yay! Now travel plans kick into high gear. We are going to be traveling for 4-5 weeks, all total, so I have to figure out ways to be VERY frugal. Here is the plan.

1) Fly to Chongqing on Monday, January 28 despite mysterious BLAS guide guy who says we cannot come until Tuesday. There were no frequent flyer flights on Tuesday, so Monday it is (using points for three of four legs = savings of US$976).

2) Stay in the JW Marriott in Chongqing from Monday to Tuesday, Feb 5. During that time, we will stay three nights for free using points (savings = US$310). Detailed Chongqing schedule:

- Tuesday, January 29 - Silly guide says it is too early to get Gioia. Pace hotel. Worry.
- Wednesday, January 30 - Gioia day! Drive to Fuling and pick her up. Drive back.
- Thursday, January 31 - Formal adoption proceedings. Become parents. For reals.
- Friday, February 1 - Sit and stare at her. Play games. Make mistakes. Hold her while she cries. Make more mistakes. Love her.
- Saturday, February 2 - Repeat
- Sunday, February 3 - Repeat
- Monday, February 4 - Repeat
- Tuesday, February 5 - Pick up her (expedited) passport. SEE Y'ALL LATER - off to Chengdu, by hook or by crook. As it is only two days before CNY, it may actually be on the back of a donkey.

3) Tuesday, February 5 to Sunday, February 10 (Chinese New Year, for those of you keeping track) - Hang out in Chengdu at the Sheraton. For free. Because we can use points (savings = US$445). See pandas. And other touristy things. Unless Gioia is sad or sick, in which case we stay home and just love on her some more.

4) Sunday, February 10 - Fly to Guangzhou for US visa stuff at the US consulate. Stay at the Westin for only $40 a night plus Starwood points (assuming 7 nights, savings = US$545)

5) Somewhere between February 15 and 17, fly to Honolulu (Depending on visa appointment date, availability of flights to Hawaii) Try to use United miles to upgrade to three seats in business class for the 15 hour trip (oh please, oh please).

6) Hang out in Hawaii for 10 - 14 days. Stay at the Hyatt for six free nights using Gold Passport points (savings = US$1,836 = JACKPOT). Get Gioia's passport, certificate of citizenship, and Taiwan visa).

7) Somewhere around February 29, fly home to Taipei.

Phew.

Total hotel and airfare freebies = US$4,112.*

So I have officially proven two things with this post. 1) We travel way too much and have accumulated way too many miles and points. 2) I am a big dork planner person.

Five more days until we see Gioia! Isn't that great!?

*Not counting the possible upgrade to business class from China to Hawaii. Which we are going to get. Positive thoughts.. positive thoughts.

Zakka Love

I found a cute little Japanese zakka store by my house this weekend. Sadly, it did not have too many tools to be used in making zakka. It was mostly stocked with handmade items imported from Japan's crafting community. After digging through the store, however, I found this cool rubber stamp alphabet set and a fabric ink pad.


I broke out the stamps right away, and quickly whipped up a door pillow out of nursery fabric scraps. You know, as a reminder...just in case we forget when Gioia is sleeping.

Super Baby Experiment One

Through a reference here, we discovered the Super Baby Food book. Basically, this book encourages people to feed their babies real food, not jarred Gerber stuff. The author claims making your own baby food is healthier and cheaper than store bought. Well, OK. That makes sense. She also claims that feeding your baby homemade food is easy. Hmmm... let's see.

The key to this process is pureeing a bunch of food at once and then freezing it in ice cube trays to create baby-sized portions. When baby needs food, you pull out a couple of cubes (i.e., servings) and feed her.

This is super baby food experiment #1 - papaya. I started with a ripe papaya from the grocery store. I washed it with warm water because it was not an organic papaya,* despite the fact that I spent a good thirty minutes at the grocery store looking for organic. Once clean, I sliced it in half and scooped out the pretty little black seeds.


The next step is to scoop out the flesh with a spoon and puree it in a blender. Like so.


Once blended, you pour the papaya "sauce" into ice cube trays. I bought three trays that came with their own little plastic lids to cover the baby food while freezing. One papaya filled almost all of the three trays (all but two cubes in the last tray).


Once they are frozen, I can remove the cubes from the trays and pop them into a labeled freezer bag. Then we are ready for when Miss G has a craving for papaya. Obviously, we will have to wait until we get back home with her until we can try this out. I am encouraged by the prep process, though. One papaya took 15 minutes, tops.

*According to the book, you can use cold water for washing organic veggies; supposedly cold water is better for preserving nutrients. However, non-organic veggies and fruit should be washed in warm water so that the pesticides wash off. Now you know why I tried so hard to find organic. Bleagh.

Passing Time

No news yet on the travel approval. We are hoping we get to pick up our daughter before Chinese New Year. Nothing came this week though. So we wait.

In the meantime, we are trying to keep busy and get everything together. Today, we bought "Taiwanese" gifts for the orphanage director and nannies. We searched again for child proofing supplies without much luck (toilet security latches still needed: 2).

On a positive note, I discovered today that the hot stone massage at the Grand Formosa Regent Hotel in Taipei is one of the best spa experiences ever. I was beginning to lose hope of ever finding a good massage place here. The whole treatment took one hour and 45 minutes. It started with a private 15 minute steam sauna, which was followed by a foot bath and massage. The actual hot stone massage (one hour) was luxurious: slow, warm and relaxing. The therapist drew me a hot bath with rose petals at the end of the session, and then presented me with a ginger tea, little sandwich, and bitty chocolate cake. Travel approval? What travel approval?


Projects are being completed. Miss G's nursery is - I think - done. The curtains have been sewn and hung, and Chris installed the blackout shade. Chris' family's Dutch embroidery piece is hanging above the crib. All that work, and she will probably wind up sleeping in our room until she gets adjusted. Har.

Off now to circle the house once more.

Patchwork Cube Updates

Lately, I have been getting such lovely emails with pictures of patchwork cubes made from my tutorial. The picture above was sent by 54mama. I have been meaning to set up a flickr group for all of these creations, and today I finally managed to get it together. If you make a cube, feel free to post a picture here for all to admire.

More importantly, Anabeth sent me an email with the information that this cube is representative of a Menger Sponge. How wonderfully geeky! Here is Anabeth's cube.


Thanks for sharing everyone. You make my inbox so happy. Just like the frogs in Karri's cube.

Big Footed Bunny

On the way to mail the care package last week, Chris stopped off for his Mandarin lesson. They used the items in the box as tools for the lesson and discussion, and apparently his teacher was astounded that I had made the little kitty, not just purchased it from a store. They had quite a lively discussion in class about making things, and Chris was able to teach her a thing or two, like how hats are best knit on circular needles (crazy, she thought).

At the end of the day, she asked if we could make her a doll too. So Chris and I pulled out the book of patterns and the stash fabric this weekend, and we made Mr. Bunny here. Just like the kitty, he is made from a weewonderfuls pattern: the "Big Footed Bunny." His body is brown cotton velveteen and white flannel. The pants are made from one of Heather Ross' cotton prints and a few scraps of grosgrain ribbon. And his eyes - we like his eyes the best. We couldn't find a store selling buttons, so we opted for some jade beads that we found at the market down the street.

For the record, Chris did most of the work on this little guy. I did all of the machine work, but he did almost all else.


Snuggly little bunny. Hope you have fun with your new momma.

Care Package for the Fuling SWI

We are sending a package to little Fu Le Xin at the Fuling SWI - so she knows we are coming, so she knows we love her.


Using the Google translate page, we wrote this little note for her caretakers. We think her name is right, but the rest may say something like - please use camera adopt love blargh blah blah. Well, we are hoping it says - Tell Fu Le Xin that we are her parents-to-be and we will be there soon. Please take lots of pictures.

这个方案是为我们的女儿，傅乐心。我们将通过她很快。请你告诉她，我们爱她。请用相机来拍摄照片。

谢谢！


The package only has a few items: a baby kitty made from a weewonderfuls pattern, a cotton chenille blanket knit from Melanie Falick's Knitting for Baby book, and two disposable cameras.

Family Treasures

In all of the excitement of last week, I forgot to post pictures of the wonderful embroidery piece that I discovered over the holiday. I spent lots of time during my travels digging through both my mom's and my mother-in-law's attics. This beauty was hiding amongst boxes and books in Chris' family's house. After consultation with his Oma, we discovered that it was made by Chris' father's step-Grandmother when he was born in Holland in the 40s.


As you can see, this is a sort of a Dutch "Punch and Judy" scene, full of children and activity. I looked up "Jan Klaasen en Katrijn" on google, but only found references to some sort of pupper theater on several Dutch websites. Today, I wish I understood Dutch. Alas.


The piece is quite large - maybe two by three feet - and is cotton embroidery thread worked in a needlepoint stitch on a fabric normally used for cross stitch. It was a bit stained with age, and was stretched in a (not very flattering) frame with carboard backing. We rescued it from the frame and took it home with us for the baby's nursery.


I was quite worried about cleaning it, but Chris' Oma reassured me that she had handwashed it many times before. So I plunged ahead, and most of the brown age spots came out. Now it is drying on our dining room table and getting ready to be hung over the crib - bright enough to add color and interest, but soft enough to not damage baby G's head should she yank it down enthusiastically.

Three generations. My. Isn't it wonderful?

So it Begins...

Thank you guys for all of the wonderful words of congratulations and encouragement! We are so very tickled by all of this. The only downside is that we have to wait for travel approval from China before we can go to pick her up, which means about three more weeks of waiting. In the meantime, I have been running around the house trying to get everything ready.

First, I took little Fu Le Xin's paperwork to be translated and to a medical professional for review. Besides being surprised by the fact that she was given a meningitis shot and was allowed to eat eggs at 4 months old, the doctor said she seems to be healthy. Which was wonderful news. I was quite the oddity at the Taipei Adventist Hospital where I went for the consultation. When they called my number, the nurse said: Have you been to the weighing station? I said: Well, I have no baby yet. That elicited a couple of blinks and a puzzled look. She was not quite sure what to make of me.

Since I now have an approximate idea of how big she is, I was able to go through all of the clothes we have acquired and select those that may fit (and pack the suitcase - is that too eager?). She was tracking close to the normal range in US weight and height charts (up until 4 months anyway), I am guessing she will fit into 6-9 month clothes at 8 months old when we see her. So I am taking mostly that size, with some 6 month and 9 month sizes thrown in. BTW - what is the deal with having 6 month, 6-9 month, and 9 month sizes? So confusing. And European sizes - phew. I keep having to look those up, even though they should be more intuitive.

So this was monster wash weekend, as all of the baby clothes were officially released into use and could be washed. I bought a super size of Dreft at Costco, and basically went bonkers. Besides the clothes, all of the cloth diapers had to be washed as well. Those puppies apparently must be pre-washed at least three times until they get to their full absorbency. It is making a difference for sure. All of the diapers are now quite fluffy and cozy.

Speaking of diapers, I am trying to decide if we should start with cloth on the trip or just wait until we get back home. Probably we can find a laundromat in Honolulu, but I am not quite sure how we would manage in China. For sure there will be lots of people willing to do laundry, but dirty cloth diapers may be a bit much to ask of a launderer. If anyone has actually used cloth diapers while traveling in China, would you please let me know? In the meantime, I am studying up on the basics so I know what to do when we do start using them.

Speaking of Costco, I somehow felt the urge to buy a tremendous amount of staples for the pantry yesterday. I kept thinking "better now than when she comes." We now have ziploc bags (two sizes), pasta, diced tomatoes, Pledge, bathroom cleaner, and toilet paper to last us until we leave Taiwan. So if you need any of that, just pop my our place.

T minus three weeks, y'all. Isn't it fun?

Our Referral - Finally!

Rejoice! After flying 20+ hours to get home to Taipei, I found the most amazing package at our door. Our 13 months of waiting has finally ended: the referral has arrived. Little Fu Le Xin is seven months old and is waiting at the Fuling Social Welfare Institute in Chongqing. At four months (in September), she weighed 6.5 kg and had FAT CHUBBY CHEEKS!!! Apparently, she is fond of listening to music and playing with toys.



Hopefully we will be able to travel to get her very soon. Happy New Year baby girl! We are coming as soon as we can.