Monday, AM - Count Down

Well, its 11:30 am here in Guangzhou and we made it to the hotel safe and sound last night and had a pizza party in Uncle Dougie's room (he is now Uncle Dougie to all the families). This morning Robin and I spent some time wandering around and packing and repacking the diaper bags, checking and rechecking our money and paperwork. We have an appointment at 3:00 to meet with the orphanage and get our children. Most of us are remarkedly calm. Almost to clam. Its like we've come all this was over the past 16 months and have been on an emotional rollercoaster but now that its completing this circle we're calm and excited and relieved. Now ask us that at 6:00pm tonight and we'll probably all be basket cases :)
We've talked with other families who have had their children for about a week and they have been saying that after the first 24 hours they really see a difference in the children and the bonding really begins, before that they tend to keep to themselves with limited emotions, probably confused and scared!
We can't wait to hold Taylor. Doug will be taping the whole process for us and hopefully we'll get some time with Taylor's direct caregiver and be able to ask some detailed questions.
Our guide, Vanessa (who is absolutely wonderful) is trying to make some arrangements for Andy and Doug to visit the Suixi region and hopefully take some pictures of where Taylor has been growing up.
Its warm here, I'm guessing in the high 60s or low 70s with a light breeze, but it is very humid.
So far we're all healthy, well maybe a little lack of sleep now and then, but if that is our worst problems we're great!
The other folks in our travel group received their children last night before checking into their hotel. We have been fortunate that we had the time last night and today to prepare.
Mary, the animals on the buildings in the Forbidden City are lead by a man on a chicken! We took some close up pictures for you~
Bye for now, the next time I get to write, I'll be holding little Taylor!!!!!
Don't forget to check out the other site that Doug has been updating. Unfortunately we can't see the site from our end, but hope you enjoy the pitures.
Sharon