First, a few pics from our last night in Beijing…
Happy Year of the Rat! This display was set up on the Walking Street last night, as we were on our way to dinner. Quite an interesting photo op, huh??
Here is Randy with Karen…her and her husband Bruce are adopting an adorable little boy named Micah tomorrow! The guy in the middle? He was pacing back and forth in front of a dept store when we decided to nab him for a picture. See the eyes in the mask!?
On to today…
We arrived in Hefei, Anhui today at about 12:30. There are two other families staying with us, also adopting from Anhui. Above is us, our guide Jane, and Joe and Tammy. The other family adopting with us is arriving tonight.
This is what we saw when we opened our hotel room…
The hotel staff also delivered a stroller to us today. Jane, our guide, gave us a bag of formula that Lainey is used to, along with a bag of rice cereal that the nannies routinely add to the bottle.
All ready for her. The panda bear is a gift that our agency’s founders, Josh and Lily, sent to us…our guide gave it to us today. Lainey will love it (and so will her sisters!).
We leave tomorrow at 9am for the registration office, where the orphanage director and nannies will bring Lainey. It will take us about 30 minutes to get there. Randy and I had a wonderful dinner at the hotel tonight (this is a beautiful hotel!), where we reminisced about these last 2 years, preparing for this day. We have lots of emotions, but mostly are just excited to finally meet our daughter and new sister to Abbey, Marley, Payton, and Ethan. Big day tomorrow! We will post pictures just as soon as we can!
February 17th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Good Morning, Hefei!!! It’s 7:50 AM here in NC, USA.
How nice of them to send the panda bear and I see he’s joined by a very cute bunny!! What a nice time for you both to enjoy a nice quiet dinner at a beautiful hotel and be able to reminisce about all of the steps you had to take to get where you are now…it’s been 1 year, 11 months and counting! I remember just after Christmas, when you guys, Ann & Paul and your dad and I were eating at Ruby Tuesday’s and you blurted out to us that you were thinking of adopting a baby from China…I’m not sure, but I think my mouth dropped!! (Oh yes, this was Christmas of 2006!!). It didn’t take long for the idea to become a reality…and now it’s only a matter of HOURS before you are holding this prescious child that took almost 2 years to receive! I feel very emotional right now, and I can’t imagine the thoughts that are going thru your minds as I am typing this! Many thoughts and prayers are with you both…more than you can imagine here in the USA and Canada, I’m sure!!! Don’t forget to give her a kiss from us! Love you guys and Lainey Bug!! Mom & Dad PS I hope you’re watching your little sister, Abbey, Marley, Payton & Ethan…we’ll see you very soon!!
February 17th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Donna,
You are soooo close now. Praying for a smooth transition for Lainey. Can’t wait to see that little sweetie in your arms!
February 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Oh, Donna, looking at your pictures from the hotel takes me back to our journey just four short months ago!! I am praying for your Lainey and for you and Randy today as you prepare mentally for Gotcha Day! Try to remember every detail…it will become a blur so quickly, trust me!! I can’t believe you are FINALLY at the end of the wait and at the beginning of an awesome journey for your entire family!!
Wishing you all the best!!!
Teresa =)
CCAI WCP, Mom to Meggie and Carson
February 17th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
OH my goodness!! You are so close! I know it was such an amazing feeling to open the door of your hotel room and see the baby bed. I am praying for you all daily and will continue to pray for health, happiness, great bonding and a very easy transition. I can’t wait to see Lainey in your arms!
February 17th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
We’re all counting the hours until nine o clock PM here, well we’ll all be asleep, but I will get up at 2 am to check the blog for pics of Lainey. A CRIB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
You are getting a baby today. Did you get that??? A CHINESE BABY OF YOUR VERY OWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited I could scream. Love you guys, Anne
February 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I can’t believe you are in Hefei!!! 11 months ago tomorrow we were where you will be!!!! I cannot wait to see pictures of your beautiful girl in your arms.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
A crib!!! Yeah! Next update I hope to see sweet Lainey! I get goosebumps reading your site! It brings back so many sweet memories of bringing Naomi home! Praying for you both and for Lainey! :)
Love, Sarah H.
fellow Firefly…
February 17th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Hi Clark family,
Wow, I can’t believe that tomorrow you will have Lainey in your arms. This is so amazing!! I can’t wait to wake up in the morning and check out your blog! Praying for you guys!!
((BIG HUGS))
Jessica
February 17th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I Can’t believe the day is coming! you must be so happy-God Bless and we will be praying for you to have a wonderful first meeting!
February 17th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I too remember sitting in the restaurant when you all told us that you were going to adopt a little girl from China. It was so exciting and seems soooooo long ago. We have had almost 2 years to prepare for this, but the excitement is so great and my emotions are all over the place !!! Please give my newest grandchild a big hug for me and tell her that Gram & PaPaul already love her and want to see her. I just talked to Peggy and her emotions are almost as bad as mine. She and Joe are so blessed to be able to see Lainey when you get back home. I talked to Abbey yesterday and she is doing great and said she (and the other 3) can’t wait to see their new sister. I will be constantly checking for a picture of sweet Lainey. Ain’t God Good????!!!!! Love you both.
February 17th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I missed you guys at FCC’s CNY last night but I’m so glad you are where you are!! Just think, you’ll never have a CNY without Lainey again!! I look forward to tomorrow and the rest of your trip!!
thinking of you all!
Kelly W
http://journeytomiajade.blogspot.com
February 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
So excited for you guys! You look so happy!
February 17th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Oh, I can’t believe it! TOMORROW? You must be so exicted and nervous! Hey, I’M excited and nervous FOR YOU! :-) I will be praying for you both as you go and get your dear, sweet, wonderful, adorable, cute, lovely, darling Lainey! :-)
BIG HUGS FROM CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 17th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Oh my gosh! It is 8:20am Monday morning in China!!!! Today is Lainey day! I can not stop checking your site…. I know it will be a most amazing and awesome day for you and Lainey! I will be praying this evening as you prepare to hold your sweet girl! I pray for peace to take over Lainey’s heart! I pray for a joyful day and look forward to seeing your smiles as you hold your daughter!
Love & many prayers!!!
Sarah Houston
(fellow July Firefly)
February 17th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
GOTCHA DAY !!!!!!!
February 17th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Donna! It is so exciting to see the room and her crib all set up! By now, you may have her in your arms. I cannot wait to see the pictures and to hear all about your ‘gotcha’ moment. Praying for you, have an amazing day!
Becky
waiting for Cassie
February 17th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
We are so excited for you. We are glued to your postings! We are reliving China and the excitement through you!
Our hearts are racing…for you and Lainey!
Lovingly,
Derek and Julie
February 17th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I hate to keep posting but I am SOOOOOO nervous right now and I keep checking this board, Email, Chat and clock until it is about to drive me loopy !! I may be more nervous now than I was when Randy and Donna “gave” me the triplets. Of course, the birth of each of my other 10 granchildren has been exciting and I have been there (hospital) for each and cried and prayed and loved them all.
I think this night waiting to see Lainey has been as long as the past 2 years !!!
Patience is not one of my qualities… especially wanting to see Lainey and find out EveryThing from Randy and Donna.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Donna and Randy,
John and I just checked you site. It is 11pm here. We figure your wait is now over. We prayed for all to go well. I can still feel the emotions we had at our “Gotcha Day” There is nothing else like it in the world. The adventure is just beginning. Ecclesiates 7:8; “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” Your wait is about to be rewarded. God bless you all!!!
Much Love,
Glenda
February 18th, 2008 at 12:50 am
I know you will be meeting Lainy in just a few hours. You are in my thoughts and prayers and so is your new daughter. I hope you have a very special first day with her.
Margaret
February 18th, 2008 at 1:31 am
As I type this, it is 9:30pm here (West coast) so I think you already have Lainey!!! I am so looking forward to seeing you with her! BLESSINGS!!!!!
Pam
February 18th, 2008 at 3:13 am
For all of you that are waiting… I just talked to Randy on the phone. Lainey is now with her new parents… Randy and Donna !!! Randy says they will post pictures and information as soon as possible. It is now 2 a.m. here and I may have to go to bed before I see them.
To all of you that have kept Donna and Randy, Abbey, Marley, Payton, Ethan and Lainey in your hearts & prayers and posted encouragement on this site – Randy’s Mom thanks you from the depths of her heart. May God bless all of you.