GOTCHA DAY!

We've finally met Wu Wen Bing!  He responds to Bing, so for the time being, we'll call him that...

He came to us kicking and screaming as soon as he figured out what was going on.  I guess my "I-want-you-to-be-my-mommy-shirt" can go in the rag bag. ;) I tried to wear something that would seem less threatening...you know, something lacey and sweet.  Didn't work.  He kept looking at Gracie with her blonde hair....probably what scared him so bad! ;P

Once they seperated us, and talked to him some, he came back in the room settled down and interested in what was in the backpack we brought him.  It was filled with toys and candy...what kid could resist?   He's been calm ever since....he's much like Jeffrey was with his attitude full of confidence.  He's not afraid to lead us when we're walking somewhere, and he's very curious.  He wants to stop and check everything out.

From the Civil Affairs office, we went back to the hotel to Skype with the family at home....that went fine and he was fairly friendly with everyone!

The kid is funny....we were walking down an alley and a car was coming.   Benjamin jumped out and acted like he was scaring the driver!  Totally unexpected!  Had to be there...it made us all laugh.
After the Skyping, we went to a restaurant because he was hungry...kept telling us so by rubbing his belly!  He ate like a horse...shoveling it in as fast as he could!  He doesn't like onions though....made that clear to me!

I love his raspy voice and his laugh.  Gracie has him cracking up in the room with her silly acts.  He's going to be just fine.  He talks to our coordinator and she tells him what's coming up.  It's all good!!!

Gracie got to be his first friend....

In the elevator at the hotel.....I must keep in mind he's 6 years old!!!  You want to scoop him up and treat him as younger...he's so stinkin' cute!

Huge appetite!

Good with the chopsticks!

He finished this dish...except for the onions!

Plate lickin' good!!!

After his belly was full, he settled down a bit....until we get back to the room, now he's checking everything out!

The "Fluff" part is over.....

"Fluff".....that's what I call the part of the trip where you do the sightseeing and physical stuff....climbing The Wall, visiting Tiananman Square, the beauty of the Summer Palace, and meshing with the crowd that is squeezing through the Forbidden City.  I learned there are millions of people EACH DAY that tour the Forbidden City.  I don't doubt that at all!  Touring is special and everyone that adopts from China, or just visits China, should definitely do it....you get to see, smell, feel, and taste the food of the country....and know what it feels like to be a major minority! We've only seen very few caucasion people, and most are not speaking English.

Have you ever wished you could do a "do-over?"  I have...many times.  The most recent was when we left the Forbidden City yesterday.  There are many people outside the exit trying to sell souvineers....and there are beggars, also.  I've been here a few times, and I think each time, I've seen something that stays with me....kind of haunts me, actually.  Yesterday, I saw a dwarf man with obvious spinal issues...he was begging on the sidewalk.  If I could "do-over" again....I would have stopped and discreetly dropped a large bill in his pan.  I also would have done a "Stefanie Silvey interview" with him....through our interpreter, of course.   I would love to know how he ended up where he is.  Does he have family?  I have come to understand through a local here, that dwarves, when young, are thought of as rather cute and they're pretty happy.  However, as they get older and opportunities are just not there for them, such as schooling and work....they get very unhappy and sometimes suicidal.  I know in my heart that Benjamin will most definitely be loved by his family in America, and that he'll be a successful person!

Now will come the emotional part of the trip.  We are packing up our souvineers, and looking to see what we almost forgot to pack up, looking under the bed, etc.  

All I can think about at this point, is Benjamin. So excited to meet him, at last!!!

Selfie, and Government offices in the background.  Our wonderful coordinator, Shirley, is photo-bombing in the background!  Hi Shirley!

See Chairman Mao on the building in the background??

Panoramic view of Tiananmen Square

The carvings are original, and so are the stones in the walway....imagine this being built in the very early 1400's.    

Amazing architecture.....originally, the red paint on the buildings was a mixture of clay earth and pigs blood.   The maintenance crew back in "the day" had to repaint the buildings a few times a year because the weather would wash the paint off.   

Of course, we had to check out the Mead Johnson formula section at the local Wal-Mart, which is in the basement of a building nearby.  The packaging of this can of Enfamil is different than how we package it in the U.S.   

We made it to China!  It wasn't the easiest trip.....we learned the night before we were to leave that our very first flight, out of Evansville, was delayed....which, in turn, would make us miss our second flight to Seattle to catch a flight to Beijing!  SO......Delta got us on a flight that would leave out of Louisville, KY, initially.  

Roger drove us to Louisville and we made it to Beijing at about 12:30 a.m. on Friday.  We were very tired by the time we arrived here....but we're here, safe and sound!

This morning, we climbed the Great Wall.  I found out real quick how out of shape I am!  I was huffing and puffing and stopping every 25 steps or so!  Gracie didn't remember being at the Wall when she was 5 years old on our adoption trip to Taozi, so this was like the first time for her....which is the reason why we're here in the first place....so she could experience it!  Otherwise, we probably would have skipped this portion of the trip.

After lunch, we visited the famous Summer Palace, and a tea tasting room!  We all enjoyed the tea tasting a lot.  

We are so excited to meet Benjamin on Monday.  We found out his nickname is "datou" which means "big head" in Chinese!  I don't think we'll be calling him that....that's just not nice!  

The information we were given about him also tells me that he likes to play games on cell phones....and that he is upset when he can't get what he wants.   But, he can be cheered up by talks.   Now.....doesn't that sound like a typical 6 year old boy to you?!?  Unfortunately, I don't let the kids play games on my cell phone!  Good thing I brought a kindle for him to play with!

The family we traveled here with, and will meet up with in Guangzhou a week later, are adopting a little girl of 18 months.  They have their 2 year old son with them.  He's a cutie....  We came within a centimeter, it seemed, from t-boning a vehicle today.  We all went flying toward the front of our van! Fortunately, the little guy in our group, and his mom, slammed into the back of the drivers seat. Nobody was hurt.....it was a blessing!  Those of you who've been here before, know what the traffic is like....and that lines on the streets are just a suggestion!

Tomorrow, Forbidden City.  

Peace!

Judy and Gracie

Gracie about to climb the wall.

Locks are hung on a cable on the wall...why?  I think it has something to do with sealing your love for someone.  Anybody know for sure?

Yeah, I climbed it too!

We went to this tower!

Marble boat at the Summer Palace

Our little tea-tasting party!  

Because EVERY child should be celebrated, whether they're born into a family, or adopted into a family....whether they're your first, second, third, or....not, it doesn't matter, I invite you to follow along on our trip to China to adopt our son.   This little boy who is about to be adopted into our family, is already loved by us, and we are simply on pins and needles, anxious to meet him!!!  We know not what to expect...will he be sweet, or stubborn?  Will he come to us willingly, or desperately hang onto anything he can hold onto to avoid us?  Will he smile or cry when he meets us?  The reality is, when you adopt a child, maybe especially an older child, you must go into it with your eyes, and your heart, wide open.  This little boy doesn't know what "family" is...he has so much to learn.  Our promise to him, is that we will try with every ounce of our being, to be the best family we can be for him.  To be patient, understanding, and set realistic boundaries for him.  

Wu Wen Bing, or, Benjamin Alfred Peckenpaugh, (only if you approve of that name...) we are coming for you!  Hang on buddy.....it won't be long now!!!  

Gracie and I will leave Evansville on Wednesday, May 27th, and receive Benjamin in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, on Monday, June 1st!  

Praying for God's blessing for a safe trip....

With love, and an anxious heart,

Judy

Such a stubborn smile...."I will not show you my teeth..."

He looks like a little athlete....and a bit of a stud muffin!

If He's not a Peckenpaugh, I don't know who is!!!