Visited Benjamin's orphanage today...

We visited Benjamin's orphanage today....he walked in like he owned the place!  Fortunately, when it was time to go, he waved goodbye to everyone and went willingly!  I really wasn't worried, he seems to like us pretty well....and he knew we were planning to go swimming again this afternoon.  Bribery is okay in this situation!

The orphanage seemed really nice and clean from what we saw today.  Everyone was super friendly and the children seemed happy and treated well.  We visited 2 classrooms, one for older special needs kids, and another for pre-school special needs kids.  It's heartbreaking to see all these children waiting....and waiting....but not all of them are even available for adoption.  I don't know how they choose who will be listed and who won't!  They did say the one little boy who was Benjamin's best friend was being adopted by an American family....he has no arms, but he was sure making do with his feet!  He was a cutie!

After they showed us the classrooms, they took us to a conference room that had a table that ran the length of the room....actually, what I need at home!  : )  Anyway, Benjamin climbed up on the table and was walking in the recessed center of it.   At this point, they'd taken over handling him while I was talking to the Director.  I thought "boy, you wouldn't be doing that if I had any say!"  But, I kept my mouth shut and let them enjoy their last time with him.  They all think he's so adorable and I fear they let him pretty much do whatever makes him happy.  Yikes!    He's been minding me well....but he is testing us!  He's a kid....that's what kids do.

Enjoy the pictures....sorry there's so many!  Helps me to remember the trip when I can go back and look at this blog!

P.S.  Have any of you adoptive parents ever had to visit a dentist while in China??  In Guangzhou??  I have a tooth that has a crown on it that is absolutely ruining my trip!  I am going to have to do something....at this point, they can pull it for all I care....  It seems no amount of ibuprofen is helping me.   Or, maybe it is, and I can't imagine what it would be like without it!

We completed the adoption this morning at the Civil Affairs office, and Benjamin did great!  He was friendly, and a bit silly to everyone.   There was no seperation issues like yesterday, when he screamed and kicked, trying to get away from us.  We haven't had any crying at all....but I see that he's going to start testing his boundaries now.  :)  Benjamin is definitely a leader, and the orphanage staff told me that he's very well liked at the "special school," and his teacher is really going to miss him.  They gave him a beautiful Jade pendant as a goodbye gift, and took several pictures.  I do believe he was loved there....

After the legal stuff was done, we had a nice lunch, and now we're back in the room, listening to Benjamin snore while he naps.  We promised to take him swimming after his nap.  This should be fun!  Our coordinator asked him if he knew how to swim.....he shook his head "yes" and dropped to the floor pretending to swim!  Let's see if he knows what he's talking about!!

I was afraid Benjamin would be more fragile with dwarfism....and he seems to be anything but fragile!  He scares me to death....today, coming down the marble steps, he jumps down two steps at a time, flat footed, and lands just fine!  My family knows how I suck all the surrounding air in when I get frightenend....well, that's what I did today!  I couldn't get to him quick enough.  The little fart just tries to wriggle his hand from mine though....wanting to prove he's a big, tough guy!  He's all boy....he's definitely going to keep us young!

We're slightly homesick, but mostly ready to move on to the next stop....Guangzhou!  It's such a happier place with many adoptive families and so much more to do.  We are anxious to get Benjamin home to meet the rest of the family, and settle into a new normal!

Somebody likes TV!

Visiting a park

Riding a ride at the park

Sorry Mom.....I don't need to hold your hand!

Love his loot!

Most of the clothes I brought are slightly big on him.....scissors handy!

Awesome at coloring!

Look, Mama!

Pouncing on Gracie

Don't I look handsome!?!

The view from our room....

Orphanage staff with us....strike a pose!

Car rides make him sleepy...

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!!!