Adventures in Kunming--3/26/09

We had the opportunity to visit the orphanage in Kunming today, and it was a truly special experience. When we received Ellie-Kate on Monday, we were told that she was a "favorite," and we certainly found that description to be true today. We toured the facility at the same time as another couple from our hotel who received their 13 month old baby on Monday as well. As we came to learn, Ellie-Kate was found in the same city as the other little girl, fostered in the same village as that other girl, and stayed in the same room as her when they both returned to the orphanage last week. We're so blessed to be able to know her and her family, and we hope to keep in contact with them in Guangzhou and in the US.

As we walked through the very well-kept facility, caregivers (known as "nannies") kept coming up to Ellie, calling her by her Chinese name, and hugging her. These women seemed very affected by Ellie's departure, and our guide told us that one of the staff members was "heartbroken" that Ellie was leaving. (However, even though they were upset, they all seemed genuinely happy that she was going to have a good home.) We are truly blessed that she was so beloved, that they took such great care of her, and that they returned so many of the items that we had sent to Ellie to us on Monday.

Ellie did fine at the orphanage. She wouldn't go to the nannies, but she did allow a few administrators to hold her for pictures. Most importantly for us, Ellie already seems to be bonding to us. Of course, she might just prefer our food :) She really loves sharing pizza and spaghetti with us, in addition to her baby food. We're still trying to get Ellie to take formula, and she doesn't care for bottles except to play with them, but we figure that we'll get through the next week and then keep trying as we settle into home with her.

After the orphanage, we came back to the hotel, and Chelsea and Emmy went with Christie and Ellie to the playyard in the hotel. They had a blast! Afterward, we took turns going out into the Kunming area and exploring. We concluded the day by going, once again, to Pizza da Rocco. Rocco even treated us to dessert after learning that we had to say good-bye b/c we're leaving tomorrow.

In the pictures below, you'll see ones from the orphanage with Ellie's roommate from the orphanage. You'll also see pics from the play area, from dinner at Rocco's, and with another family who is staying at our hotel who just adopted a second child from China.

Tomorow, we leave for Guangzhou, and we're excited to be at the White Swan with the other families that we have met here in Kunming as well as the one family that we met on our flight to Beijing from D.C. It'll be so cool to get pics with the kids in famous and traditional places at the White Swan, and we've heard that Guangzhou is a neat place, especially right around the hotel.
We'll send a quick update tomorrow after we get settled in our next hotel room.

Please pray that we have a safe flight to Guangzhou. (We're headed out at 5:50 p.m. and should arrive around 8 p.m.) Please also pray that this next leg of paperwork goes smoothly and that Ellie-Kate will be officially our's soon. She's such a special little baby, and we can't wait for everyone to meet her ASAP!