My I-171H has Arrived!

Yesterday, my I-171 H finally arrived! It was the last peice of paperwork I needed in order to send my Dossier to China! It is also the paper that will serve as Lillie's visa back into the US when I finally travel. I had the form notarized, and authenticated and took it to the agency...and now it is off to DC and then will be off to China! It is yet another step in the right direction and means that hopefully it will arrive in China, be translated into Chinese and logged in within the next 5 or 6 weeks. It seems like forever, but I am hoping that it will go quickly. As soon as I have an official log in date, I have a better idea of how long until travel. Prayers and good thoughts, please!

Bai Jia Bei...the 100 Good Wishes Quilt

“To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite friends and family to contribute a patch of cloth with a wish for the baby. Part of the patch of cloth goes into the quilt for the baby, and the other part of the cloth can go into a scrapbook with the wish for the child. The quilt contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. “
I would love to do this for Lillie! I would love for everyone who has a special wish for Lillie to help with this project! Your time and help will be greatly appreciated… and I think it will be a wonderful way to welcome Lillie and to continue a tradition from her home country!
If you would like to contribute, please send a 6"x6" square of 100% cotton fabric. It can be gently used fabric that is special, or just be fabric you really like! When you send the fabric for the quilt I would also appreciate your sending a "wish" or prayer or blessing on a card with your name and address and a small piece of the cloth attached to it. I will make a scrapbook for Lillie to have when she is older that will tell her about how much she was loved before she arrived. Her "Wishes" Book with the matching material from the will help to tell her story.
Thank you for helping with this special project! I will post pictures of the Quilt when it is complete! I am hoping my wonderful cousin Ashley…quilter extrordinaire, will help me with this project. She is already creating beautiful quilts for Lillie and her friends in Fuling!
Send fabric and wishes for the quilt to:
Andrea Nielsen
401 Redding Rd #16
Lexington, Kentucky 40517

Thank you for loving Lillie!

The Mystery of Split Pants

One of the images of Lillie that constantly draws questions from everyone is about her pants. Split pants are pants with a giant hole on the bottom - known in Chinese as "kaidangku" (literally "open-crotch pants"). Although many people in China now use disposable diapers, several still use the split pants…including Fuling SWI. These pants not only make it easier to change a diaper, but I have learned that they assist with potty training. Apparently, it would not be unusual to see a bare baby bottom out in public…or even stopping to go to the bathroom…right on the street! Bare baby bottoms are an increasingly rare sight…but apparently kaidangku used to be almost a uniform for toddlers. I guess this explains why some of us have heard that the Chinese potty train their children at a young age! I thought this might help explain Lillie’s present fashion to everyone!

Pictures from MaryHelen

With my new hobby of reading about all things China and Fuling, I found out that another new mom...MaryHelen, would be traveling to China to receive her daughter, Rose. It is so exciting to follow the path that each of these new families take and is always a time that I ask others to check on my beautiful Lillie. It is always with the understanding that they may not be able to travel to the SWI, or upon arriving there, may not be near her. I knew this was a possibility with MaryHelen's visit also. When I quickly checked HER blog earlier today, she told about her visit and explained she had only had the opportunity to visit 2 baby rooms. I assumed that it would be very unlikely that she saw my Lillie....so imagine my surprise when i received this email and pictures!
"i visited the fuling swi today, we were only able to visit two baby rooms but guess what? your lillie is in the same room that my rose was. i took photos and i'm attaching some photos here.
i hope i have the right baby - i took her name and birthdate and my guide went to the office to find out which baby - she's a waiting child? she has a problem with her foot? i have to say, she held her nanny's hand and walked all over so it doesn't appear to be slowing her down too much. so i'm attaching the pics. "
I must say that this waiting has been terribly painful, but again I thank God for the kindness of others and the good fortune I have had. I must say that after speaking with other waiting parents...as well as other adoptive parents....I have been truly blessed! I pray that the time between now and the Lillie's "Gotcha Day" is short and moves quickly!

Prayers and Positive Thoughts

Just wanted to let everyone know that I checked the Immigration site today and they are now processing I 600A's from October....YEAHHHHH! I filed in mid October so I am hoping that means I will recieve my I 171H in the next few days! This would be a wonderful gift, since it is the form needed before my Dossier can be sent to China. Please send prayers and positive energy that this too will move quickly and we can get all the paperwork of to China...the sooner the paperwork goes, the sooner the LID (log in date) and the sooner the LID, the sooner we travel to bring Lillie home!

Udate on Lillie's freind Michelle

I recently received an e-mail from Mimi with this precious picture of Michelle! She let me know that Michelle is adjusting well to her new family and home. She also let me know that Michelle blossoms each day and that it is hard for her not to spend every minute with a camera or video camera to document every moment! Michelle is now doing a lot of cruising around and is trying very hard to walk. I have this vision in my head of she and Lillie in their beds, each longing to "get up and go". Mimi let me know that she is sending a CD with pictures from the orphanage and the video clips...she also said it is amazing to realize how simple tasks (like going to the post office) become a major undertaking with a child! Another quick reminder that my life is about to change...
I can't wait!

An update from Fuling!

Today I came hope to a great surprise...an update on Lillie from China! I asked, upon receiving approval from the CCAA, for an update from the SWI on Lillie and her development. Grace received the information today and sent it on to me, including 2 new pictures! There were several documents...7 in all...but they are still in Chinese - SO some information will take a few days to translate! The developmental information, however, is in English and Chinese so I have also attached those forms for you to see. These forms tell me that Lillie is a deep sleeper, can pick a pill up with her thumb and index finger (why in the world would she have a pill???) and can stand alone steadily. She likes to bang blocks together, knows what the word "NO"means and can point to her eyes, ears, nose, etc. when asked. The personality section says she is restless, likes to sing and listen to music, has a ready smile AND is talkative. (I clearly must learn some Chinese!)
Just wanted to share with everyone my newest information! It is another exciting step toward Lillie's coming home to Kentucky! Keep those prayers coming!

Translated Letter!

My letter to the orphanage has been translated into Chinese, so I can finally send Lillie's care package! Adele with Blessed Kids did the translation... a wonderful service that will help the director and nannies know about the items in the care package. The package will include a blanket that Ashley made, some small books, a hat I knit, a disposable camera, a small toy and candy for the nannies. (One book will be pictures of the family.) I will take pictures before sending the package off and will post them soon. I cut and paste the letter (in English) below.

Dear Director and Nannies,
I am eagerly looking forward to adopting Fu Baoyun. I
feel honored that I will be the mother of this
wonderful little girl soon. Thank you for all the love
and care you have given her.

I are enclosing a disposable camera in this package,
hoping you might be able to take some photographs of
Fu Baoyun at the orphanage, with her nannies, and
anything that you feel may be important to us or her
in the future. I will keep these pictures to share
with her when she is older. I am sure they will mean
so much to both of us and we will definitely cherish
them in the future. I can get the pictures developed
while I am there and send you copies, if you would
like.

Please accept the enclosed candy and chocolate for the
orphanage caretakers and children. I deeply appreciate
the time and effort you and your staff devote to
helping orphans have a good place to live and grow.

Thank you for all you have done for Fu Baoyun. I will
forever be grateful.

The Fuling SWI

I know I have shared some information about the Social Welfare Institute in Fuling, but thought I would post a few pictures! This is the present building they are located in, with the entrance and gate being seen in one of the pictures. This picture is particularly significant to Lillie's "story" since that is where she was found April 23, 2005. The sign is located at the Lily Orphan Care Center located in the SWI. The translation of the sign is:

Our Promise to the Children:
Children are the Most Important.
We Treasure Them.
Treat Them Equally.
Care for Them with Love
And in an Educated Way.
It is nice to know that Lillie is being treasured there as well as here!