Monday -- The Grasslands!

Monday, October 11, 2009

Today we drove 2 hours to tour the grasslands. They are green in the summer, but had already turned yellow. I am including pictures of the homes. The rectangular concrete homes were homes we passed on the way. The round homes are homes that Mongolians live in. I have one picture of the inside of one home. We rode horses to tour a family home. The lady met us and invited us inside. She served us warm milk tea, cheese (that tasted like candy), and fried bread sticks. She lives in the round home. She had a single bed, two card tables with some stools, and some shelving. She did not have running water or electricity. She had pots to boil. She did have a car. We asked for a restroom and she pointed to outside in the grass areas. Oh well!

Hamilton loved the horse ride. Thomas told him on the way that we were going to ride horses or “maw” in mandarin. So when we got there he was very anxious and began crying when the price negotiation took too long. He had to ride with a guide. They did not trust us to hold him. He giggled and laughed. We decided that he loves transportation as much as balls. He thought the car ride was quite fun also. He giggles and gets excited at the simplest of things, such as mountains on the way today. He loved looking at the tall mountains and kept pointing and telling us to look, in mandarin of course.

Right now Hamilton is behind me unpacking Beth’s suitcase. He is “washing” her clothes and hanging them on the windows to dry. Most of the apartments in the cities have clothes hung up in the windows to dry. So I guess he is copying his foster mom’s method. Boy is he going to be in for a treat when he sees his first washer and dryer!

He has been much better behaved today. I think the language barrier may be a large part of the problem. He wanted to take his socks off in the car and was fussing with me (it was really cold). Thomas looked back and explained in mandarin that it was too cold to take off socks. He told Thomas, “I will take them off later when I get home”. How nice it will be when we can talk to each other. It was so simple and ended the struggle.

It is 5:00 here and we are headed to dinner shortly. We opted not to eat lunch in the grasslands. They had some interesting food on the menu, such as internals and lots of lamb. It was also expensive.

Tomorrow, Thomas picks up all of Hamilton’s paper work, which I believe completes the China side of the adoption. Wednesday we get his passport and fly to Ghanzhou!

I miss home tremendously,

Sunday in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia --Day 3 with Hamilton!

Sunday, October 10, 2009

Today we were able to sleep in as long as we wanted for the first day since arriving in China. I enjoyed being lazy and Skyping this morning before and after breakfast. Thomas found a city park for us to visit and it was fun as well as very pretty. They had exercise equipment in two areas for adults and children. Some of the pictures are from those areas. There were men fishing. Also there were paddle-boats to rent. Hamilton made it very clear that he wanted to ride a boat. So we rented one for 50 Yuan or about $8 for an hour. He loved it! He carried on conversations with Thomas, who asked him if he could swim, roller blade, etc. Each answer was, “yes, I can”. Thomas said he could do everything – very brave! He fell and hit his head while playing on some of the equipment. He cried pretty hard, but let me comfort him. I think that was another step toward bonding. Thomas was very protective after that, staying very close to Hamilton’s side to prevent injury. He now has a small black eye and a scrape and bump across his forehead! We may have to cover up the injuries to be allowed out of Inner Mongolia-just kidding!

We worked on not throwing food at lunch today by removing his plate every time he threw. It seemed to work at the time because he did not like loosing his plate. It is tough to discipline while trying to bond and having a language barrier. Dad and Thomas say I am not firm enough. I think Will and Elizabeth would disagree! But he is so cute and laughs so hard when he is being naughty that it is very difficult not to laugh back. You can pray for gentleness. I began praying that he would develop a gentle spirit this afternoon after he head butted me in the eye. He can be quite rough in addition to mischievous.

Tonight we are going to dinner with the hotel manager who came by our table last night and introduced himself. He is from a diplomatic family and grew up in the US. He asked to host us for dinner. We are the only Americans staying here. So we are somewhat celebrities. We receive stares everywhere we go!

Tomorrow we are driving two hours to the grasslands. I believe we will be able to ride horses and watch a performance of some kind.

Thank you for your continued prayers. We have now survived one week away from home. I am missing my family and bed very much! But Skype has been wonderful. I can not imagine doing this trip with out it.

Love,

Kem

Saturday with Hamilton

Today was another day of paper work. We went to the notary public’s office to get the final okay for Hamilton to be adopted. Then we went to the police station to complete the application for Hamilton’s passport.

We were allowed to take the blankets to the orphanage but I was told not to put orphanage pictures on the internet. The government would not be happy. So the pictures from today are from the hotel, notary office, or passport office.

The orphanage was new, built last October and it was very large and pretty. It has 300 children with 98% of them having special needs. I took pictures of the playroom. They had a wonderful sensory room that I loved - it had no grass, all dirt. The orphanage is located off a dirt road and appeared that they just knocked down old buildings and built new on top. Freeman's - we saw a little girl in foster care, but not Fischer. He is in Batou City.

When we came back to the hotel Hamilton met Aunt Beth. He loves her already. Now he has 3 women and a granddad to entertain and spoil him.

Tomorrow we may go sight seeing either to grasslands or the Inner Mongolia museum.

Note: Tyler flew back early Saturday (Beijing) and has arrived safely back in Atlanta as this blog went to post. We are happy to have Tyler back in the USA safely! Beth flew on to join the group and meet Hamilton in Hohhot. I apologize for the late posting today -- being Saturday I failed to check the correct email address. Hamilton seems to be adjusting very quickly and quite happy. Please continue your prayers! October 22nd can't get here soon enough. "Dear"

Our First FULL Day as Mom and Son!

Friday, Oct. 9

Reflections on Day 1 with Hamilton (or Guang Guang)

1. He is hilarious. He has infectious laughter from deep in his belly.

2. He is very active!

3. He throws everything from balls, clothes, shoes, to food!! (we are working on that)

4. He talks nonstop in mandarin- I really wish I could understand him.

5. He eats a ton! More than Will and Betsy combined I bet. But mostly just watermelon and noodles so far. Thomas asked me if I cooked noodles at home. I think he was a little concerned that I would not feed him correctly.

6. He loves balls.

7. He hits and kicks everything, even faces. ( we will have to work on that too)

8. As a teacher, I am looking for any delays in development. We were told he would seem like a 2 year old. I think he acts like a typical 3 year old. I can tell he has been well loved. From pictures it is obvious that he was taken places and has lots of memories. I guess not the typical orphan baby. For Anna-- he makes most sounds. He does seem to eliminate the beginning and changes the endings, but this is English. I know I hear m, b, d, y, c, k,. His two top front teeth are misplaced, so I am not sure he is capable yet. He cannot suck from a straw. Also, I think there is likely still a hole in his pallet. Everything comes out of his nose at times, even watermelon juice.

9. Amy, he loves his Ni Hao Kai-lan book. It has been a big hit. Thank you!!

Well, to sum it up, he is adorable. He is happy and full of laughter. He seems to obey Thomas, but not me—hopefully just a language barrier. I really wish I could understand him.

Note from Hamilton's "Dear": Late yesterday afternoon I received an email from Kem to log in! So, I did and was so excited to Skype with Kem and Hamilton. He is just absolutely adorable. He was loving his picture on the computer (seeing it reflected in Skype) and loving me talking to him. I asked if he understood what I was saying and Kem immediately said, "not a single word" but is very fluent in mandarin. Oh well, he loved the sounds. He was laughing, squirming like any three year old, smiling, and just so happy. He is so full of love! Then, he gets off her lap and begins dancing to music from I guess the TV, don't know where the music came from. Kem said he had cuddled with her all night and had done so well. No crying, just so happy. Will and Betsy, he is going to adore you! Your family was special made to receive this precious brother and son:-) God's timing is always perfect!

You can so feel HIS plan in all of this. I get "goose bumps" and tears when I think about it too long. Please continue your prayers for all the family. There is still a long way to go before we have our family members in China back across the ocean here in the good old USA!!

Pictures of Hamilton

Here are Gotcha Day pictures. I am not sending many because Hamilton (a.k.a Guangguang) will not go to sleep without me. Lucky for us he is use to sleeping in the family bed! He has done great. I met his foster mother, which is very unusual. She seems wonderful. And it was especially neat to be able to thank her and meet her. She made a special photo book for Guang Guang. He loves looking at his pictures and telling Thomas what was happening. He does not seem too delayed. He loves balls, especially soccer. Also, he eats way more than Will or Elizabeth—noodles and watermelon tonight. He knows exactly what to do with a bowl of noodles- see the picture!

I will try to post more tomorrow. He is very, very, very active. So I will do my best.`

Thanks for the continued prayers!

HE IS A DOLL!!!!!!!!

He is a doll! He is a soccer player, playing in the hall right now. No tears yet. He looks the same but bigger. I will send pictures once he is asleep. I also got to meet his foster mother. She has been with him for 3 years!! She gave me a photo book that she made for him and also the album that I sent of us last summer. It is quite worn, so she has been preparing him. He is very smart also. Talks all of the time- already calling me mama and Laurie Lala. He is very energetic. All 4
of us are going to sleep well. Thanks for your prayers!

Note: This is a huge day for the Bennett family and for all of us! We have all been awake since at least 4:00 a.m. waiting on any glimpse of an email and especially a picture or two. The pictures will come soon I am sure. Please keep praying for Hamilton and all of his new family! It seems he is one lucky little fellow to have had a wonderful foster family and to be joining a wonderful family. This has definitely been engineered by our Heavenly Father! Posted by Hamilton's "Dear"

Day 4 in Beijing! The Big Day

Gotcha Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Today I meet Hamilton. Actually in about 45 minutes. I am so nervous. I have not slept in 2 nights. Our family and friends have been praying for him for a year and a half. It feels odd, awesome, amazing, miraculous, unbelievable, and scary all at the same time. Please pray for his attachment! Thomas, our guide says the babies generally cry for 3 or more days. That is so sad to me. I am reflecting on God’s love for us and our adoption by him. He offers us unconditional unfathomable love. I pray that Hamilton will feel that love from me while in China and Bill and me back in the states. I am also praying that God’s peace will surround Hamilton as he has left the only home he has ever known. That just seems so traumatic, but I know that God has called the Bennett family to this specific boy He will equip me to help Hamilton through the transition.

By the way, Laurie, Dad, and I just arrived in Huehhot, Inner Mongolia. Beth will be joining us on Saturday. I was nervous leaving her in Beijing. She and Tyler are adventuresome, so he better make sure she makes it to Inner Mongolia. They have several sites planned to see which include navigating the subway in Mandarin. Our hotel is beautiful, much nicer than in Beijing. So that is a plus. The smoke is still bad, though. I am praying continuously over my allergies. (I hope I am not offending anyone- just allergic.)

I will send another update tonight with pictures of our new baby.

Thank you for your prayers and support!