Turn your back for one nanosecond and she is into mischief.

Today was a VERY BIG day for our precious Little One. Today started out by Miss Willow Noelle "Chun Qi" Stein deciding that skittering about on two legs was much more convenient and fun than whining to be carried around (she really didn't crawl, that we were a witness to; maybe in the orphanage). Once she got started, there was no turning back. We had assumed that Willow knew how to walk because that's how the orphanage officials proudly brought her to us the day we received her (check out the photo on 12/29); yet, they were holding her hands and she was very unsteady. We also assumed that Willow shut down her walking skills for the past week+ because that's often what orphanage babies do (i.e., shut down doing things they are quite capable of doing because of the whole new world they have been thrust into). Anyway, during the incredible time we have spent with Willow in Guangzhou, she has been revealing her true self to us day by day. She makes cute little sounds, smiles, laughs, goes potty on the potty, feeds herself, signs a few words or at least recognizes those signs (mommy, daddy, dog, milk, water, fish, more, etc.), comes running to us when we hold out our arms for her, initiates peek-a-boo, throws kisses, and hugs pink teddy. We couldn't be more pleased with the great progress she has made in such a short amount of time.

Today, two other BIG things that happened to Willow were her medical appointment with Chinese doctors right here on Shamian Island (just a couple of blocks from our hotel) AND we completed the paperwork to apply for her visa (almost the last step in "the process") to enter the United States. As soon as our plane touches down in Portland (our first landing in the US) on Friday, 1/16, wee Willow will become a citizen of the United States of America. Although we love it here in China, we also can't wait to return home.

China will never be far away in our minds and our hearts because we plan to teach Willow about her heritage. It is very important to us that Willow fully understand where she comes from., and all about China's deep culture (3,000 years plus, compared to our EuroAmerican 500 years in the US). Hopefully, Willow will return to her homeland many times in the years ahead, especially as an adult. We've tortured the boys, over the years, by bringing them back to their heritage (national parks), and so will continue our pilgrimage lifestyle. Jeremy, our oldest, also loves to share nature with Nicholas and Tyler (the grandboys).

As far as we can tell, Willow checked out OK with the doctors. She visited three different "stations" (ENT; height, weight, and head circumference; internal medicine) and screamed her lungs out at each one. Willow has a head circumference of 45.7 cm (18 inches), weighs 20.7 pounds, and is 78 cm tall (30.7 inches). She's tiny, and skinny ... but seems big and heavy when carrying her (though my hips and arms are getting stronger, bolstered by ibuprofen and tylenol #3).

Sara (our adoption guide) did another incredible job making sure we filled out all the visa paperwork comprehensively (she is organization in the extreme!). On Tuesday, we have an appointment with the American Consulate. That is the last official thing we have to do before flying home. After the Tuesday appointment, we will spend a few more days doing more adjusting, then we will begin the long journey home. Our hope is that the plane rides (3 of them) home go a little easier because we have spent this extra adjustment time in China. That's the theory, at least. Either way, this extra time has been invaluable and we highly recommend that parents adopting spend this extra time with their adoptee in their own homeland.

After doing all these BIG things, we spent the rest of the day walking and looking for a few traditional outfits for the wee one! We have to get ready for an upcoming photo session on the infamous Red Couch at the White Swan hotel (almost all adopted children get their pictures taken on the red couch, wearing a traditional Chinese silk outfit). We've got some special photos planned (why stop at one). Tomorrow, we are off to the zoo (with our guide and another WACAP family who adopted a lovely 6 year old girl). For the little one, it will be an opportunity to learn more about the other inhabitants of our world.

She's starting to get nervous ... there are lots of other families lined up, all waiting at the photograph location to have official photos taken for their child's visa.


The crying never stopped (except the second she was off the chair and back in the safety of my arms). I've read it many times: and it does seem as if the children are afraid they are going to be abandoned, especially if the place might remind them of an orphanage situation; guess we will never know. Regardless, her visa photo won't be her most becoming.