We're off to Guangzhou!!

Well, we're off to the last leg of our trip! We look forward to to the food, shopping, & warmer climate. It's supposed to be in the 70's & 80 while we're there. Claire is still doing great & Lance right now is re-packing so we won't have to pay as much in penalties as we did on the trip over. (I have a huge overpacking problem) Please keep us in your prayers as we fly & travel a lot today. We will stay in Guangzhou until Wednesday. Then it's back home for that dreaded trip.

This is a foot picture of all the babies in our little travel group here in Changsha. The picture didn't go exactly as planned. We'll try again in a couple of days!
Claire right before bedtime! She loves playing on our bed until her bedtime, then it's to the crib she goes. It's so cute to see her in her crib sucking her thumb intil she falls asleep.
I'll post in a day or so as soon as I can. Also, thanks to everyone for all the posts, e-mails, & words of encouragement. We can't wait to see you all upon our return & see precious Claire!

PS....Dear Jesse, We can't wait to see you next week! Please continue to feel better & do great for Nana & Grandma! Have a great Spring Break! We all love you so much! Take good care of Braxton or us too!

Love, Mom, Dad, & Claire!!

More Changsha Delicacies.....

Unappetizing to us I know, but these are some if the things they love to eat here! The fresher the better they say.

Touring Changsha

Today is our last full day on Changsha so we toured the acedemy where Chairman Mao studied & took a trip to a local market (where, I might add, we paid 10$ for carry on luggage). Claire's doing fabulous & just takes whatever we do with ease. She will eat anything. Just like her brother I suppose!
Claire at breakfast & Gretche & Claire using the Baby Bjorn for the first time.
This is our entire travel gorup with the babies!
Lance with his pal, Confucious.....
This is the food for sale in the local markets. This, I believe, is eel. To my vegetarian relatives, sorry, but I just had to post this stuff!

A Trip To Claire's Hometown

Today we took a 2 hour van ride (each way) to Claire's hometown of YiYang City. She did excelllent the entire trip though it was long for the babies. We were very hesitant about taking this trip for many reasons, but are now glad we did. We were able to see Claire's orphanage, meet her nanny, see her abandonment spot, & see her city. We will show Claire these photos when she is older & able to understand.

We are very proud to have been chosen as Claire's parents so we can give her the great life & opportunities she deserves. Here are just a few of the many photos we took today...... This is one of the streets in her hometown.
This is Claire's crib. Notice the close proximity of all the other cribs. She did look to have a super warm quilt though!!

This is the nanny that took care of Claire since 3 days old. She was very happy to see her & kept saying "lucky baby." She also would touch my hair & laugh!!??? This is a picture of the orphanage from the outside.

Claire sleeping on the van ride back to Changsha. Tomorrow we go on more sightseeing & I'll post more then.


Thanks to everyone for all the encourageing e-mails & posts! They've really kept us going!
Love, Gretchen


PS...Jesse....1 more week til we get to kiss your cute face & you can meet your sister!!!

Another wonderful day!

Today was another great day. Claire was perfect & we're just waiting for the storm.....She just has such a grace about her. Today we went to an embroidery factory. Changsha is known for their embroidery & we saw the ladies at work & bought some handmade embroidery items for Claire. Tomorrow we take 1 1/2 hour trip (each way) to the orphanange where Claire was brought. I hope to plost tomorrow. If not, it will be soon as I can! Love, Gretchen

Swimming Pool Sign...

This is what we are dealing with...

You may have to click on the image to read it.

More Claire Pictures!

Hi everyone! Claire is down for her morning nap so I thought I'd download 2 pictures from this morning's bath. She loved her bath! She ate everything we gave her this morning including congee, steamed egss, purreed broccoli & carrots, & mashed banana! When we got back to the room, I just laid her down & she went to sleep! So far she has given us not even a whimper. I'm sure this is the calm before the storm!
I will post more tonight of our day today. After lunch, I believe we are going to tour Hunan & shop. Claire is badly in need of smaller clothes.

I can't believe she needs clothes! Her closet is full of 12 month clothes! Oh well!Have a great day everyone & I will post again later!
Love, Gretchen

More Claire pictures from Gotcha Day!

Claire has been mesmerized with the photo album we made her! Notice, Jesse, she is looking at the page with you on it! She can't wait to meet you!
She sat on our bed for most of the day & just sat & played. She is barely sitting up by herself! Look at the wild hair!
Shortly after being placed in my arms. She loved the toy giraffe we showed her!
PS...The beds here are as hard as the countertops...no kidding. We hope tp be more used to it tonight! Tomorrow we tour the city of Changsha. We will post in the evening after Claire goes to bed!
PPS.....Most of the food here even Gretchen won't eat! We are all starting to crave American food...& it's only day 4!

Jesse, we love you so very much & Can't wait to see you. Hope you are feeling better & hope you get to go to school Tuesday! We love you!

Mom, Dad, & Claire

We Have a Daughter!!!

Today was one of the greatest days of our lives. We awoke after very little sleep & got Claire at 9am this morning. We were ushered into this round room full of parents all waiting for their babies. We were told to sit down & wait. Lance noticed Claire coming in with the nanny right away. We were the first parents called & she came right to us. She is beautiful!!!!
One thing we noticed right away was how small she is. She is the size of a 6month old. She is in 6month clothes & foot size of a newborn. We have a pediatrician in our group coming from Beijing Friday & she will tell us if she thinks she is really 10 months old. She smiled & took in everything. She has not cried yet (we know that is coming though).
Our first pictures as a family of 4 after Claire was just put in our arms (Jesse not shown due to being 6,000 miles away)
We are truly blessed!!
Lance & Claire for the 1st time! She had no problems coming to him at all!
This is right after receiving of the babies outside of the travel group with the 3 of us.....Carla (from Yakima, WA), Gretchen, & LeighAnn (from Prattville, AL) All the babies did fine & did not cry much!

This is later in the day at the same civil affairs office. She became legally ours today!! As of today, whe is content with just sitting on our laps & just playing or making the cutest noises!

One more day til Claire!!!

We have had a very busy last 2 days. We went to a Chinese Acrobatics show which was really amazing! Lance & Gretchen right before checking out of the Beijing Hotel.

This is Gretchen in her "Happy Place", a pearl market just outside of Beijing. She is pictured here with one of the very helpful workers! Many pearls will be brought home!
Here is our travel group...some of them.....This is right at the beginning of The Great Wall of China. We walked up to the top in ice & snow!
Thanks to everyone for your continued thoughts & prayers. We will wake up & get Claire 1st thing tomorrow. Stay tuned for pictures of the newest Hollingsworth!!!!!

Hello Beijing!!!

Hello from Beijing! After 12 hours in Chicago airport & 12 1/2 hours to Beijing, we are here & safe & sound! This will be a quick post as we are on our way to a Chinese Acrobatics Show with our group. Our hotel is fabulous with really hard beds (no box springs). Today we went to a really tall mall & then to KFC for lunch! All the people are so helpful & friendly!

We will post later with more ino. Tomorrow am we climb the Great Wall & have lunch outside there. We fly to Changsha, Hunan tomorrow afternoon & get Claire first thing Monday am! Please continue to keep us in yout thoughts & prayers. We should have many more pictures tomorrow as we haven't taken many yet!

Off we go & I will post soon!
Love, Gretchen

Off to get Claire.....very slowly!

We left this morning out of Memphis at 6am & arrived in Chicago at 7:15am.....We are stuck in Chicago due to the weather....We should leave around 4:25pm. The flight is about 13 1/2 hours long, so please keep us in your prayers!!! We should be arriving in Bejing Friday evening around 7 or 8pm.
Hopefully the next time I write will be in Beijing!

Thanks to all our friends & family for the calls, visits, & prayers for us over the last several days!!
Love, Gretchen

We Finally Have an Itenerary!!!

Hi everyone! We now have a rough itenerary of what we're doing & when on our trip!
Here it goes:

3/1 Leave Memphis to Chicago. Chicago to Bejing.
3/2 Arrive in Bejing 4pm (China time) Holiday Inn Central Hotel Bai Zhi Fang area in the Xuan Wu District
3/3 Hutong Tour & Tea Time Bejing craft shop. Acrobatics show in evening.
3/4 Great Wall of China & lunch outside.Leave for Changsha (where Claire is!!) & stay at the Dolton Hotel
3/5 Get Claire!!!! (at civil affairs office)
3/6 Go for adoption formalities
3/7 Hunan Provincial Museum & Embroidery Institute
3/8 Yuelu Mountain & Yuelu Academy. Pick up Notary books
3/9 Pick up Claire's passport & fly to Guangzhou. Stay at the White Swan Hotel
3/10 Claire's Mdical Exam. Go to Baiyan Temple & Jade Factory Shop
3/11 Go to Church & go to Pottery Building & Guangzhou Zoo
3/12 Consulate Appointment
3/13 Get Claire's Visa
3/14 Fly back to Bejing & then directly to Chicago. Arrive in Memphis 10pm!!!!

We Leave March 1st!

Hi everyone. We just found out that we leave Thursday March 1st & will come home late on Wednesday, March 14th. We fly from Memphis to Chicago, then directly to Beijing. We will do the same on the way home. I will post the exacts of our itenerary as soon as I get them! We are less than 1 month away! Claire's room has blown up! I somehow have to get all this in a suitcase! ARGGGGG......... Thanks for all your calls, e-mails, & prayers! We will post new info soon!

2 more pictures......

Jesse wanted to post this picture of him & his friends Tyler & Keaton at the Fed Ex Forum for the Monster Truck Jam. They had a blast!! Thank goodness for earplugs......

Here is the memory box Gretchen's dad made for Claire...is is handmade of Chinese Elm. Thanks for the many hard hours dad! Claire will treasure it for many years to come!!

Shower for Claire!!

My good friend Carrie threw me the best baby shower this weekend complete with a Chinese Proverb Game & Fortune Cookies & a laminated Chinese Proverb for each guest. How thoughtful! I'm so greatful for such great family & friends who attended! Oops....Sorry about the sideways picture! I was opening a Adoption Memory Book....Can't wait to fill the pages!
Gretchen & Carrie after the shower.

Gretchen with both of her grandmothers. Claire's grandma! We're ready for you Claire!

Update on Claire

Hi everyone. We got an update on Claire's measurements yesterday from China. So as of yesterday Claire was:
16 pounds
26 inches
3.6 inches (foot measurement)

We will keep you posted!

Just Waiting.....

Hi everyone! We have been busy since receiving our referral of Claire. There was still more paperwork to do, visas, ect..... We should hear something in about 2 weeks from China on when we will travel. We will be ready, as Jesse is so ready to be a big brother! I will post as soon as I hear something!

Claire Song Hollingsworth

Thanks to everyone for the calls & e-mails upon the referral of Claire. We were able to have her referral completely translated last night & found out more about Claire. The orphanage named her Song which means endurance, solid, integrity. Yi Ru is the name given to many of the children in the orphanage. Thus, she will be Claire Song Hollingsworth!

We now know the following things:
active personality
listens to music from a soft musical baby doll?
all her eating & nap schedules ( i'm sure that will change)
her milestones at each month
she loves cookies, crackers

We also have found that she is in a Half The Sky orphanage, which apparently a very good thing. She has play time & stimulation from her caregivers daily. We are very excited about this. We have sent off for our visas today & will keep you all posted as new info becomes available!

We Have A Daughter!!!!

It is with great joy that we announce the referral of our daughter Yi Ru Song!! We will name her Claire Hollingsworth (we will decide her middle name when we get the translation of her name)!

We know the following information:
Born on May 2, 2006
Presently 12 pounds 24 inches
Currently in the Yiyang Children's Welfare Institute in the Hunan Province.
Healthy & was given to the orphanage on May 5th, 2006.
Wakes up every am at 5:30AM (Yikes!!!!)
Moderate sleeper
Holds her head up & rolls over
Follows moving toys
Eats biscuits without help
Knows her name
Is active
Loves music, toys, games, & Is quick to respond
Close to her caregiver.

Thanks to you all for your prayers & kind words!! We will keep this site updated as soon as we learn more info. Also, we will update this blog when we're in China daily!