Family Photos!!!!!!!!!

Here are two photos taken moments after we became a family. We met at the BCWI. The second was maybe a minute or two after we were together. The first was taken about 10 minutes after. Ruby was given a Barbie Doll by an administrative orphanage official that she was very close to. The meeting moment wasn't exactly what I expected, but still amazing. Mike had went with our guide, Peter, to take care of the donation fee. While I was alone, Ruby came into the room. She was wearing a pretty very new looking dress and carrying a little Lion King backpack. I was taken off guard and it was slightly weird because Mike wasn't there. But it was very nice because she ran up to me, hugged me and told me that she loved me - in Chinese of course. This is one of the few phrases I've memorized so I actually new what she was saying! About one minute later, Mike came into the room. Ming hugged him and said the same thing :) She later told us this was something that she wanted to say to us as soon as she saw us to express how happy she was to be adopted. Overall she was a little stand-offish, but she knew this was a proud moment for her.

Ming has decided to officially go by Ruby so her name will be Ruby Ming Catherine Skubella.

Ruby is still doing well on her second day. Today we went to the Beijing Zoo. She had never been to the zoo before and loves the Pandas and Lions. We are learning there will be many more firsts in the next few months than we imagined. This is OK because she is highly adaptable and solid. When talking through our guide, we learned that she lived with her foster family in a rural setting two hours north of Beijing, instead of in Beijing like we had originally thought. For this we are glad because our home is VERY rural. Ruby also learned that she was born in Beijing. She didn't know where she was born and abandoned - at the hospital. She seemed open and "a matter of fact" about everything.

We also went shopping for a couple of things yesterday and today. Yesterday, at Wal-mart, we bought an umbrella (which broke before we even used it, but it was only a dollar), lots of snacks, 2 cases of water, swim suit and blow up tube for Ruby (she has never been swimming) and a nice cool shirt for Mike. The total was just under $30 - way cool! After the zoo, we went to the Youhi Shopping Center near our hotel. The center was huge!!! Most items were very expensive - some prices more than in the states, but we found some Children's Chinese DVDs, as well as Disney in Chinese, for $2 each. What a great price!

Ruby is so funny. I don't think anyone has really bought her items before. It makes her feel a little uncomfortable. Funny story: She saw a really pretty dress today at the shopping center. It was in one of the upscale department stores. When she found out it was $20 US dollars, she let out a laughing moan and bent over. When she is in disbelief, she will do this. Then she said that our money doesn't blow in the wind and declined the dress. We love our thrifty girl! I'm glad I didn't leave any price tags on her clothes back home! Ruby is very animated and makes us laugh.

The language is a barrier - obviously! Overall we are doing well and using the translation dictionary and non-verbal communication often. She received straight A's while in school, but was behind in her English. I think this is because she lived in a rural community most of her life instead of Beijing - like we thought. She also attended public schools. Yet, she is really trying hard and is very open to learning English. She points out items constantly for us to say the English name. She repeats words and phrases many times until we say she is pronouncing it correctly. She is very smart and a fast learner. The pre-adoption paperwork was right about that! She has a lot of energy and loves to run around. She has already put a few grey hairs on our heads because once she ran across the street w/o looking. Even though EVERYBODY does this constantly in China due to the huge amounts of people and slow driving cars (too many cars on the narrow streets)....it still freaked us out. She is also a very curious little girl. I say little because her social skills are comparable to an American 9 year old, which is way OK with us because this will give us at least a little time before she hits her pre-teen stage. She is also very competitive and a total gamer. I saw this as we playing this morning - a memory game with the ABC's and on http://www.funbrain.com/ BTW - she is very good at math! Funbrain is a cool website for kids. I learned about this site from the kids at the Boys & Girls Club. Ruby loves this site too! I liked that she had to master the learning games before she would move onto the next level. If she was slow or didn't quite get it, she didn't give up. Mike likes that she is a gamer and competitor, as he is a gamer too! I'm looking forward to playing family games at home...this will be interesting...as long as Mike doesn't teach Ruby how to play poker......on the other hand.... she could be the next world champion with her competitive edge.......and we could use the extra money........(just kidding!).

Below are a few messages for special groups of people back home

Concerning adoptive parents from Beijing - we did not receive a tour. I think if we pressed, they would have said yes, but they were very accommodating in other ways - above and beyond our imagination. Yet, the officials said they would give us or send us photos of the orphanage. I am sure they will follow through with this. We also have photos that Ruby took with the camera we sent her in the care package a month ago. I will share these after we return on the yahoo group. Also, I recall reading about someone asking if the photo of their boy was still in the meeting room. I think the one you were talking about is behind us in photo number two?

AHH hand group - Our guide is the best guide we could have ever imagined. His name is Peter - as I think many former families have had as well. His guidance is meant to be! We look forward to meeting our travel group soon, even if it will only be for a day or two. AHH has been more than accommodating and Peter does all the work and we are able to not worry about a logistical thing - just bonding with our family. We are more than satisfied!

Concerning BGCSP Members - I say "hello" or "Ni Hao" to all of you! China is way cool and very different. I know that Ruby is looking forward to meeting you all and she is very friendly. She will be ready to race anyone in the run/walk Club! BGCSP staff - please e-mail my personal hotmail e-mail if you need to get a hold of me. I've decided to not even look at my work yahoo e-mail. Hope all is well!

With love, from China!