Update on Ella

Yesterday we received a more detailed translation of Ella's physical examination. I think she looks to be quite healthy and developmentally right on target. Here are some highlights from her examination on 9/2/08:

• 2 teeth
• wakes at 7am, goes to bed at 8pm
• naps from 1:30-3:30
• eats at 6am, 10am, 1pm, 6pm, 11:30pm (we'll have to work on this one!)
• moderate sleeper and sucks fingers
• eats congee 3 times a day (congee is a porridge made of rice boiled soft and may have some eggs or veggies added for flavor)
• eats milk plus rice cereal 2 times a day
• favorite activity: sitting in walker
• favorite toy: sounding toy (rattle or something?)
• weighed 2.6kg (5.7 lbs) and was 45cm (17.7 inches) at birth (11/27/07)
• small black spot on left arm
• currently sits steady alone, turns over easily, stands for a moment while holding onto something, has fine hand/eye coordination, turns head and coos when called
• "she is a quiet child, she likes imitation, she is quick in reaction, she likes to listen to music"

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 3 questions that we've been asked the most over the last couple of days. I'll try to answer each of them.

1. When will you travel? Our agency has quoted that on average, families travel within 6-10 weeks of receiving referral. After we send our letter of acceptance back to China, court appointments are made for the adoption in Guangxi Province and also with the American Consolute in Guangzhou. Until we know the dates of these appointments, we cannot plan definitively any travel arrangements.
2. What size is Ella? At the photos of Ella at 10 months, she weighed 14 lbs and was 27 inches long. That is approximately a 6-9 month clothing fit. As she will be about 14 months when we finally get her, I think that I will bring 12 month sized clothing.
3. How do you pronounce her name? I have to give credit to a new 'internet friend' that helped me out with the pronunciation.

Guangxi Province = Gwang-shee

Xingye Social Welfare Institute (town of Xingye) = Sheeng-yeh (the letter E makes a sound like EH, just like the E in DEB)

Ella's given name (Ye Guidie)

Ye = yeh

Gui = gway

Die = deee-ah

The nannies in the orphanage most likely call her DieDie. Die means 'butterfly' in Mandarin.

She's Ready for Her International Debut!

And here she is....

Ella Guidie VanderGrinten

Given Name: Ye Guidie

Date of Birth: 11/27/07

Xingye Social Welfare Institute

Guangxi Province

We Have a Daughter!

At 2:44pm today we received a call from our social worker. We are sooo pleased to announce the newest addition to our family:

Given Name: Ye Guidie
Born: 11/27/07
Province: Guangxi

At this point this is all the information we have. Tomorrow the referral packet with medical info, pictures, and other information will be forwarded to our social worker. We will meet with her late in the day to go over everything.

I am so relieved that this is finally happening. I wonder what her face will look like??? Will she have Ian's dimples?