Pandas

Flight Schedule

For everyone who would like to meet us at the airport in Austin! ♥ We cannot wait to get back to TX and introduce everyone to Charlotte Lee Castagno!  

See you on Thursday 3/14/13!

Flight - Delta Air Lines (DL) - 1309 Thursday, March 14, 2013

Depart: 7:22 PM Hartsfield Jackson Intl Arpt (ATL), Atlanta, GA

Arrive: 8:52 PM Bergstrom Intl Arpt (AUS), Austin, TX Flight 1309 Non-stop

Guangzhou, China

Guangzhou (Chinese: 广州) — known historically as Canton or Kwangchow — is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province,People's Republic of China. Located on the Pearl River, about 120 km (75 mi) north-northwest of Hong Kong and north-northeast of Macau, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port.  One of the five National Central Cities, it holds sub-provincial administrative status.

Guangzhou is the third largest Chinese city and southern China's largest city. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 12.78 million. Some estimates place the population of the entire Pearl River Delta Mega City built up area as high as 40 million including Shenzhen (10.36 million), Dongguan (8.22 million) and most parts of Foshan (7.19 million), Jiangmen (4.45 million), Zhongshan (3.12 million) and a small part of Huizhou adjoining Dongguan and Shenzhen, with an area of about 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi) (about the same size as Slovenia). In 2008 Guangzhou was identified as a Beta World City by the global city index produced by the GaWC, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

Shopping on the Island

We spent the afternoon shopping on Shamian Island, where the famous White Swan hotel is located.  This hotel which is currently under construction was the famous hotel where thousands of adoptive families stayed throughout the years.  This is also where 8 consulates are located including the US Consulate.

Some history on the Island: 

"The island's history dates back to the Opium War when the territory was divided into two concessions given to France and the United Kingdom by the Qing government in the 19th century. The island is a gazetted historical area that serves as a tranquil reminder of the colonial European period, with quiet pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and lined by historical buildings in various states of upkeep. The island is the location of several hotels, a youth hostel, restaurants and tourist shops selling curios and souvenirs."

We enjoyed shopping for gifts for our loved ones back home, as well as special gifts that we will one day give to Lottie. Our favorite store, called A gift from China, gives all the proceeds to help orphaned children in China.  It was a beautiful store and we were happy to spend some money knowing who it benefited.   We bought her Chinese style silk dresses in every color and size, the famous "squeaky" Chinese shoes, and some Chinese Shaanxi dolls.

We took the famous photo of Lottie with the child statues, although she was not too pleased to be placed in the middle, we got the shot.  By the end of our 2 hour shopping excursion Lottie was done and we were back in the van heading to our hotel.  While she napped Lola and I went through all of our Chinese treasures.  

US Consulate Appointment

March 11, at 8:30 am we joined three other families to take an oath and submit our final adoption paperwork before the US Consulate.  I was more emotional and held back huge tears, just knowing we had finished this two year process, knowing Lottie is ours forever  and the love we have for this tiny baby is the most powerful feeling I have every experienced.  

Lottie looked the part naturally and was stunning in her special red, white, and blue dress.  The three of us are bonding and we are all falling comfortably into our roles.  We both just love hearing others mention how attached she is to us, it is honestly music to my ears.  I feel the bond and our attachment, but hearing others comment just makes it all that real.  We are a family!  We are together forever. 

Tomorrow our guide Simon will pick up Lottie's visa and passport and we will be ready to depart China.  Once arriving in the USA, and touching American soil she will automatically become a US citizen.

Pearls for our Sweetie

Today we went pearl & jade shopping! Lottie and her new bestie, Sarina, were very patient with their Mommies as we spent a few hours shopping for precious gifts for our sweet girls. Our guide, Simon, took us to a shopping mall specializing in jewelry.  Lola was very excited and enjoyed her shopping trip too!

It's a tradition for adoptive parents to buy 18 gifts to give to their daughters each anniversary of their Gotcha Day.  One must have is a string of Chinese pearls & jade necklace.  And of course Lottie & Sarina made out with both!  We even bought them matching bff's pearl bracelets that they could wear now!  Lottie loves her bracelet and it is the cutest thing to see it on her tiny wrist.   

All about Lottie Lee

SO we decided it was time to write some information on Miss Lottie.  She is adjusting so well, it is honestly beyond our wildest dreams, we were hesitant to post this and jinx ourselves, but since meeting Lottie 1 week ago, I think it's safe to stay this happy, smiling baby is here to stay.

Charlotte, who we mostly refer to as Lottie is happy, go lucky, fun, cautious, observant  smart little baby.  She loves to be held, snuggles, rocked, and kissed all of the time.  She enjoys playing on the floor with her toys and especially enjoys her staking cups and Baby Einstein music player.  She studies everything with such poise, she will examine an object for hours just looking at every detail, she will use her tiny fingers and feel every groove.  Watching her explore life has been fascinating and life changing, she truly takes her time and enjoys every moment.

Lottie is healthy and long!  She has petite features, the tiniest little hands and feet, but she is long! She can crawl and is beginning to take steps while holding onto our hands.  She is so proud of herself and will screech out in excitement.  She can imitate anything we show her.  Scott has already taught her to stick out her tongue and high five.  The other day when saying goodbye to our beloved Sherry, she followed suit and raised her little hand to wave goodbye.  Lottie will imitate sounds (sure does make she SLP Mama proud).      

Lottie loves bows and doesn't even try to pull them out, she wears them all day until bedtime.  She loves the camera and the camera loves her.