June 19th, 2016

Happy Father's Day!!  We are missing Sydney and Claire so much.  Thankful John is getting to spend Father's Day with his newest little one, but we are missing our Big Girls so much.  Grace slept great again last night.  She just needs her mama and papa in bed with her and she goes right to sleep.  We woke up and headed to breakfast.  Could she be any cuter!!

After breakfast we met with all of the other families traveling from Lifeline.  Several other families arived in Guangzhou from their children's provinces so we have 9 families with us now.  It has been so nice to visit with the other families and meet their precious children.  We went and did some sight seeing and more shopping today as well!!  Here are a few pics form the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall!

 

 

Grace has her snack cup here.  I think she has eaten her weight in puffs.  She has been smiling and laughing more each day.  The only time she cries is if we set her down or it is time to sleep.  Overall we are in comlete awe of her spirit.  We cannot wait to get her home to meet her sisters, family and friends.  She is so full of Joy, Love and Happiness and spreads it wherever she goes.

 

June 18th, 2016

Good Morning from China!!  First I want to say that Grace slept amazing last night!  God has answered yet another prayer on our behalf!  I want to take a moment to thank Jesus for all he has done on this journey.  We are still in awe at what he has done for our family.  Grace is doing so amazing despite everything she has been through.  Last night when we went to sleep she would not lay down until John and I were both in bed with her.  John got up to get something and she got upset.  Once he laid down next to her she laid down and went to sleep!  God is so good!  Thank you Jesus for answering all of our prayers and the prayers from others on our behalf!  Here is a picture of our sweet angel sleeping last night!!

 

Today we had breakfast and fed the koi fish again.  The fish are huge and Grace loves feeding them!!

 

 

Here is a picture of Grace walking the trails at our hotel after feeding the fish!!

 

After breakfast we went to the playroom and Grace played for a long time!  We came back to the room for lunch and Grace took her first nap after a bit of a fight!  After naps we went to dinner at a place across from our hotel.  They had a band playing outside the restaurant singing American songs!  It was funny to here American music being sung when everything around you is in Chinese!  Grace got a balloon butterfly and was so excited!!

 

 

After dinner we  headed back to the hotel and were in bed early again!  Grace is ready for bed by 7:30-8:00 so that means John and I are also in bed then!  





June 17th, 2016

We had a great day today in China!  Grace slept almost 13 hours waking up only a few times.  She went back to sleep with me patting her back.  She is so happy today which is wonderful to see!  We had breakfast and fed the koi fish at our hotel!  Grace loved throwing the bread for them.

 

After breakfast we came back to the room and got our swimsuits on and took Grace to the pool for the first time.  She was very cautious and wanted to be held the entire time, but she did not scream so in my book it went great!  Also she could not be any cuter in her swimsuit!!

 



 

After our swim we went back to the room for lunch and attempted a nap.  She of course did not want to sleep so we gave up and walked to a mall near our hotel. We heard they had a play area for kids.  We got Grace some new shoes that actually fit and stay on her feet.  They also squeak which of course she loves.  We also got her a small toy and a cup that she can use.  She has already mastered the cup and likes drinking from it.  In the orphanage she had only used a bottle.  After shopping we went to the play area.  It was really neat and she loved it!!  I have several pictures from the play area that are great.  I wish we had something like this in OKC!!

 

 

 

 

After playing we found a store at the mall and were able to get Grace 2 forks that she can use that are her size!  They will be very helpful at breakfast in the morning.  She only wants to feed herself and the forks are as big as she is:)  We had dinner in the room and are hopefully heading to bed soon.  Praying she sleeps like she did last night!  Good night from China!!

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

June 16th, 2016

Today we met our guide and went to a Chinese park.  It was beautiful with a lake and trees everywhere.  There was even a children's playground.  There were groups of people everywhere exercising and dancing.  Most of the people in the park were older adults and grandparents with their grandchildren.  All of my pictures from today are on the camera so I will post them when we get back!!  We borrowed a stroller today from the hotel and she likes to ride in it, which has been a huge help!  She is very tiny, but still gets heavy!

In the afternoon we went shopping!  We got some traditional Chinese dresses and my main goal was to get wedding pearls for Grace from her 1st home.  I also got some for Sydney and Claire.  We went to a market called Onelink International Plaza, which we thought as funny because John's company is called Onelink Wireless. 

 

 

 

Here is a picture of our girl today as we were walking around the hotel!!

 

 

 

Since we had a rough night the night before we had dinner in the room and called it a night early.  We are praying that Grace sleeps tonight.  We have not gotten much sleep since Monday!  Praying God will calm her little heart and reassure her we will always be here when she wakes up!  



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 15th, 2016

Good evening from China!  We had another full day of appointments.  We had a rough night with Grace still struggling to sleep.  She is sleeping between John and I and is still restless.  Continuing to pray God will reassure her we will always be here for her.  We headed down to breakfast and she continues to eat great.  I was amazed after only 1 day of using a fork she wanted to do it all by herselft today.  The fork is as big as she is, but she did a great job considering it was her first time!  After breakfast we went to the medical clinic for her medical check.  Every child has to be evaluated before receiving their US Visa.  Grace did not like the doctors touching her and screamed when they did.  Luckily she did not have to get any shots or a TB test since she is under 2.  The clinic was crazy busy with people everywhere.  We were lucky they have a hall with a few rooms that are for international adoption only.  We would have been there all day if not.  Thankful this is over.

 

 

We thought it was pretty funny that they had a vending machine with wine on the bottom floor of the building with the medical clinic!!

 



 

 

After the medical appointment we went back to the room for down time before heading the the police station for more paperwork for Grace's Visa!  After the appoitment we went to the playroom and came back to the room for a bath.  She is definilty not a fan of the bath.  I am sure she will grow to love the water just like her big sisters!!  Here is a picture of Grace eating puffs.  The girl Loves them!!

 



 

June 14th, 2016

Tuesday was our first morning with Grace.  She woke up and we got ready for breakfast!  She ate like a champ.  She loves fruit and muffins and ate and ate and ate.  We are definitely going to be getting some meat on her bones!!  She loved getting dressed and even got excited when I put her bow on!!  She is definitely a Barnett girl!!  Here is a sweet picture in the lobby of our hotel!  These flowers are beautiful!!

 

 

After breakfast we headed back to the Civil Affairs office to finalize the China side of the adoption.  In China they let you take your baby home and give you 24 hours before they will finalize everything to confirm you want to adopt the child.  We went through 2 interviews and signed more paperwork.  Now according to China she is officaly our girl!!

 



Here is our picutre that will be used for her Visa paperwork!!

 

 

One more photo from the place we received Grace!  Thankful we do not have to go back for any more appointments.  After our morning we headed back to the room to rest.  Late afternoon we hit the playroom, had dinner, and were off to bed.  Grace is doing very well considering we have only been together for a little more than 24 hours.  She is having a really hard time sleeping so we are praying that God can calm her little heart.  That he can reassure her that we are not going anywhere and will always be there when she wakes up.  She did pass out in my arms for about 15 minutes after the appointments today!  She is definitely a snuggle bug!!

 

 

 

 

 



June 13th, 2016

We are so excited that we are now Barnett party of 5!!  Today was nothing but amazing.  We headed to the Civil Affairs Building at 2:00 today.  The first have of our day was the longest day of our lives.  We got to the building and they told us to sit down and wait and they would call the first family up when it was time.  We were informed that the kids were there.  A few minutes later they said we would be first.  By the time we walked over to the middle of the room she was walking out with her nanny.  It was so amazing to see her for the first time!! 

She was reluctant to come to us, but I picked her up anyways. 

She went back and forth to John and I and only cried for a little bit.  Her nanny came over and talked to her and reassured her that we were her mommy and daddy and she calmed down.  She also loved eating puffs!! 

We asked her nanny how to say big sister. We had the picture book out to show her Sydney and Claire and when the nanny said big sister she immediately pointed to Sydney and Claire's picture!!   You can tell that she was loved deeply by her nanny or grandmother as they called her.  The lady standing next to me had taken care of  her since she was a little baby.  You can tell she loved her as her own.  The lady beside John was another nanny from the orphanage.  We will be forever greatful to these ladies who are literally Angels on Earth. 

We are both in awe of how well she is doing.  Even our guide said she would probably melt down once back to the room or after a bath, etc.  She fell asleep in my arms on the way back from the Civil Affairs Building.  We came to the room and she slept a bit and then woke up.  No tears just really quiet and very intently checking out the entire room.  She  has just been taking it all in since then.  She studies John and I often and everyting around her.  She is enjoying playing with her toys that we have and is 100% content sitting in my lap.  She always wants us to hold her.  She is already reaching for me to hold her and cries when I leave the room.  She even took a bottle.  She has figured out how to use the special bottles we have for her due to her cleft lip and palate.  She is one smart little girl!!We are praying we continue to move forward and attachment will happen faster than normal.  We are both in awe of how well God prepared her little heart for us.  It truly is amazing!!  Here is a picture after a bath and into some pajamas. 

 



She is perfect and we are 100% in love.  Praising God for sending us on this journey.  His plans are always better than ours!!  She is sound asleep between John and I now!!  Praying we all sleep soundly tonight!!  Goodnight from China!!