Welcome to Emmaline Anne Ding's adoption website. This blog details our family's adoption of this beautiful little girl from China in 2005. While the focus of the blog is to record our trip to China, you can also find more about her adoption by clicking on the links to the right.

Not much to report, feeling a bit cooped up

It turns out the Marriott China Hotel that we're staying in (arranged by our adoption agency) lies smack in the middle of the business district of Guangzhou. So there are really very few family-friendly attractions within walking distance, if any.

Historically, many adoptive parents stay at the White Swan Hotel on Shamian Island. We went down there yesterday to find out why (we took a taxi). Turns out there's a bunch of little shops catering to adoptive families just across the street. There's a lot less street traffic, etc. I suppose our agency chose the Marriott cuz its prices are lower, but many of the families in our group are kinda bored and looking for things to do besides channel-surfing ...

So we're feeling a bit cooped up. Tomorrow morning, we take our girl (with our group) to get a medical examination to verify that she's in healthy condition before going on Monday to the U.S. Consulate to apply for her travel visa. The boys are holding up okay, considering the circumstances. Emmaline herself seems to be adjusting well as well. She hasn't displayed any attachment issues, and smiles when we play with her.