Home

The Farley's are home, all of us. Cynthia and I are a little sleep deprived. Keegan seems to sleep whenever and she feels up to it. Keegan is not really on Kentucky time or China time. Like Cynthia says, Keegan is either on or off, there is no just sitting around. Keegan is beyond active and in to discovering all about her new house, and cats.

Keegan is getting along great with her brother Zac and her sister Jill. She loves to play the game where she walks back and forth between brother and sister.

Keegan is discovering her toys.

Thanks to everyone that followed our journey. I've heard people were keeping track of us in there offices. Thanks again to the Group 864. We had a great time and went through alot together. Thanks to our guides Tom, Alexandra, Yisha, Jodie, Maggie and Grace, you guys took such good care of us. We would have been lost without you. Thanks to JC Travel. A big thank you to CCAI for the child they have brought to our lives. Thank you Josh and Lilly for all you do. Thanks to Cherri and Rick and Lucille for keeping the house and all inside alive. Thank you Mom and Dad, Zac and Jill. Thanks to DeAnne and Ed for the link to the rest of the world. Thanks to Cynthia for being the greatest travel companion I could have asked for. Most of all thank you God for bringing us this adventure that keeps on going.
We will continue to update this site periodically so hang in there with us...

It is sooooo good to be home!!!

Infamous red couch pictures

Here are pictures from this morning. Each family posed, all of the babies in our group together and group photos, it was hysterical. All of the babies did well.


A special thank you to all of the parents in our group. Everyone has been helpful to each other. I think at one time or another we've all knocked on most everyone's hotel room door and asked for something. Everyone has been helpful and very kind.

Today at 2:45 we leave for the Consulate in Guangzhou. We should return around 5:20 and we'll have to pack. We leave our hotel tomorrow morning at 6am for the airport. Unless we get some free time this will probably be our last post until we get home to Lexington. We are very ready to come home. I've told Keegan that we really do have a house and she will not be forced to live in hotels for the rest of her life. I'm not sure if she belives me.

For that one flight tracker out there: We leave Guangzhou on China Southern flight CZ301 at 8:20am for Hong Kong. We leave Hong Kong at 11:35am on United flight UA896 for Chicago. We leave Chicago at 2:15pm and ARRIVE IN LEXINGTON AT 4:32PM on UA6870 THURSDAY!!! See you then.

Shopping and more

The breakfast buffet started the day. We sat right at the window overlooking the Pearl River, wish I would have brought my camera to breakfast. After we were all full we went back to the room and all of us napped for a little while. We had to wait in our rooms until noon and await a call saying that all of our consulate paperwork was in good shape. It was. From there lunch at Lucy's.


After our grilled cheese and BLT's, it was time for our trip to the mall. It is by far the biggest mall I've been to. After walking way in to the back we found the pearl stores and the DVD's. By the way, I bought Star Wars Episode 3, War of the World's, Stealth, Ocean's 12, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for less than $10 total. AWESOME. I'll have to let Cynthia tell you about what she bought. It may be a surprise. WHOOPS!! That is basically all we looked at. We only had one hour before heading back to the White Swan.
Dinner was ordered from Danny's Bagel. Pepperoni Pizza and Macaroni and Cheese aren't exactly what I figured on eating while in China. After several in our group have become sick from the food, it is hard to muster the courage to try other foods.

Had to throw a pic of the reason for the trip in. I know serval people back home that would rather see pictures than read my take on the day.
Tomorrow we have our consulate appointment where we take our oath and we have our red couch pictures taken. The red couch pictures are of all the babies in our group photographed on the red couches here in the hotel. It is a tradition with CCAI.

Guangzhou at night

Other pictures

One of Keegan's new outfits from the local shops.

Baby girl has discovered ice cream. It was a hit!

The weigh in results are in...

Weighing in at 23.8lbs. and hailing from AnQing, China ...Keegan 'Big Un' Farley!!!

Keegan had a good review at the doctor's office today. Everything was fine.

Local area

Here are a few pictures of the local park. There are many cool statues, trees, and greenery. The park is on the banks of the Pearl River where a lot of the local people hang out and take pictures.

Sunday

Today started with an awesome breakfast buffet!!! French toast, bacon, sausage, fruit, all kinds of pastries, cereal, juices, tater tots, veggies, rice, conji, and other stuff that we didn't venture to try at this time. We get to look forward to this every morning until Wednesday. YEAH!!! We met up with other families that we here in China adopting. We all end up in Guangzhou no matter what province the child is from. I dropped off a huge load of laundry at Jennifer' Place. At 10am we went across the street to have Keegan's Visa photo taken. At 10:30 Cynthia met with our local guides Maggie and Grace to finish up paperwork for Keegan's Visa. Keegan and I hung out in our room and played around. We watch badminton, CNN, and some really bad movies. We explore tonight with a trip to the Cow and Bridge Thai restaurant. We'll be out taking pictures tonight and visiting the city. These pictures are the view from our hotel room.

This picture needs no words!

Guangzhou

We are so proud of our baby girl. She fell asleep before we left the terminal in Hefei and did not wake up until we landed and were at our gate in Guangzhou. She slept sound the whole way. After our hour and a half flight to Guangzhou, relief! Relief is an understatement. Not that the last hotels in Beijing and Hefei haven't been nice, but this is to another level. THE WHITE SWAN HAS AIRCONDITIONING!!! There is a book in each room about the hotel and all of the presidents and leaders of other countries that have stayed here. Castro stayed here. Needless to say, this place is beautiful. We will discover more of the hotel tomorrow. We are right on the banks of Shaiman Island and the Pearl River. Right down the street, a beautiful walk, is Lucy's. Lucy's is about as American as Applebee's. American movie posters are all over the wall, American music is playing, it's awesome. After a few of our travel companions have become sick, even to the point of going to the hospital in Hefei, it is great to know we have a place where we can get food we don't have to worry about. The streets outside are alive with nightlife and shoppers. That'll be us tomorrow.

This last picture is just a reminder of the fun you can have with kids. We miss you Jill-Marie and Zac.

Local Cuisine

Our last day in Hefei: One last trip to the Lotus Mart. Cynthia stayed at the room because, well, there are sections of the Lotus Mart that she does not want to visit. Van, Grace and I took some time to browse. The bottom floor has the normal department store stuff and more. Clothing, jewelry, CD's, VCD's, etc... also they have a huge play area for kids, very similar to Kid's Place on Tiverton Way. The second floor is food, clothes, and department store stuff. In the 'deli' section of the store is where it gets exciting. From what I'm told a lot of people still eat very traditional fare including turtle, frog, and eel. Now in this section they have these items packaged and live. There are tanks where you can pick out your particular fish, eel, frog, and crab. There were display areas with hunks of meat piled on ice. I don't know what kind of meat was there but people were picking up hunks of it and placing it in bags. You just pick it up with your hands and put it in a bag. Chicken feet, complete with toe nails, dried eel, fish heads, sides of beef, all kinds of cooked and uncooked birds with heads still attached and other little assorted live things were all there. For those of you that know Cynthia, could you imagine her in the 'deli'. Sorry, I have no picture to post with this entry.

It rained today-no zoo

We got up today and it was raining so the trip to the zoo was cancelled. We stayed in our room and packed for our flight to Guangzhou. For those of you flight checking, the flight has been changed to CZ3519(11:40-13:20) Here is the view from our hotel room. This is the park we walk through to get to the Lotus Center (Wal-Mart). Yes, it is always this smoggy and cloudy. Next we are off to the infamous White Swan hotel.

No Big News Today

Today we just hung out in the room. Some of the others in the group went to the Anqing Orphanage. We chose not to go. First of all, Keegan had a hard night last night and I just wanted to be with her today. Secondly, it was a 2 hour bus ride one way and they were only going to be able to stay a few minutes. And for those of you that I haven't informed of the traffic issues - GOOD LORD!!!! I will explain once I am home!!!! Did I mention.....GOOD LORD!!!! Anyhow, once the members of our group got back - we found out that the orphanage sent some of the babies items to the parents. We received a certificate, a small photo book of some early Keegan photos, an Anqing Opera CD, and her clothes that she was found in..........very upseting. I am thankful to have these items but yet it's disturbing.

Our CCAI rep that is with us 24/7, Yisha, gave us a copy of her "finding ad" today. When babies are found they run an ad in the newspaper to see if anyone knows anything about the babies.........again, a little disturbing. It is the first picture of Keegan that we will ever have.

After having her only a few days - it's amazing how much we already know about her. How the way she reacts to things, the different cries and what they mean, etc. But it's so hard to imagine how, why and what these mothers go through when leaving these babies!!! And for those of you that know me well - I COULDN'T EVEN GIVE UP A CAT LET ALONE A BABY!!!!

We ventured out again to the local Lotus store (like a Walmart) and bought a few items. (side note-everyone here mainly rides bikes so they can't carry very many bags-almost all the check out lanes are 8 items or less, there are only 2 regular check out lanes!!!!!!! approx 15 express lanes!!!!!) Anyhow, we go thinking....well we will get out of the room for a while and browse the Lotus store - we get mobbed and stared out - so we just about run through the store just a snatchin' and a grabbin'!!!!! and then well......we are back at the hotel again.......

I believe we go to a local zoo tomorrow - rumor has it that there are monkeys that run loose!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD LORD!!!! I will advise tomorrow!! Never a dull moment around here!

Isn't funny how when you read the blog you can tell if it's Adam or me?????

Someone go eat at Columbia's for me - order the special with a baked potato (butter and sour cream) and the Diego salad - ranch dressing on the side!!!!!!

For those of you keeping score - pooped twice so far today..............

Until tomorrow - everyone enjoy your day!!! Thanks for following the journey!

A girl and her shoes

From what we understand, this is her first pair of shoes. Very stylish!!!

Pictures of the Day

Today was a big day, Keegan's first bath. She seemed to do just fine. She's squeaky clean.

We took a tour bus to downtown Hefei to the department store. First she napped. When she woke up, Keegan was the hit. Everyone wanted to touch, feel, kiss, lick, flip, flop, oooh and gooo over her. She put on a show for everyone by laughing and being all cute and stuff.

Then Keegan discovered Cheerios. We brought these with us. Chinese Cheerios aren't quite the same. She won't miss a crumb. If she drops one she looks for it until she finds it. Waste not want not, that's our girl.

Officially a Farley!!!

We met with the notary, registration offical, and a member of the orphange office to finalize all of the paperwork. After two interviews we signed the documents and Keegan is offically ours.


She sort of looks like 'The Golden Child'

Keegan is just like her aunt Cherri, she pooped 4 times today!!!

Got her!!!

Here is the big moment!! After 14 months - HERE SHE IS!!! She is more beautiful than I can explain - she felt so good to hold! She didn't cry - didn't really seemed to mind 2 strangers loving all over her. She started right away playing with my necklace and id tag. All the babies are beautiful and healthy (most of them have colds - to be expected)!

The picture says it all!!!! I can't stand it!!!! She is ours!!! I have already told her about her big brother and big sister, her 5 cats, her Nannie, her Grandma and Grandpa, her Uncle Brian and I have warned her about her Aunt Cherri and Uncle Rick!!!!! I told her she is one loved little girl and that everyone will want to kiss all over her!!

She's a daddy's girl! Aren't they cute together????? I think she already has him wrapped around her tiny little fingers!

The family!!! Minus 2 kids and 5 cats!!

She sleeps...

Hefei

Today we left Beijing for Hefei (Huff A). We arrived about 12:30 after an hour and a half flight. We were met by Yisha and Jodie our CCAI guides and representatives. 15 minutes later we rolled up to our very schwanky hotel. We had some free time before our meeting, so we unpacked since we'll be here until Saturday. At 3:30 we met again and were told how tomorrow would happen. 'GOTCHA DAY' will start with the babies arriving about 9:30am Monday China time, 8:30pm Sunday EST. We will get to meet the orphanage director and the nannies that take care the babies. After the meeting we walked to the Lotus Market, very close to a Wal-Mart, and stocked up on junk food. Dinner tonight was a veggie sort of pizza, Pringles and Pepsi Light. We did not get much free time to take pictures today but the picture here is from our hotel room. Below is a huge garden area where we saw a wedding party complete with fireworks. We miss you all, well most of you. Just kidding.

Touring Today

Today we started at 8:15 leaving our hotel on our tour bus with the 8 other families in our adoption group. We drove about an hour and a half to the Ming Tombs. Traffic was interesting to say the least. These are the tombs of some of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Today only one building remains standing and it was beautiful. There is so much detail in the architecture. This is a picture of us at the front of the tomb.
Next we went to the jade market and watched the crafters sculpt jade items. Of course the items were very beautiful and the highest quality. We also had lunch here. Lunch consisted of tea, coke, sweet and sour pork, hot and spicy soup, rice, spicy chicken, spring rolls, and even french fries (no ketchup though). Very good lunch.

From there we reloaded the bus and drove to the Badaling Great Wall. This is probably the most touristy of the different sections you could visit. And yes, we made it to the top of the mountain behind us in this picture. We were 'heroes' for making it as far as we did.

Our tour guide Alexandra was awesome and told us of all the history, customs, and answered all of our questions.

TWO DAYS UNTIL BABY KEEGAN!!!

Cool flight tracking

This is a cool way to track us on our trip. Go to www.flytecomm.com, click on Track a flight and type in our airline and flight number and you can see where in the air we are. Ok, I know of two people that will think this is cool, and I'm one of them, so for that other person, here you are.


11/3 - United Airlines UA6969- Lexington to Chicago
11/3 - United Airlines UA851- Chicago to Beijing
11/6 - China Eastern Airlines MU5170- Beijing to Hefei
11/12- China Southern Airlines CZ3814- Hefei to Guangzhou
11/17- China Southern Airlines CZ301- Guangzhou to Hong Kong
11/17- United Airlines UA896- Hong Kong to Chicago
11/17- United Airlines UA6870- Chicago to Lexington