Jumping More Hurdles...

As if our wait wasn't long enough...we think that now that we have seen our son's face, this last stretch is going to feel like an eternity! We are so eager to get to him and bring him home to meet his family! This week has been a whirlwind of activity since we received our Pre-Approval (PA). We've been having a challenging time with our social worker whose sense of urgency doesn't quite mesh with ours and we are up for some important paperwork renewals. If things don't get taken care of expediently, it could delay our travel. (Lord, help us!)

I thought I'd share some of what we know about our boy.

The meaning of his Chinese name:

Qin 秦--- It is the name of an ancient dynasty and also a family name. (Keep in mind, in Chinese, the surname always comes first).
Lei 磊--- The character is composed by three "9 F" (stones, rocks) and means big; stout; be open and upright.
Xin 鑫--- The character is composed of three "金" (gold, money) and means prospering or good profit.

Those who name their child by such a name may wish the child to be simple and direct, and surely prospering and rich. It may seem funny to call a child "rock pile" and "gold pile" but in the Chinese culture, they mean "stable and rich." This was the name that the orphanage gave him.

We do plan to give him an American first name, but we will be retaining his Chinese name as his middle name. This child is an orphan and his name is his identity. We wish for him to embrace his new American culture, but to never forget his homeland. Since Michael and I are already members of a local community group of adoptive parents (The Chinese American Culture Club), we have wonderful resources available to us to help preserve our child's heritage. Since most of the children in this group are girls, how lucky will HE be? LOL! (I can only imagine the next Chinese New Year party!)

This is the earliest photo we have of Lei Xin. Is it any wonder we fell in love?

Lei Xin was found near the People’s Hospital of Xian Yang City on Aug. 21, 2006. When he was first brought to his orphanage, he was described as "tiny but active." He was afraid at first, but he eventually adapted, especially once he got into kindergarten starting at age three. He is very smart - - he enjoys jigsaw puzzles, blocks and balls. He also loves music and is quite good at singing and can sing a lot of songs (could American Idol be in his future??). He learns very quickly and can express himself well in words (uh, not English words, mind you). His caregivers say that he has a very high interest in learning. He also gets along very well with other children and he is very helpful.

He is not a picky eater (just like his new Dad) and he's a sound sleeper (unlike his new Mom)! He is described as quiet, introverted and gentle. He always has a ready smile and he enjoys playing with other children (time to schedule those play dates - - I've already had a few offers!). My favorite comment from his caregivers: "He is a very adorable child."

We can't wait to learn more about his personality and what things he really enjoys. I think he will enjoy helping to decorate his room (we just bought a "big boy" mattress the other day and still have find the right bed for him).

Our school district has a wonderful 1/2 day immersion program so that he can learn English! This will be in addition to a 1/2 day of kindergarten that he will be eligible for! How wonderful! Our area has a strong international adoption presence so the schools are very accommodating.

So...now we wait some more. Our next big milestone will be to get our LOA (Letter of Approval from China). Not long after that, we should receive TA (Travel Approval) and then off we go!

So...does this kid have personality, or what?! LOL! He has grown so much! The newest photos were taken on August 17th. I like to refer to this pose as "The Thinker."