We’re David and Lois McBeath. We live in Point Pleasant, WV – a small town along the Ohio River on the western side of the state. We have 2 sons. Austin is 15. He’s a sophomore at Pt. Pleasant High School. Darrell is almost 12. He’s in the 6th grade at Roosevelt Elementary.
We actually began our adoption journey more than 10 years ago. I saw an ad in the newspaper about Chinese babies. We called about it, but it just wasn’t even feasible at that time in our life. All these years, it was always there, stuck somewhere in the back of our minds. I don't know why exactly – it just was. The thought never completely went away.
We also talked off and on about having another child. Our house was only 3 bedrooms, and we know the boys could have been in a room together, but we didn't want to do that if we didn't have to. In the spring of 2006, for some reason (I don't recall exactly what) - it came up again. We started thinking and talking - why not? So we started checking into it more. We did a lot of research online. The more we found out, the more we felt a calling, a desire and even a need to do this.
We started the adoption and added onto the house all at the same time. It took about 6 months to get the paperwork together. Then about another month after we sent it to China for them to translate it and 'log us in' (11/6/06). That's when we started to officially wait.
We finally got "THE CALL" on 7/13/08. It was a Sunday afternoon! After 2 ½ years, we are finally going to get our baby!
Leila Ann McBeath, formally known as Shun Xi Yi, was born on Oct 29, 2007. She had a cleft lip and cleft palate. The lip has been repaired, but not the palate. (We'll have to do that when we get her home.) She's in the Children's Welfare Institute of Shunde District of Foshan City, which is located in the Guangdong Province, in the southern part of China.
Shunde, the hometown of flowers, is one of four cities under the jurisdiction of Foshan City. Covering an area of 806 sq meters and with a population of 1.05 million, Shunde City is situated in the middle of the fertile Pearl River Delta, between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. It was set up as a county in the 3rd year (1452 AD) of the Jintai reign of the Ming Dynasy (1368-1644), and conferred with the administrative status of a city in 1992 by the State Council.
Foshan City is also where the actor Bruce Lee was from.
Happy Birthday Dad!
Leila is still fussy today, and we had a pretty sleepless night. But Darrell is feeling better.
We went to the zoo today. I think it was about the same size as the Columbus zoo. We got to see a 'real' chinese panda. It would have been nicer if it weren't so darn hot here though. It's just so muggy and sticky.
They don't have pickup trucks here. When we told Rosa that we had a truck, she didn't understand. We had to draw a picture of one for her. That's when we noticed that there weren't any here.
On our walk last night, we found a little guitar shop. I had seen it yesterday when we went to pick up the official adoption decree, so we went looking for it. Asking directions in Chinese is fun. We got to close to where I thought I'd seen it, then we tried to ask. Austin and I ended up playing air guitar - but that was what worked. As we were walking away, there were about 4 bellboys or something still 'playing'.
We were watching a program on tv. We found out that the Beijing airport is the largest one in the world. It is also one of the safest, due to all the technology they've put in. Sort of interesting.
5 comments:
Hi McBeath family. Leila is beautiful. We have printed all of the pictures so people can see your new beauty. We know you will be busy but make sure to come by so we can meet her. Keep the info coming. From All of Us at Ratliff Pool Center
Hi EVERYONE! The pictures are beautiful! Can't wait to see you, seems like you have been gone forever. Can you believe I am doing this (Katelyn told me how to do it).
Miss You Love You
Lisa
Hi EVERYONE! The pictures are beautiful! Can't wait to see you, seems like you have been gone forever. Can you believe I am doing this (Katelyn told me how to do it).
Miss You Love You
Lisa
So I sent it 2 times I'm learning.
Hi you guys! I'm glad your little girl is doing well! We can't wait to come to Guangzhou and see everyone. Our hotel is not like it was in Beijing. Lanzhou is a poorer community, dirtier and a bit on the smelly side. LOL! When we walk down the street, we sometimes get a whiff of something so yucky, I have to hold back a gag. How's the hotel? Have you gone swimming or bowling there yet? We went to the 4th floor and played ping pong in a little room. I don't think we were supposed to be there... we didn't feel too welcome. I think that floor is either reserved for men only or "Big Wigs" when they stay here. Looking forward to seeing y'all!
The Christians' Family :)
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