More Max

With our update last week we were so excited to get two extra treasures, his finding ad and a picture he drew for us (I think it is xoxoxo for hugs and kisses). How sweet is that!

What is a finding ad? When a child is found abandoned in China they are taken to the local police office where there they get their picture taken and then the officials run an ad in hopes to find the child's parents.

He was 6 months old in the finding ad. He was found on 4/ 1/2004 which is special to me because it is my birthday...what a gift! I can't even begin to tell you the emotion I felt when I first looked at this picture. I think about his bio mother so often and how hard it must have been to leave him. We will never know exactly why she gave him up, but if I could talk to her I would thank her for giving him life. I would tell her not to worry that he has been found, he has a forever family and we will always love and take care of him. We were tickled to get a picture that he drew for us. What a neat surprise.

We are so thankful to Angela (our contact in Beijing) for getting us these

"extra treasures".

Our updates are so much fun. Angela (in Beijing) calls the orphanage and asks for updated pictures and we also get to ask questions, along with updated measurements. I love it! Here are some questions we asked.

The first update: 4/15/08

• Does he know about us? He knows he is getting a mom and dad, he just doesn't know who.
• What language does he speak? Both Cantonese and Mandarin
• Does he have any health problems? We have not found he is allergic to anything yet since he entered the orphanage. He only got some cold few times. No other health problems.
• How would you describe his personality? He is fairly introverted. He is not afraid of strangers but he is obstinate sometimes. He is strong willed. He stays alone when he gets mad. He likes to play some interaction game with other children, he likes to imitate. He likes to help adults to do something he can, such as after the bell ring to door, he would help foster mom open the door.
• What makes him happy? To take him outside and play makes him happy.
• Is he frightened of anything? He is very daring. We have not found he is afraid of anything.
• Does he have a special friend at the orphanage? Who is he closest to? Li Zi Hao is his good friend. Now they are living in the same foster home. His closest person is foster mom and dad.
• What else would you like to tell us about him? He is a lot more extroverted since sent to the foster family but he is still piquant.
  

The second update:7/03/08

• Does he have the care packages we have sent him? Yes. He keeps it. We have told foster family to prepare him.
• What was his reaction to our family picture? He was very happy. He wants mom and dad soon.
• Does his name have any special meaning? Guang is Guangzhou; Fang is Fang Cun district; Feng is his name, means apex and peak.
• What name do you call him? Feng Feng
• Who chose his name? The doctor who checked him when he entered the orphanage chose the name. Hope he will have beautiful future.
• What is his favorite food? Candy and milk
• What are his sleeping habits? Get up 8:00 am; nap at 12:30-2:00pm; Go to bed 9:00 pm

We were thrilled to get updated measurements too. He looks big in the pictures but he is tiny. He only weighs 30lbs. He is just 3ft 3inches tall. While we were visiting with family on our vacation, I compared his measurements to my cousins little boy, he is (almost to the day) a year younger than Max. He weighed the same and had all the same measurements as Max, so Max is a little guy. That's OK he will fit right in with his brother and sisters because they are little too!

We love you little Feng Feng :)