Day 1 - Taipei 101

We decided to not venture too far today since we are still getting familiar with our surroundings. Right across from our hotel is Taipe 101. It is currently the tallest building in the world with the fastest elevator in the world as well. It was really windy so it was weird to see the feel the building swaying. Damper Baby really helped out today (see pics below)This was absolutely amazing! We did an audio tour and learned so much about taipei and everything surrounding this area as well. We loved it! I've posted some pictures from the sights at 101.

This is Damper Baby - this is the mechanisms used to support Taipei 101 during high winds, typhoons and daily weather. It stablizes the building. It is a big deal at Taipei101, with all sorts of souviners with a little damper baby with a face on them and he even has a personality profile which I got a kick out of:

There were huge wall display like this descibing the telcommunications, the electric, the cost, timeline for building and the Top 10 tallest buildings in the world. FYI - Empire State Building is #8 :)

We also had our first dining experience and I was in HEAVEN - I swear I could eat Asian food everynight of the week and the beef noodle soup and pork dumplings we had were awesome. Chris and I literally decided we could eat this everyday - the food is amazing. Some things were different like seeing the whole chicken and fish and shrimp with everything including the eyes and also as we ventured to the Jason's at Taiwan 101 a lot of sandwiches and items like lobster salad or tuna salad sandwiches were all out deli style but were not refridgerated. It was little strange going through not being able to read a lot of the labels but it was such a nice grocery store and we got some taiwan snacks, teas and beer to try - they have some called "Essential Beer" and we got a kick out of that - and some food and rice crackers for Sophia. We headed to Watsons, which is like a drug store for the wipes and diapers (thanks for the tips Judy!) so we are all ready for her, we just need her! The crib was delivered as well so it is really surreal to have a crib in the room. I also realized I totally overpacked for her, but hey - c'est la vie at least she has anything she could ever need, fashions included - LOL

A note about Taipei 101, on the streets I did not get a lot of looks but in taipei 101 I was really stared at a lot. I guess being pale with big blonde hair totally makes one stand out but this is something I am going to have to get used too. By no means at all was anyone rude, mean or doing it purposely I am just not used to it so now that I've been through it today - - I should be good to go.

For all of you waiting to travel - take it from someone who hasn't traveled to Europe since high school and the farthest I've been since then is Mexico so I'm not a seasoned traveler at all - - this city is very easy to navigate. Tomorrow we are going to the Handicraft Market and the Jade and Flower Market for souviners. We are also going to try to go to a night market and hit Chiang Kai Shek or find the cable cars that take you up over the mountains. This city is really beautiful. I'll share anything I find out through travelling to these desitnations which are farther away from our hotel and such.

Its about 7:25 pm here and I've been up all day - YEAH! but I'm fading fast. I'm taking this opportunity to post long nice detailed posts as I'm sure once we get Sophia I may not have time...

It hit me today when Chris said - Tomorrow is our last day as a family of 2!!!!

We're HERE!!!!

Greeting from Taipei! We are finally here. Holy long plane ride batman! We survived the long flight and the evergreen deluxe class on EVA Air is the WAY TO GO, lots of room and great service, the flight couldn't have gone any better. The cab ride to the hotel was interesting to say the least, I was praying hard that we'd make it, if that gives you any indication of how crazy it truly was!

We are 2.5 hours from Sophia and it is all we can do not to hop on the train and go get her now. We are so happy to be here and know we are only 2 days away from her now. It all feels like a dream. The Grand Hyatt is beautiful and we love our room and the staff so far have been great. A BIG thank you to my parents for the flowers and champagne in the room, they are beautiful and it was a great welcome to the hotel, so thoughtful and thank you very much! They are gorgeous flowers and were packed in BOAS - woohoo, lovin this place already!

Well we are off to explore this little town - JOke, huge joke there are only 3 million people in taipei city alone so it's not small potatoes. Wanted you all to know how much we appreciate the thought and prayers on our trip and it feels so darn good to get off the capsule (plane) and finally get on land.

We are heading off after a MUCH needed shower and we will post more tonight of the photo's of our explorations.

2 more days til Sophia :)

We're Leaving on a JET PLANE!!!!

AHHH yes we leave tomorrow! I cannot begin to explain how this feels, partly because I'm not sure I'm really experiencing this - LOL! Truly it is surreal to think that we leave tomorrow to go around the world to pick our daughter and become a family of "3". It is the craziest feeling. As you can probably imagine I have been crazing packing and repacking, the repacking again and then splitting it in half and packing it again. So finally afer 9 hours of packing I think I got it - that is until tomorrow morning - haha. Target loves me!!!

I have appreciated all your well wishes, email, call, posts on the blogs, cards you name it - what a super group of friends I have made through this whole journey, I could not have made it through this without your guys, friends and family that's for sure! Well I'm not sure how much we will be able to blog tomorrow but maybe a quick post from the airport or such. But wanted to let you all know we're ready!!!! 4 days until we meet Sophia and that goes to "2" when we land in Taipei on Saturday at 8:45 am.

I do solemly swear to update my blog as MUCH as possible while in Taiwan and when we get back!

Love to all -
Tiffany and Chris

Rare Video Footage of Sophia

Sophia is spotted posing for cameras while playing with her plastic Lion. Thanks Judy! Click here to check out this rare footage.

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl!!!

A HUGE thank you to Sarah for putting together a scrapbook card for Sophia's blog! Thank you, you're the best! And a thank you to Miss Judy (Eric's mom) for all of the pictures and videos of Sophia - we played all the video's at her little party this weekend and she was a huge hit! A movie star already. We had a few people over to celebrate Sophia's big day! Although she was not here, having the videos and her pictures everywhere certainly made it feel like she was here in spirit. We kept it very small and invited only those friends and family that had approached us about her birthday as we plan on having a HUGE bash for her 1st in January and didn't want to put pressure on anyone. Lily, Reagan and Vincent came over and they had a blast - I'll post the pics when I can get them downloaded.

It proved to be an emotional weekend, Saturday felt like an out of body experience as I was emotional she was not here but I couldn't stop thinking of her birthmother either and how hard this day must've been for her as well and Sunday, well let's just say the floodgates opened at church the second Pastor George said we will leave a family of 2 and the next time we see the congregation we will be a family of 3 - and yes it would not stop! For veterans day they put on a great tribute to our veterans (there are MANY from our church) and there I am crying my eyes out at America the Beautiful and You're a Grand Ole Flag - Yeah!! I mean I'm patriotic and all but come one, it was a nuts!

We leave in 3 days to start our journey across the world to get Sophia. Next week at this time I will be posting our first picture as a family of 3! I cannot wait!!! Thanks to all for your emails, cards, comments on the blogs, and all the well wishes, we could've have made it through this without each and every one of you!

Why the new site?

We created this new site just in case we are in Taiwan and our other site at www.youbelong.net/rhines does not work for some reason! We will copy the old blog here. Plus I only had one year free and come Feb. will have to pay for the old site and that's not really in my budget :)

SHOUT OUT to Sarah - Special Designer for Sweet N Sassy

Sarah at Journey to Hannah Claire is the BEST! She designed the perfect header for our new blog and coordinated all the colors and everything! How perfect is this? She does this for a donation to Taiwan orphanages and you can find all the info you need using the Blog Headers button on the right hand side of this blog! Everyone needs a sassy header and Sarah is the best!!
Thank you thank you thank you - Sarah! I love it and I know Sophia will too! :) If it weren't for Sarah you'd be looking at one very plain boring blog LOL