Manila & Packing list

I have finally made it to a computer to put up a quick posting. We have finally got our darling little girl - yay. She is beautiful. We flew into Manila on Thurday night, then headed back to the airport early Friday morning to catch a domestic flight to the island of Palawan. We were met at the airport by the orphanage director and spent the day at the orphanage. When we first arrived Brandi came running across the lawn when she saw the van (at which point Jared & I looked at each other with the thought that that wasn't what we were expecting), but then when she saw us she turned around, by now crying loudly, and ran in the opposite direction (now that was what we were expecting). Within half an hour Brandi was sitting on my knee (rather subdued) while we talked with the director. We then had lunch with the director & her husband at a local restaurant before heading back to the orphanage. When it came time to leave, Brandi was fine. We spent some of Saturday having a look around Puerto Princesa before heading back to the hotel. Sunday we went back to the orphanage for the church service. Brandi got a bit teary at the end when she realised she couldn't go & play with her friends, but recovered quickly. On Sunday afternoon she had a cry for a while, but after a sleep, then another cry she came right. She has been sleeping really well - so much better than we expected!! On Tuesday we flew back to Manila (Brandi wasn't at all bothered by the plane - unlike Jared & me), then we went to the adoption board in the afternoon to get all her papers. Yesterday we went to a couple of malls, but the prices are about the same, if not more, than NZ, so we spent most of our time just looking. The big mall we went to - Mega Mall - wasn't anything like I"ve seen before ... 6 floors. We made sure we kept Brandi close at all times as she has a tendancy of playing hide & seek, and the mall wasn't somewhere where we wanted to be looking for her!!!
Today we fly out at 8.30pm Manila time and are so looking forward to getting home tomorrow.
Brandi has been adjusting really well. She sleeps great, eats a lot, & likes to be near Jared & me. She is shy around others. She is pretty full-on so we are going to have our hands full when we get home as she doesn't know what the meaning of the word 'no' is!! We are hoping that once she is home she will be able to run off all her extra energy. She likes getting into things given half a chance, especially when it involves food. We are having to show her that hitting and spitting aren't acceptable, but she is also a bright wee girl, so will learn quickly what she can & can't do.
Thismorning we met Jennifer & her husband where we are staying at SIL/MGH. That was very cool, to be so far away from home & meet someone from the Yahoo group. They have hired a driver and are heading up to the orphanage today, & will hopefully meet their 2 boys tomorrow. Anyway I'll sign off for now. Look forward to posting some pictures when we get home.

PACKING LIST - FOR PHILIPPINES
Here is a list I typed up to help me with my packing (and also to remind me what I'd already packed). As we had to wait nearly 6 months before we got word that we could travel, I had packed some of the things months prior to when we actually left. I hope it helps. I will put a more concise list of 'hints' under a January 2010 posting

Gifts [ ]

Hand Sanitiser [ ]

Sunscreen [ ]

Wet Wipes [ ]

Disposable gloves [ ]

Zip lock bags [ ]

CHILD:

Dresses [ ]

Sweatshirt [ ]

Trousers [ ]

P.J’s [ ]

Underwear [ ]

Shoes [ ]

Shorts [ ]

Singlet [ ]

T-shirts [ ]

Socks [ ]

Towel [ ]

Swimming gear [ ]

Blanket [ ]

Nappies [ ]

BACKPACK FOR CHILD ON PLANE

Post-it notes [ ]

Toys [ ]

Paper clips [ ]

Pens [ ]

Stickers [ ]

Dress-up doll [ ]

Doll [ ]

Notebook [ ]

Books to read [ ]

Mini marshmallows [ ]

Pebbles [ ]

Clothes for me

Wear: Sneakers, Jeans, T-shirt, Polar fleece,

Sunglasses, watch

TAKE:

Skirts x4 [ ]

T-shirt x5 [ ]

Shirts [ ]

Cargo pants [ ]

Socks [ ]

Swimming gear [ ]

Sandals [ ]

Cap [ ]

Makeup [ ]

Toothbrush [ ]

Toothpaste [ ]

Comb [ ]

Dental Floss [ ]

Conditioner [ ]

Shampoo [ ]

Moisturiser [ ]

Talc powder [ ]

Camera [ ]

Recharger [ ]

Plug adapter [ ]

Natural Jet lag tablets [ ]

Insect repellant [ ]

First Aid Kit [ ]

Paracetomol [ ]

Anti Malaria tablets [ ]

Antihistamine [ ]

Cold & flu tablets

- Decongestant [ ]

Loperamide – diar [ ]

Eye drops [ ]

Antiseptic [ ]

- Cuts & grazes

Thermometer [ ]

Disinfectant [ ]

Motion sickness meds [ ]

Ziplock plastic bags [ ]

Passport [ ]

Photocopy of Passport [ ]

Visa info [ ]

Copy of Visa info [ ]

P/copy birth cert [ ]

P/copy marriage cert [ ]

Insurance info [ ]

Creditcard contact info [ ]

Umbrella [ ]

Map of Manila [ ]

Map of ICAB [ ]

Contact info [ ]

Torch [ ]

Alarm clock [ ]

Needle & Thread [ ]

Scissors [ ]

Soap [ ]

Facecloth [ ]

Laundry powder [ ]

Nail Clippers [ ]

Tissues [ ]

Tweezers [ ]

Stuff for my bag on PLANE

Sheet or Sarong [ ]

Take Spare clothes for me & child on plane

Children’s Paracetamol [ ]

Children’s decongestant [ ]

Lollies [ ]

Mp3 player [ ]

Cards [ ]

Book [ ]

Passport [ ]

Childs papers [ ]

Paracetamol [ ]

Snacks [ ]

Small Mirror [ ]

Hand sanitiser [ ]

Tissues [ ]

Wet wipes [ ]

Motion sickness bands [ ]