E-Mail This | Print This
By Joe GarnerDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Her first name is Madeline now, and her family name is Mauser. But the key to the adopted baby's background is her middle name, HaiXing. It is translated from Chinese as "ocean star," said her father, Tom Mauser. Mauser, 48, and his wife, Linda, 49, returned home Friday from China to Littleton with the 11-month-old baby. Madeline is the new sister for their daughter, Christie, 15, who accompanied them. Their son, Daniel, was killed at Columbine High School last year. "I can't wait to tell her about her brother when she can understand enough about the whole story," said Mauser, who was transformed by his son's death into a national gun-control advocate. He is a spokesman for SAFE Colorado, an acronym for Sane Alternatives to the Firearms Epidemic. SAFE Colorado is working for passage of Amendment 22, which would require criminal background checks on all firearm sales at gun shows. Mauser said the idea of adopting a Chinese baby originated with his wife — who herself had been adopted — after their son was killed. "Daniel still has a special place in our lives," Mauser said. "And I'm sure Daniel thinks, 'This is really neat, Dad."' The family will "dedicate the time we would have been giving to Daniel" to their new child, he said. "It's moving along and trying to do something positive. The key is still not to lose sight of Daniel." In her baby pictures, proudly displayed by her father, Madeline is all smiles and drool as she stares at the camera. Mauser said she is "very healthy, strong, squirmy, close to walking, very sociable and open to other people." She weighs 20 pounds, but he has yet to measure her length and the documents giving it still are with immigration officials, he said. She sleeps on China time, her internal baby clock still set to the other side of the globe. The family adopted her Oct. 16 in Nanning, midway through a two-week stay in China. An orphanage official brought the baby to their hotel and left her with them, "wrapped in layers and layers of clothing," he said. The Mausers will keep the baby clothing, along with such souvenirs as teapots, wall hangings and jewelry, to introduce Madeline to her Chinese heritage as she grows up. "We have used a few basic Chinese words with her, so we were't just totally speaking another language. She is probably a little confused," Mauser said. "We called her HaiXing over there. We didn't just take her and say, 'You're Madeline. No, I called her HaiXing,"' her father said. "Now, I say, 'Madeline, HaiXing.' I put the two names together so she can make the connection between Chinese and her new language." November 1, 2000
Her first name is Madeline now, and her family name is Mauser.
But the key to the adopted baby's background is her middle name, HaiXing. It is translated from Chinese as "ocean star," said her father, Tom Mauser.
Mauser, 48, and his wife, Linda, 49, returned home Friday from China to Littleton with the 11-month-old baby.
Madeline is the new sister for their daughter, Christie, 15, who accompanied them.
Their son, Daniel, was killed at Columbine High School last year.
"I can't wait to tell her about her brother when she can understand enough about the whole story," said Mauser, who was transformed by his son's death into a national gun-control advocate. He is a spokesman for SAFE Colorado, an acronym for Sane Alternatives to the Firearms Epidemic.
SAFE Colorado is working for passage of Amendment 22, which would require criminal background checks on all firearm sales at gun shows.
Mauser said the idea of adopting a Chinese baby originated with his wife — who herself had been adopted — after their son was killed.
"Daniel still has a special place in our lives," Mauser said. "And I'm sure Daniel thinks, 'This is really neat, Dad."'
The family will "dedicate the time we would have been giving to Daniel" to their new child, he said. "It's moving along and trying to do something positive. The key is still not to lose sight of Daniel."
In her baby pictures, proudly displayed by her father, Madeline is all smiles and drool as she stares at the camera.
Mauser said she is "very healthy, strong, squirmy, close to walking, very sociable and open to other people." She weighs 20 pounds, but he has yet to measure her length and the documents giving it still are with immigration officials, he said.
She sleeps on China time, her internal baby clock still set to the other side of the globe.
The family adopted her Oct. 16 in Nanning, midway through a two-week stay in China. An orphanage official brought the baby to their hotel and left her with them, "wrapped in layers and layers of clothing," he said.
The Mausers will keep the baby clothing, along with such souvenirs as teapots, wall hangings and jewelry, to introduce Madeline to her Chinese heritage as she grows up.
"We have used a few basic Chinese words with her, so we were't just totally speaking another language. She is probably a little confused," Mauser said.
"We called her HaiXing over there. We didn't just take her and say, 'You're Madeline. No, I called her HaiXing,"' her father said. "Now, I say, 'Madeline, HaiXing.' I put the two names together so she can make the connection between Chinese and her new language."
November 1, 2000
