Look Out Hollywood

My two beautiful girls were on the local news this week. They were doing a piece on the changes to China’s adoption laws, and the opening scene is my girls meeting for the first time at the airport. Yeah, a camera crew actually showed up at 11 pm to meet us! Hey, at least the girls look great!

(For my non-techie readers, click on the words "local news" in the first sentence to see the video.)

We're Home

Sisters.

Mommy's little helper

Kiss me, you fool!

Bwahahahaha!!!!!!!!

After a long and exhausting trip that ended with a missed connection and a 3-hour bus ride, we finally arrived home late Thursday night. Ying and her big sister have hit it off like a house on fire. Yesterday, at her doctor's appointment, Ying would only stop crying if Olivia was holding her. It was so sweet. That's not to say that Olivia hasn't had some "I'm not so sure about this big sister thing" moments that have really reinforced my decision not to take her to China. Still, I think in another week or two the three of us will have gelled into a real family.

Heading Home

We are on our way out the door for the long trip home! A little over 24 hours from now, I will be hugging my baby for the first time in 2 loooooong weeks. I can't wait. We have had an amazing trip. Owen and I both love China and her people so much, but like the girl said, "There's no place like home." Mom, can you please get us a half gallon of whole milk and some watermelon (just a small carton of chuncks). Ying loves watermelon, noodles, and french fries! I can't wait for you all to meet her. She is everything wonderful in a 12-pound package!

See you soon!

If it's Tuesday, this must be Guangzhou

Miss Smoochie Face

The real China

See my shoe?

I can't be bothered with pictures, I'm eating!

What? Huh? Me? I'm just eating, ma!

Morning! It’s Tuesday, and our guide, Ann, is at the consulate right now presenting our papers. If all goes well, we will get Ying’s visa tomorrow. We slept in this morning, had a late breakfast, then went out for a walk with Lynda and her daughter. Later, we are going to take a cab to the department store to look for a stroller for the trip home. Tonight, I’m going to drag Owen and Ying to the Cow and Bridge for dinner. It is the best Tai food ever.

Last night we went on the Pearl River cruise. It was a nice boat ride. Ying was holding court as we got on and off of the boat. She was smiling, waving, giving mommy kisses (YEAH!) – anything to get a laugh. She had a huge crowd of local people hanging around her laughing at her every move. She was eating it up. Everyone else seems to think she is as wonderful as I do!

Tomorrow is our last day, and I have to admit, I am ready to come home. I love China, but I miss my girl like crazy, and I just want to hold her! See you Thursday, baby!

A Quick Note

I have a few minutes before we have to leave for the Pearl River cruise, so I thought I’d post a couple of quick pictures. These were taken at Ying’s SWI sometime between October and now. The lady holding her is her nanny. That’s the smile I’ve been trying to catch.

Ying continues to be a very happy baby. She is very entertaining – waving, clapping, and patting her mouth while going “wa, wa, wa, wa, wa”. She is a great sleeper and likes to nap, so she will fit in well at our house!

Owen and I have shopped ourselves silly. Really, it’s not like we have a lot else to do. We have walked at least a couple of hours every day trying to see the “real” China. I think we’ve found it a time or two – mostly down little back streets.

Well, I have to get the girl ready to go. I’d forgotten about diaper changing. You can never go anywhere until baby has a clean diapy!

More photos (because that's why you're here!)

We're in Guangzhou

Visa photo

Leaving Nanchang

Hi ya, Big Sister!

Hi! We've made it to the last leg of our trip - Guangzhou. We took Ying in for her physical today. She is very healthy, but small (hmm, I think I said that already!). The doctor who did her exam was the same doctor who did Olivia's exam three years ago. Owen and I are both missing the food in Nanchang. It was great - very spicy. Here, everyting is so bland! We'll have to have our guide help us find some spice.

Ying is still very attached to Owen, but it is getting better. He can actually sit her down now without a total meltdown. Poor kid, he has been a trooper. Julia, you should be very proud of your son. He is a great big brother and has taken such good care of Ying. I know it gets old having a baby velcro-ed to you, but he is very sweet to her.

I am totally smitten with this little angel. She is so sweet and funny. She likes to smile. I can't wait to introduce her to her big sister. I know they are going to be quite a pair! We are calling her Ying (pronounced "Ing") because she knows her name. She's even saying it now. She can say Ying, Mama, and hi. Pretty good for a week, huh.

Hope everyone is doing well. We are ready to come home. I miss my girl like crazy. 5 more days!

More photos

I know that Olivia wants to see more pictures of her baby sister, so here they are, Baby, just for you. Mommy loves you and misses you really much. I'll see you soon.

See my teeth?

Sort of a smile.

E-Baby Naps.

Great Wall Photos

Meet Elizabeth Grace Ying

We met Ying yesterday. She is beautiful, amazing, wonderful, sweet, and overall a pretty darn cute baby. She is very tiny. The clothes I brought are all swimming on her. She is very smart and has the sweetest smile. I hope I can get a picture of it today.

Julia, Owen will call you Monday morning.

Ying really likes Owen and is tolerating me ok. This morning she let me feed her some breakfast and even tried to feed me some, too. But, when push comes to shove, she wants to be with Owen. We'll have to work on that!

Our guide is due here soon, so I'll post again later. Now that I've figured out the picture thing, I'll try to see if I can't get a picture of a smiling baby to show you all!

Hello From Beijing

Well, we're here. We arrived in Beijing yesterday afternoon, and I feel like we haven't stopped since. Today we went to the jade factory (really more like a stop at a rather expensive jade store), climbed the Great Wall, visited a "friendship store" (typical over-priced tourist shop), saw TianAnMen Square and the Forbidden City, took a taxi to the pearl market and shopped, then walked to a nearby mall for dinner. Needless to say, I am exhausted - too exhausted to try to figure out how to download pictures right now. I'll try to figure that out tomorrow so that SUNDAY when I meet E-Baby I'll be able to post her beautiful face.

So far, we are having a great time. The weather has been wonderful - almost too warm for a light jacket.

While we were standing on the Great Wall, my cell phone rang. I answered it, and there I was standing on the Great Wall of China, talking to Owen's mom on the phone. Owen took a picture, so I'll try to post that tomorrow.

We met Kirsten and Roy and Rebecca on the flight from Chicago and we are looking forward to seeing them again when we hit Guangzhou.

Ok, that's it for now. I'm off to bed. Please tell my girl that I love her really much and miss her like crazy.