Home at last!

We arrived back yesterday after more than 24 hours in transit. Katie did okay! Note from Julie about this fat photo: I did not gain THAT much weight in China, but Katie has definitely added some weight.Thanks to Grandpa for walking around with Katie for long haul flight from China to Detroit!


Sleeping angels.

Grandma really helped us keep Katie entertained from China to Detroit and from Detroit to Dulles. Wonderful Grandma!

Home at Last! 3 US Citizens! Today we are practicing making China congee rice soup and feeding the little one and getting over our jetlag.

Big thanks to everyone who checked the blog! We all were very happy to have you with us on our epic journey to China and to parenthood. We appreciate all the comments and well wishes! Don't worry, we'll post more soon!

Love, Julie, Eugene, and Katie

Coming home!

After two adventure-filled weeks, we are finally heading home with Katie! She will become a U.S. citizen upon our first port of entry in the U.S. (Detroit, baby!). We can't wait to introduce her to all of our wonderful friends and family, both in the U.S. and abroad. We'll continue the blog, but will update it less frequently. Here's hoping that Katie sleeps like this the whole way home!

Solid Food!

Katie likes to eat a little steam bun and some rice. She surprises us everyday.

She also likes to kiss the baby in this book. Aww!

Red Couch Photos

Every family at the White Swan takes a photo on the beautiful red couches in the lobby! Note the cute baby outfits!


Mommies and Babies!

We only got a few babies on the couch together before crying broke out.

Happy Birthday Wishes from Katie!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Ed!

:)

>^..^<>

Statues on Shamian Island

"Sure I'm sure ice cream is made from fish- enjoy!"

"Eww, all sticky. That is the last time I lend you my abacus."

Juxtaposition of Chinese girls through the ages. From sensible shoes to ankle snappers.

"Girls just wanna have fun!"

City of Neon on the Pearl River

Shopping!

At the passport office to get Katie's Chinese passport. Daddy didn't answer any questions wrong! What a relief!

Carrefour is the all in one shopping destination for the adopting parent who really cares about quality. Unfortunately all these diapers were pale comparisons to the mighty HUGGIE. Man, we miss them.

Mission accomplished!

Julie and Eugene were the master shoppers of the day! That is a gallon of water from the USA for a very reasonable price!

Eugene was also able to find some treasured Chinese comic books featuring OLD MASTER Q! A childhood favorite. Sooo funny. http://www.oldmasterq.com/

More Katie

New talents!

Resplendent in blue.

"Whatchu lookin' at?"

Good Morning!

More pictures, Dad? Sheesh!

After bath time relaxation.

And bonus Video!

The Chinese say if a little girl makes raspberries, rain will come! If it is a little boy, then dry weather is in the future.

Thanks to Katie, the next day, we got Typhoon Nuri! :)

*(typhoon comes from the Chinese "da feng" or big wind!)

More Six Banyun Temple pics. Formerly known as the Purifcatory Wisdom Temple, famous Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo was so moved by the six wonderful banyan trees growing in the temple's courtyard and was delighted. We can assume he was a rock star of his time and was flocked by papparizzi running after him making detailed ink paintings of his comings and goings. When Su Dongpo was asked to rename the temple, he with a flourish of his caligraphy brush, I can imagine that he with made a beautiful inscription of "Six Banyan Temple" with nuanced and moving strokes of the brush on a gigantic scroll. I also imagining monks standing stoically beside, but beaming inside. Su Dongpu then refused autographs and then ran the gauntlet of papparizzi to get to his next gig.

This is the tippy top of the Six Banyan temple's 184 foot tall pagoda. There is a gold tower inside the gated area, as if it is rising toward heaven. Climbers have slipped money into the gate to get some good luck.

Happy Grandpa Ted on the highest level. This pagoda is know fondly as the Flowery Pagoda.

Eugene not banging his head this time.

Hi everyone! Your comments and emails have added so much to our trip. We can't wait to get Katie home to meet you! Please review today's blog postings from the bottom up since that is the order in which the photos were taken.

One of the banyan trees (there are only two of six left).

Who is imitating whom?