Julia in August 06
The plane we took from Hong Kong to Beijing, decorated for the Olympics in 08
on the bus to the terminal
in the airport, looking for our guide
found her!
Countdown to Olympics, outside museum off of Tiananmen square
Outside the main (Yang) gate to the Forbidden City
In Tiananmen square, outside the main gate to the Forbidden City
Female or Yin dragon, w/ baby under-paw
Male or Yang dragon, w/ ball under-paw
Inside the emperor's suite
More of the emperor's suite
Concubine door to emperor's suite
at the 1st tower of the Great Wall outside Beijing.
view from the 3rd tower - wish it were not so foggy b/c the view is amazing.
view across the valley from the 3rd tower
Mommy holding Julia for the first time.
Apparently Chinese babies like to suck their fingers, not their thumbs.
On the bus back to the hotel
Julia hanging out w/ her big bro Jason
out cold
Julia's first trip to the zoo in Chongqing
8 month old baby panda at the Chongqing zoo
Jeneth and our guide, Sofia, looking out over the city from E'Ling park
Part of 100 meter long painting depicting the 3 Gorges hydroelectric dam project. This and the next show our city, Chongqing.
Enjoying tea at one of the tea houses in E'Ling park. Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
The clan at the entrance to E'Ling park
The Great Hall of the People, in downtown Chongqing. This is right across the plaza from the museum we're visiting.
entering the natural history museum in Chongqing
The 55 minorities of China
Julia is from the Miao minority. This is the Miao representive in the display.
Typically the Miao women wear a lot of silver in their ceremonial garb.
A hand carved bed given as a gift. This bed is only 5 layers deep, so our guide, Sofia, claimed that this was probably for a concubine. Typically a 6 layer bed would be given to a wife or consort. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.
More detailed shot of the hand carved bed.
More Miao clothing
This is a Miao child's outfit.
Another display showing a Miao woman.
This mask cracked me up. 1 of the Tibetan mask of twelve looks.
Jason showing Julia how to play his DS. She's a natural gamer.
The 2nd day in Guangzhou we switched rooms. We happened to move to the exact spot that 9 other families w/ a different agency adopted from Julia's orphanage in Xiushan. This was one of her crib mates, Sarah.
Fritz, ShaeLi and Jean (from Austin)
Catherine, Margaret and Christy (from Alabama)
Christopher, Amy and Thorsten (from Georgia)
Clowning around at dinner
Book em Danno!
Seconds before his walrus impression (coo coo ca choo)
Our guide in Guangzhou, Kelly
Goofing off w/ her favorite - the Cheerios container
Starting to play with us
Having a good time. She's pretty wound up now and ready to play more.
Budding little yoga star, just like mommy!
View from our room tonight. Nice shot of the Pearl River at night.
red couch photo in the hotel
noogie time!
Jason, the cheerio peddler
Home at last
First meal at home
