More friends

The beautiful Miss Chu Xia, LL being her wonderful self, and a beaming Juni waving to her family!

A few more pics

The beautiful (and very tall) miss Chu Xia is in the walker

A few more pics of Mari's friends

Group photo of the sisterhood and my daughter Mia, Ms. LL who had the run of the place without a doubt, and sweet Juni enjoying photos of her family

Orphanage visit day!!!

Today we visited the orphanage and Marika's finding spot!! It was an unforgettable day and the orphanage staff were most welcoming. Ms. Tang and the nannies are true gems and there is so much love there. So, Trena, Erin, Sue and Sheri will be happy to know that I gave lots of hugs and kisses and snapped a ton of photos. Here are just a few. I have lots more that I will email each of you privately. The orphanage staff treated us to a wonderful Chinese lunch, then we visited the orphanage and M's finding spot. It was an emotional day, and one that we will never forget. Mari was happy, happy happy, especially when she got to play with her friends again. She continues to be sweet as pie and I am the luckiest mama on earth. I will post a few more pics. Thanks to everyone, Kathleen, Judy, Mia and Marika.

Lots of smiles on day 4

We have been having so much fun here! Marika could not be sweeter. She continues to be so very mellow-- Mia and I really lucked out. She hardly fusses at all, and squirms only when she is thirsty. Lots of smiles today-- she is really becoming attached to us. Things are just wonderful. Today we hit 2 museums and have learned a lot about the history of Nanjing. For all my Xuzhou friends-- we are going to the orphanage tomorrow!!! I have lots of friends to visit there and lots of pictures to snap. ;) We read all your messages and appreciate each and every one and all of your good wishes. Best to all, Kathleen, Judy, Mia and Marika

Pics of our second day together

Today our adoption was finalized!!!! Marika is a true joy- wonderful and totally mellow! She cried a bit during the night and has not cried since. She seems quite content just playing quietly. She is also becoming very attached to Mia, which is great to see! In one of these pictures is the orphanage director, Ms. Tang, along with one of the nannies that Marika was particularly attached to. Off to explore Nanjing!

Two more pics

Uploading a couple more pics--Mia and Marika are so happy. Check out Marika's rosy cheeks!!!!

More Marika pics

Here we are. Marika has settled down and she is GREAT!! At the moment, she is sitting on the bed quietly playing with her big sister Mia. She has the rosiest cheeks I have ever seen and she seems to be very mellow and very well adjusted!!! One thing is for sure: she was well cared for and loved by the staff at the orphanage. Oh, and she is very healthy-- she weighs 25 pounds!! Mia has been just wonderful--feeding her, combing her hair and rubbing her back. More later. Signing off for now from Nanjing...

Marika is here!!!!!!!!

We have her!!!! She is beautiful and DOES have reddish hair! So, when we picked her up from the office she wailed, as you can see. She was so bonded to the orphanage director. After we left the director, Mari was wonderful, and no peep since. She has big red rosy cheeks and appears to be totally mellow. More pics coming! Thank you for all your wishes! Kathleen, Mia and Mari

Wide awake at 4 am.....

Well, we are in Nanjing and all is great. We woke up today again at 3:30 am. It is now 5 and we are wide awake! We join Marika in about 8 hours! Very excited for that and all is well. Will post agan after we are back to the hotel. Thank you each and every one of you for your wonderful notes. They mean so much to me. Kathlen, Judy and Mia-----and soon, Marika!

We made it!!!!

Well, we finally made it to China! We are now in Shanghai and it is 4 am local time...the flights totalled about 14 hours so we are burnt. Off to Nanjing today. We are all wide awake. Happy Valentines Day to all our friends at home. Off to sleep. Kathleen, Judy and Mia.

Life is a party

Yet another party at the orphanage. Marika is on the left and she and her two best friends are celebrating beautiful miss LL's 2nd birthday. I am dreading the dental bill when she comes home!!!

Excellent!!!!!

See that pile in the below picture? It is now in my suitcase which is only about 2/3 full. Half of it is gifts for the China folks! I pack very light, and now that I know that there are big stores right by the hotel, who cares if I am missing something? The only thing I am really concerned about are the documents and "must haves." It will all come together....Now, to focus on work.....

I am in trouble...

Two days before departure and this is what it looks like...

Oh boy...

...I didn't get a lot of help....

We are so excited!!!!

The excitement is building! In just 10 days we will be on our way to China. I am loving seeing just how happy Mia is and how excited she is to be a big sister. She has been very sweet--drawing pictures for the baby every day and generally working to perfect her "big sister" skills. We will see how that goes in just a bit! ;) This pic is of Mia (age 5) and her best friend Friday on Christmas day....life is good!!!

I can't believe I am blogging

This blogging is pretty fun. Please bear with me and any glitches that I may have because I am new at this. In the words of my friend Matt, and I quote: "It’s quite amusing to see you doing the blog thing. Back when we were at LP together I remember you couldn’t even upload a picture from your camera." Thanks for following along on my journey!!!! Pictures below-- Mari is on the right.

Marika and friends

Marika and friends, all waiting for their families, all happy with each other! Marika is on the right. Friends forever...

Am I ready????

Well, I am just realizing that two weeks from now, Marika will be in my arms. We leave on Feb. 13, fly into Shangahi, and off to Nanjing on the train the next day. We will be staying in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, for a week. Marika is from a town in the province of Jiangsu called Xuzhou, which is NW of Shanghai, between Shanghai and Beijing. It is closer to Shanghai if you want to check it out on the map. Am I ready to go? Mentally, absolutely. Physically, not even close!!!! I have to exchange money, get all my documents together, pack for three of us, and wrap up things at work, as I will be taking a three month leave. I am so excited to get back to China. I love it there. After actually getting Marika, I am most looking forward to going to her orphanage and then actually getting to visit Mia's orphanage while we are in Guangzhou. We are trying to arrange that now and I am so hoping that I can show Mia where she spent the first year of her life. It was the highlight of my trip when I adopted Mia in 2004. I wanted to be able to have some answers for her as she grows up, and I think taking her there may help!!! More later, with pics!