Beautiful Song...

Merry Christmas by Third Day is a song I heard for the first time today. I am so glad that this Christmas she is home. I will complete the travel days as I recover from jet lag and upload more pictures. But we are home safe and sound, and Julia met all her siblings on Christmas night.

Day 7: Dec 18, Julia's 6th Birthday updated with Li River Cruise pictures

I wish I could share pictures today, but the connection just isn't cooperating. Sorry. (Updated with cruise pictures) We started the day with the Li River Cruise, a 5 hour boat trip to see the beautiful mountains surrounding Guilin. Then we finished off with Julia's 6th birthday dinner that we were able to share with her Chinese foster family. It was a very special privilege to meet them. She joined their family when she was only 8 months old, and was with them over 5 years. We are both so very happy to see how much she was loved and cared for. Her foster mom also explained to us what she has done over the years to help Julia compensate for her special needs. Today was a very special day indeed.

Day 6: Dec 17, Daddy and Julia Day

It wasn't planned to be this way, but day 6 was Daddy and Julia's time together while Mommy was in bed recovering from traveler's tummy. :-( We had a 5 hour train ride to Guilin, where Julia is originally from. Mommy then went to bed at the hotel and Daddy and Julia had the afternoon out with David, our coordinator. Julia made out pretty good on this little outing, coming back with a panda bear purse, and lunch all over herself. :-)

Day 5: Dec 16, Adoption Day

On the way to the Civil Affairs and the Notary's office to become Julia's permanent legal parents.

Julia loves her new doll. She hasn't had a doll before, and she has changed the doll's clothes many, many times already. She has us in stitches watching her teach the doll to "walk."

Waiting at the Notary's office.

She loves steps. She knows very little English, but everytime we go up and down steps we count to 10. She is getting pretty good at it.

Since our first meal together, Julia has been asking for a hamburger at McDonald's. She actually didn't eat much of the hamburger, but polished off the french fries and ice cream with gusto.

Today's checklist:

1. Complete Adoption Paperwork

2. Buy new shoes... must be pink

3. Buy a new Barbie. Forget the Chinese Barbie, she wants blond, blue eyed Barbie

4. Eat at McDonald's

We are now officially Julia's Forever Family.

Day 4: Dec 15, Gotcha Day!

After all the waiting, we are finally here. Gotcha Day arrived, and Julia ran into the meeting room at full speed yelling "Mama, Baba (Daddy)." Big smiles all around. CHI has been preparing us for possible screaming and crying, but we haven't had any yet. She did ask David why her foster mother cried this morning when she left, and David explained that it was hard for her foster mom to say goodbye. Tomorrow we finalize the adoption registration documents and we will officially be her forever family.

Play time...

Watching Disney movies on the computer...

New baby doll...

On the way to the hotel...

Here we all are...

Looking at the Christmas lights outside the hotel...

Showing off her new clothes...

She loves the mirror in the elevator...

This one just might become one of my favorite pictures ever...

Till tomorrow,

Erika, the one with 5 kids.

Day 4: Dec 15, Waiting

There are exactly 4 hours to go until we leave the hotel to pick up Julia. Scott is calmly sitting in a chair, reading a book. I cannot sit. I cannot read. I am a mess. I have surfed all the blogs I follow, and that only took one hour. We discovered a lovely trail by the river and took a beautiful walk after breakfast. I had the best sleep of our entire trip last night so I am physically doing well, but my mind is going a million miles an hour. The camera is charged, all 12GB of memory sticks are cleared off and ready to go. Her new backpack is ready with gotcha day gifts, and the rest of her presents and clothes are stacked on the table in our room.

Next time, I promise the photos of a lifetime. :-)

Day 3 Dec 14, Continued: This made us laugh....

Today we had to load up on kid-snacks and juice boxes, so where else would we go???