Sorry that it has been a while.   James had the surgery to close his palate on October 24th and things have been just a little hectic here.  Before his surgery he got to visit the pumpkin patch and then dressed up like a frog for Halloween.He also got his first "real" haircut.  He is recovering well from the surgery but it is going to be some time with speech therapy.

The end of August (more or less)

Some events from the past month.  James went to the Long Beach Aquarium, got his first US haircut and got dressed up to go with Dad to the AP Reading at Colorado State next year.  the adventures have been good.  We also got him set to to start on getting his cleft palate fixed, so things are moving along.

The End of July

As we get used to each other and as we start to learn about each other, things are getting better. James is generally a happy baby but not ALL the time. We went to the Orange County Fair and he got his face painted and the people at Sharon's office gave him a new car and some other great things!

This past weekend

Just spent the weekend doing family and friends stuff. One shot is James and godfather Jim. The other shot is James with Jennifer and Terry Liddell. And last but not least, our boy and his appetite!

Los Angeles July 9th

Back in the US!!!!!! After spending almost 24 hours on planes and in airports, we are home. The picture below is the proof. The picture abovet is James getting used to the neighbors. You will note he is surrounded by females. That's my boy!

Guangzhou July 8th

The biggest day of the trip next to "Gotcha Day." I would show you more shots of the event but the US Consulate will not allow cameras past the security check point. For all of the time and paperwork and money invested, were it not so important, it would also be anti-clamatic. Standing in line, then taking the oath that everything we have said is true, some brief words from an official and done. He is now really ours! Tomorrow we head back to the US. I hope that a whole bunch of you get to meet him in person.

Guangzhou July 7th

Big day today. Visited the local Buddhist temple and got James Albert blessed by one of the monks. If you CLOSELY in the picture on the left, you will two little feet in front of Sharon. In the evening we went on a riverboat cruise. Very cool in both senses. It is still hot and humid. Tomorrow we deal for the last time, we hope, with the US government here in China. His oath taking (he is 2 yrs, 9 mths!!!!!) and a ton of paperwork.

Guangzhou July 6th

Spent most of the day just being a family, doing the simple stuff. As you can see from the shot on the left, we had some issues with rain. Guangzhou is humid and, of course, the rain only makes it worse. Visited the Jade market, and went to Lucy's Bar and Grill for dinner. Lucy's is a fair attempt at being an American restaurant. Hamburgers and fries and does he love fries! His and mine! I may be thinner by the end of this trip.

Guangzhou July 5th

Big day today. We had official pictures taken (again) for his records and then we visited the clinic to get his pre-flight medical check up. He was weighed, measured and checked out fairly completely. He passed with flying colors and we could check off one more item from the list. The shots of the exam are just fun. I am saving the shot of our naked Picasso drawing at the desk for his first serious girl friend!!

Guangzhou July 4th

Today was just a really long travel day. The hotel in Xining to the airport, the flight to Xian and then to Guangzhou and then to the hotel. For a number of reasons, all of the new airports in China are built way outside the main city center. In Xining, it was an hour trip from the hotel to the airport. Then the flight was delayed (are we still in the US?) Tomorrow we start dealing with the US government.

Xining-July 3rd

A very interesting and emotional day.  In the morning we visited one of the local Buddhist monasteries and in the afternoon we visited the orphanage where James first stayed and had a chance to meet his foster parents.  The monastery was interesting in so many ways, the age of things, the commitment I saw from both monks and just plain folks, and the whole calm atmosphere.  The afternoon was the emotional side, which is hard to describe, but needless-to-say Sharon and I were teary eyed.

Xining- July 2nd

Two cool guys out for a hot time!!

July 1st, 2008--Gotcha Day!

Well friends, it finally happened!  About 4:00 in the afternoon on the 1st, we got him.  The picture to the right is "first contact." The lady to the far right in the picture is the official from the orphanage.  On the left is our official photograph of the happy family that has to be given to the Chinese government. We are overjoyed!  And he is active, healthy and has a great smile.  It was love at first sight.

Beijing-Monday

Our last full day in Beijing.  In the morning we went to Tiananamen Square and in the afternoon, the Temple of Heaven.  To me these both things that everyone should see.  On the right we have the "old pioneers" in front of the statue of Mao and on the left, the temple of Heaven.  In the background of the Tiananamen Square picture is Mao's Mausoleum, which was not open.  I would have to have gotten both a glimpse of the crowd, or the lack there of, to see the "Great Helmsman" as well as to see the old man himself.

The Great Wall-Sunday

Well, as you can see, it was not the best day to visit the Great Wall (or the Great Wall of Fog,) but it was still impressive.  

The trip over

After a VERY long trip across from LAX, we are now in Seoul.  We have a 3 hour layover and then off to Beijing.  The Seoul airport is modern and very nice.  The people are great and fortunately for Sharon and I, most of them speak English.  More when we land in China.

What great stuff!  These are just some of the gifts from the surprise shower at the Reading.  The dragon makes noise and his ears light up.  The turtle shines the stars o the ceiling of his room in 3 different colors. And of course, the Lincoln Logs.  I don't know about the rest of you but these bring some really great childhood memories.

This was a gift from my table.  Perhaps we will wear them at the reading next year.  

Sorry, no picture this time but I did want to give you a sense of the schedule.  We fly into Beijing on the 27th-28 (one of those long over-night flights.)  We are in Beijing for two days, one for the Great Wall and one for orientation.  I can't help wonder about that word in this context.  We then fly out to Xining in Qinghai Province in northwest China.  We pick Up James on the 1st and then fly to Guangzhou.  Then it is five days in Guangzhou dealing with the US government and then on the 9th of July we head home!!  We should be back in the US on the 10th.

May 31st, 2008

Here's a new picture.  Now, no comments about how he has taken after me already.  "Look. he is drooling and carrying a purse.  He has to be Monty's kid!"

May 30th, 2008

Well friends, it looks like it finally going to happen.  All of the various government agencies have signed off and we have plane tickets and hotel reservations.

We will try to keep you all updated as we work our way through the trip.  

Being neither a computer person nor long time blogger, this will be "make it up as we go along" experiment.

The picture at the top is just a start.

Best

Sharon & Monty