First Full Day with Lilymei

Lilymei slept the whole night through.  She went to bed @ 8:30pm and awoke at 7am.  She had congee with meat, dim sum, yogurt, and watermelon for breakfast.  Breakfast is a more traditional Chinese fare rather than the Western breakfasts we had at the Radisson in Beijing.  Scott said the coffee here is the strongest he's ever had.
Jean, Lilymei, and the boys in the lobby of the hotel, The Phoenix, where we met the notary and the registrar.  We were so happy that we didn't have to travel anywhere to do today's paperwork.  
Lilymei watched us put our fingerprints all over the documents but she sure didn't like giving her own footprint.  

Lilymei and her boys in our hotel room.  She had a fun afternoon of playing with her stacking cups,  reading her book, and playing with cars.  She even let the boys take a turn at holding her tonight before bed.
Lilymei's first bath.  She cried for most of it but she didn't try to climb out.  Doesn't she just look pitiful?! Her parents must be so mean.  
Lilymei all snug in the towel having Baba (Daddy) brush her teeth for the first time.  She really seemed to enjoy it!  We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

This video is from Sunday night~the first night in the room.  We thought it was hilarious how she would eat a small cracker.  Tonight she was throwing them in her mouth whole, sometimes.  

Tomorrow we are off to get Lilymei's passport paperwork completed and then to the Zhaojun Tomb.  We miss you all!  Look for more photos to come.

We Introduce Lilymei Liying O! Lilymei Day 2008

We I believe these pictures speak for themselves, thanks to Drew for taking the pictures. Nate took all of the video, stay tuned tomorrow. The orphanage director brought Lilymei to the hotel today at 3:45 pm. Jean and I were so nervous we thought we might not be able to stand. We are so blessed and Lilymei is great. We had a room service dinner after all of the formal introductions and paperwork. Our guide has been wonderful throughout the entire process. 

Jean and the kids are fast asleep, but I wanted to introduce our newest family member. Please continue to pray for us, but life has changed forever! Thank you all for everything. We can't wait to post more, but the 'ba ba" must get to bed. 

Mom, Dad, Kathy, and Harold congratulations on your newest granddaughter!

2 and 1/2 hours left!!!!!

We just arrived in Hohhot and we have a huge beautiful room/suite. The weather is mild, but what we are thinking about the most is Lilymei! She will be here in 2 and 1/2 hours, ahhh! We just can't wait and everyone is filled with emotions. Thanks for all of your supportive comments. Pictures coming soon, stay tuned.

Oops! Today was our last day before Lilymei

Our day began with a visit to Tiananmen Square and found the city hard at work preparing for the Olympic Games. This replica of the Bird's Nest and the Olympic Event Figures was beginning to take shape in the square. The entire display is being covered in beautiful flowers.
Here is the famous entrance to the Forbidden City Gates. How surreal to walk through an area that we have seen only on TV or in publications.
Here we are in the courtyard. Don't we look great and probably a little overwhelmed.
The 3 goobs being...well themselves as usual. We are still in the Forbidden City attracting plenty of stares. 

We had a great lunch with all of our CHI travel group families. Here is the famous Peking Duck being carved table side for our culinary enjoyment and delight. Did you know it takes 24 hours to prepare the duck properly?
Wow! The Great Wall is great and huge and steep and everything else you have read about it. We made our way up pretty far in the hour and a half we had alloted to climb. We were all impressed with ourselves. The local visitors were also impressed with how far we made it up the mountain and massive stone structure. Here Scott is holding onto the boys for dear life.
This is more than half way up and we made it to the top of this photo! We know we are rock stars and we don't have to complete anymore 5Ks once back on Guam.
We saw the finish line to the Olympic Cycling Road race, just within 100 meters of the Great Wall. Here is a billboard advertising the cycling event and announcing the Olympic theme of "One World One Dream".

Jean here:

We had a great day today!  Our time in Beijing was wonderful and we are so glad that we were able to be here before going to pick up Lilymei.  Beijing is the nicest city we have been to so far in our travels around the world.  It really is beautiful!

Needless to say we were quite tired by the time we got back to the hotel.  That didn't stop the boys from playing Ping Pong in the game room.  Natalee and Shannon, I thought of you two when I was trying to decide if I should get the body massage or the leg massage....I chose the body massage.  Ahhh.... 

Well, it's 11pm and time for bed.  We have a 6am wake up call and our flight leaves for Hohhot at 11am. We should have Lilymei  in less than 18 hours from now.