Whatever Girl

While Jamie and I were watching tv one afternoon, I noticed Mia's bib had turned around and was hanging on her back like a cape. I got tickled to see that her bib said 'Whatever.' Jamie and I tried to show her how to fly so she could be the next super hero, Whatever Girl.

Mia's birthday party

the ice cream is too cold!

Mia's birthday was 6/9, but in China (at least at the orphanages) they really don't celebrate birthdays. I decided to have a party for her when she came home. It didn't seem fair for her to have to wait a whole year to have a birthday party. I ordered a cake from Happy Hearts, and invited just family and a few friends. We had a house full! She loved all of the attention. I think by the end of the afternoon, everyone was in love with her.

First Trip to the Doctor- 25 months old

Amber, what did you do to my hair?




This is how I dance!










I love rice!







Today we went to the pediatrician. Mia loves him. She has a small ear infection, but everything else looks good. After the doctor, we went to Tapatios. She loves the Mexican rice. Once we got home, her big sister Amber came over. Amber put barrettes in her hair, and Mia showed Amber how to dance.

Gotcha Day

our first look at our sweet baby Mia!




other children at the orphanage




Her first smile, sharing goldfish with Daddy!

Mia loves water bottles

We arrived at the orphange early today. We were really impressed with how clean the orphanage was. We were not allowed to see the cribs or the rooms where they play. Everyone was really nice. The orphange was decorated very cute. back at the hotel room, we spent the afternoon watching Mia playing with water bottles. We took a few toys, but she was more interesting in the bottles.

We are here!

the office area




the living room










more of the living room





















you have to put your room key in the switch by the front door to get electricity







































the bathroom































Wow! We finally made it to China. We are staying at the Zhaolong Hotel in Beijing. We were told to ask for a jr. suite because the rooms were a little bigger. This room is awesome! I am sure it is costing us out the butt, but all I have to say is WOW!!!

Long long trip

This was a very long flight. The one from Chicago to Beijing was about 12 1/2 hours. I didn't think we were ever going to get there. I sat on one side of the plane and Jamie was on the other side of the plane about 20 rows back. I sat beside a very talkative Chinese man named Peter. He talk for the majority of the flight. He had all kinds of pointers for me and a lot of info about China.
During the whole flight we never saw daylight. The flight went from Chicago, over Canada, over the Artic Ocean (North Pole), over Siberia, and through China. In between the in flight movies a GPS would update date us with the progress of the flight, how long we had been flying, current altitude, map of where we were located, outside temperature, etc. This was really cool to see. The in flight movies were very good The Bucket List, Spiderwick Chronicles, Definitely Maybe, and 27 Dresses.

We are packed

Mia's new toys. I won't say we are ready to go. I am very nervous. I am afraid I forgot something, or she won't like us, or she will get sick, etc... All of a sudden being a new Mom is freaking me out.

Tomorrow we will be picked up and driven to the airport at 5am by my Mom. Our flight leaves at 8:30am. We will fly to Chicago where we will have a 4 hour lay over. We will leave for Beijing at 12:43pm and will arrive at 3:00pm on June 19th (3 in the morning Indiana time...) I really hope that we can get a few naps on the plane. I am taking a Harry Potter book and some word seach books. Jamie is such a last minute guy, that he will probably be up all night tonight doing last minute things and will sleep all the way to China. I hope I get a window seat, especially if he is going to be snoring....