The trip home was remarkably easy. Elaina slept most of the flight, either splayed out in her seat or on our shoulders. She didn't care for the car seat and wailed for most of the 110 freeway.
We're slowly and gently trying to transition her to this time. She's doing pretty well -- slept from midnight to 3 and then from 5 to 730, and one nap so far today.
More later, with pictures.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
A few pictures from our last day
One of the antique-choked hallways of the ground floor of the White Swan:
A local street with some of the many children's shops:
Tourist row, the dense pack of souvenir booths closest to the hotel:
Starbucks, site of the new opium war:
One of the broad plazas running down the middle of the island:
A local street with some of the many children's shops:
Tourist row, the dense pack of souvenir booths closest to the hotel:
Starbucks, site of the new opium war:
One of the broad plazas running down the middle of the island:
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Friday arrival
To family and any interested friends:
We'll be arriving on China Southern Flight 327, Guangzhou to Los Angeles, on Friday. Scheduled arrival time is 655, but try checking a few hours in advance. You can check with Delta's web site (Delta is a partner with China Southern). You can also call China Southern at 888 338 8988 (their web site is impossible). Our flight here landed 45 minutes early and some people landed late, so we suggest checking.
We figure it will take an hout to deplane, get luggage, and clear customs and immigration.
See you then.
We'll be arriving on China Southern Flight 327, Guangzhou to Los Angeles, on Friday. Scheduled arrival time is 655, but try checking a few hours in advance. You can check with Delta's web site (Delta is a partner with China Southern). You can also call China Southern at 888 338 8988 (their web site is impossible). Our flight here landed 45 minutes early and some people landed late, so we suggest checking.
We figure it will take an hout to deplane, get luggage, and clear customs and immigration.
See you then.
Last Full Day
We're enjoying our last full day on the island. Just had a successful shopping trip, the baby is down for a nap, and we're starting to think about how many more suitcases we need.
More pictures later.
More pictures later.
Another Busy Day
Wednesday night here. We're sure looking forward to coming home and seeing the family.
This morning was a brief trip to Liurong Temple, the Temple of the Six Banyon Trees. It's a sixth-century Buddhist temple about fifteen minutes from Shamian Island. The main temple and pagoda were build in about 537 and rebuilt in the 10th century after a fire. The lead pagoda is quite impressive. No, I didn't climb it -- it was very hot and humid out.
We saw Buddhist monks and some worshipers process from one temple building to another. All of the grounds were ornate and very well kept, though only two of the titular banyon trees survive.
Later the children received a blessing from a Buddhist monk. Apparently they are very fond of blessing adoptive children before they travel. Katrina tried to make friends with the temple cat, who was insulted by her familiarity.
Back at the hotel, Katrina got a massage while I tried unsuccessfully to get Elaia to nap. In the afternoon, we took a bus ride to the American consulate downtown to get the babies' visas and formally complete the adoption. Downtown is sleek and modern where the fringes of the city show their age. It was a quick trip through security to the waiting room, and then a short wait before we all stood and took an oath to take care of the kids. With that, she was ours, as far as the U.S. government is concerned, and will become a U.S. citizen upon entering the country.
Tomorrow is free for shopping and packing. I'll try to post some final pictures of the island.
This morning was a brief trip to Liurong Temple, the Temple of the Six Banyon Trees. It's a sixth-century Buddhist temple about fifteen minutes from Shamian Island. The main temple and pagoda were build in about 537 and rebuilt in the 10th century after a fire. The lead pagoda is quite impressive. No, I didn't climb it -- it was very hot and humid out.
We saw Buddhist monks and some worshipers process from one temple building to another. All of the grounds were ornate and very well kept, though only two of the titular banyon trees survive.
Later the children received a blessing from a Buddhist monk. Apparently they are very fond of blessing adoptive children before they travel. Katrina tried to make friends with the temple cat, who was insulted by her familiarity.
Back at the hotel, Katrina got a massage while I tried unsuccessfully to get Elaia to nap. In the afternoon, we took a bus ride to the American consulate downtown to get the babies' visas and formally complete the adoption. Downtown is sleek and modern where the fringes of the city show their age. It was a quick trip through security to the waiting room, and then a short wait before we all stood and took an oath to take care of the kids. With that, she was ours, as far as the U.S. government is concerned, and will become a U.S. citizen upon entering the country.
Tomorrow is free for shopping and packing. I'll try to post some final pictures of the island.
Sleep 2, Elaina 0
Elaina unsuccessfully fought sleep today.
First observe the unfortunate impact of sleep on her hair:
Next, she refused an afternoon nap. Later, she fell asleep on the floor with her teething biscuit:
First observe the unfortunate impact of sleep on her hair:
Next, she refused an afternoon nap. Later, she fell asleep on the floor with her teething biscuit:
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Peggy Gets The Last Laugh
My redoubtable mother-in-law gets a certain amount of grief for cycling through all her children's and grandchildren's names in addressing one of us. Karma watches for such things. Now I am constantly calling Elaina "Abby," and have probably done so on this blog. Peggy will laugh, and I deserve it.
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