Home From China

We arrived in Beijing after a long flight on Saturday Nov 6. It was so smoggy when we arrived, it was hard to see the buildings.  The smog made it hard for me to breath. We met our guide at the airport. There were 2 other couples on our plane and we took a bus to our hotel.  The next day, we had  a chance to take in some sights. We took a richshaw ride through old Beijing. We visited a home of one of the residences there. 

The next day we had a early flight to Guiyang, we arrived at our hotel, and then shortly later, we were taken to a govenment office to get our Daughter.  As we arrived, there was a man feeding a baby, we were told that it was our daughter and I could take pictures. Lily was place in my arms, and she didn't cry at all. She took to me and Brian. We had to fill out alot of paperwork, but after 2 hours we were able to take Lily to our hotel. We officailly became parents that day. Later I left Lily with Brian while I went with our guide to get supplies. I met up with the other couple that were adopting from our province. They are both Chinese, but live in Canada. David speakes Manderin, so he was very helpful translating for us.

The next few days  we checked out some sights of the city including a Buddist sactuary. On the way to it, we were able to see alot of Maccacs (monkeys). People would give them drink bottles and they are able to open them and drink from it.

We left Guiyang on Friday and arrived back in Beijing later that night. Lily was a good traveller except for the liftoff and landing.
The following week, we had paperwork to get done, and did alot of sightseeing. Including The Great Wall of China, Taninemum  square and the Forbidden City. We we shopping at the Jade factory, where Brian bought me a bangle braclet. We shopped at the Silk factory and the pearl market.
Our hotel room was not that good. I couldn't turn of the heat. I felt like I was in a Sauna for the whole week we were there. Also the smoke seemed to seep through the vents.  China isn't a very healthy place. We were leaving our hotel, and right next to a No smoking sign was a man smoking. They hope to change this, they are going to try enforce it in the future.

Our flight home was delayed by over 4 hours. We just barely made our connecting flight. We were all suffering from colds, and due to the cold, my ears were in alot of pain flying into Winnipeg. My dad met us at the Airport. I was a long day of travelling, but I was glad to be home.  I haven't slept a whole lot since being home. I am still trying to get Lily to sleep in her crib, but since she slept with her foster mom, this has been a hard thing to change. Hopefully overtime she will get use to it.

Overall we are all doing good despite the colds.  Lily is fitting in just right into our family. I would not change a thing.