Our salvation!

It took about a hour to walk this long corridor.

Courtyard eave

Palace courtyards

Summer Palace

Entry of a home at the Hutong.

Sukie and Pepper enjoying the ride on the rickshaw.

Ni Hao

Yesterday was amazing! Our first tour were to the Hutong residences. These are the oldest neighorhoods in Beijing. We had to be driven around in rickshaws because the streets were very narrow. Once we entered the hutong, we entered old Beijing. Beijing was once hidden behind city walls and the citizens had walls built around there homes with courtyards in the center. We were taken to a private residence and were allowed to walk around and look at the home. The owner was an old woman was very proud of her home and was very hospitable. As your riding around all that is seen are 10 foot high walls with wooden doors. Most were open and you are able to have a quick glimpse of the courtyards as you rode by. Our guide was a young girl from the neighborbhood. She was great. Short, spunky and very proud of her culture. After tipping our chauffer for his hard work in riding Joe and myself around, off we were to lunch.

Lunch was delicious. All I've had was white rice, eggplant and tofu. The meat courses look a little strange but Joe is enjoying them very much. I think we'll finaly eat at all those resaurants cnear our home that we have been missing out on. Our meals are not served with soy sauce and I always need to ask for it. The waitres look at me with a puzzled look everytime I ask for it. It must not be common to have it on the table.

Our next stop was the Summer Palace. This is where the emperors lived half the year. This is a huge and magnificent park with a massive lake. The walk to the Palace from the entrance is about one and half hour, so we opted to take the boat to the Palace and walk back. Good choice. As we walked through the grounds it felt as if we were walking in an old Chinese scroll painting. It looked so unreal. As we walked through the courtyards of the palace, I felt that I was in the movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Eventhough we are touring and enjoying this incredible city, Penelope does not leave our minds. We are just counting the days that we are united with her.

What the heck is that?

Welocome to China! Here's Barb from our group scaring us with chicken head that was placed on the table along with the rest of it's body for everybody to enjoy.

We're in China!

Well we made it! We're in China. After a 14 1/2 hour plane ride from LAX to Guangzhou international airport plus another 3 hours in a second plane flying to Beijing... Pati, Pepper, Sukie and I were exhausted. Beijing is hot and humid! At night and during the day, you could see the thickness of the air which has a greyish glow to it...god do I miss LA including our two babies we left at home.

We landed about 12 noon, Beijing time (which is 15hr ahead of LA) and were shuttled straight to our hotel, The Tianlun Dynasty Hotel. The first thing we did was call my mom to let her know we arrived ok and to see how our Ginger and Apple were doing. We rested for a few minutes and hit the streets of Beijing for a few hours before we were taken to a dim sum style dinner. I tell you, it was no P.F. Changs. This was true authentic Chinese food. Hanging ducks in the windows and all. I don't think I've ever hand Chinese food like this before and I have another 18 days of this! I think I brought every drug known to man to China. Pati was giving me alot of slack for this, but I tell you, she will be thanking me soon.

We are so close to Penelope. It is just 4 days before we become parents. I just can't wait any longer. She appears in my mind all the time. I wonder on how she is doing, how she will be when we recieve her and what kind of parents we would make. Pati would be the enforcing type of mother and I would be the dad who would give her anything and everything. I will be the push over parent. I guess there's probably nothing wrong with that? Yeh, I don't think so.

Go Dodgers!

Ain't no stopping us now!!!!!!

We're Off!!!!!

We leave tonite at midnight. Things have been hectic the past few days getting the house in order before leaving. We're sad to leave our other baby girls for such a long time, but it will be good for them to rest before "Hurricane Penelope" hits Alhambra. We will be flying China Southern Airlines into Guangzhou, have 3 hour layover and fly into Beijing at 11:55 local time.
We will be in Beijing until Saturday September 3 and fly back to Guangzhou. On Friday September 16 we will be leaving Guangzhou at 9:00pm local time and arrive at LAX at 6:50pm L.A. time. I will be updating the blog everyday so tune in. I pray that the internet connection in China will not be a problem.

Thank you to all of our friends and family for your love and support.

Travelmates

Joe and I are very fortunate to have our sisters come with us to China. I also think that we are the only couple that will have family. Sukie and Jennifer will be joining us the first 2 weeks of the trip, we will be left alone with Penelope the last week. I know that my "motherly insticts" with naturally kick in but I'm sure glad that I will have some help. I think Jennifer has the most experience from all of us. She's taken care of Nadine and Emily since birth. The last baby I took care of was Krystine and she's now 15!

Jennifer, she now has red hair.

Sukie and Apple in our living room.

I don't know what will be worse, Ginger and Apple being away from us for 3 weeks or us being away from Ginger and Apple for 3 weeks.

I received this picture from a lady who just adopted her little girl from the Yangxi SWI. She returned to the orphanage and took some pictures. This is were Penelope is right now. She's not in the picture though I keep looking for her.

The nursery is ready........almost

Well Joe has finished the nursery. He has put alot of work into it and I'm so proud of him. There are a few things like curtains, shelves, a rug and wall art that are needed, but it's ready. Now Penelope will have a room of her own to play and sleep in. We have 4 more days until we leave and there's so much more to do..............

Penelope's new friends are waiting to play with her.

Closet in progress.

So many poodles for Penelope. Try to find the real one.

Don't worry Apple, Penelope is coming soon.

Family Shower

Virita, Sukie and Mel hosted a baby shower for us at Mel and Victor's house. Penelope got so much clothes. We feel very blessed to have a family that loves and supports us. Thank you for your love and gifts. Penelope will be very stylish with all of the Baby Gap and Gymboree clothes. She will also be very medicated and very well fed with Lori and Joe's basket of necessities. I'm still trying to fugure out what everything is for.

There's Julie trying to grab the pins in one hand.

All of Penelope's gifts.

Arlene, Carmen, Anette and Olivia cooling themselves with fans.

Hot Chicks

Wow! The food was great!!

Taking a break from dinner for pictures.

Posing for pictures.

Turner Shower

Joe's co-workers had a baby shower for us in Chinatown. The restaurant was cool with huge aquariums in the entrance. You could choose your fish and it will be cooked for you. The food was great! Thank you Desiree, Kim and Lara for making it happen. It was very special and we will always be grateful.

3rd Call

I just found out that we will be leaving September 2. For us that means August 28. We plan to go to Beijing for a few days and tour around. It's getting real and I don't know what to do first. We still have no crib much less a room to put it in. Maybe it will all come together this weekend. Well, Sukie my sister and Jennifer Joe's sister will be traveling with us. We will need all of the help we can get. More to come.......