A Taste of Nanjing

We spent our last morning in Nanjing yesterday, Aug. 7. We drove to the airport at 1 p.m. and flew out to Guangzhou. The US Embassy is in Guangzhou and that is where we will finalize our adoption on the US side.

We got to the airport at 1:45 p.m., and were supposed to fly out at 3:40. Welllll, four hours later, and we were finally on our way to Guangzhou. We landed in Guangzhou at 9:30 p.m., and were headed to our hotel around 10:30. Kids were in bed around 11:30 p.m., and so were we. What a day, 11 hours of traveling. The whole airport and airplane experience was not a fun one. We were at the airport during the kid's naps. Abi did great watching videos, coloring, and playing with a sweet older girl (11 years old) who is with a family who adopted a 9-year old boy from the same province.

Luke, on the other hand, was a little terror. He must be feeling more comfortable with us, OR he was just tired and grumpy, OR he is missing his foster mom, OR all of the above, but we got to experience four major temper trantums. The boy can scream really well, and he can also turn into a straight washboard with his head hanging back when he is not getting his way. I'm glad I've been working out because I had no problems carrying this 19-pound boy around while he was in his lovely tantrum states. :) Welcome to parenthood the second time around! Thank you, Luke.

I wanted to share with you some photos from Nanjing that I haven't posted yet. They are of the Nanjing city wall and the Nanjing museum - focused on Nanjing art and artists. The art is amazing. I didn't do many captions for the art. It will speak for itself!! I have more photos of Nanjing which I will share in another post.

Leaving Nanjing brought mixed feelings for me. I felt sad that this was the last time Luke will be in Nanjing until we get to come back (Lord-willing) years from now. But I also felt very peaceful. I felt deep within that it was time, that we were in God's hands, and something about flying out brought a greater sense of Luke being ours.

Enjoy these pictures of our son's city!

The city wall built 700 years ago. It took 20 years to build!

Emperor of the time

One of many tunnels high up where the Chinese soldiers would remain so they could attack from the top. Abi couldn't believe that we "got to be where the solders were!"

Little Luke is starting to warm up to his mama!

Standing on the city wall

A view of the city from the wall

Headed down the wall

These next pictures are from the Nanjing museum of art.

Embroidered Chinese Nanjing dresses

This is the main way they do this type of Nanjing art. Two people on this Chinese embroidery machine.

Nanjing's creation of the Mona Lisa in honor of the World Expo that was held in Nanjing not too long ago.