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Nico doesn’t get enough airtime on this blog, so in the days leading up to his second birthday, I’ll try to rectify that. Here are a few highlights from recent days: He is starting to speak! By which I mean, use words unprompted in context. We’re hearing thank you, more, Yo-Yo, Lia, Nico, all done, […]

How to receive a Western Union wire transfer. Only required two trips and a total of two hours at the Postal Savings Bank of China (not to mention my mom’s two trips to Money Mart). Tip: Make sure the sender uses the exact name of the sendee as shown on his or her passport. Including […]

We had quite the cold snap hit Beijing this weekend. On Thursday we were walking around the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park in our short sleeves, and Sunday morning we woke to this: An expat who has been living here for quite a few years said that this was the most snow he’s ever seen in […]

We have about hit perfection with our arrangements here in Beijing. We have a regular babysitter. I found Ayi through another adoptive family and we’re so happy to have her. She speaks a little English but my Mandarin vocabulary is pitiful so we pantomime and point and laugh. The kids have really taken to her–we […]

Some days Lia cries when I take her to school. She had no tears the first three days, when I dropped her at her classroom and she stayed all morning by herself. But for whatever reason, she didn’t want to go on the fourth day. She kicked when I tried to dress her. She refused […]