December was a busy month for us. We had been home 6 months - it had just flown by - and it was time for our six-month post-placement visit from our social worker (for a report required by the CCAA) . Of course, she thought I was a fabulous mother! She assured me that all the “terrible twos” behavior was perfectly normal.

We attended an event to meet Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants pitcher, under the dome in San Francisco Centre. Barry was kind enough to sign Isabella’s Oakland A’s Zito jersey (sorry, Giants, but I grew up in Oakland) even though he is currently playing for S.F.

Bella LOVED her photo op. In fact, she would not get off his lap for 40 minutes! I had time to step away and enjoy a cup of coffee! I even had time to shoot a short video. Barry is not a bad babysitter, but his rate may be a little high. When I decided it was finally time to leave (there was shopping to be done!), I tried to bribe her with her favorite goldfish crackers, to which she responded with “Nooo!” and a tantrum on the floor. We were out of there!

We peeked at the kitties in Macy’s windows and then headed over to Union Square for a photo in front of the tree. It’s not as cold as it looks - we are just California weather-wimps. We have to settle for faux snowflakes (the lights at Saks).

We had our annual Oakland High School (Go, Wildcats!) Christmas gathering at Rob & Grace’s in Orinda, as usual. Yes, when you have not moved your entire life, you still see your friends from high school. We all reconnected at our 20th reunion and have celebrated Christmas together every year since then. Isabella was the youngest party girl there, as everyone’s else’s children are nearly off to college!

Bella’s first public performance was at her daycare’s Christmas program. This photo is not very sharp (hey, aren’t these things supposed to be auto-focus?), but she ”clearly” was not a happy camper and had to leave the stage.

The pressure’s off, so no more tears. She prefers to be a spectator.

Of course, she’s all smiles when it’s time for presents.

I haven’t had a Christmas tree since childhood, so it was fun decorating one for Bella’s first Christmas. We didn’t have any ornaments, but I had a few strings of Hello Kitty lights, which lit up the tree beautifully. She loves Hello Kitty, but who doesn’t?

Bella is not an easy one to photograph. Sometimes I wish she would just ham it up, but these are a couple of decent shots out of hundreds (at least it felt like it). Bella received lots of presents. Thank you, everyone, for thinking of my Little Angel on Christmas! We enjoyed celebrating Jesus’ birthday together.

Our California Golden Bears were playing the Air Force Falcons in the Armed Forces Bowl on New Year’s Eve, so of course we had to christen Ed’s new widescreen TV with all the other Cal fans.

Bella and her fellow cheerleader, Olivia Jie Jie. Go, Bears!

Bella had a “ball” with Ken’s team-autographed pigskin. She thought the wasabi chips were hot, hot, hot! - but that didn’t keep her from eating them.

It was Isabella’s first Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for! I thank God every day for bringing Bella and me together, connected by the red thread of destiny, as the Chinese proverb says. We are perfectly matched. She is obsessed with shoes, too! As usual, Po Po (Grandma) roasted the best turkey ever! (Why didn’t I inherit her fabulous cooking skills?) The turkey is almost as big as Bella!

Having a child will not cramp my shopping style, so it’s off for post-Thanksgiving shopping on black friday. We hit Staples and Target. OK, so it may cramp the QUALITY of my shopping style. We were at the “exciting” Bayfair Mall and encountered LaToya London from “American Idol,” promoting “The Color Purple,” and stopped for a photo op.

Who could have ever imagined that Bayfair Mall could be so fun?

Well, fun for SOME people!

After all the thrills at the mall, it was time for Ellie Jie Jie’s 4th birthday party at Pump It Up! More jumpy fun!

Isabella was turning 2 years old on 10.07, so Sis and I decided to take a trip to take advantage of her free airfare status. Our destination of choice: the Hawaiian Islands!

We stayed at the Wyland Hotel, which was newly renovated with the artist’s sculpture and paintings. Bella’s favorite activity was the bubble pool (jacuzzi).

Ooooo…birthday dim sum! What? No candle for my nai wong bao?

I bought her a couple of birthday leis, which she promptly threw down on the floor. Anyway, at least they made a nice backdrop on her bed in the hotel.

She LOVED the beach. I was hoping she’d spend more time in the ocean, but she preferred the sand, which (yuck!) just got into everything!

Back home (unfortunately, we had to return to reality), Uncle Craig and Auntie Kay met us for breakfast and they brought bubbles! - and other toys, too. Looks like she mastered the bubble-blowing!

We met Xinran at her book signing. She is the founder of Motherbridge of Love, an organization which promotes cultural awareness to adoptive families of Chinese children.

Halloween was rather uneventful for us. Bella had pee-pee’d on her costume at school, so by the time we got home and had dinner, it was too late to change and go out trick-or-treating. They did have a party at her daycare where she started attending on 10/15. Can you spot Bella in her U.C. Berkeley cheerleading outfit (pre-pee-pee)? Go, Bears! Her teacher (Yi Yi) is on the upper left.

We finally visited the doctor and she thought that Isabella was healthy, but underweight. Apparently, ALL the food she had been consuming was not enough - guess we’ll just have to eat more! Afterwards, we went to the Moraga Commons, which is a really great playground.

Bella was turning 2 soon and I thought it was about time for a portrait. After all the years of photography classes in high school and college, I should be able to take a decent photograph of my daughter. It was difficult getting her to cooperate, but here is my best attempt, taken at Lake Merritt in Oakland.

Auntie Linda hosted a Welcome Home Shower at Lovejoy’s Tea Room in San Francisco, which is quite charming. I’m disappointed that I don’t have better photographs, but Mommy was busy greeting guests and watching Bella (in a room full of porcelain) - there’s only so much multi-tasking I can handle! At the family table: my cousin’s wife, Jenny, Grandma (my mother) and my cousin, Nita.

My second cousins, Julianne (new bride!), Joanne & Janice.

Bella did her share of socializing, as well. She seems to be amusing Aunties Eva, Carole, Suzanna and Michele.

Bella received a red tricycle from Auntie Michele along with lots of other great presents! Thank you, everyone, for coming to the tea party and also for your thoughtful gifts!

Bella eats just about everything, so we met Auntie Cecilia for Indian food. We hung out with Auntie Cecilia a few times - she was a lady of leisure over the summer.

Bella’s first jumpy house was at BACBC in Alameda. She had a lot of fun!

She REALLY had A LOT of fun!

Bella loves Auntie Ginger. She always has snacks for her after church.

I took 3 months off work to bond with my new daughter, so we went to Vacation Bible School at the Alameda campus of our church and spent much of the summer visiting the park, which seemed to be her favorite activity, aside from eating.

We continued to receive visitors, even from lands afar. This is Auntie Janet, who traveled all the way from Antioch. She has 2 girls of her own, which is apparent in her maternal demeanor.

While at Lincoln Square Recreation Center in Chinatown, we were offered tickets to the Oakland Raiders Fanfest. After considering whether there would be weirdos there, i.e. the Black Hole freaks, I decided to go since it was during the afternoon and geared towards children. We had fun taking pictures with players I had never heard of and seeing the Super Bowl trophies, which I’m sure were reproductions. Here’s Isabella with a Raiderette.

Auntie Lena invited us to go swimming with Olivia and Derek. They are a lot of fun and Bella loves playing with them.

We went to the park nearly every day! Bella, an avid A’s fan-to-be, especially enjoyed the swing and slide. She never wants to leave!

We met Ellen, Rick & Sarah (+ extended family), a family from our adoption travel group, at Nut Tree in Vacaville. They were in Sacramento (visiting from Virginia) for Grandma Yvonne’s big baby bash for Sarah. Bella loved seeing Auntie Ellen again. Sarah’s a cutie with her doe eyes and killer eyelashes!

Bella and Sarah LOVED the carousel. They must have ridden it 20 times! Here’s Bella on Tatiana the Tiger.

She could have ridden the carousel all day! So many animals, so little time!

We celebrated Auntie Linda’s birthday by spending the weekend in Monterey. We visited the aquarium, but the fish didn’t interest Bella as much as the crowds and the penguin eggshell display.

Bella attended her first wedding in late August, a beautiful outdoor ceremony uniting my second cousin, Julianne, and her husband. Bella is engaged in a Mandarin conversation with Julianne’s brother-in-law, Jiang.

Bella’s having her hair done! Well, not really, considering she doesn’t really have any hair. We visited Auntie Irene at her shop and Bella played with Rachel and Alice. They are quite animated and she loves them!

We arrived at SFO on 07.12, the day Isabella became a U.S. Citizen! She needed a little help with her declaration form. I changed her Chinese name to Ming Zhu, meaning “bright pearl” or “bright treasure.” Bengbu, the city where she was found, is known as Pearl City.

Bella’s first night in her crib, courtesy of Rachel & Alice…She’s all pooped out after the long flight.

We had lots of visitors, as everyone was anxious to meet the new arrival. Unfortunately, new Mommy here is not so quick with the camera, so if Isabella doesn’t have a picture with you, she would certainly like one soon. Then it will be posted here on the web for the world to see!

Ellie and Auntie Stacey were among our first visitors. Ellie is from Jiangxi, China. She’s enjoying a ride on Bella’s rocking horse, Ginger.

Out for a walk with Auntie Irene…Protecting her delicate skin from the sun’s harmful rays is a must - and so are fashion accessories!

Bella loves to ride Ginger. Auntie Kay and Auntie Sharon wait their turn.

20 months after my log-in date (10.28.2005) and 31 months after my initial application (11.24.2004), we (Mom, Sis and I) finally departed on 06.28 and arrived in Beijing late the next evening. We were met by our guide, Veronica, who was very knowledgeable and spoke English very well. The following day, we met our travel group of 9 families (6 adopting from Bengbu and 3 from Hefei). The families were from all over the U.S. It poured rain during our Beijing city tour, but it was fun just getting to know one another.

We flew to Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province on Sunday, but had to wait until Monday, 07.02, for Gotcha Day. I recognized Qin Jie right away when she arrived with her traveling nanny at CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs). She and all the other girls from Bengbu wore brand new tank tops and shorts with little sandals. It was VERY hot and they had traveled that morning for 3 hours from the orphanage. When she was placed in my arms, she didn’t cry at all! She must have known that I was her Mommy and we bonded instantly. I was so blessed that God had brought us together.

Meetings and more paperwork followed to finalize the adoption process. After much deliberation, I finally decided on the name “Isabella” (consecrated to God) at this meeting when I was instructed to “write down your daughter’s American name.” When Veronica took her footprint, it was the first time she cried. The next day, she was officially my daughter.

Qin Jie (I continued to address her by this name, since it was all she knew) was pretty easy going and cooperative. She ate everything I fed her. In fact, she ate everything in sight (the breakfast buffets were yummy)! Please note that she likes to keep both hands occupied. She loved her baths, didn’t mind brushing her teeth, enjoyed riding in her stroller and was cooperative during diaper and clothes changing. She was my little angel, but that would all change soon enough.

Our next stop was Guangzhou, where the U.S. Consulate is located. All the business related to Qin Jie’s immigration and citizenship occurred here. These photos were taken on the Red Couch in the White Swan Hotel. The girls are (clockwise from top left): Qin Jie (California), Billie (Texas), Olivia (Arizona), Esther (Texas), Addison (Iowa), Elizabeth Jie Jie (Big Sis) & Catherine (Maryland), Sarah (New York) and Sarah (Virginia).

One more stop in Hong Kong. She liked the panda display at the airport - or maybe Mom liked it more. Looks like she preferred her snacks.

We were fortunate to travel in business class on Northwest Airlines. Qin Jie seemed to enjoy it! She certainly enjoyed the endless supply of food and snacks! She got her own seat on the Hong Kong/Tokyo leg, but sat on Mom’s lap for the transpacific flight. U.S.A. here we come!

Juliette, from Texas, was picking up their second daughter and returning to Bengbu with her 3-year old. She took this photo of Qin Jie in the walker they donated. Looks like she just got a fresh buzz cut! That is Director Song on the right in the first photo.

Lois, from Arkansas, took this photo at naptime during her homeland trip with their 10-year old daughter. She didn’t look happy and it was a sign of things to come, as she still hates going down for her nap. On Gotcha Day, she showed up with the toy that is in her cribmate’s hand.

These were taken by the Bengbu staff on the disposable camera, delivered by Lois. I love seeing these because they offer some insight into her everyday life at the orphanage, where she spent 20 months of her life: waiting for her turn from the communal jook (congee) bowl, in the walker with the bear I sent her and playing on her favorite rocking horse [with her roommate, Shun-Shun (Olivia), behind her]. Of course, they dressed her up in a special outfit for the photos, so she is not wearing the usual tiger T-shirt “uniform.”

I received the call from GWCA (Great Wall China Adoption) and the follow-up email with photographs on 05.01. Qin Jie (purity) was born in 10.2005 and had been insitutionalized at the Bengbu Children’s Welfare Institute in Anhui Province since she was found at the Bengbu railway station in 11.2005. Her medical report, done at 14 months old, stated that she was 16.5 lbs. and 26.77 in. long.

I joined the Bengbu Families Yahoo Group, where I met some really nice people traveling to Bengbu and offering to deliver items and/or take photos of my waiting daughter.

Jeff, of Packages of Hope, was kind enough to take some photos and a video on his trip to deliver provisions in May. It was so exciting to see a glimpse of Qin Jie in her environment. I could already see that she loved snacks and had a bit of attitude!

This photo was taken in January 2007, prior to my referral, and posted on the Yahoo site. They are all bundled up for Winter and Qin Jie is on the far right. Is that Ning Fei (Sarah) in the center? It is interesting to see the condition of the orphanage. They moved to a brand new building in June 2007.