This Just In ......

http://joannamei.blogspot.com

New Stuff @ joannamei.blogspot.com

I've started posting weekly updates over on

http://joannamei.blogspot.com

They should be available each Monday morning

along with a few pictures.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Y'all!!!!!!

Gnu Post

Gnu post over on
JMei, Bebe & HomeDaddy -or-
Tales from the Cryb

Hanna Is In Catherine's Arms

Those on the adoption highway who are bloggers have probably met
Catherine of Catherine's Chatter.
This wonderful woman finally met her daughter, Hannah, after a 3.5 year wait (from LID).
It was 16 months ago that we stood in the very same room in the Chengsha, Hunan government building and met our Joanna Mei for the first time.
We are so very happy for you Catherine!
Click on the hyperlink above and leave her some congratulatory remarks .....

Happy Halloween

FaceBook

I have set up a FaceBook account which pretty much
chronicles life with a 3 year old.
Join me in my adventure.
If you have a FaceBook account click on my address below
and request access ......

http://www.facebook.com/orlandodon

You can set up an account easily by clicking the image above
and then going back and clicking on my address.

Cracks - A Drama For The Foundations Sermon

HomeDaddy goes Hollywood - performed @ our church, First Baptist Windermere about building on a solid foundation.

Greaser Babies

Justin Roberts "Stay-at-Home Dad"

Potty Humor

It's come down to this. My first post on poop.
I try to maintain poise and dignity over here on this blog,
so you'll have to go over to
"The Other Blog - Content: Questionable"
for HomeDaddy's reflections on the rite of passage from diapers to potty.

Enjoy.

Great Chinese State Circus - Swan Lake

While surfing things "China", I came across this piece. Remarkable

New Hope, PA

While walking the sidewalks of New Hope, PA, on a recent visit,
a local told us to be sure to see the artwork in the alleyway near the main intersection.
Well, this is what we saw.
We're happy to report that the rest of this little berg is quite charming.
See our photos over on
"Joanna Mei, BeBe & HomeDaddy - or - Tales from the Cryb"

Okra!

"The Other Blog - Content: Questionable"

Eclipse

Residents watch a solar eclipse at a square in Chongqing municipality July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse on Wednesday swept across a narrow swathe of Asia, where hundreds of millions of people watched the skies darken, though in some places thick summer clouds blocked the sun. REUTERS/China Daily

Babies for Sale

From The BBC - July 2, 2009

Dozens of baby girls in southern C**na have reportedly been taken from parents who broke family-planning laws, and then sold for adoption overseas.

An investigation by the state-owned Southern Metropolis News found that about 80 girls in one county had been sold for $3,000 (£1,800).

The babies were taken when the parents could not pay the steep fines imposed for having too many children.

Local officials may have forged papers to complete the deals, the report said.

Unpopular policy

Parents in rural areas are allowed two children, unlike urban dwellers who are allowed one.

But if they have more than that, they face a fine of about $3,000 -several times many farmers' annual income.

The policy is deeply unpopular among rural residents, says the BBC's Quentin Somerville in Beijing.

Nearly 80 baby girls in a county in Guizhou province, in the south of the country, were confiscated from their families when their parents could not or would not pay the fine, Southern Metropolis News said.

The girls were taken into orphanages and then adopted by couples from the United States and a number of European countries.

The adoption fee was split between the orphanages and local officials, the newspaper said.

Child trafficking is widespread. A tightening of adoption rules for foreigners in 2006 has proved ineffective in the face of local corruption.

Support Breat Cancer Research

With a 2 year old and a breast cancer survivor in the family,
this pic has special significance to HomeDaddy.

You Know You're an Older Than Dirt Parent When ....

..... you slice nuts for your little girl's Almond Chicken dinner

with your pill splitter.

Happy Father's Day

HomeDaddy's First Father's Day
Picture is stock Google stock photo

Coming Up On A Year

In celebration of 1 year as a family of 3, we would like to do a raffle for a CD of Chinese lullabies sung by the Beijing Angelic Choir. This music has soothed Joanna Mei to sleep each night and we'd like to pass on this beautiful music to a lucky winner. Just go over to "The Other Blog - Content: Questionable" and leave a comment on the raffle item indicating that you'd like to win. Joanna Mei will draw a winner on July 14, our Forever Family Day.