Update!!

We're having computer problems, but we've finally gotten on at the business center in the hotel in Chongqing. Sorry to have disappointed everyone! No photos either, until we add them when we get home. We are all doing very well. No sickness. Mia is beautiful, of course! She has adjusted to us very well (although she needs nap while she sits on my lap at this moment!). I'm going to let Todd finish this post while I tend to baby. ~Kris
We are currently staying at the Harbour Plaza Hotel in downtown Chongqing, a town of 33 million people. It is hard for an Iowa boy that grew up in a town of 7000 to fathom the amount of people that live in this area. We have taken a great deal of photos and video footage of our trip so far and will share these with everyone when we can get our computer working. Gotcha day was Monday at 10 am local time. All 9 families crowded in a small conference room while the babies were delivered to their new families. Not a dry eye in the room that day, it was a very emotional time for everyone. Two of the couples in our group are first time parents so they are learning very quickly how to deal with a 9 - 13 month baby that is dependant on them for everything. Mia is beautiful and has taken to all three of us very well. Mia continues to become more comfortable with us and seems to open up and trust us more each hour that she is with us. We have all ventured out into the masses as a family have definitely NOT blended in with the crowd very well. A couple of overfed white people from midwestern USA with an asian baby attached to one of us seems to draw lots of curious looks and an occasional crowd of interest. All reactions have been positive.During the day Bethany and I have ventured out into the city a few times and have had a good time doing some shopping and sight seeing. Today we spent the day sightseeing as a family with the other 8 adoptive families in and around Chongqing. Tonight we plan to dine in a mountain top pagoda that oversees the entire city area. Tomorrow Bethany and I will travel a couple hours to tour the orphanage where Mia spent her first 9 months. Mom and Mia will stay back and try to keep busy together, a little claustrophobic in a motel room all day. We feel that it is important to try and get to the orphanage and take some photos of where Mia's life began. All of the babies in our group are very strong and in very good condition. The orphanage has done a very good job with all of the babies, for this we are very appreciative. Everyone makes the comment that Mia and I look very much alike. You will understand more when you see her hair cut. Lets just say we look like we share the same barber. More later just got kicked off the computer..Todd