Welcome to our blog for our son, and Sonja's little brother Max!!!

Sonja will soon have a little brother. His name is Max. He currently lives in Gansu province, China and is 17 months old. Max was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate which is currently unrepaired. He will undergo surgery when he arrives home to correct them. We think he is absolutely adorable as did the people who visited him in the orphanage where he lives. He is described as active, playful, likes music and playing with toys and is closest to his nanny and roommate, which just happens to be a little girl about 2 years old..... Just like Sonja!!!!!

We have mixed feelings about going because Sonja will be staying at home. I'm sure she will be just fine as she will be staying with Grandma and Grandpa and will be in excellent hands. We would love to bring her with us but due to her age and having to fly for a long period of time (from L.A. to Guangzhou alone is 15 hours!), we thought it best she stay. I am also concerned with health issues (viruses, bacteria etc), which her immature immune system would have difficulty fighting. We are going to miss her very, very, very much.

I think she will be happy to have a little brother....well....at least at first :) . Sonja loves to go into Max's room. She jumps around and will say "paint Max's room.....myself!" as she turns around in a circle with her arms and hands out at her side (as if she's one of Bob Barkers showgirls displaying a prize item) and then will add "Daddy help me!". We show her his picture and she will say " Awww....baby Max" and kisses it. I think after she realizes he's staying, she may not be as enthused about him, but we will see.

We expect to meet Max and bring him home in mid April. We will be spending our first 5 days in China touring Beijing and visiting the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and other sights before we FINALLY get to hold our Max man in Gansu Province. We are so very excited and just can't wait! After that, we then travel to Guangzhou, Guangdong province which is in the southern most part of China before coming home.

We invite you to join us and hope you enjoy our journey to our son, and Sonja's little brother, Max.