Photos: Lydia at the Kaings

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Kayla (who is 11 days of age), Kyvin, and Lydia are sitting together.

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Lydia is holding Kayla. Lydia was quite intrigued by Kayla, especially the tiny size of Kayla's body parts, such as her hands.

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Lydia is laughing while holding Kayla.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 11, 2008 at the home of Matt Kaing, Mayfanna Li, Kyvin Li-Kaing, and Kayla Li-Kaing during Lydia's playdate with Kyvin.

Photos: Bhagwandins, Farewell Photos and Hugs

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Sarah Bhagwandin is carrying Leila, her two and a half year old daughter.

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Sarah and Leila say goodbye to Chelsya Cochran and Nella Cochran (who is in her mother's arms) as Sam Bhagwandin (far left) and Bryon Bhagwandin (far right) observe.

Today was a bittersweet day for our group. It was great that the four families gathered again, but it was sad because the Bhagwandins are moving to Austin, Texas next week.

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Bryon, Leila, and Sam Bhagwandin

Behind them on the mantle of their fireplace are two framed pictures that we gave to them as their going away presents. On the left is a framed, 16 x 20 landscape image of the lobby of the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China that showcases its waterfall and pond, and on the right is a framed, 11 x 17 outdoor portrait of the four adopted Chinese daughters taken during the June 2008 gathering at the home of Doug, Brenda, Colton, Taylor, and Mina Rothaus.

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Lydia and Leila are hugging each other before SiowFong, Lydia, and I left the Bhagwandin home at the conclusion of the playdate.

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A closer up view of Leila and Lydia hugging each other

Note: All of these photos were taken on July 23, 2008 at the monthly New Hope Group 7-05 play date. This one occurred at the home of Bryon, Sarah, Sam, and Leila Bhagwandin in Seattle, WA.

Photos: Bhagwandins, Eating Breakfast

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Leila Bhagwandin is eating some fruit.

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Lydia is eating some watermelon.

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Mina Rothaus is about to her breakfast.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 23, 2008 at the home of Bryon, Sarah, Sam, and Leila Bhagwandin in Seattle, WA during the monthly play date for New Hope's Group 7-05.

Photos: At Bhagwandins

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Lydia and Leila are sitting at the dining room table while patiently waiting for breakfast to be served.

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In the kitchen, Leila is playing with a top, and Lydia is intently observing her. Sarah, Leila's mom, is also watching. In the background are Nella Cochran and Chelsya, her daughter who is also looking at Leila's activities.

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Nella is watching as Chelsya, Lydia, and Leila are playing in Leila's bedroom.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 23, 2008 at the home of Bryon, Sarah, Sam, and Leila Bhagwandin in Seattle, WA during the monthly New Hope Group 7-05 play date.

Photos: Lydia at the Poons

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Vaughn, Eden, and Lydia are preparing to play pool in the living room.

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Something on the television has captivated everyone's attention in the second story play room.

(left to right: foreground): Vaughn, Lydia, and Eden

(left to right: background): Ma Wee, Wee Kao

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Lydia is gathering the billiard balls on the small pool table in the living room.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 19, 2008 at the home of Frank Poon, Wee Kao, and their two children, Vaughn and Edena, in Issaquah, WA.

Photos: Tricycle

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Mom is fastening the strap of the bicycle helmet for Lydia before Lydia rides her Radio Flyer tricycle, a robust metal tricyle that was a recent gift from John Li, Jiu Li Song, and May Li (their five year old daughter who no longer uses it).

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Mom walks behind Lydia as Lydia pedals on the asphalt walkway. This evening marked Lydia's first use of the tricycle.

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Lydia epitomizes the word "concentration" in this photo as she rides her tricycle.

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"Here I come!"

Lydia's bicycle helmet is actually the one that her mom used when she rode a bicycle a number of years ago.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 21, 2008 at Paramount Park in Shoreline, Washington.

Photos: Whizz Kids Picnic Bubbles

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Wielding her large flower bubble stick, Lydia is preparing to blow some bubbles. In front of her is the dishpan of bubble solution.

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Lydia watches as her bubble rises into the air.

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Lydia and another child are getting some bubble solution on their bubble sticks.

Of all the activities at the picnic, including eating, playing with the bubbles was clearly Lydia's favorite event.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 17, 2008 at the annual summer Whizz Kids potluck picnic that was held at North Acres Park in Seattle, WA.

Photos: Whizz Kids Picnic

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Lydia (center of image) is observing the action around the bubbles area.

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Lydia (on the far right) is watching as parents play with their children at the picnic.

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Lydia is sitting on Christine's lap while Christine's neighbor's daughter climbs onto her back.

(Christine is the teacher's aide for the toddler class at the day care.)

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Lydia, dad, and Ma Wee

Note: All of these pictures were taken during the annual summer Whizz Kids potluck picnic on July 17, 2008 at North Acres Park in Seattle, WA.

Photos: I Love My Cupcake

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After a sumptuous meal featuring three different curries at Uncle Ashwin's home, Lydia is enjoying her cupcake dessert, a treat made by Royal Cupcakes, a bakery that specializes in cupcakes.

Ma Wee, who frequently eats a variety of curries in Malaysia, commented that Ashwin's curry dishes were very tasty.

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Lydia is savoring each cupcake morsel as she makes eye contact with Uncle Ashwin while her mom observes.

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Lydia is eating the icing on the cupcake.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 16, 2008 at the home of Ashwin Rao in Seattle, Washington.

Photos: Lydia and May

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May Li, the 5-year old daughter of John Li and Jui Li Song, and Lydia are smiling for their group picture.

After I took individual pictures of May, I made some images of May and Lydia together.

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May, who is holding Lydia, is like a big sister to Lydia.

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May is holding Lydia's little tiger while Lydia is holding her larger Tiger.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 13, 2008 in the upper landing area of our home.

Photos: Oregon, Lavendar Field

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While Ma Wee is looking at the camera, Lydia is touching the flowers of the lavendar plants.

We noticed this lavendar farm in Dallas, Oregon a few days prior to our departure, and before we left Dallas, we stopped to take some family pictures here.

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Ma Wee is gazing at the lavendar field while SiowFong is videotaping the scene. Lydia is looking at individual lavendar plants.

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Family photo

(left to right): Ma Wee, dad, Lydia, and mom

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 5, 2008 at a lavendar farm in Dallas, Oregon.

Photos: Oregon, Woittes, Frances

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A fond farewell

Auntie Frances is hugging and kissing Lydia this Saturday morning a few minutes before we left the Woitte home.

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More hugs and kisses

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And some more. . .

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Auntie Frances lifts Lydia into the air, much to Lydia's delight

July 3, 2008

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While Uncle Dennis is observing, Auntie Frances gives Lydia some more kisses.

Auntie Frances frequently counsels us to hug and to kiss Lydia more.

Note: These pictures were taken on July 5, 2008 (except DSC02462) at the home of Dennis and Frances Woitte ("Uncle Dennis" and "Auntie Frances" to Lydia) in Dallas, Oregon.

Photos: Oregon, Woittes, Spray Bottle Lydia

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Lydia is spraying some water into a pond.

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While Ma Wee is watching, Lydia is spraying Auntie Frances' car.

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Wielding her spray bottle, Lydia is walking around the yard to see which plants she wants to spray.

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Uncle Dennis shows Lydia how to use the spray bottle.

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Uncle Dennis is supervising Lydia's use of the spray bottle as she squirts water onto some plants.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 5, 2008 at the home of Dennis and Frances Woitte in Dallas, Oregon.

Photos: Oregon, Fireworks

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What would July 4th be without fireworks? On this busy, but delightful day, attending the fireworks display this evening was the last event of the day.

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A fountain of starbursts

We do not know if it was the light or the sound of the fireworks that scared Lydia, but during for most of the fireworks show, she buried her head in her mother's chest.

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Two more showers of light

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 4, 2008 in Independence, Oregon.