October 10, 2007 Maoming SWI

I opened my email today and received an unexpected gift from Holland... from a woman I have never met.
But this woman and I share an unbelievable bond... our daughters.  Her name is Monique and on October 10, 2007 she was allowed to take pictures inside the Maoming Social Welfare Institute in Maoming, China.

She was able to capture life inside this small orphanage... the place where my daughter lived for nearly 3 years.  This picture was taken when Juliette was 20 months old..  it would be a full 13 months later until we became a family.

Keeping track at Maoming SWI

Maoming bedroom

Sleeping baby (not Juliette)

Nannies playing with babies

Notice that there are no mattresses or pillows.  Children sleep on wood.  Presumably because it's easy to clean.  When Juliette came home her backside (from head to bottom) was, and still is, completely flat.
Now my lovely child sleeps in the "downstairs" of her comfy bunk bed.  On November 11th we will celebrate our 2 year anniversary of becoming a family.... these photos are an early gift.  A reminder of our child's life before she came into our lives forever.