Sean is here!

Sean Cannon Barnes Born 8:05 am on August 2, 2012. 8 pounds 9 ounces.

I forgot how sleepy newborns can be... especially on the first day.

Linda took this picture, and it makes me happy.

Alex's feet have grown!

Grandma Judy made Alex a "Big Brother Badge." Every time he walked about in the hospital he felt it necessary to wear it. The nurses were so amazing. They complimented him on becoming a big brother and took notice of his badge.

In the nursery, Patrick got to give Sean his first bath.

Alex is such a helper! He seriously loves his baby. I hope Sean feels loved.

Mandee and Levi come to Visit

Mandee and Levi arrived on Monday afternoon.

We had fun picking Alex up from school. This ger is on the playground in front of Alex's school.

We went on Many Many adventures which will be blogged about over time. 

In the last week:

We had ate Mongolian food at Cozy Nomads

We went to the Intellectual Museum

Ate at Rosewood

We shopped at Mercury Market

Picked Alex up from school

Went to Gandan Monastery

Held and Eagle and got pictures taken

Visited Zaisan Memorial

Went to Choijin Lama Temple

Ate at Millies

Shopped at the Black Market

Chilled at MB's 

Perused an Antique Store

Window shopped at the State Department Store

Ate at Millie's again

Sorted Blankets for the Mother and Child Hospital

Delivered Blankets to the Mother and Child Hospital

Visited the French Catholic orphanage

Went to the Natural History Museum

Went to the National History Museum

Had pictures taken with Lenin

Ran around Suk Bataar Square

Ordered in Hazaara

Rode bactrian camels

Visited the worlds Largest statue of a man on a horse

Drove through Terelj National Park

Lost Alex's coat in the Terelj Hotel

Had and indoor picnic at the Ayunchin Ger camp

During the picnic we ate Khushuur (Mongolian Fried Dumplings)

Played on the playground at the camp

Walked around a Shaman pole three times

Held a vulture and a falcon... and had photos taken with two eagles

Ate controversial pizza at the Irish Castle

Packed a picnic

Drove out to Saraa's Ger camp... very fun off roaring in a Honda Accord

Sampled milk tea

Went on a two hour horse ride

Ate our picnic in the get

played horse shoe

Used an out house

Made a quick trip to Computer Land

Shopped at the State Department Store

Visited the old train station and took pictures with old Soviet Trains

Dinner at Blue Sky Tower

Dessert at Monet in Central tower

Then we had to come home and pack so that Mandee and Levi could be ready for transport to the airport at 4 am. Then their flight was delayed and they didn't end up flying out until after 1 pm.

All these activities despite the insane UB traffic happened between Monday night and Saturday night. I am going to sleep off their visit, and my saddle sores for a few days and then blog about all this. Needless to say, we had a lot of fun and we completely wore ourselves out.

GOOD NIGHT!!!

Alex's Best Depiction of UB

The View From our Window

If you look closely you can see two gers (Mongolian Yurts) and our own little neighborhood power plant. This is part of the view off of our balcony.

The Grocery Store... er... Market

Finding good vegetables in our market is not a problem... other than the fact that they are expensive. The vendors are always quick to tell you which vegetables are from China and which are from Russia. This is important, because Mongolians will go to great lengths to avoid buying anything from China. I regularly hear... This (fill in the blank) is no good, from China. This one good, from Russia."



This was actually a really clean day for Mercury Market. Usually we are stepping through blood puddles while they are taking the carcasses apart with carpentry tools.