So what day is it again? I seem to have lost track. I think it's
5:10 am CT on Thursday - and 6:10 pm same day in China
On Tuesday, after my last email, Amy started walking for us. She
can stand by herself and is walking with help. She even puts her
hands above her head in a "so-big" kind of way. She learned patty
cake and can clap her own hands. I think she's a genious!
Here are some pictures of Mark and Amy inside and out of the Nanning
Majestic: (it was so humid the lens got foggy for the outside shots)
Wednesday was Dramamine day. We drove 5 hours from Nanning to Guilin
on a bus where shock absorbers were optional, apparently. We were
kind of cramped, as it carried all of our luggage (1 big bag per
person and at least one carryon per person). Amy was fabulous, although
the rest of us got a bit stir crazy. We watched Windtalker on the
video (don't ask where it came from...) and napped and watched the
scenery. Lots of green and mountainous terrain, especially as we
got closer to Guilin. We became the main attraction when we stopped
at a rest stop. Everyone came over and stared - apparently we're
called big noses - and lots of people hadn't seen so many with Chinese
babies.
When we got to the hotel, Amy sat by herself on the bed and amused
herself with toys and her touch and feel books. This was significant
as she hasn't sat by herself before to entertain herself. She also
started making noises (ba and ma - but more ba) when she was happy
- including when she was watching Chinese cartoons (hint to future
travelers - if she's inconsolable, turn on the TV. The tones of
the people on it can be soothing...) We ate a family-style Chinese
meal with the travel group and turned in early, Amy sleeping with
Mark again.
Today we got up early, had a short, splashy bath and went on the
Li River tour here. It's about 4 hours, plus an hour on the bus
there and back. All of the babies are doing amazingly well with
the bus and boat rides. The tour was beautiful - cliffs and waterfalls
along the shoreline. We ate another family-style lunch on the boat.
We did almost get stuck in the mud on the bus ride to the boat.
And the touristy vendors once we got off the boat were overwhelming.
On the way back to Guilin, we stopped on the side of the road to
see a rice field being farmed, as well.
We met with a jade salesman this afternoon and I got some Chinese
zodiac pendants for Amy and I, as well as some earrings. Mark and
Amy are napping now from all of the excitement.
Tomorrow is a relaxing day, with pearl and artwork shopping. We
have to pack and go to Guangzhou on Saturday morning.
It's amazing how each day brings out more of Amy's personality.
She's talking a lot more and is giving full toothless belly laughs
much more often. She has a long attention span (for a 9-month old)
and loves things that make noise. She's coming around to me again
on a full-time basis - she disliked any comfort from me when we
were in the Nanning hotel room and only went to Mark. She was fine
with me as long as we were out of the hotel room. Now that we've
changed hotels, it's a different story.
The potty-training thing -- the orphanage and foster mothers made
a sling with their hands, put the baby's back to their chest and
lifted up their legs to their heads. Then the babies went. Now,
we haven't done that, nor have we gotten her on the schedule for
the potty training that she was on in the FM's home. We're strictly
using diapers (although she's occasionally used our shirts, much
to our dismay) and are taking her off the potty-training thing.
It's too stressful for all concerned.
The clothes we brought are really too big for her - they drape
over her, making it difficult to crawl in a dress. She'll be wearing
them for quite some time.
Our guide XiXi is great, as is our coordinator Helen. We don't
have to do anything - just show up for breakfast. They've taken
care of it all. They're also taking care of laundry and film developing
as well as translating some of the paperwork we got from the orphanage.
Guilin is an odd city. It's almost like Atlantic City without the
gambling. It's a huge tourist spot for Europe and Asia, but very
few adoptive families come through here. We've got business cards
that say why we're here, but they're only in Chinese, not German.
We get a lot of stares...
I think that's about it for today...we'll be home in a week! YAY!
PS If someone can let us know how our house construction is doing,
we'd be much obliged!
Beth, Mark and Amy |
