Wednesday and our continuing journey

Basically, we are waiting for the passport to be ready which won't be until Friday.  This morning we were supposed to go to the orphanage and visit and chose not to.  The emotions of Monday were just too hard on Xin Jie and we decided not to go.  We had talked to Dong and he decided to take us to a Park nearby instead.  It is called the People's Park and it was so pretty.  We, of course, forgot our camera.  It was such a unique view of China that we have never had before.  I had heard that people practice Tai Chi in the parks and this was no exception but they also do exercises to western music and practice dancing, practice musical instruments and work out basically.  They have unique machines in the park and use them - men, women and children.  There was several women's dance groups with oval shaped drums and sticks with flags attached and they have routines.  You didn't need a translater to understand straighten that line, no you do it this way.  Xin Jie enjoyed watching them and didn't want to leave.  I'm impressed by the beauty of their parks and zoo's.  I suppose because they are so old and the trees are massive.  Also, the Chinese evidently don't have any privacy at home and so they come to the parks to have some quiet and practice time. It was fascinating and we hope to go back and take a camera this time.

Xin Jie continues to open up a little.  Nathan has found his little sister and he is very excited.  They play even though they have a language barrier and squabble a little like small children do.  She is smiling more.  We took her to get new shoes today and she didn't have any idea of what we were doing.  We found her a pair of "squeaky shoes" that I have heard about.  She is now walking around trying to get them to squeak and just smiles. 

We are waiting now for Dong to call - the "nurse" is coming back to give us a receipt for the orphanage donation and Glenn will meet with her and Dong downstairs and give her the gifts for the orphanage, nurses, and the director.  It is 4:00 and we haven't heard anything yet. 

Xin Jie has taken to me and Nathan and she does recognize Glenn as Baba but he can't pick her up yet or hold her hand.  She will wave at him if he leaves and she calls him Baba so it will come but it upsets me a little.  Glenn is ok with it.  She loves music and is constantly singing little songs to herself or clicking her tongue.  I think we have major problems with her teeth - Shelly could you try and set up a dentist appointment with your girls dentist.  Nathan has gone to her so they will have a file for him.  She has problems with eating meat because she can't take a bite but has to use her side teeth.  It is not stopping her from eating and she is a good eater.  Right now she is quite easy to dress although she really doesn't help.  She does feed herself which I was a little worried about seeing pictures of her being fed.  She is quite meticulous about eating and not getting dirty and she doesn't like her hands dirty.  She has a great smile and giggle.  She is the slowest walker in the world and so I have been carrying her some but she hasn’t been carried much and so she doesn't hold on at all.  She weighs 30 lbs. and doesn't seem petite to me.

Dong just called and they are downstairs exchanging gifts.  The orphanage gives each child that is adopted a piece of white jade in the shape of their animal.  The animals of the calendar, she is a goat.  I asked Dong what Nathan is and he was going to find out which all three of us are. (I know that was not a good sentence).  Nathan is ready to go home and I don't blame him - I am ready also.  Dong had told Nathan that there was a place to play at the park and he was excited but it was closed.  There was a bounce place but it was a climbing wall and Nathan didn't want to do that.  We did go to a market to find Xin Jie's shoes and bought mango's, wonderful peaches, small apples and some nectarines.  They are all very good.

Glenn had an experience today that cemented Nathan's adoption for him (although Glenn loves him with all of his heart). The restaurant open later here - 1:00 for lunch and 7:00 for dinner.  Anyway,  we got back from the park at 12 and everyone was hungry so we came up and then decided to find something to eat but the hotel restuarants weren't open and so Glenn went to the local food place and brought some chicken and french fries back.  There was beggar on the sidewalk and his hands were like Nathan and he was begging.  It affected Glenn a lot.  People around here can't get over the beauty of our children.  We are very lucky not because they are beautiful but because they are ours. 

We are having a horrible time with the internet here.  It took a whole day to send yesterdays email and we are hoping that Guangzhou will be better. Sorry, we can't send pictures.  Oh, has anyone heard from Bob?  Getting a little worried about Laura and the baby.  Love, Mama