Today we went for Abby's medical exam. Everything checked out okay. She weighs 17 pounds. On the way to the hospital, we passed an exercise park and a school.
Wax on, Wax off
Now we see first hand why the Chinese are thin and fit.
A city school
We visited a temple today. The artwork there was beautiful.
Stained Glass
This is completely embroidered!
I love all the embroidery! It is so beautiful and detailed. There are many of these amazing pieces of art here and at the hotel. I would love to buy one, but they are so pricey.
After the temple/museum, we were off to shopping!!!
Up, Up, Up, & Shop. These stair cases are every few stores. Very cool shopping area.
We only stayed for a little while. It was very crowded. At one point, our group was surrounded by spectators commenting and asking questions about our girls.
We have lots of shopping just outside our hotel too. That's where we have bought most of our stuff. Everyone said not to shop too early in the trip because you can get everything in Guangzhou - not so. We wished we had bought some souvenirs from GuangXi. We didn't even get a rice-picker hat. Luckily we have one from Thailand.
Abby is doing a good job learning to feed herself - she's just a bit messy.
This is my bed!!!
We missed dinner tonight. We went to a nice restaurant along the river. Al ordered fried rice and Steph and I ordered spaghetti. After 1 hour and 20 minutes, with no food, we told them we had to go. They seemed really offended. They said that it takes 1 hour to make spaghetti. WHAT????? We had pop tarts in bed. Thanks 7/11.
We had this silk quilt made for Abby. Isn't it pretty? It took less than 1 day and only cost about $20.
We received our going home Barbie today. We were told that this is the only place in the world to get one.
We processed the disposable cameras from the orphanage today. We sent over 2 camera so they took all 54 pictures for us. We're so grateful. They also gave us about 10 pictures that they had taken on their own. Every family who adopted a baby from the orphanage got the same 10 pics. Here's our group of girls. Can you pick out Abby?
Scroll down to see if you're right.
Were you right?
It is so sad to think about how our girls started out in this world. I'm sure they are all off to terrific places and amazing new lives.
The cribs are metal and arranged 3 in a square. The babies seem to play on the floor a lot with very few toys. They do go outside, but they play in a concrete parking lot with no toys - just each other and the parked cars and scooters. I can't imagine anything like that in the US.
Look at my girl's raggedy clothes.
Meet our Abby.....she's pretty cute......and absolutely a sweetheart!
Wonder what they have and what they're talking about???
Can't believe how dirty the walls are.
Looks like story time.
Notice all the similar outfits.
Playing with the toys we sent to the orphanage.
Notice that the beds do not have mattresses, just a think board.
Al's day was made when he picked up our laundry. It was pressed and packaged in individual bags with cardboard backs in the shirts. WOW! One of my shirts is just my night shirt. When you drop it off at the same stores where we shop, it's so funny and embarrassing. They rip open the bag and dump it right on the floor, in front of everyone. So there in the souvenir store, among all the shoppers, is your dirty laundry, undies and all. Then they put it into piles. So there's everyone shopping right next to your dirty underwear - only in China.
Abby has been wild today. I can't believe that she is the same shy child we met last week. She runs to all of us now for hugs and tickles. She laughs out loud very easily and smiles so much. She has been saying mum mum. She had so much energy tonight that she didn't fall asleep until 11. That's why I'm typing so late.
I have a bad cold so I'm going to try to get Al to upload all this for me so that I can go to bed. Hopefully it will all make it and that it will make sense. I'm too tired to reread it.
We have some type of interview process tomorrow. I hope they like what we have to say.
More tomorrow