China Day 5

I would like to begin this post with a little whine. I miss my girls at home. SO SO much. I miss my mom and my sister. It is so incredibly hard to be away from home. While I live in the moment, discovering who my new daughter is, delighting in her silly games and precious sweetness (this morning, when I woke her up, she took my face in her hands and laughed as though she were completely delighted with me. She also called me Mama today for the first time:)) Still, it's hard. I want my whole family together.

And for the purpose of documentation, I also miss:
singing in the shower and brushing my teeth normal
crossing the street without fear
food (Traveling alone means I have to be even more careful about what I eat. What I know is safe is getting old. The other mom in the group who is also traveling alone commented today that she really needs to get home just so she can eat. Neither one of us can stomach eating at McDonalds and Pizza Hut--where we had our only full meal since arriving--is waning in its appeal)
unfiltered sunshine
the cool ocean breeze
being ignored (so, I knew I'd be the focus of some attention, being American and blonde, but add the shiner and I am constantly gawked at)
salad
fruit
American medicine

OK, I'm done.

I am also MORE THAN HALF WAY HOME!!
I left last Saturday (lost a day when we crossed over the international dateline) and have 5 more days in country.

Today we went to the jade market and I got some awesome gifts for the girls. We also visited a buddhaist temple and a mall. I'm not a shopper and the outing went on a bit long, especially as we were nearing lunch. Lilah ended up having apricots and cream ice cream for her lunch, because by the time we got back to the hotel, we were at the start of the official lunch time (lasts 2 hours here) and every place was PACKED). So, I decided to put her in the carrier and hoof it over to the Friendship store for supplies (we were out of noodles!) and she fell asleep strapped to me. She's still dozing on the bed now. When she wakes up I'll taker her over to McD for a happy meal.

Tomorrow we have visa photos and paperwork and Lilah's medical exam. Sunday is a free day. Monday we go back to the clinic to have the TB test read (pray for negative!!) and then Tuesday is our consulate appointment. We should have paperwork in hand by Wednesday aftyernoon.

 Last night I was repacking the suitcase (yes, I really am so ready to go home), when Lilah saw this travel magna doodle--I didn't plan on giving it to her until the plane ride. Anyway, she knew exactlty what it was and how to use it.

 At the jade market.

 Yeah, I have a lolli. . .

 and all is well.

At the mall.

The Afternoon

 A quick run to 7-11 (hoping Lilah would fall asleep in the stroller as she has been refusing her nap the past two days) for beverages when Lilah saw this bag of chips and got so excited about them. When I opened them up I could tell they were spicy--she loved them.

She finally gave into sleep mid-coloring at about 4pm (yesterday she fell asleep on my lap when we were done at the passport office). I need to wake her up now so that she'll sleep tonight. I can't tell you how much I NEED sleep. By 2 pm I feel done for the day.

China Day 4

This is a free day today--no paperwork to do. Two families were going to visit the orphanage, but that was cancelled. We may go Sunday (although probably not me and Lilah. She is responding well to the meds for her ear infections and I don't want to push it. For the same reason, we are not doing any of the touring. I did arrange with our guide to go to the jade market tomorrow morning. I want to bring some special gifts home for my girls, my mom and my sis who are holding down the fort. The jade market is closeby and we should be back in time for our lunch routine--we go out and get food and bring it back to the hotel).

We are a small, but strong travel group--just 3 families. Another mom travelled alone to pick up her daughter, who is very sick. We stood united, in the face of some resistance, and now this family is being expedited home. The other family, the father travelled with his m-in-law, to pick up his son. Yesterday, the father came down with a fever. He has meds from home but a condition that we could tell is causing him some real worry. We could definitely use some prayer this way.

So, a few pics, though we've been laying low and resting today:

 At the breakfast buffet this morning. She now likes to feed herself and have me feed her, too:)

 Starbuck's, but to get there we have to cross here:

 It looks innocent enough, doesn't it? But the only way to survive is middle of the pack.

We spent the morning coloring.

This is the best I can do of the 2 of us as I am the sole photographer.

We then had a 20 minute laugh fest on the bed. I changed Lilah's diaper before we left to get lunch and she started a game where she rolled over, hid her face, laughing and not letting me put her shorts on. Eventually, she picked up the shorts, stuffed them under her belly and laughed and laughed while Mama tried to get the shorts. I wish I had my video camera here!

Inside Pizza Hut. We waited about 20 minutes for our order and the whole time Lilah was putting glitter stickers on my face and laughing. It was cute and funny and bonding is in full swing.

The Garden Hotel, Part 2

I showed the room in an earlier post. This post is more highlights of the hotel, things I know my daughters at home, who love hotels, would enjoy seeing:

 Tea or cocktails?

 A much smaller fountain area in the lobby.

 I call this the frog pond.

One of the waterfalls that mesmerizes Lilah.

 My girl loves fountains and waterfalls.

Above, some fancy lighting, the reading room, and the spa (would so love a massage).

 The pool.

 Somewhere up there is our room. I don't much like heights.

Yeah, it's time for bed but I don't have to like it.

China Day 3

In a few hours we go and apply for the kids' passports, then onto Shaiman Island for a little shopping. The days feel like they're passing slowly (because I miss my kids at home so much), but the time Lilah and I have together has been priceless. We are bonding beautifully. So far, we are definitely best case scenario. We spend much of everyday in our room, playing together, and this has helped.

Lilah's Loves:
Food
Fountains/waterfalls
Food
Feeding Mommy french fries
Her photo album of her sisters and Nana who are waiting for her at home
Food
Shorts--the colorful the better
Shoes
Food
Playing with Mommy
Her snack holder (and anything that's inside it)
Her sippy cup
Stickers (which she wears like tattoos)
Stroller
Books

Lilah's List of Less Than Favorites:
The baby carrier (though she will tolerate it)
The lady at 7-11 who thought she was being funny and kept taking Lilah's sippy cup and snack holder away from her (clearly, the lady was not intimidated by my shiner)
Clothes that are too big for her
Body suits

 She surprised me today, holding up just about every hair pretty we have with us and asking me to put them in her hair.

 So I think she's changed her mind about them.

 Our lunch hang out. Madeleine and Ava--Lilah knows what a Happy Meal is. . .

 that they come with prizes. . .

and she knows their value:)

Just Kicking Back

Continued. . .

With the notary.

After we finished with business, Lilah and I went out to lunch with another mom and her daughter, then onto a drug store for some supplies. Right now, my daughter is napping and I'm going to join her.