How Old Is Taylor?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sightseeing in Guangzhou
Today we went to the Six Banyan Tree Temple in Guangzhou. Here I had Taylor blessed by a Buddhist Monk along with the other kids in the group. Afterwards we went to the Chen Family Temple. This was really nice and the carvings on the roofs were beautiful. In the afternoon for those interested we went to a fabric market to select fabric to have traditional chinese clothes made. Of course we went. I am having a really pretty purple jacket with a Chinese design sewn in gray on the material made and another jacket (different style) of black and burgundy with a Chinese design . We get to go back and pick them up on Thursday.
Tomorrow we hit the jade and pearl markets and get the results of the TB test that was taken on Saturday. Keep your fingers crossed that it is negative. We are really enjoying the warm weather here. Get to spend lots of time outside enjoying it.
Taylor continues to amaze me each day. Baths are getting better...doing them at the sink. Maybe by the time we go home we will advance to the tub. She has a new ball to play with and loves throwing it around. She has started waving hi and good-bye more often and gives kisses when I ask her for one. She is enjoying having other kids around. There are a total of 6 families in our group, including us. Everyone is really nice and we are having a great time with them.
Taylor also likes helping more with undressing and dressing. Still LOVES her squeaky shoes especially running around in them. Haven't had to take the squeak out yet!!!!! Had her first lollipop today. she knew what to do with it. Also had her first grilled cheese sandwhich....didn't go over as well as the peanut butter and jelly did last night. Still a champion sleeper and eater.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Greetings from Guangzhou
Yesterday was a big day for Taylor...first time on an airplane. She was a real trooper. Took it all in stride as she has been doing with everything this week. Once again she was the star. She is on several cameras and video recorders....it is tough travelling with a celebrity!!!!!! The take off and landing didn't bother her at all. I am sure the animal crackers helped...a favorite of hers. I thought she might sleep on the plane as we left around her bed time. Nope, not even a nap. Guess she was too excited. Arrived very late and nice warm weather greeted us. Met another family that would be in our group that hadn't gone to Beijing.
Today was a busy day for Miss Taylor. First the visa picture then the physical exam. For one out of 4 sections she was fine and the other 3 she didn't like at all. The scary doctor in the mask tested her hearing and looked at her throat. She loudly protested. The height, weight and temperature didn't bother her. She had seen the little boy ahead of us get his temperature taken so when it was her turn she held up her arm for the nurse. The really nice doctor who gave her the actual physical exam she didn't like nor the TB test. We then took a leisurely stroll back to the hotel enjoying the sights.
We are staying on Shaimen Island at the White Swan Hotel which is where most American families that are adopting stay. The island is very small and you can walk all over it which we plan to do since the weather is so much warmer here.
After her nap we went shopping. Taylor is now the owner of 5 pairs of squeaky shoes....Imelda Marcos and Grandma look out!!!!! When she first put them on she wasn't sure where the noise was coming from but once she discovered it, she took off. She thought she was soooo funny...she was!!!
Another first, tonight she had a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich. Loved it!!!!! Sightseeing on the agenda tomorrow. Monday the jade and pearl markets and I am sure we will find time for more shopping.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wild Goose Pagoda
Today we went to visit the Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an and walk through the adjacent park. There are no geese at the Wild Goose Pagoda...lol!!! Tomorrow is our last day in Xi'an. We are going to venture out on our own to see the city wall. We also will get Taylor's Chinese passport before heading the airport around 4:00pm for our flight to Guangzhou. This is where the American Consulate is and where I will finalize the American side of the adoption.
This afternoon we decided to take a breather from the room and go down to the hotel lobby where they have some nice couches and a bar where we were able to relax, have a beverage and fruit platter. On the menu they had Diet Coke. I was soooo excited. I hadn't had one since leaving home. Didn't even think anything about the ice in the glass when it came because I was so excited to finally have a Diet Coke. Up to this point we had been really good about not ingesting any Chinese water. We even brushed our teeth with bottled water. Well the ice cubes did a small number on my stomach. Nothing major and it passed quickly. No more ice cubes!!!!!
Tomorrow we will also be celebrating Kathy's birthday.
Happy Birthday Kathy!!!!!
Will post again on Saturday from Guangzhou.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Eigth Wonder of the World
The Terra Cotta Warriors were AMAZING. We really enjoyed our tour of them. I will let the pictures tell the rest.
It was about a 40 minute drive from the hotel to the Warriors. Once there we had to take a little shuttle from the parking area to the museums. I would recommend anyone coming to China come to Xi'an to see them.
A funny thing happened on the way back to the van. As we were walking back to the van (instead of taking the shuttle) a Chinese family came by us smiling and pointing at us. They were asking Michele where we were from. They wanted to have their picture taken with us. So somewhere in China in someones photo album is a picture of the 3 of us alone and with them. They were very nice.
We walked by some kiosks on the way back to the van and got some really nice souvenirs from the Shaanxi provence.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Xi'an
The Drum Tower
The Bell Tower.
These pictures were taken on the plaza outside of the restaurant where we had the incredible dumplings.
Delicous Dumplings
We went to a restaurant that specialized in dumplings for lunch. They were delicous and filled with all kinds of interesting foods. As you will see in the pictures they come in all different shapes. Taylor was the hit of the restaurant wait staff. She had at least 6 of them doting on her. They were speaking to her in English and were amazed when we told them she speaks Chinese.
Afterward we were outside walking around and one couple asked Michelle if Taylor spoke English or Chinese and were amazed when she said Chinese because Taylor seemed to understand what I was saying to her in English. It was very funny. Discovered Taylor doesn't like dogs. She saw one and backed away and started wimpering. As soon as I picked her up she was fine.
It is warmer her in Xi'an than it was in Beijing. The pollution is much worse than in Beijing. Everything and I mean everything is covered in a light dusting of dirt. You look out the hotel windows and they are coated in dirt. It is like spring back in the states where everything gets coated in a fine layer of pollen. Yes there are people walking around with masks on but only a few.
Every morning at 6:00am music starts playing outside. Loud enough so you can hear it inside. It plays for most of the day. We have heard Christmas carols, music from the Sound of Music, Ava Maria, to name a few. There is a plaza to the left of the hotel where you see about 2 dozen people doing their morning exercises as soon as the sun comes up.
Taylor loves to sing and sings to us several times a day, plays ring around the rosie, blows kisses, still eats everything (except pears), plays lovingly with her doll, still doen't like baths, takes good naps, loves wearing reading glasses, looking at herself in the mirror, watching video of herself and imitating Kathy and I. She is one happy little girl and a joy to have around.
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