The Pearl River Cruise in pictures

Last night, we had a wonderful time on the Pearl River Cruise. I had no idea how beautiful it would be. We almost considered skipping it!!! I'm so glad we didn't!!! It is one of my favorite memories!! Not the best food on the trip. . . but the view was worth it!! If you get the chance, be sure to go!! I do understand that not all boats are equal on this cruise, but we lucked up!! We got one that had a tremendous view, inside and out! One thing has become abundantly clear to me during this trip and on the cruise. . . the Chinese love to do spectacular things with with light!! What a treat for the eyes! Take a look!

Mei Li loved the noodles with green veggie. . . Kelp???

The Chinese know how to make an ordinary bridge beautiful. Bathe it in light!! That alternates in color!

Amazing open-air amphitheater

Another lit boat on the river

Enjoying the top deck! Mei Li? Not so much. She just tolerated it.

We call this the Star Trek bridge

One of many lit towers. The lights were constantly changing!! It was so beautiful to watch.

Guangzhou from the river

Massive screens at the amphitheater

Just look!!!

Look again!!!! :)

Love this photo!!!

Mei Li was happy when listening to mama's album on the iPhone. That kept her happy the whole cruise. So happy she loves my music!!!

AG and me :)

One Week with Mei Li-and Happy Times in Guangzhou

Beautiful Girls!

The Garden Hotel

Carved gold ceiling in our hotel. This pic doesn't do it justice.

Staircase at The Garden Hotel

The girls

One of my faves :)

If only there were sound effects! Haha! Mei Li LOVES her Coke!!! She drinks and says, "AHHHHHH"

AG stealing Mom's Grande American lemon iced tea at Lucy's!

I took Mei Li to the potty and came back to find my tea GONE! :)

Oh, does Mei Li ever LOVE her "Baba"!!

Shamian Island

New shoes for Mei Li!

Mei Li in her full glory :)

"Big Sis" Anna Grace

Both of our China Princesses (Mei Li is hot and "over" the photo shoot ;)

Well, we have now passed the 1 week mark since Mei Li officially joined our family. She loves us and we love her. She is an amazing little person, and truly is a perfect fit for our family. And, I believe that we are also the perfect fit for her :) She has experienced a lifetime of new things in the past week, after spending the last 4 years inside orphanage walls. It's amazing how open she is to trying new things---and how happy she is almost all the time. I think we all could learn a lesson about life from Mei Li!! She is quite the charmer, and wins people over instantly with her electric personality.

That same dynamic personality can become quite explosive, at times, when things don't go her way. We are having to teach her boundaries--and she is not always as open to that. Her little fighting spirit (which has kept her so strong for all these years alone) also tends to butt heads with mom and dad when the answer is "no". :) I am confident that will get easier as the days go by.

We had a wonderful time on Shamian Island! We finished up some shopping, and Mei Li got some new squeaky shoes (the squeaks are removable, thankfully ;). She is SO proud of them. And, it seems her foot doesn't turn under as much when she wears them. She got a beautiful silk dress, too! And, Anna Grace got a gorgeous Asian doll. This is one that sits on a shelf as a momento. . . not a play toy. She is proud of her doll! She also got some beautiful silk slippers and a silk dress.

Mei Li and daddy are rolling in the floor laughing and playing right now!! Great bonding time. :) She LOVES her "Baba"!! She gets highly upset when he steps out of the room. I dread the day he goes to work. I have a feeling it's going to be bumpy for a while until she gets used to him leaving each day.

Anna Grace is such a big girl, and is helping so much with her sister! I am so proud of my sweet AG!! She adores her sister, and has grown up quite a bit in the last few days. Mei Li is still warming up to AG. Sometimes she is really receptive and warm. Sometimes not so much. But, AG is being so understanding. I am incredibly proud of her.

So, our family of 4 is coming along vey nicely :) We are learning and growing every day. Tomorrow is a new day, and we'll continue to gel as a family. I'm eager to get back home. It's been an amazing journey; but at the end of the day, there is truly no place like home. We have one week left. We'll be home next Monday. Seems so far away. . . In the meantime, I'm going to continue to soak in every moment.

Geoff is uploading some pics too! So, enjoy!!!

Today, We SHOP! And, a tip for families yet to travel.

Good morning from Guangzhou!!! :) Today, our guides are taking us back to Shamian island for a bit of shopping at the markets. We have been told that you can get great things there for much less than anywhere else we have travelled in China. We were told, "Hold off on buying anything until Guangzhou!!" So, we plan to have fun with the girls today! No appointments, no paperwork, no doctors!!! :) Just fun! Can't wait! And, this place is gorgeous!! We walked through it yesterday to get to our appointment. There must have been 15 brides and grooms getting their photos shot at the same time!!! And, there was a movie being filmed there as well. We'll get pics!! :)

And, my tip??? For families getting ready to travel? If you have an Iphone, be sure to get the "Jibbigo" app. It is only like $5, and it has SAVED us in restaurants and other times we've been out and about and couldn't otherwise communicate. It translates your English question into Mandarin, and Mandarin into English!! And, it is wonderful. It has also helped us with Mei Li at times. We have taken Mandarin (focused on adoptive families), and much of what we learned from our Mandarin classes has helped us with Mei Li. But, there have been a few times, when we've needed to tell her something that wasn't covered in class. Jibbigo came to the rescue! It will be a life preserver you'll carry with you, that will save you when you run into communication barriers. And, it is amazing how that communication barrier makes even the most simple things. . . impossible.

So, get Jibbigo before you come to China!! :D

Off to check on my girls.

The Medical Exam. . .

Well, today was our first day in Guangzhou. We have an incredible guide and China adoption coordinator walking us through. I don't think you can get any better than Rebecca and Lily. But, today was a necessary evil. . . the medical check-up. And, this week is a BUSY week for Guangzhou processing adoptions as they are trying to get families pushed through before the Chinese holiday coming up the first of October. So, what that amounted to was a packed waiting room of crying little ones. There was really no where to go to be private and wait your turn. We stood in line and waited our turn. You could see and hear the other little ones getting their check-ups. It's just the way it is. . . but, it makes it tough on the little ones. One gets scared and cries and the whole group joins in, and before you know it, you have a whole room of screaming babies. None of them were being hurt at all. They were just getting checked. But, most of these children have had hospital and doctor encounters before due to their special needs. So, they were terrified. It was hot and packed and very loud.

Mei Li was in a state! She cried and cried until she wore herself out while we waited in line, pointing to the door and begging to leave. What's insane was that she cried through the physical check-up and line wait. But, she didn't flinch when they gave her her TB skin test shot at the end of the visit.

One funny moment today, though. . . Mei Li informed me that she needed to "pee pee" while we were waiting for her Visa picture. So, I ask our guide to show me to the restroom. There are only Chinese potties in the restroom---no western toilets. If you don't know what a Chinese potty looks like, it is basically a hole in the floor with little places to put your feet on both sides. Geoff and I refer to the potty styles as "sitties" (Western style American potties) and "squatties" (Chinese potties) . Mama has not mastered (or even tried) the Chinese potty. And, I had my chance to try to help Mei Li use one today. Did not go well!! Haha!! First off, trying to get her feet placed properly (wide) with her pants on but pulled down far enough was an issue for me. Then, I'm holding her carefully over to let her go, and her little sunglasses (which I had carefullly tucked in my shirt) fell out and straight down the toilet. I gave up and went to get our Chinese guide to help us out. Whew!! I guess losing the sunglasses was better than dropping her in the potty. Hahaha!!! It was truly comical!

We have some wonderful days ahead and the hardest part was today! I'm happy that it is finished and Mei Li can smile and giggle for the rest of the trip. :)

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho, We're safely in Guangzhou!!! :)

Yesterday was a long day of waiting and travel and it was "hot" everywhere we were. Just couldn't cool down. In China, it seems that air-conditioning is not embraced. So, most places have pretty warm, still air. And, when you're holding lots of luggage and a 30 pound baby. . . you FEEL it!! Haha!!!

So, our little Mei Li has conquered bus rides (and that is a HUGE accomplishment in China, let me tell you!! I've almost resorted to fetal position and thumb-sucking myself if I actually watch out the window!) Traffic is INSANE here in China! I consider myself a good driver, but there is NO WAY I'd get behind the wheel of a car in China. People just pull out in front of you, there's bumper to bumper traffic, there don't appear to be any lanes that anyone observes and there is no safe distance between cars. If someone wants over, they just come. And, if someone is there, they just come on top of you. There have to be inches between cars. I have thought we were going to be hit numerous times---but, somehow, it never happens. I have NO idea how there aren't wrecks all the time here, in China. But, I rarely see an accident. They must have incredible spacial awareness and hand-eye coordination skills here. We drive much more carefully in America, and yet, we have more wrecks. I'm at a loss. ;)

Anway, I got sidetracked. Mei Li has conquered bus rides, and plane rides, and our little girl LOVES to be on the GO!!! She is not one to sit still for long. She likes to ride in her stroller and see the world!! She will be an excellent candidate for a jogging stroller when I get home, and that will be great for mama too!! She is so open to new things. She couldn't wait to get on the plane (fay-gee-lah is the Chinese for airplane). All we heard yesterday leading up to our flight was "Fay-gee-lah!!!" and she would make an airplane noise and put her arms out like wings! :) Such a happy little soul!!!

Our guide in Shanghai described the cities we have visited in China this way. "Beijing is the "Ancient China Lady", Shanghai is the "Modern China lady", and Guangzhou is "the Girl Next Door". You will love Guangzhou!" Well, we go out for our first adventure today. Our main guide, Rebecca and the China coordinator, Lily, are here and have walked us step-by-step since we stepped off the plane. They are truly amazing!!!! I feel so at home with them and well taken-care-of. I've always felt more like "the-girl-next-door", myself. So, I have a feeling Guangzhou is going to be my favorite. Hands down, the Garden Hotel is a palace compared to everything we've stayed in up to now. Anna Grace says she never wants to leave. Mei Li did a happy dance all around our suite. And, did I mention that the air-conditioning works???? Hallelujah!!!!

All this to say, that this is the most incredible journey of our lives that God has taken us on. We learn new things every day about ourselves, our little girl and His incredible mercy and grace. I can now appreciate this beautiful country across the sea, and we are forever changed and better because of it. I am counting my blessings!

Memorable Moments in Shanghai!

The Bund

Former Customs House modeled after Big Ben

Taking a stroll :) Mei Li LOVES to GO!!!

No explanation needed ;)

Jellies at the aquarium

People asking us about our Mei Li

Sisters

New Shanghai skyline (all new development since 1996)

Official Adoption Ceremony where we received Mei Li's certificate of adoption

The girls :)

All decked out in Aunt Emmalie's bows!!

Hi everyone!!! We are heading out to Guangzhou this afternoon, so we will officially be telling Shanghai goodbye. It has been fun, but we are ready to move on to GZ!! We hear it is the most fun part of the trip and is more kid-friendly. Mei Li is doing AMAZINGLY well!!! She sleeps well, she eats like a champ, she adores her big sis and her daddy, and she thinks her mommy hangs the moon. She is happy almost all the time---unless she doesn't get her way. Then, her little temper will flare. But, it is not long before the giggles and smiles are back.

Yesterday, we went to Mei Li's finding spot which was the waiting room at the Children's ER. I will not complain about American hospitals again. And, I am so very glad she will never have to be there again. So thankful she is with us now.

We will update again in GZ, but for now, here are some fun moments in Shanghai!!

Enjoy!!!

Heading out this morning!!

Just a quick post this morning, because I left daddy upstairs with 2 sleeping girls to come down to the lobby to post. There is free internet down here. AG is cool with Mama leaving, but Mei Li is rather attached to me, and will not be happy if she awakes to Mama being gone. So this will be a quick one.

Today, we go to Mei Li's "finding spot". I look forward to seeing this place and piecing together the pictures of her story from the beginning. It will be a very quick visit, but an important one. We were denied the opportunity to go visit her orphanage. They are redecorating.

She is precious and she is a mess!!!! She is happy most all the time---except when she doesn't get her way. Then, she lets you know about it.

She is already learing SO much!!! And, she is adapting to us so very well!!! She went to sleep last night and cried very little--only about 5 minutes. And, that is a HUGE improvement. The first night was all night long. The second night, we tried to settle her down to sleep three different times before success and with about 30 minutes of crying each time. Last night, 5 minutes and she was "out"! ;) She is still asleep now. :)

Well, Mama better run! Don't want my girl to wake up and find me gone. We'll update again later!!!