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!!!