New Stuff She Says

So we just got home from China several days ago, and were gone for 2 weeks. I didn't think 2 weeks was that long, really, but in the life of someone who is less than 2 years old, it's, well... you do the math. Some small percentage, I think. It's significant in her life, anyway, because she now speaks like a 13-year-old boy. Now, we don't HAVE any 13 year old boys, nor do we know any, so where she has picked up this lackadaisical speech pattern, I don't know. But all the sudden she is saying "Yeah", "Uh-huh", "huh?", and my favorite, "Wha?". (as in "Eliza?"- she turns her head toward you- "Wha?") All that's missing is the backwards baseball cap and the Gameboy.

The Funniest Thing We Heard in China:

This quote came to us from a sweet and brave family we met from Iowa. They traveled to China with their 3 biological sons and 3 year old Chinese daughter to adopt a 20 month old Chinese boy. The mom was telling me that the first couple of days, their daughter didn't like her new little brother. "Let's trade him for another one"... she said, and then (here's the kicker): "I don't like Chinese babies." !!!!

Home Again

Hey all!

We have been home for nearly 2 days now. The flight was very long, but our boy was so good it was almost like he wasn't there! Since we've been here, he has done great. He is getting on well with his sisters, and he LOVES the amount of toys compiled here. He has played trains, Legos, tea sets, cars, anything plastic and colored. He sleeps well, loves PBJ sandwiches, and wants to brush his teeth and his hair constantly.
He IS a normal 2 year old... he disobeys, pitches fits, gets punished, doesn't like to share, doesn't like it when other people don't share, makes messes, and gets into everything he's not supposed to touch.

BUT, things have gone as well as they possibly can. Praise God!!
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Error in Judgement

14 nights in 4-5 star hotels...

3 major cities...

daily doses of Chinese food...

no windows or fans in the hotel bathrooms.

Lovin' Guangzhou

Those of you that are informed on the China adoption trip (or have done it already) know this, but Guangzhou is the last stop before home because it is where the US Consulate is located. Most CCAI families stay at the White Swan Hotel. What I didn't know is that the WS is located on Shamian Island, a small piece of land in the middle of the Pearl River. The buildings here are French or British Colonial, the streets are shady, there are no cars, and there are shops everywhere. It is really lovely. The place where we eat breakfast overlooks the river and the bank of buildings on the other side. This place is great! The hotel is so nice we almost feel spoiled; we are sharing space with diplomats. We even have a floor attendant who pushes the elevator button for us!! Oh, and the best is that there are tons of Americans with their Chinese kids walking around. It's nice to have people to chat with. There is even a brave family from Iowa with their 3 biological boys, 3 yo Chinese daughter, and new 20 month old Chinese son.

Definitely a Bowling- Part II
Some of you are going to think this a bit stern, but this morning we hit a stubborn bone in little Garrett. As much of a character as he has been, he has been very easygoing and mostly obedient. But this morning he flatly refused to eat part of his breakfast. And by refused, I mean he held it in his mouth under his tongue. No spitting out, but no swallowing either. Our Chinese guide told him repeatedly he should swallow it so he could eat more food, but he just smiled at her. This went on for over 4 HOURS. We went on a tour this morning and everything- still food under the tongue. We went to lunch at a YUMMY Thai restaurant on Shamian Island, and Alan (very stern as you all know) refused to feed Garrett lunch until he swallowed his food. Garrett sat stoically in the high chair the whole time. He didn't fully comprehend that we weren't bluffing until I took him out of the high chair and packed him into the stroller, at which point he wailed all the way back to the hotel (okay, a 4 minute walk... but still....). Finally, back in the room, he swallowed his breakfast and recieved some crackers. He could have had Pad Thai!!!
Let this be a lesson to you all... when eating dinner at our house, be sure you swallow your food or you don't get dessert!!

Internet access is pricey here, so this might be our last post before we leave. We leave the hotel at 6am Wednesday, will return to ATL at 6:20pm Wednesday night.