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february 7:
Baby Row at Breakfast
Our hotel has an incredible spread for breakfast, and we partake quite hardily as we are never sure
what our next meal will be.
It is very interesting that there seems to be a section for Americans with adopted Chinese babies. We
like being together with the others that we have gotten to know, and the babies enjoy seeing their
former roommates. You can kind of see them communicating with their eyes to each other...."Have you
figured out what is going on yet?" "Me neither, but these people are pretty nice, and they keep me fed
pretty well." "Check out this cute outfit....I could do without the hair bow, though."
Our hotel has an incredible spread for breakfast, and we partake quite hardily as we are never sure
what our next meal will be.
It is very interesting that there seems to be a section for Americans with adopted Chinese babies. We
like being together with the others that we have gotten to know, and the babies enjoy seeing their
former roommates. You can kind of see them communicating with their eyes to each other...."Have you
figured out what is going on yet?" "Me neither, but these people are pretty nice, and they keep me fed
pretty well." "Check out this cute outfit....I could do without the hair bow, though."
Marisa Mei-Lian Freeman
Marisa Update
The eyes in this photo show how she feels about us this morning. She still doesn't know
whether she should trust us or not. Yesterday, our first full day with Marisa, she drank only
two bottles of her formula/cereal mixture. Today she didn't take any bottles or solids until 2
pm. We aren't really worried because we know the babies sometimes don't get over the
trauma right away and they show this in many ways including refusal of food.
We have had two poopy diapers already which is a big deal. Those of you who have been
through this (or are preparing) know that this is something to celebrate. The rest of you can
just ignore the comment.
The eyes in this photo show how she feels about us this morning. She still doesn't know
whether she should trust us or not. Yesterday, our first full day with Marisa, she drank only
two bottles of her formula/cereal mixture. Today she didn't take any bottles or solids until 2
pm. We aren't really worried because we know the babies sometimes don't get over the
trauma right away and they show this in many ways including refusal of food.
We have had two poopy diapers already which is a big deal. Those of you who have been
through this (or are preparing) know that this is something to celebrate. The rest of you can
just ignore the comment.
Business of the Day
Today we went back to the Civil Affairs Office to pick up our Adoption Decrees.
We needed these in order to get passports for the babies. They will all leave
China on Chinese passports since they will not become US citizens until they
touch ground in America.
This picture isn't really all that interesting, but it did remind me what we
accomplished today. We do have a lot of fun outings on this trip, but we also
do some official business nearly every day.
Today we went back to the Civil Affairs Office to pick up our Adoption Decrees.
We needed these in order to get passports for the babies. They will all leave
China on Chinese passports since they will not become US citizens until they
touch ground in America.
This picture isn't really all that interesting, but it did remind me what we
accomplished today. We do have a lot of fun outings on this trip, but we also
do some official business nearly every day.
The China Hotel
A little bit about where we are staying....The hotel is a 5 Star hotel in downtown Guangzhou. As you would expect, it is very nice. We are staying in the
apartments which has its advantages and its disadvantages. The disadvantages first - the apartment is very outdated with gold fixtures in some of the
bathrooms, old (but clean) carpet, only wired internet in the room (which you must pay for), and we have to walk three to five minutes to the main hotel
(where everything is beautiful) for breakfast and to meet our group in the lobby for excursions. Now the advantages - we have three bedrooms, two
bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a washer and dryer! The extra space is great for our long stay, and the washer and dryer is a huge convenience and is
saving us the money we would have to spend on laundry.
The photos above are of the hotel and two of the streets at the intersection where it sits.
A little bit about where we are staying....The hotel is a 5 Star hotel in downtown Guangzhou. As you would expect, it is very nice. We are staying in the
apartments which has its advantages and its disadvantages. The disadvantages first - the apartment is very outdated with gold fixtures in some of the
bathrooms, old (but clean) carpet, only wired internet in the room (which you must pay for), and we have to walk three to five minutes to the main hotel
(where everything is beautiful) for breakfast and to meet our group in the lobby for excursions. Now the advantages - we have three bedrooms, two
bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a washer and dryer! The extra space is great for our long stay, and the washer and dryer is a huge convenience and is
saving us the money we would have to spend on laundry.
The photos above are of the hotel and two of the streets at the intersection where it sits.
Snake, Anyone? It's all in the presentation.
We asked our guide to organize another dinner for our entire group that had a local flair. She
selected a Chinese food restaurant (duh, we're in China) that allows you to select the meat you
want from tanks at the front and then prepares it for you. She did all the selecting after asking
us all how adventurous we wanted to be.
Mainly we had normal things prepared with chicken, pork, and seafood, but we also got to try
crocodile and snake. They were actually quite good if you didn't dwell on what you were eating.
Amy, our guide, says that the only thing she won't eat is the water beetles.
We asked our guide to organize another dinner for our entire group that had a local flair. She
selected a Chinese food restaurant (duh, we're in China) that allows you to select the meat you
want from tanks at the front and then prepares it for you. She did all the selecting after asking
us all how adventurous we wanted to be.
Mainly we had normal things prepared with chicken, pork, and seafood, but we also got to try
crocodile and snake. They were actually quite good if you didn't dwell on what you were eating.
Amy, our guide, says that the only thing she won't eat is the water beetles.
Marisa Update Number 2
This is Marisa after dinner. She drank another bottle and ate a few rice noodles. We were
treated to some gorgeous smiles and contagious giggles. Don't you just love those
dimples?! She is starting to feel comfortable with us.
After dinner she rewarded us with another poopy diaper, had a bath and another half bottle. I
promise you not to discuss her diapers again unless it is really necessary!
This is Marisa after dinner. She drank another bottle and ate a few rice noodles. We were
treated to some gorgeous smiles and contagious giggles. Don't you just love those
dimples?! She is starting to feel comfortable with us.
After dinner she rewarded us with another poopy diaper, had a bath and another half bottle. I
promise you not to discuss her diapers again unless it is really necessary!
Welcome to today's videos. Watch the first one only if you have a
strong stomach. You will see what we ate for dinner on Wednesday
night - yummy. The second is our slideshow of the day. Enjoy!
strong stomach. You will see what we ate for dinner on Wednesday
night - yummy. The second is our slideshow of the day. Enjoy!
