Tuesday,
June 7
The Isabelle alarm
clock seems to be functioning well as she woke me this morning
at 6:46 a.m. Stefanie actually woke up before all of us at 5
a.m. but was able to stay in bed until 5:30 a.m. We headed down
to the breakfast buffet without Tori because she was off on an
adventure. She and Trish, a friend from Atlanta, went to
the fish market and saw the "before they arrive in the
restaurant" scene of people bartering for fish, eels, snakes,
worms, frogs, and anything else alive and considered edible in
the Guangdong Province. Apparently while she was there a
frog jumped out of its cage and at her and she shrieked with fright.
Unfortunately for the toad that was the last time it would do
any jumping because it was promptly smashed by a bicycle. Tori
said that there were a number of dead animals all over the road
where the physics of car and bicycle mass overcome the ability
of the animals' bodies to absorb the blow. Tori sauntered up to
the buffet and we all finished eating together.
It was
time to head back to the room to await the ruling on our
paperwork. Grace called around 10 a.m. and we are good to go
for the American Consulate appointment tomorrow. No more
worries about the paperwork which is an incredible relief. We
celebrated by promptly heading out for some shopping. Stefanie
found a shop that could make a drawing of Isabelle's name done
in watercolor with traditional Chinese symbols. We went back
this evening to pick it up and it looks very beautiful and will,
I'm sure, find a prominent spot in her room somewhere. This
morning we also found some more dresses in sizes that will fit
her as she gets older and presents for friends and family.
We returned to the room and Isabelle had her bottle and then it
was time for a nap. She only fussed a few minutes and then she
crashed for nearly two hours. Just as you saw in the pictures
yesterday, I was able to keep an eye on her for the two hours by
promptly falling asleep myself. Tori and Stefanie ordered from
Danny's Bagels and got a pizza and some garlic bread. They ate
it in the other room while our youngest and I slept. Once
Isabelle woke up it was time for her to eat again and it took
her nearly one hour to drink the bottle. No wonder she is so
skinny. I doubt that the orphanage caretakers could wait around
for her to take that long to eat. She is also very picky about
the temperature of the formula and if it isn't just right then
she fusses about it also.
Once Isabelle was awake then it was time for our big move. We
switched to rooms that are now connecting. We are still
on the same floor but have moved to the other end of the
building. The rooms are actually bigger too. The move was very
smooth because we all pitched in. We did discover one problem
that we think we can overcome -- we have too much stuff now and
will have to buy another suitcase but that is OK because we came
over carry-on only so the extra luggage really only counts as
the checked baggage we were allowed in the first place.
Besides, the luggage here is quite inexpensive and we can buy
it, put our non-breakables in it, check it at the airlines and
then get it in Atlanta, since it will likely fall apart and then
we can throw it away without worrying that we spent a ton of
money on luggage. We just have to find some duct tape or
something to wrap around the luggage to make sure it doesn't
fall apart prior to getting to our final destination.
The days are going by rather quickly now and we are beginning to
focus on heading home. Tomorrow is our final full day in China
because we leave on Thursday the ninth. We just have the
Consulate oath tomorrow and then we are completely done except
for receiving Isabelle's travel visa that we should get tomorrow
afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Many of our travel mates from Nanjing
are departing tomorrow. Just as we are moving along in our journey
it is amazing to think of all the other families that are in the
varied stages of the same adventure that we are on. I thought
about it especially today at breakfast and when we saw about 30
families getting their "red couch" photos today. We will leave
but others will continue to come and that is fantastic.
Good night from China and good afternoon in America! |
Isabelle learned to flick her bottom lip and
gurgle at the same time today.
Our new friends from Atlanta --
(L to R) Lili, Trish, and Ming
Isabelle really enjoys Ming's antics and smiles whenever she
sees her.
Isabelle listens to Ming read in Chinese and Lili
reads in English.
Ships cruise
up and down the Pearl River |
