The Journey Continues

We have been really busy for the past 2 days. Yesterday, 2-20, we travelled by bus to the Public Security Bureau to apply for Adelyn's passport. The process was quick and easy thanks to our wonderful China guide, Catherine. She has been so helpful with all the babies. There have been many times where it has been difficult to communicate with the babes and Catherine has interpreted what they were trying to babble in Chinese or spoke to them in Chinese to calm them. She even sang a chinese lullaby on the bus one day.

Today, 2-21, we went to the Guangzhou Zoo. There were many of the same animals as in the states. Of course, we saw a panda bear and many other different animals. All the babies enjoyed the tour. We are having a difficult time teaching Adelyn to ride in a stroller. She has just refused because she wants to be held by Momma. She walked so much that she finally wanted to ride in the stroller.

The weather was awesome. It was 71 degrees and sunny. Everyone dressed really warm here. Most locals still wore coats even today. Don and I were wishing we had brought shorts until I was getting some odd stares wearing a sleeveless sweater. Several chinese women asked me if I was cold. Adelyn is used to being bundled up at the orphanage too. We usually dress her in at least 3 layers and a hat (even today).

The last picture above is Adelyn's first experience with chopsticks. We ate at a Thai restaurant called "The Cow and Bridge." She made quite a scene eating noodles, congee, and broccoli with chopsticks. Don and I were talking to another family in our group not paying very good attention to Adelyn as she was grabbing handfuls of noodles and tossing them to the floor. We are such rookies at this parenting thing but getting better every day. We are trying to teach her sign language to hopefully help her transition easier. She can sign "more" and "hat" so far. Daddy taught her those signs.

Tomorrow, we are travelling to Adelyn's orphanage and hopefully her "finding place." We understand that it may be confusing for her to return, but we want to be able to share her first months of life with her when she is old enough to understand.