Progress or Punky Brewster?!

So...big news! Today Miss Violet has gone from wearing everything she HAS owned to nearly everything NEW at the same time. (Ahem.)

Today she sported teal leggings with matching super cute floral dress shirt

AND

Black leggings

AND

a sweet white sweater

AND

a boy's sneaker two sizes too big (ok THAT'S still from the orphanage)

AND

her little brown slipper

AND her red and yellow China jacket

AND

her new hot pink and purple ribboned hair thingie

AND a blue headband

Oh! AND a white sock with a black and white ballerina on it.

Uh-huh. I just shake my head and wish I had a sign that says

HEALING HEART IN PROGRESS. :-)

All Clean

Afternoon at The Garden

We are staying at "The Garden Hotel." It is named after its prominent garden/courtyard. Water falls, trees, ponds, streams, shrubs, fish, flowers, sculptures, benches. Beautiful.

We spent some time exploring there this afternoon. Ni Ni had a blast taking pictures of her own with her disposable camera. She really seems fascinated and delighted with fish.

Having Fun Together

Simply Stunning

(R) That's my not-so-biased opinion, anyway:



Two of my loves.

Today's Outing

(R) We had a great breakfast today of nice, stable, tasty food of eastern and western varieties. Afterward we met our guide and two other families to board a small bus for Shamian Island. This beautiful little area is the FORMER home of the US Consulate. It is also the home of the famous "White Swan Hotel" currently closed for renovations. The man-made island on the Pearl River is also known for its European style buildings, tree lined streets and parks,and lots of SHOPPING catering to adopting families.

We first waited in line with many other families for Violet's Visa photos. As we got to know the other families in our group we looked up to see: THE PELLEY FAMILY! What a wonderful surprise. We last saw them at breakfast in Beijing--a lifetime ago. We caught up quickly (but forgot to take a picture of our happy reunion!) We'll be able to connect with them several times this coming week.

After the visa pictures, we walked down the street to the medical clinic: AKA "Chaos Central." We waited in line after line with other families. Violet was AMAZINGly patient. Kids are crying. Adults are whining. Older Siblings are groaning. Guides are guiding. It's total mayhem. Violet was weighed and measured...twice! (?!?) She had an eye test. She got a TB test. (WOW! Held out her arm, rolled up her sleeve and smiled!) She was poked and prodded and stared at by several doctors and nurses expressing (in our opinion) belated curiosity and concern for her "condition." She had a "hearing test" (which consisted of someone looking in her ear.)

FINALLY...we got a little time to hit a shop or two and grab lunch before heading back to the hotel. We'll have much more time to explore and meander on Monday when we return to check the TB results.







"Lucy's" is famous in the Chinese Adoption world. It's down the street from the White Swan and has lots of "western items" on the menu. It's a little pricey. And it's western food--in China. But it's lunch! And it's on a pretty little park. While we ate, people played badminton and something akin to "hacky sack."

We think she might have had fries before!



But the bendy-straw seemed a new delight.

A cold beer and spicy prawn soup was a perfect lunch for Baba!

A New Day. A New City

We've finished all the of the Chinese requirements for the adoption and the trip home. Now we move to getting things ready so Violet can have a US entry Visa. We get her Visa photos and her medical check up today.

Just in case you hadn't noticed...

YES, Violet is wearing the same AWFUL sweater with this odd doll pinned to it and hideous black polka dot jeans over super thick pajamas EVERY day...with a red sock. That would be six straight days. AND the same rubberbands and hair clips with everything put in just the same place. Obviously, these were HER things at the orphanage and she's not about to part with them. Except for when one rubberband went flying out of her hair on the plane ride...lost forever. She panicked until J took one out of her own hair and let V use it instead. J says it's true love for a woman to take down hair that's been pulled up all day and go in public. :-)

We're hoping the warmer weather in Guangzhou will encourage a departure from the current wardrobe. Ahem.

Violet's First Flight

Fun In Starbucks

Ni Ni captured her mama blowing kisses.

Baba captures mama looking foxy in Starbucks. :-)










Ni Ni captures Baba enjoying a Grande Mocha. Ahhh.






I think Violet is like her mama in LOTS of ways. :-)