An afternoon at the pool!

Aunt Chimene teaching Emily to pose

Another pose, you go girl!

Work it!

Mommy and Emily in the pool!

Loving the water!

Taking a break!

Em's new floaty, Thanks Aunt Chimene for going to get it!!!!

Well, we finally made it to the pool! Aunt Chimene didn't want to go in because she wasn't feeling well so it was just Em and I. I first took Emily into the big pool and she started to cry. I couldn't believe that a girl that loved her baths so much, didn't like the swimming pool. So I took her into the kiddie pool and sat with her and tried to get her to splash around like she does in the tub. After a few minutes in the kiddie pool I thought I would try it again in the big pool. This time she started to like it. The girl finally had no fear in the pool. She jumped in too. I am so happy that she likes the water since we live by so much of it. Aunt Chimene went got Emily a floaty for the pool. She liked it a lot. Emily even went under the water a few times too and didn't seem to mind. I taught her to hold her nose and put her face in the water, she actually did it, so cute! So mommy and Emily spent the afternoon in the pool while Aunt Chimene basked in the heat of shade. It was fun to watch Aunt Chimene try and take pictures of us in the pool, they do not like you to take pics at the pool, but we did anyways! It was a nice relaxing afternoon followed by a dinner at The Cow and Bridge for our usual. We are so going to miss that restaurant, but Chimene and I can't wait to come home. We both miss our loved one so much!

Pics!!!!

I thought this photo was so sweet! We were

in the bathroom and she started looking in the

little mirror at herself. I called to Chimene

to grab the camera and this photo is priceless!

Thanks for capturing the moment, sis!

This is a new fav of Emily. She likes to come and sit

on our laps when she is tired. It is so sweet.

She will grab her blanket and of course put the thumb

in her mouth and just lay on your lap. I especially

love this photo of Aunt Chimene and her. It is so precious!

Ok, I post all the sweet Emily pics, but this is the

real Emily! Sassy and wanting mommy to hold her.

She will let Aunt Chimene hold her sometimes, but

she is a mommy's girl all the way. With that being

said I know how my sister secretly is laughing.

She has been a savior on this trip for me and I am

so glad that she was able to leaver her family and

come with me to get my daughter!

I love her little hands!

The first night we brought her back to the hotel

we decided to give her a bath. Her little legs were

so dry. I heard that most of them had dry skin so after the

bath, I laid her on the bed and lubed her up with Johnson's

Baby lotion. Well after that first night she will sit and put her

little hands out and wait for you to put some lotion in them.

I taught her to rub them together and then rub them on her body.

It is so cute! I love bath time and Aunt Chimene and I have

been sharing in the fun.

The famous Red Couch photos and the Pearl River Cruise

Emily in her Red couch outfit

A new face Aunt Chimene taught her, thanks again sis!!!!

Mommy and Emily

Mommy and Emily making "The face"

Mommy and Em in front of the waterfall at The White Swan

The Kuhagen's from Wisconsin

The Sheron's from North Carolina

The Norris' from Tennessee

The Guangdong Province girls and Ezra

Emily and Ezra on the Red couch

The whole travel group

The famous Red couch photo, only one crier!

The Pearl River Cruise

Aunt Chimene and Emily

Natalie and Emily on the boat

For those of you not familiar with Chinese Adoption when you come to Guangzhou, to the White Swan Hotel, they have red couches in the lobby. These couches have been famous for many adoption group photos over the years. They place all the adopted children from the group on the couch for a group photo. Some of the children cry and some are really good. Emily did really well on the couch, she just never looked at the camera. So I am hoping that I can get a photo from someone else in our group that actually got a face shot of her. Ezra was the only boy amongst the sea of girls and he was a ham. She is such a sweet little one. Emily and he are friends and enemies too! They share at times and then hit each other at times too. The group photo went well today it was just warm being in the spot light, lol!

After Emily's nap and her lunch we decided to go out and see if we could find a suitcase for Emily's stuff and all the souvenirs I bought. We luckily found a great deal and bargained even further to get the piece of luggage (which is quite nice), two pair of shoes for Emily, a ball for her that she likes in the play room, at little purse, a wallet, and a jade turtle for $31 US dollars! Not too bad!!!!! And Jordan, the store owner wrote Emily's name in calligraphy and Chinese symbols for free. Gotta love shopping in China!

This evening we went on a Pearl River cruise. Shiyan ordered us Papa John's pizza and we ate on the boat. After eating we went up top and looked at all the buildings along the river. We also were entertained by a clown on the second floor. She juggled and Emily was captivated by her. We were all exhausted when got back. Tomorrow we have to get up early and walk to the Medical Clinic to get Emily's TB test read. It looks good so I am hoping it all goes well. Night all, only 4 more days and we will be headed home! Funny thing is my sister and I have been craving Doritos and popcorn and of course, I miss my diet Pepsi...Coke Zero just isn't the same.

TB test and more rain!

Emily playing with her puzzle and of course sucking that thumb!

Working on her puzzle

Emily making the face that Aunt Chimene taught her the other day!

Mommy and Emily making "The Face"!

Dinner at the Cow and Bridge

We had to go to the Medical Examination Clinic this morning after breakfast to get Emily's TB test done. Another family from our Gaungzhou group had to get one too. Natalie went first and was very brave, she barely even shed a tear. Next it was Emily's turn and the nurse cleaned off her arm and she started to whimper. Next came the ouchie, she started to cry poor girl. I think she was more upset by the bubble under her skin than the needle stick. After that Natalie's mom, LeAnn and I walked back to the hotel. So far it looks good. Chimene said that she has a little bump, but thinks it is ok. I really hope it is ok, otherwise that may delay our departure home. Prayers would be greatly appreciated for Emily's TB test to be alright so that we may get to come home to the states on Thursday.

The morning was nice today, the sun was out and it was very warm already at 9am. We had planned to go to the street market this afternoon with our friends Jeremy, Amanda and Ezra, but after nap time it started to thunder and the rain came down again. So no street market again today! This evening we went to our favorite restaurant, The Cow and Bridge for Thai food. We had our usual, chicken fried rice, spicy pork lettuce wraps and tried the spring roll tonight too. Yummy!!!! Emily loved the rice, but not the chicken! She even got to go to the playroom today and had fun with Ezra and some new friends too. My girl loves her bath time and likes to help after her bath to put lotion on...it is so cute, she holds out her hands and waits for you to put lotion on them.

Last night Shiyan took us all out for a traditional Chinese dinner. Yes Dad, it was the Wheel of Fortune, LOL!!!! They have a huge lazy susan in the middle of the table and place the food on it and you spin it around to get your food. Quite interesting, but the food was not undefinable on this adventure. Shiyan said that she orders conservatively, so it was all pretty good. We had sweet and sour pork, another pork dish with red and yellow peppers, garlic broccoli, and pea pods. There were a couple rice dishes too. It was all alright, but Emily was not happy with the cuisine at all. She ate a couple pieces of broccoli and liked the pork in the pepper dish. Otherwise, she was fussy throughout the whole meal, which was so much fun! We were glad that we got to have dinner by ourselves tonight. We ended our night with a little shopping and did some bargaining too. I got some more Christmas presents and a couple more things for Emily as she grows. Tomorrow is picture day with the group and a river cruise in the evening.

Guangzhou Folk Art Museum

Getting ready to go to Museum

Courtyard

Roof architecture

Courtyard

Me and Emily

Silk thread pictures...so beautiful

Aunt Chimene and Emily

The five goat statue

Emily eating her first ice cream bar

Today we went to the Guangzhou Folk Art Museum. It was very beautiful with lots of artists doing their crafts. It had a center courtyard and amazing characters on the roof. Shiyan told us they were Fairy Tales. Emily was content in her stroller and of course eating her way through the museum. We also visited Yuexiu Park. Shiyan told us about the five goats that represent Guangzhou. She told us it was up just a few stairs....yeah right! It was a lot of stairs and of course hotter than all get out and muggy too. So we made it to the top to see a big statue of five goats and that was all that was up there, besides a gift shop of course! So back down we trucked after taking a pic or two. At the bottom we got an ice cream and Emily had her first ice cream bar with mommy! She liked her ice cream just about as much I do. We got back to the White Swan for a quick nap and then off to the Pearl Market. Holy Cow...the market has about 7 floors of all kinds of beads and pearls. A jewelry makers paradise! So Shiyan took us to a store on the 5th floor and the bargaining began. They showed us tons of different pearls in a various colors. I chose some pearls and they string them right there as you wait. Shiyan told us that when we were done we could go out and hail a taxi...lol!!!! Yeah, what an experience in China! There is no rhyme or reason and the Chinese do not take turns it is be aggressive or wait and wait and wait. So after much dismay we went back and waited for Shiyan. She got us two vans to take back to the hotel. Ahhh...safely back at the hotel! It is so nice here you really never have to leave. This morning was especially nice too, my parents called to so hello and see how we were doing and to talk to Emily. Plus, I got a great surprise to talk to Brian as well. He went to dinner at their house and it was so nice to hear his voice. I miss you, Brian and I miss you too, mom and dad! What a pleasant way to start the day to hear from the ones you love!