Thursday,
May 27, 2010
RED COUCH, VISA AND MORE SHOPPING . . .
We were up bright and early this morning and just waiting for
our peanut to stir. She mostly sleeps until after 8 am here and
I am not sure what that will translate to once we are home. She
wakes up slowly and now that she likes me asks me to hold her
and snuggle a bit. Daddy then takes her to the potty and all but
maybe 2 mornings she has been dry. For a tiny tot she has quite
the bladder. We had a challenge this morning and let’s just
leave it at our bathroom was not full functional…off we all went
to breakfast around 8:30 and at this point I think we all are a
bit tired of filling up in the morning in case there is nothing
good to eat later. I did discover the yogurt bar with all sorts
of toppings you can add…nice change for me. I have lived on
bread, ham and cheese here mostly and Mel on French toast or
whatever I bring him.
After breakfast we met our travel mates for a “red couch photo”.
You all have seen them or even been in them chaos is putting it
lightly. Well I had such serene thoughts with only 2 families
and 2 children…Emma put an end to that when we tried to put her
on the couch with JJ and Phin, she punched and scratched Phin
right away oh and yelped and cried. Finally I had Mel sit with
her no change the tiger was in full tiger model. Next we tried
family pictures and after like 15 by accident we got one. Then
we tried each of us with Emma and I feel a funny home video
coming on…I will try to put a slide show on our blog…honestly I
think we took at least 70 photos and maybe 3 are okay. By the
end of it she was crying and not willing for one more photo…a
perfectly pretty outfit was wrinkled as if she had slept in it
for days. Our sense of humor served us well.
We all came back to the room and then I headed out for a few
errands and to buy another suitcase a.k.a elephant. Jordan’s
seems to have the best prices and I also found a few more knick
knacks. Walking back home several shop owners pressured me to
come in, but I just said my husband is waiting on me and kept
walking. We tried to fee Emma noodles for lunch…which she had
asked for and before we knew it she dumped them and we both were
wearing noodles, she also dumped her milk. I told Mel I think
she needs a nap now….
Mel and Emma were in a deep slumber when I left to meet up with
our group to travel back to the consulate to get our brown
envelopes. We rode in a little fan and our travel mates had
their luggage since they were leaving for Hong Kong tonight. Our
driver must have been new as he made u-turn after u-turn and we
all felt a bit car sick…finally we were there. We got our brown
envelopes that will be needed for immigration and then I waited
with our guide for a bus to return to the Swan and our travel
mates headed to the train station.
Once back at the hotel I dropped off Emma’s Chinese name
information to a shop owner who was making a free scroll for us.
I went by Jordan’s once more to pick up a few things I had
forgotten…my list is almost checked off. I returned to the room
and we all headed out again for dinner at Lucy’s. The tiger was
in full tiger mode…milk slung across the table, juice turned
over, food plate picked up and thrown, Finally Mel took her
outside to talk to her, she returned sheepish. I don’t know what
triggers these outburst we think perhaps the milk does not taste
just right and the juice was also not to her liking, but we have
no idea on her food plate other than she might have been
finished. She will only eat with plastic until this phase
passes. We finally finished and were still in all one piece,
what a mess we left. Mel took Emma on back and I stopped off at
a store called Nancy’s right outside the Swan and picked out a
few prints for the girls as gifts for later…shopping done, now I
only need to pick up a few things that are finished tomorrow.
Back in the room it was pretty early so we decided another bath
was in order, Mel suggested I get in the tub this time. I didn’t
think this was a great idea but agreed. Holy cow this girl can
scream, I can’t believe the hotel did not call or come by she
screamed and yelped like she was being tortured, would not play
with her toys. I sponged her off pretty quickly and as soon as
she was in her Daddy’s arms she quit. Wow. surely baths will get
easier; a few nights ago she settled in with Mel and didn’t want
to get out. If they don’t get easier our girl may be walking
around stinky at times. Off topic, I tried to put another bow in
Emma’s hair today and she ripped it out in a flash and Mel said
“the only way you’re going to get a bow in her hair is to glue
it”, I suppose a permanent white one would not be bad…joking. I
am hoping when she sees Ellie Lu with bows she will beg for
one…but I won’t hold my breath. She may have a short pixie
hairdo for awhile if she won’t let me put bows in.
After we all were in our jammies we brought out a treat for
Daddy and of course Emma wanted to share. We played a bit and
she can say Momma so clearly but doesn’t really try other words
much and says a lot of la la la. She would not go to sleep
without me coming to bed…all 3 of us piled in. Of course once I
was in sleep soon came to us all. Now it is early Friday morning
and I can hear the soft breath of Emma, the gentle snore of Mel
and I am making sure my last photos send from yesterday and
finishing up. What a journey this has been and quiet honestly it
is just beginning …getting home and getting settled in with 2
girls and back to our family routine will be challenging I am
sure and then soon there will be doctor appointments for Emma
and then surgery….but for right now I am only taking one day at
a time and today…I have to pack all this up so we can travel
home…..not too much longer until I can squeeze Ellie Lu’s
cheeks!
Our schedule for Friday…breakfast, pack, naps and clean up and
meet our guide at 5:30 China time and leave for the airport. Our
flight departs at 9 pm…hoping for sleep for little Emma and
maybe Mel. We arrive in LA at 5:30 pst Friday night which is
8:30 pm est and then depart LA Saturday morning just after 1 am
pst and fly to Memphis and then on to home from there…if I don’t
get time to post before we depart…thanks for all your sweet
messages and love and support during this journey…we so needed
them to get thru the early days with Emma…life is so good and we
have been truly blessed. |
Our travel group
Packed up and ready to go..
At Jordan's
Taking laundry like Mommy
Red Couch photo
The three of us on the red couch
With Mommy |
