The Airplane...then daddy's girl

We arrived in Guangzhou yesterday evening. It was a busy morning packing, but Tian managed to squeeze in a morning nap. We arrived at the airport and she decided to show us her engaging side. She spent the wait and the most of the plane ride begging strangers for food and doing tricks to make them smile at her. She played peek - a boo, held out her hand for food, pretended to talk on a telephone ( she must have seen people do that at the orphange) she jumped up and down - and although she was VERY active she was wonderful. Then, wheather she got tired, the cabin pressure changed or nothing at all she had he Jekyll/Hyde moment and was our screaming banshee. Tian is a woman of extremes and things can change on a dime.

Guangzhou is a beautiful city. Set up very much for the business traveller or tourist. There are many street shops near the hotel and after Tain's nap we hope to do some exploring/shopping. This morning we were able to visit a Bhuddist temple were the babies were blessed by a monk. It was very interesting - much like a Catholic ceremony with a prayer and then incense and sprinkling water. It was a beautiful place and it had many open rooms with various statues of Bhudda. It was very interesting watching many people who came to worship and watching the monks who worked there. Tian discovered a kitten and seemed very intrigued by it - hopefully she won't be traumatized by our menagerie at home. We sata in front of 3 HUGE golden statues of Bhudda and having never done anything like that before - I felt incredibly small. It was easy to understand the awe that the staues themselves inspire.

Next, we visited an art museum. This was family school set up for the family to be educated. It was my dram place. Many buildings - some for sculpture, drawing, reading, gardens - it was very interesting. Tian even called for Tom ( dada) and held out her hands to him for the first time. It was great moment for Tom and quite unexpected. In typical Tian fashion she was back to insisting I hold her so I lugged her around most of the rest of the morning - unless , of course, she was demanding to walk ( yes, she runs th eshow already).

Today I was also able to hold a couple of the other babies in our group - Tian is a moose!! All 4 the babies in our group are very healthy. We have seen so many babies here that were not near as well taken care of. It has made us very grateful to have a baby with the amount of spirit she had that enabled her to thrive. I also think the caregivers at her SWI really took the time to care for the babies there. Many other babies are very malnourished - including a 2 year old boy who is only 16 pounds. I cannot imagine the conditions many of these babies endure. They are fighters and I am amazed at how well they thrive once they go to home with families - either foreign or Chinese. I have heard of very few who have further problems the vast majority just blossom into healthy, normal kids once they get a home

We are anxious to get home and it seems closer as we know we are at our final stop. Tian will have her medical exam for entry into the US tomorrow. Hopefully, she will be her engaging self. The group with us has referred hto her a Sybill - with only 2 personlaties ( wonderful and screaming) I am eager to watch her blossom as she becomes more secure in our family and is able to realx even more.

Trevor - she still LOVES spicy food. Last night at dinner there was some spicy tofu that no one but Tian could stand to eat becasue it was so spicy. She especially loves spicy noodles so I guess our meals will be a lot more spicy from now on.

Tara