Happy Memorial Day!

A quick note from Desi:

I haven't heard from Shannon since they left Hunan, but I'm sure she'd want to wish you all a happy Memorial day and say a big thanks to all of our Veterans.

Thank you for your service!

Today is our last day in Hunan. This afternoon we board a plane and head to Guangzhou, our final destination in China. We are there until Friday evening (Friday morning for you). We are hopeful that getting around and eating will be a bit less challenging. According to our current guide, Grace, it should be. We get a new guide there. I hope she is as good as this one. Grace is awesome - very cute and fun. I included a picture of her on this blog.

I am packing and the girls are with Grandma in the pool. It has been closed the last 4 days, which was a real bummer. That was about all we could do here. So, Tierzah's first time swimming. She looked pretty cute in the swimsuit (thanks SEE team!) Grandma is taking pictures, so hopefully I can get some sent to Desi to upload to the blog.

I don't know what kind of computer access we'll have in the new hotel. I may have to resort to using Sheryl's phone. If so, it will cut back on pictures, but I'll do my best.

Enjoy the pictures. They are from Leishi park, which we visited yesterday. It is a beautiful park, but it was raining and foggy, so we didn't stay long. We'll, bye from Changsha, Hunan!

PS - I have attached several pics

The group is all the people we are traveling with.
The girl with Piper on the ride is Sommer, her new friend from California. She is traveling with us.
The rest should be self explanatory.

(By the way, you can click on any picture to see it bigger - Desi)

Well today is our last full day in Hunan. Tomorrow afternoon we head to Guangzhou for our last trek of this adventure. Yesterday was pretty boring around here. We went to the embroidery factory in the morning and then back to the hotel for a whole lot of nothing. You really can't get around here very easily. It isn't even a good idea to just walk around outside. It is so busy here. It makes a walk around Manhattan look like a walk around Lake Harriet. Really! The cars will drive on the sidewalk because the traffic on the street is so bad. You have to be careful because (you were so right, Dad) whatever is bigger has the right-a-way. Even in the cross-walk or on the sidewalk!

Today we are going to Leishi Park. We are looking forward to just being out in the air.

Tierzah is really blossoming. She is chatting away and smiling more, but still not easily. She smiles mostly for Piper and she is quickly becoming "Daddy's girl". It's really sweet to watch Aaron with her. He is smitten! I'll send more pics later today. Right now I am including a few of the novelty pics from Walmart - Bon appetit!

Love and miss you all so much!
Shannon

Yesterday was a great day with Tierzah. She really has started to come out a bit. She is playing and making baby noises and smiling a little. The first couple days she was very stoic. Our guide, Grace, said it is very common. They don't show a lot of expression because they don't have a lot of interaction, so don't learn how to show expression. I find that very sad. But she is starting to! She seems to be learning her name and she knows no and night night. Aaron says that to her and she goes right to sleep!

She finally pooped! Yeah! I don't think I have never been so pleased at that!

I am sending a couple of pics. We are in a hurry to go on a tour of an embroidery factory. I'll send more later.

Shannon

It's official!

As of yesterday it is official - she is legally ours as far as the Chinese government is concerned! We still have the American Consulate appt, which requires way more hoops than the Chinese government, but I am not worried. We've got everything we need.

She slept beautifully again last night. Very solid for about 9 hours. She woke up pretty cranky. She is teething and hasn't had a bowl movement since we've had her. I am really pushing apple juice today to see if we can get that moving. I did give her Gripe water this morning (Thank Kerstin!) about 5 minutes later - happy baby!

Piper had a great moment with her after breakfast. She was holding and rocking her and she fell asleep. Piper was so proud of herself. She said "I've never put a baby to sleep before!"

Food has been tough here - pretty weird things. Frozen Alligator heads and freeze dried pig faces at Walmart! (And you wanted to eat here Dr. Walker!) We enjoyed McDonalds for lunch and Papa Johns for dinner last night - boy would I love a cold glass of skim milk right now. They only have whole powdered milk here.

Today we are going to a museum. It's supposed to be pretty cool. I'll let you know.

By for now - home in 9 days! Whoo hooo - daddy - bring skim milk to the airport please!!!!!!

FYI - I can get and respond to emails. I just can't access the blog. Certain things are blocked in China - Blogspot and facebook are 2 of them.

Love you!
Shannon

She is scared - very stoic. Doesn't cry, but fusses. She has a cold. She slept great last night - about 10 hours and when she woke, she didn't expect anyone to get her. She just laid there. She isn't eating great. I couldn't get her to eat at all yesterday, but she did take a bottle this morning. she is teething too! Gave her a bit of tylenol.

Piper is trying so hard to make her happy. She did get 3 smiles and a giggle, better than anyone else has done, but for the most part she just looks at whomever is holding her. She doesn't like to be put down either. Just held.

Can't wait to be home - the food here is challenging. Yesterday on the Western Buffet they had whole cooked turtles and fried snake!!!!!! I am eating a lot of watermelon.

We have her!

We have her! She is so beautiful and so sweet. She has hardly fussed. She is sleeping soundly right now. We'll see how long that lasts. She is bigger than I thought she'd be. 12 months fits well. She is long. Not chubby, but healthy. It has been a busy day. Tomorrow we have appointments. Pictures! Enjoy.