A free day in Guangzhou...sorta

Pretty girl in her Care Package outfit

Medical appointment in Guangzhou

Last night's dinner at the famous Italian restaurant was fantastic. Michael knows where Americans can eat safely and where they will enjoy a taste of home as we near the end of this loooong adventure. Since Italian is my favorite type of dish anyway, I was salivating by the time we got there. It was a pleasant 10 minute walk from our hotel. The white, 3-story building it was in looked spectacular at night with the pretty white lights that I like. Places are not stroller friendly here, so after climbing 3 stories with the "Empress" in her thrown, we arrived to a banquet style seating for about 10 families. There are so many servers waiting on you each minute; I will surely miss the service we receive over here. I ordered a meat lasagna entree for Fu Mei and I and after she was done with her umpteenth fit of the day, she devoured it. It really was good, but I am now craving Ken's lasagna even more. I paid 48 Yuan for the lasagna (under $7.50) and 30 Yuan for the Sprite (about $4.50 ugh!). Julee ordered the Lasagna with mushrooms but it came with a white sauce so she wasn't as happy with hers as she was with mine! I may never get my own meal again! Tricia had the risotto with mushrooms (yum!) and Garrett got a giant calzone! It was another thoroughly enjoyable time! We hurried back home to Skype with Al again and Fu Mei hopped right on the microphone and told her dad all about everything. Soon she will put a face to the voice. I know he is looking forward to it, I can tell he can't wait any longer!!

There never really is a completely free day to spend as you wish but today (Tuesday, March 10th) we don't have much planned. It is an important paperwork day but I do not have to be present for it. Today is our Consulate Appointment (CA). Michael Walker Michael took all of my paperworks to the Consulate and the paperworks is being "interviewed" as we speak. He told me that one form needs my signature but that will be no problem. One more day of paperworks and I am home free!

Later, we are going to the pearl market by taxi. It still isn't sunny but the temp is pleasant. We see the boats going by on the river outside our hotel room and Fu Mei likes to look at them. Tricia taught her "boat" today! "Shoes" yesterday and "boat" today! She may not be speaking any Chinese by the time we get home. But still, it is fascinating to me to watch her learn and adapt. Michael speaks to her in Chinese and I love to watch her listen to him. You can just feel the relief on her body as she listens and understands. We have tried the TV a couple of times. There was a cartoon we thought she would like but she was too busy playing and pushing around her stroller and taking all her toys and putting them in the basket. When she is doing this, she seems perfectly confident and content. It is a nice sign. All 3 year olds like to push strollers and place their toys in one spot for safe keeping. I liked it when she took her slippers and tried to put them on the baby doll. She is doing really really well. Just the language part is frustrating for all of us!

Oh gosh, how could I forget yesterday's remarkable shopping experience? Ok, you know I have been trying to buy this kid a pair of shoes for how long now? Ever since we got her referral I have been trying to determine her shoe size. I still don't know it but I just measure up the shoe with the one I am trying to buy. In Hefei, she got a new white pair that was a size 19 but a 19 here in Guangzhou is not the same. Anyway, I have been trying to buy her a pair of black Mary Jane looking shoes. She is not interested and she won't wear the white ones either. So, we keep putting on her brown Gotcha boots that she came with. They are hideous to me, but she loves them and I like that they make her happy. Well yesterday, after looking at many more black squeaky shoes and each being turned down by Fu Mei, a lady at one of the stores told me that since Fu Mei is a little older, she would probably not like a dark shoe. And that little Chinese girls would probably like a brighter color shoe, like pink or yellow or something. So she went back and brought out 4 new pairs of shoes. 3 different shades of pink and something else. She asked Fu Mei if she liked them and her arm flew out and her finger pointed to the bright pink one! 3 seconds later, her foot was stuck out to try on her new shoe!!!!!!!!!!! She loved them. She also like the pale pink ones and the all the other pretty colored ones!!!!!!!! Oh lordy! Had I only known...the child did not want a dark shoe! How was I supposed to know?? So now, I can't get them off her, she pitched a major fit last night taking off her clothes and shoes. The days are getting harder as she gets more comfortable AND defiant. I am so happy she is showing her emotions though! It is all good! Just so hard!

Happy Birthday Ken. Today we are the same age since you are now 45 and I am also 45 in China (since my paperworks was frozen back in 2006 here, that is how old I am too). That is my story and I am sticking to it!