Holla!

Have I shared what my favorite Chinese word is? "holla"...as in the slang of holler :) It means "ok", and Gracie Joy says it all the time.

These pictures are from yesterday. We actually found the pet market today and I have some pics, but have a headache and don't see me downloading pics right now.

I love all these different faces of Gracie:








You have to keep a firm grip on this chick at all times! She has gotten away from us a few times and we have had to run to catch up with her! This time, she hopped up on this bench with this random guy!! He just looked down at her and laughed.


Another favorite Chinese word is "lala". It means "look". I also hear this about a million times a day :) When Richard isn't around she says "baba Lai?" Which means "where's baba?".






My last favorite Chinese word is "waaaaa" You'd have to hear it to get the intonation right. It means "awesome".


Yes, Richard has officially lost his mind. He spends his evenings coloring...not really with Gracie!!! He gets frustrated because she doesn't color in the lines and she messes up his pictures :) lol..... God, help me!!! Have I mentioned that it's really time for him to go back to work!!!


2 more sleeps in Guangzhou, then 1 in Hong Kong, then 28 hours of travel, then HOME!!

More of Guangzhou

We have spent the last couple of days touring both with our group and also on our own. There are tons of models all around the island. It is fun to watch, but amazing that there are SO many!



Yesterday, Richard and I set out to find the pet market. We never found it, but enjoyed wandering on "the other side of the river" :) Here is a look at life on the other side:






Lots and lots of tea.


All of a sudden, we found ourselves on an incredibly busy street. I couldn't believe how crowded this shopping area was.






A side alley.




We ended up in the medicinal market. There were all kinds of crazy things there. We are supposed to go back tomorrow...maybe I'll have the stomach to take pics of it all :)


Today we went to a part of Guangzhou where they held the Asian games. It was a very wealthy part of town and very interresting to see.




We went to the Chen temple. We had gone here last time, but didn't know it by this name. I pulled out the big guns today...Tomcat on the iphone :) Yes...it was a hit. Everyone in the place wanted to know what she was saying "hello" to! lol...


My husband, the hottie. This is the second time a young girl has asked to take a picture with him :) I never noticed last time how tall he is here in China. Pretty cute :)


I am actually getting tired of taking pictures :( It is now very humid here and we are to the point that we're seeing alot of the same things. I will try to get some more pics of Gracie tonight. 3 more sleeps in Guangzhou!!!

Enjoying the Island

This chick is a hoot! She has seemed to calm down a bit, but if there's something within her reach...you'd better watch out!!

Anytime I tell her to take a picture with Baba, she wraps her arm around his neck...very sweet.



Today, looking at the fish in the White Swan. Yes...this was risky...I made Richard take her to make sure she didn't end up swimming with the fish!


I think this is my favorite hairstyle so far :)


My sweet girl.






This girl can eat some noodles!! She is so cute when she shoves them in her mouth and slurps them up!!


We're having a great day so far. We visited a buddist temple (not my favorite outing) and then went to the pearl market. If Gracie had been a little calmer, this would have been more enjoyable...but I got what I needed. I even found some Chinese Dora videos :)

During Gracie's nap I snuck out and visited Starbucks....it was heavenly! I also got to go into a few shops without my energetic 3 yr. old. It was a good break! We are now off to the pet market. We didn't do this last time, but I have a feeling Gracie is going to LOVE it!!

Some of you have asked about my mom. She is doing much better...you are so sweet to ask. They seem to have everything under control at home :) I'm sure they will deserve a long vacation when we get back!!

The Bronze Children

I don't have much time to post, and I had no time to edit these pics like I would have liked, but they are too precious not to share. These were completely unposed, and the moment was so sweet. She was so intrigued by each statue, and took her time with each one. By the time she was done, I had taken a gazillion pics and she had collected quite the crowd. Enjoy!!



















Day 1 in GZ, and so far, Gracie Joy is the only southern belle sporting a big bow :)

Goodbye Changsha!

Every adoptive family says it...and you wonder how it could be true...yet it is. Leaving the birthtown of your daughter is so bitter-sweet. I am so happy to be heading to GZ, but I'm a little sad for sweet Gracie. Our guide, Sam, has been amazing! He has been so patient with Gracie and she loves to see him everyday. Gracie is very vocal and loves to have conversations with him. She talks to us, but obviously, it's not the same. We just don't understand what she's saying and can't give her the response she desires. Sam can.



Sam thinks that the guides in GZ will not be able to understand Gracie because of her Changsha dialect. If this is true, this will be the last time she is able to communicate fully until she learns English. This hurts my heart for her. I know she will learn it fast, and she does communicate with hand gestures and bringing us to what she wants....but it's not the same. On the way to the airport, Sam pulled Gracie into the front seat with him (he was sad to say goodbye to her). I was able to video them talking, singing, counting and laughing the whole way to the airport. All the while, you can see Changsha passing through the windshield. It is precious. I also asked Sam to translate lots of phrases on video for me. It is not the same, but I hope to be able to learn enough to make it a little better. I have been trying hard to pick up as much as I can, and I love it when she understands what I'm saying.

On the way to the airport, Gracie said she had to potty. Before I even realized what she had said, the driver had pulled to the side of the interstate and Sam was getting out to take her potty. He said "It's Chinese Way". I think this might be my favorite picture of the trip so far!! She is peeing!!


Leaving Sam was so hard for me that I sobbed through the airport! The stares are always bad, but just try being a blonde with a Chinese baby...sobbing!!! Oh well, gave them something to talk about. This was a totally different experience than our first trip. I was so defensive with our guide in Nanjing...I didn't want anyone else doing anything for Wesleigh. In hind sight, I could have loosened up a little. Still, having one that can talk and play is alot different!

Here are a couple of pictures from our last day in Changsha:

This is our Gracie! She is wearing the sleeve to the trash can!!! She is crazy!!


Being so gentle with our new friend Clara. It is so awesome to see this side of her!


With one of the bellboys. She has charmed everyone she meets. They all adore her...even though she can be ugly sometimes!!


We are now in Guangzhou, and very happy to be on the second part of our journey. I will post about our flight and our first day here this evening.

Half-Way Home

We are half-way home! We had our last sleep in Changsha, and will head to Guangzhou tonight. My hips have never been so happy! I'm a little on the boney side these days and the hard beds in Changsha have made my hips so sore!! I have heard that the Victory has softer beds...I'm so praying that is true!! I am anxious to see how Gracie does on the flight. It is only an hour, so it will be a good trial for the real thing. Not that it matters...we're getting on that plane no matter what!! Even if she screams the whole way home and the entire plane hates me...I will still be home in the same amount of time!! Of course, I'm not expecting that kind of torture....but just sayin...

It's 8:00am and little missy is still sleeping! I have to say, she is a firecracker when she's awake, but at least she sleeps...hard and long!! Thank you, Lord!! She also really needs her nap during the day. Wesleigh, however, does not need a nap. I was a little worried about this at first, but now I think it's going to be really good. I will be able to spend a little time with Wesleigh alone during the day. I think that with help with our transition time alot.

So...we've already gone to breakfast and are now in the room packing up. Here are some pics we took here in the room:


I know it's blurry, but it shows her outfit :) I don't know if these pants will ever be the same! She'll probably have them too stretched out for Wesleigh to wear again! lol...


Feeding Cade a cookie on Skype this morning.


I love these shots, but just realized that the action I used on them totally brings out my wrinkles!! Oh well...too late now...just don't look at them :)













She is such a hoot! She keeps us laughing all day long! Next post will be from Guangzhou!!