Guangzhou

Makenna gets happier everyday. I am not saying it is easy now, it is NOT. This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I know she is worth it and when we get home this will all start to fade. When she is happy she is so much fun! She is also very curious and busy. I can never sit still unless she is sleeping.I will post more about China when I can but Makenna is the focus of every minute right now. I know what people mean when they say this is not a vacation or tourist trip. It is all about her and what she needs, and that is ok with me because I can see what a wonderful baby she really is. Anyway here are a couple new photos of Makenna.She is so cute!

Leaving for Guangzhou

This morning we are flying to Guangzhou. I really like Nanchang and if I were here for different reasons I might like to stay BUT I am so happy to be one day closer to home! Makenna had lots of smiley, happy times yesterday and several periods of crying inconsolably. But those happy grins help you through the tough parts. I managed to have a 12 year old girl who is learning english help me pick out a gift for Liv at the street market near our hotel. Very interesting experience at the street market. A real glimpse of what life is really like here. Well I have to pack so wish us luck on Makenna's first flight!

Better every day

Makenna gets a little more relaxed every day. She is still attached to me like velcro but will venture a little bit holding my hand. She can't walk by herself but can do ok holding one hand. I can tell she has not had much practice at being on the ground :) There is so much to tell about China and Nanchang but you really want to see pictures and that is about all I have time for while she sleeps!

Getting used to us

I have not had time to post much info because Makenna is on me all the time! She wants to be held all day. So far she has spent most of the time crying or sleeping but we have had a few glimpses of the happy girl that I'm sure is in there. She won't sit in a high chair or a stroller so I carry her all day. I am so happy I brought a baby sling. It has been a lifesaver. She is adorable and seems very healthy and loved. Her grief is so hard to watch sometimes it makes me cry. She cries out for Mama when she is sad and that is not me yet. We make a little progress every day and I know it will get better. Meanwhile enjoy the smiley picture it was the first one we managed to get so far!

Makenna

Nanchang

Coming to Nanchang was very different from Beijing. Beijing was like a Disney World version of China almost. Very clean, shiny, and touristy. The people in Nanchang live the way most people in China do. Our hotel is very nice and within walking distance of several shops and restaurants. Most people here do not speak much english but they are very polite and eager to try and help. Dinner tonight was at the hotel where four of us had four people waiting on us! None of them spoke more than a few words of english so ordering was a challenge. The food turned out to be great(even though the chicken dish was a whole chicken on the plate with the chicken head staring at us!) And the whole meal for four of us including drinks came to about 30 US dollars. This is for a very nice meal at the five star hotel. Eating at a local restaurant will cost even less.

Tomorrow at 11am (that is 11 pm for all you Louisville people) we go to the civil affairs office to meet Makenna! When we checked into the hotel they already had a crib and a baby bathtub in our room. I am so excited I hope I can sleep tonight because I need it.
The next post will have the pictures you have all been waiting for!!!

More pictures

More pictures of the day.