Hi All,
We hope everyone's had a wonderful Christmas. We missed a day so I try to catch up with the events of the week in Nanchang.
It seems that Kyle has attached more to me than Lisa for the moment and he cries loudly whenever he loses sight of me. We're trying to work on that but it is very difficult to overcome, escpecially as early on. He walked around the neighborhood the other day in Lisa's arms just fine - the picture from my last post shows that. We'll keep working on it.
Yesterday we went to a Super Wal-Mart here in Nanchang (about 2 miles from the hotel). We traveled in a large group by bus and most everyone went, so you can imagine the scene of 35 westerners (the only ones for miles, I'm sure!!) parading through the street on the way to Wal-Mart, many clutching their new babies! The Wal-Mart was unusual in that it was in the upper 2 stories of a 3-story building on a major corner near a large public square in town. For the Philly followers, it would be like a bus pulling up on Independence Mall and everyone parading into a building not unlike the Bourse (except a little newer!). Anyway, inside it was all Wal-Mart, and except for the Chinese signs and product packaging, mostly indistinguishable from one in the USA.
Inside, on the upper floor, Kyle and I manned the cart while Lisa picked up a few staples and some nice new clothes for our son. We rode the escalator (with our cart) down to the Checkout/Food floor. It was a huge grocery store with every manner of Food and drink - including fresh fish (in tanks so you could pick out what you wanted) and 2 types of Turtles (for Soup). And of course they had fresh live Frogs for ... don't ask.
We checked out, and met at the KFC restaurant inside the Wal-Mart. We rode the bus home and spent he afternoon in the room. Kyle seems to have a temperature and had not had a well, uhh, how you say, pupu, since we got him, so we were a little worried. Our wonderful guide Cathy checked Kyle gave use some advice and helped us out by giving us some Chinese tea for babies to help Kyle make pupu. He, in fact, did by the next morning so that's really all we need to say about that.
We ate dinner in the hotel and had a faily nice meal. After dinner, we strolled the lobby and sat for a while and listened to a piano player.
I may have mentioned this, but we also got the pictures developed from the disposable cameras we had sent over to Kyle's orphanage. They show him motoring in his walker all over the orphanage inside in the halls and outside around the Courtyard. This may be why he's so unsteady - he's getting stronger every day. He's noticably more stady when he sits and plays syacking cups. They also have some pictures of his crib, and the surrounding cribs (several of them). He had the opportunity to have had lots of close attention from his nanny (she's been with the orphanage for many years. She was (and still is) sad that Kyle has left, and we've been told that she misses him very much. We've agreed to send pictures of Kyle as he grows up back to her so she can see the progress that he makes.
Kyle has a very healthy appetite, and still enjoys mandarin oranges, rice congee and watermelon. He's seems like
he'll try anything. He can even polish off Gerber biscuits by himself, holding them quite well and breaking off bite-sized pieces with his teeth. He's starting bto be much more vocal, and even keeps himself occupied with a personal conversations in his crib as he soothes himself to sleep. He's a very sound sleeper, but if he woke up while I was here in the hotel business center and not in the room, Lisa would have to bring him down so he could see me. This would not be a goos situation for anyone, so let's hope I don't have to type that I see them headed this way across the hotel lobby!!!
Today (Wednesday) was another pretty good day. We didn't have any paperwork to do so Cathy had some sightseeing planned for us here in town. In the AM, we went to a popular local park for a morning walk. It was quite a bit colder today and windy also at the park. We needed our coats and even put Kyle in his winter coat.
The park was very nice and we had a good time. There was a Taoist temple there that we had the chance to walk through. Here are some photos:
It seems the business Center is closing down at 10:35 - so I'm being kicked off. I'll try again later.
Sorry so short tonight...I'll catch up.
Good night.
C
3 comments:
Dear Lisa & Charlie: Another fine, informative blog post. I appreciate all the effort you put into these timely messages. Was a bit miffed, however, when I didn't get my daily dose of China & Kyle yesterday. Got to stay on top of it Charlie LOL As far as Kyle being hesitant to bond with Lisa I remember it took Lisa until her freshmen year at the Mellon to bond with her dear ole Dad. (laughing) I trust that Lisa realizes these things take time and before you know it little Kyle won't let her out of her sight and she will have to make him a junior member of her staff. Farmview Road is never going to be the same again once Kyle arrives. Have a good one. Poppa
Am I correct in assuming that you also get the mail I send to aol ? Or does it go into a big black hole to be read on 1/10? I'm sure Lisa is a little frustrated, but you did know to expect it, as so many others had told you they had the same experience. You're taking the place of someone who was there every day for 15 months. Charlie is replacing a blank slate in Kyle's former life. I'm sure he'll soon learn how lucky he is that he has you. Nine out of ten times Luke STILL shakes his head NO when Mark or Avery hand him to us because we're not them! On Christmas though we did get a kiss goodbye (eyes closed and all)...probably due to the gifts -lots and lots of gifts. KIDDING, of course, but go try gifts. Kidding again... Maybe! This way Charlie will have to carry him throughout China and you can save your back for PA. If you can believe the weatherman (doubtful) the weather in the first week and a half of Jan. is supposed to be above normal temps. and below in precipitation, so you've lucked out with Detroit in contrast to the west coasttravel. Is it my imagination or are people in the group not that friendly? It seems like it would be different with everyone having the babies in common. Love. Hope Kyle is feeling better.
Since I'm not sure whether or not my other mail reaches you, this will have to go on the blog. Bev was telling me tonight that when she got Carlos (6mo) he had gray spots on his cornea (and still does, but no one except Bev notices.)She couldn't wait to get home to have the peditrician check it out. He told her that it was nothing to worry about. That it was somewhat like a birthmark that is rather common in Indians (Carlos) and Asians. Something about during the ice age and crossing more easily to and from Asia the two groups mixed at times and therefore share this same birthmark tendency. He said it wouldn't affect anything, including his eyesight and it hasn't. Interesting. Love.......
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