Happy New Year Everyone!!!

It's catch up time, so here without further delay is Lisa (she types much faster than I do)...we are now sitting in a back, dark room of some tiny store (I am serious; it's like something from a movie...); there is one terminal set up in this store room for people to use the internet. It's crazy!!

To catch you all up on the other day, we left Nanchang around Noon on Saturday for Guangzhou. We were all ready to go to warmer weather and American food. I was still feeling very sick. We boarded a China Eastern airlines and you had to board it from the runway (climbing up stairs w/a baby, 2 huge backpacks, another bag and tons of pushing Chinese!) We, of course, were the last row on the flight. I swear that the plane started taxing even before we sat down (just like the U.S., right?) Kyle sat on Charlie's lap for a second and then luckily we had a seat in between us so we plopped him down and strapped him in. He was perfect. He played with the water bottle and wet nap for 1 1/2 hours! He did not seem to mind the flight at all. After our flight, we had a 30-40 min. ride to the White Swan Hotel (on Shamian Island). Guangzhou is very lush and green and very tropical. It's much more modern and wealthier than Nanchang. We checked in around 5 p.m. and then we had to have the baby's visa picture taken at 7 p.m. because China is closed to celebrate the holidays Jan 1-3 (although they were open 12/30 and 12/31). They have all businesses closed now. We didn't end up eating until 8 that night, but Kyle was wide awake and raring to go. We went to Lucy's, the American restaurant where he tasted grilled cheese, french fries, a wrap and apple juice. He didn't really like the fries or grilled cheese. On our way home, we saw a laser light show on the river; all of the hotels are lit up and lasers go all over the river; sort of like Disney. It's pretty neat. We finally got him to bed around 8:45 p.m.

Sorry, for the no paragraphing, but this computer is very antiquated and the keyboard is horrible. Yesterday, we were up and out at 8 a.m. for his medical physical for the US. The facility was very modern and efficient. Each of the babies got weighed (he is now 21.6 lbs.), measured (I can't remember how long); saw the ENT, had a heartbeat and breathing check and just a general once over. Everything was all in order. Yesterday, we met back up with the boy twins, too, and they have the same spots in their eyes like Kyle. Since we were starving post the physical, we hit the breakfast buffet. Now picture that Lisa has been serving Charlie ALL WEEK , all meals, because Kyle screams if Charlie leaves the table....I guess this is payback for the years that I trained Charlie to be on his own! The White Swan is filled with dozens (if not hundreds) of families and adopted children, so the meals are an extravanga of all kinds of children. After breakfast, we took our laundry around the corner and we "borrowed" a stroller, which here, means "you buy something from the store and you borrow for free.." We bought him a Rooster Zodiac hanging (he was born in the Yr of the Rooster) and his first "squeeky" shoes -- they are a riot. It was a whopping $10. We then spent some more of the day shopping around (and being followed from item to item getting the hard sell). We did find a few neat things. The island is very pretty, so we walked around for several hours just strolling and looking at everything. It's about mid - high 60's here (if not in the 70's) so beautiful. People here are really friendly and love to talk to Americans. Kyle loved his stroller (thank goodness, as Charlie's back was breaking carrying him everywhere) so that was a huge hit. We even got him to walk a bit in the playground (as you'll see in the pictures). He also spent alot of time playing with his Itsy Bitsy spider book - he likes all of the textures. Of course, we had to stop for ice cream. The have Haagen Daazs in the deli next to the hotel; so yesterday, he had a dual chocolate and mango and today, he tried chocolate and champagne grape! He is still an eating machine. All of the babies are. I guess that they are playing catchup.

He has started to say "da da" and several other undecipherable words. He still doesn't really play with the other babies, but he spends a lot of time observing them. He likes his crib at the White Swan; the bed has a little pillow (Chinese children sleep with pillows as little babies..very strange) and bumpers. Of course, he had the bumpers all over the place in 2 secs. flat, so I had to rip those off.

Our group is very lucky health wise. Only one of the babies has an ear infection and then a few just have sniffles. We met a woman yesterday whose group adopted from the Guangdong province and the babies were very sick with tonicilitis, head sores, bottom sores and coughs. She said it was very bad. There's a huge playroom here at the hotel sponsored by Mattel of all people filled with Mattel toys, but we haven't gone in there because we are worried he might pick something up so we have stayed away. They did give all of the babies a "Going Home Mattel barbie that is Barbie holding a Chinese little baby girl" - I am sure that he'll keep that as a keepsake, ha.ha.!!!

Today, we went to this huge park here. Now, if you thought that DisneyWorld is crowded on a vacation day when the park is at capacity, multiply that number by 3 and you'll know the amt. of people in this park today. It was out of control!! There are 13 mil people in Guangzhou (and 12.5 mil of them were with us this a.m.) Oh my, then we rode an electric bus to the top of this mountain/hill and had to walk back down about 2-3 miles. It was also broiling. The Chinese are are bundled up in winter wear (including our guide) and we are dying in Tshirts and slacks. They must have a different perception of the heat. They saw one of the little boys with his shirt off and they were all laughing and pointing. Kyle did well in the stroller. He is now getting more open and had to grab some baby's shoe in the elevator and another baby's foot. I am allowed to now push his stroller and occasionally touch him and tickle him; then we get the crocodile tears for daddy (no tears but fake cries). He also roars like a little lion; I don't remember this in his dossier!! Last night, he was so wound up, it took him an hr. to relax (after he does all kinds of aerobics in bed - this baby is Mr. Twisty in and around the crib bars.) He also has given Charlie a few "nips" to keep him in line! Okay, whinny baby is coming now...can't imagine why he doesn't like sitting in this backroom with bags of rice and who knows what!

We are off to a Thai restaurant tonight and then the Chen Family garden and the Zoo tomorrow. Catch you all later......

New Pictures Follow...