Now in random order:
Lisa discovers the secret passage running through the hotel. We are convinced this is how the rat patrol would find us everywhere in a flash. We couldn't get away with a darn thing ;0)
Lisa also makes buddies everywhere we go. This gal took care of us at the porcelain store. I got a beautiful little vase for PIPA that I only hope I can get home safely. It is wrapped well but I am still skittish. Overall, we have done very little shopping yet. I think that will change when we get down south!
PIPA in the Nanchang taxi thinking she is putting the vulcan mind meld on the driver to get us home in one piece. The three of us ventured out independently in Nanchang and got the taxi tour of the city. It was a great way to see what we wanted to see. It still cracks me up that some people are afraid to go to the bathroom without the help of a local guide here. I am still perfectly comfortable jumping in a cab on our own. It has been a great experience with the people here (sans the actual driving).
This is a part that is very hard for me to make sense of. The picture I have here is not even a good one but the abject poverty outside the hotel is very distressing when we go by it....
...and come into this:
It's hard for me...truly. I feel guilty.The drooling diva digs the combs:
PIPO & PIPA at a FREEZING cold museum the other day.
I just LOVE this girl of mine. Every day another layer of her personality comes forth and it is so much fun. She's a smart little fortune cookie. I have discovered she is capable of FAR more than she was letting on at first. We are having a great time discovering each other.I'll check in next from sunny Guangzhou :0)
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34 comments:
Have a good time down south. Check out Suzies Place they were so kind and made me several outfits in no time. You will love the shopping. You both look so happy together such a dream come true. Thanks for taking us along.
Oh my gosh... that last pic just made me teary. Must be the PMS. Or maybe just seeing you so happy with that sweet baby girl in your grasp. This is such a special time for you and she. And I couldn't be happier for you both.
Love all the pics and updates. I think I click over here at least 5 times a day to see if there's anything new.
Hoping for an easy flight to Guangzhou. Have fun during your last week there.
Sorry the weather sucks, but I have to say once again ... DANG cute kid ... and looks like she's got a sweet personality to match. YAY! :)
Love the picture of you guys together. Can't wait for your update from Guangzhou.
You look so cute in that pic with the baby carrier and backpack. Don't you love the Sherpa? I still use mine all the time. The joy on your face is priceless, I am so happy for you!!
Yes, the poverty...it is heart-rending. We walk through beggar strewn streets after church each week and it is so hard. We live so much nicer than so many. I even feel guilty about the very few (handful) of toys Abbey has here, knowing that all the children at our orphanage school have NOTHING. I feel survivors guilt for her. But she now has what we want and hope for all of them to have, a mom.
Abandonment makes a lot more sense when you see the extreme poverty.
Guess what? all the sudden it's raining and cold in Shenzhen. I sure hope Guangzhou is staying warm for you. We had shorts on last week and now we are very cold again.
You will have fun on the island no matter.
I *love* the Vulcan mindmeld pic...really.
I totally get what you're saying about the dichotomy between 'have' and 'have not', and I'd feel weird too.
I'm glad that things are continuing to go well for you and PIPA. :)
Praying for your flight and safe travels friend as you head out of dodge and scamper for the sunny south! Ahhh....now that will be much better!!
Your little cutie pie is as adorable as they come! It must be amazing to daily watch her little personality emerge as she shares a little more of herself day by day by day!
Love you friend! Safe travels for your travelling troupe of 3. So happy to hear that SiL is leaving her funky sickness behind. Never fun!
xoxo
Gosh PIPA's smile lights up a room! I really think you are going to like Guangzhou. I remember really looking forward to leaving Chongqing after being there several days. There wasn't a whole lot to do with Briana in the big city and we were ready to go. We were so happy to finally get to Guangzhou. Your shopping awaits! :)
Hee hee. I walked around the city all on my own with the Tongginator for half a day. One of my travelmates from rural Middle America joined me for part of the day trek. And she completely FREAKED out. To be fair, it didn't help that we walked through the under-street tunnel that ran from the Gloria side of the street to the Pavilion side of the street. (It DID smell like urine.) But she kept gasping and acking and I tried so hard to not laugh.
Continue to have a wonderful trip. Love the pictures and the stories along with them. All the best.
I was just saying to Donna that Lauren is like a new rose that hasn't opened yet and everyday a petal opens more and we are seeing the beautiful smart, fun little one she is. They are all flowers that will be in full bloom before long. So happy to see you and Pipa looking so happy. I think you are glowing!!! You will love the warmer weather and have so much more fun in GZ. Hugs to the beautifl Pipa.. Linda
Great to hear that you are all doing great! Adorable pics of Miss P!
Keep smilin!
I can remember when I was in Nanchang during my second trip to China. I was SO ready to leave from there (we were there beginning-mid March) and it was like heaven once we got to Guangzhou. So glad to hear everything is going so well with the little one!
The contrast between poverty and posh is a small step eh?
She's certainly a cutie and so neat to discover another piece of who she is as the days tick by. Enjoy the warmer weather!
I just love seeing her in your loving arms...what a perfect fit!!What a bummer that it has been raining...hopfully your next stop will have plenty of sunshine.
I am loving your posts! Have a safe trip to Guangzhou, the shopping there is fab and please go to the White Swan for the breakfast buffet (if only once)!
Can't wait until the next post!
So glad everything is going pretty smoothly...love seeing the pictures of you and your girl!
I just love seeing these updates!! Hey - I think you are at the same hotel we stayed at in Nanchang! What was the name? Those doors look so farmiliar.
Pipa is SOOOO stinkin cute!! You two were made for each other.
Smooches from "home"...
So so sweet. You guys look like you have been together forever!
Glad somebody else admits to knowing about the Rat Patrol.
You look like a natural holding your sweet girl.
I had to take a second look at the lobby of your hotel because it looks just like the lobby of the hotel we stayed at in Nanjing. And the museum.. there was one right next to our hotel that also looked similar. Weird.
Glad you all are doing well and that SIL is getting better. I totally know what it's like to be hostage to the hotel. We had a typhoon go through when we were in our province. Totally Sucked (or blew as the case may be)
Wow... look at all those teeth in that pretty little mouth!! C is just so freakin cute I can't stand it, I wanna squeeze her!!
Hoping you have some fabulous warm temp in GZ... enjoy!
Lookin' good as a pack mule:) That is one way to keep your balance...baby in the front all the baby stuff in the back:)
Your girls signature color just might be pink! Such a pretty girl C!
Safe travels to GZ....once you get there you will fee like you are on vacation...and almost home!
People in our travel group were totally dependent on the guides for everything. One couple even asked the guide to insert a suppository when their son was constipated. We got around town in Taxis and had a blast. Maybe it says something about my driving skills that I did not find the driving crazy at all.
Glad that PIPA is such a great sleeper. Our daughter is now, eight months later, finally sleeping through the night.
Good luck to you,Lisa and Pipa for your trip to Guangzhou. Love the vulcan mind meld by the way. It sounds like you guys are doing great and how much fun to finally have your daughter. Can't wait to read your next post from Guangzhou.
Hugs,
Jonni
Wow, love this post, you are telling us much and we really feel for you, all that you are experiencing.
Your hotel lobby looks exactly like ours was in Chongqing City.
Love the pictures of PIPA! She's adorable; you are both getting along great!
Alyzabeth's mommy
Hope your GZ flight was easy and stress free! Enjoy the warmer weather! We LOVED Shamain Is. Fantastic.
Little C is just gorgeous! My Mum came in whilst I was reading your post, and gasped! She said C looks SO much like Tari! So you know, she must be REALLY REALLY good looking then?!!!
I, too, had a difficult time with the poverty. As a result, I just couldn't bring myself to barter. PIPA is beautiful!!!
She is just too sweet for words.
Glad you went on your adventure and toured the city....
I agree, the poverty can be heartbreaking.
Beautiful baby girl!
Great photos! Hope you had a safe flight to Guangzhou. It is very sad to see the poverty. My cousin used to work in an international school in Shanghai and now works in Angola and although she's enjoying her experience definitely sees poverty in the towns all over.
Pipa definitely looks like a very warm and loving child. I can tell in the few short days since you held her in your arms for the first time that she has brought you so much joy already!!
Simply Gorgeous!
Congrats to you...
So pleased that everyone is settled and am harboring major jealousy over PIPA's sleep - goodness, you are a lucky momma!
xo from a momma of 2 MONTHS!
Kim
glad your SIL seems to be feeling better.
Your Pipa just gets cuter and cuter!!!
Heather is visiting at my house. We will be sitting around talking, and then one of us will say, "can you believe C is in China right now?"
We have been saying that the WHOLE time she has been here!!!
Gosh that PIPA of yours is adorable! She really is blossoming under the loving care of her mommy & aunt. The pictures are just wonderful.
Our entire stay was at The White Swan. We spent very little time off Shamian Island due to the SARS concerns & the taxi drivers. My husband couldn't brave the taxis more than twice. We were truly sheltered from the poverty that most people see when they travel but things were still bad at that time.
Enjoy Guangzhou!
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