Friday, April 18, 2008

Just hangin' in Nanchang

Well it's day six in Nanchang. We're just about ready to move on to Guangzhou. Today we went to a local museum that had some beautiful art and a nice garden area to walk around. The weather was just perfect today so we really enjoyed being outside. Katelyn is doing well overall. She's teething so sometimes she's fussy. Baby tylenol and orajel are our friends. She took a nap for about an hour this morning and then two and a half hours this afternoon (Josh and I even had a nap this afternoon too) so we did pretty well tonight. We ate dinner with some other parents this evening in the hotel restaurant. I ordered a tuna sandwich. The food has been great, I just wanted something familiar. We had pizza last night. In China it's not like it is in the states where there's lots of different food options. Overall, there's just Chinese food...which has many different dishes, but it's not like you walk down the street and see an Indian restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, etc.
Here's the princess hanging out in the room.
Katelyn's friend Ava came over for a while to play.
This is my new friend Leslie and Katelyn's new friend Karlie.

Tomorrow we're going down to Zhangshu City to visit Katelyn's orphanage. We're thankful for the opportunity to go. Not all orphanages will allow you to visit. We feel like it's important to have pictures and videos and to have met the people that have taken care of Katelyn in her first months. It's about an hour and a half from here and one of our guides will be making the trip with us. I will say that our agency's greatest strength is on the travel end of this whole journey. Our guides have been awesome and have really done a lot to accomodate each family. They've taken us on great outings and have found good places to take us to eat. They've gone to the hospital with one family that had a sick baby. They've taken us shopping and have gone out to get extra formula. They've arranged orphanage visits and have arranged for us to have laundry done outside the hotel (for 1/2 the cost). I don't know what we would have done without them. We've been very well taken care of.
China is beautiful and overwhelming...a mix of 21st century and ancient times. A culture that is rich and traditions that are long. This really is an amazing experience and I can't wait to get to tell Katelyn all about her country...and hopefully bring her back here one day to see it for herself.
Two more days and we head to Guangzhou.

3 comments:

Gaia's Touch said...

i just wanted to let you know that i'm thinking of you. the boys and i can't wait to see you all after you get back and to meet my new niece and their cousin.
much love to all three of you,
roni

Anonymous said...

I've been catching up on your blogs and I cannot believe I've been missing out on so many adventures, thoughts, feelings, and PICTURES! My goodness, Katelyn is just precious and lovely and I relish seeing you two hold her. The pic of you Melissa when you first held her put tears in my eyes. Josh her alseep on your chest is so sweet.

I am sending you all so much love and I am so happy you are doing well. This is like a "Lifetime" story.
Thanks for continuing to post and including us on this amazing journey.

Besos,
Doris

Sean and Mic said...

I have really enjoyed following your journey leading up to your referral and now, especially, in China! And your daughter is absolutely beautiful!!! We just got a referral 2 weeks ago, for a Fengcheng baby, and we hope to be in Nanchang the end of May or early June.
Thanks for sharing your trip with the blog world, and for sharing your adorable daughter. Enjoy your trip!