Day 9 in China

Ni hao!! Hope everyone is doing well! We are doing very good, just ready to go home!!!! Today was a nice, easy day...we went to a local Folk Art Museum and then to a Tea shop, where we could taste some (more) tea. After that we were back in the hotel. We just relaxed in the afternoon and then we had a "play date" with some new, wonderful friends from Tennessee. Their daughter, Emma, is so beautiful! She was just having a ball, smiling and laughing! The girls played for awhile and we laughed with them. We have hit it off so well with this family...we are going to miss them so much, when we leave China. But they don't live that far away that I'm sure we will stay in contact. Overall, it was a very nice day.

Tomorrow our guides, Amy & Lineker, will be taking all of our paperwork to the Consulate. We have to stay in our rooms for some hours, just in case there are any questions...praying that ALL goes well for us and all the families here! Afterwards, we are going SHOPPING at Shamian Island!! Can't wait!! This is where we can find LOTS of goodies!!

Once again, thank you to all that have left comments for us! We know there are LOTS of you that have been following our most wonderful journey and we THANK YOU for keeping up with us. It truly means the world to us! This has been a Blessed, wonderful, eye-opening experience. To become instant parents to a 16 month old, has been incredible!! Crystina is SO full of life! She's very active...she's really going to keep us young-at-heart! ; )

From just a week ago to now...Crystina has blossomed SO much. She doesn't even seem like the same child that was placed in our arms just 7 days ago. It's amazing what TONS of TLC will do and LOTS of prayers! Crystina has adjusted to us so quickly. When she wakes up in the morning or from her naps, she's always smiling and ready for us to love on her. She has us laughing all the time with the new things that she has learned. But she does have a temper on her...it's her way or no way. We are truly amazed how well she is doing with us. She, finally, has opened up more and more to her daddy! It's truly a blessing!!!!!!

She's always talking...but we have NO idea what she is saying, sounds like Chinese. ; ) ha ha ha ha!!!!! Crystina and Ayden speak the same baby language, so I'm sure they will understand each other.

Here are some pictures of our day...enjoy!!

eating bread...

Ready to go inside the museum...
Going into the museum. Awesome carving!
Chilling out with daddy!
Our sweet girl!!
Check out my hair!!!!! Getting some cool air from a fan...loving it!
Daddies with their girls! Spencer with Quincy (she is SO beautiful!) and Edgar with Crystina.

Park near the museum.
Here I come...catch me!
Mommy helping me off the bed.
"Stop daddy...that tickles!!!!!"
Eating a cracker for the first time...and loving it!

Mouth full of crackers.
Playing with daddy!
So silly!
Kissing her dolly.
LOVE this picture!!!!

This is a traditional head piece from Yunnan (we also have the dress that it goes with).
Being silly.
Playing at lunch.
Being cute, as always!
Flan.........in China???

"It's okay...it's definitely not MY flan!"
Crystina and her Chinese "sister" Emma
Having too much fun!! ; )
Playing with our clean clothes.
Rice...........again??

Showing everyone her "boo-boo"
The most beautiful feet we've ever seen!
Trying to feed herself.
"I'm this big!!"

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Well, we just have 3 more nights here in China! We are so ready to get home.

We wanted to share some little things that we have taken for granted...for example,

• tap water!!!!!!
• ICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to munch on some!
• fresh fruit, that you don't have to peel!!
• SALAD!!! I miss my salads!!
• microwave
• the driving laws...yes, I know.
• car seats for babies!
• respect for the elderly and women...unbelievable!
• and finally, religious freedom!!

Just a few things that we have noticed while our time here. We do get stared at, which we have gotten so used to. We don't get that many stares here in Guangzhou, they must be so used to it. But in Kunming, oh my...stares all the time, especially at the airport. We were the only western people and then with a Chinese child...yep, that calls for TONS of stares! But it was fine, they watched us as we played and showed so much love to Crystina...and most of them would just smile at us.

Well, this is all for now. Thanks for visiting us and for the wonderful comments...we read them over and over and over!!! Miss you all SO SO SO SO much and can't wait until Wednesday night!!!! Sending so much love to all, from China!!!!!! God Bless!!!!