Free Day

Wednesday was a free day for us. We were definitely ready for it! We all finally slept late, till about 6:00am. This really is late for me, I usually get up at 4:30 to go to work. Penelope slept even later. She woke up with a completely full diaper (actually a blow out. Welcome back to diapers, Jason & Michelle). She also woke up with the cutest case of bed head ! 

We changed her sleeper and gave her her first bottle of the day. She likes to hold her bottle herself but she is much more agreeable to letting us hold it for her too, no more death grip. We hope she is learning that she can count on us to feed her whenever she is hungry and that her food will not be taken away. 

Yum-She loved oatmeal!!

We had a lazy morning in the room. She got a bath- she does not like it at all! She is quite capable of sitting up on her own but so far has not chosen to show off that skill at bath time. It takes both of us so far. 

*if anyone has a bath seat/ring we could borrow when we get home let Sarah know. I don't think we'll need it long so not gonna buy one if I don't have to...*

More fun picking out her outfit for the day. I haven't even tried a lot of the clothes I brought. I'm guessing she's going to be swimming in them. I thought she looked awfully cute in this! 

I know, her shoes look huge. 6-12 mos Robeez :). 

 The way she's sitting in the first couple of pictures is how she is a lot of the time. Unless she's interested in something, then her skill level miraculously increases...

 Will sit like a big girl for food! 

Happy girl at the breakfast buffet. 

Housekeeping was ready to clean our room when we got back. Little things like housekeeping are a challenge. If you call for pillows or wash clothes, who knows what you may get. I was trying to tell the housekeeper to please change the sheets because the baby had crumbs everywhere. Later a big stack of sheets came to the room (she did change the sheets too). The thing is, it's not her, it's us. We're the foreigners. Such a different experience!!

We walked around the hotel a bit while our room got cleaned. First stroller ride!!

Jason and Gabe went to check out the fitness center while Penelope and I hung out in the lobby. In a few minutes I noticed a certain smell and realized a diaper change was in order. The ladies room in our hotel lobby did not have a changing table so I improvised. Luckily she is tiny. I put the toilet seat lid down and changed her there. Yes,I used the changing pad. Still, what a cluster! I was sweating, she was crying. Poop on my hands. Try changing the diaper of a limp noodle on an unstable surface. Again, welcome back. 

We decided we had been gone long enough and went back to the room. Penelope took a bottle and a great nap. She woke up to more poop. Everywhere. Outfit ruined-check. Poop on personalized blanket-check. Clean room now smells terrible-check. 

Desperate times did indeed now call for desperate measure. I summoned up everything I learned watching Little House on the Praire and washed the clothes. In the sink. Caroline Ingalls style. 

The positive side- costume change!! Another new outfit and hair bow. 

 

We took a walk down the street to a local park. Again, walking anywhere feels like taking your life in your hands! 

This isn't the street. It's the sidewalk. 

Gabe is becoming the master of taking pictures incognito. He just leaves the camera hanging and snaps away. 

So about the masks- many Chinese people wear them due to the terrible pollution/smog. I have seen so many fashionable variations including minky, plaid, leopard print, & characters on kids. 

It was nice to be out. We enjoyed the park, I'm sure it's beautiful in the spring. We got totally chastised by a group of Chinese grandmas. The clothing police. Penelope was not wearing enough in their opinion. They spoke Chinese but they also spoke the universal language- judgement ;). They pulled her pants up and took off her shoes to checkout her tiny feet. This is not uncommon here so we weren't offended. We showed them our badges that say we are adopting her and they gave us thumbs up :). The babies here are so bundled they literally can't put their arms down. 

We had a quiet night, ate in the hotels Italian restaurant. Penelope loves Pizza! Can't wait to take her to Joe's!! Fell asleep early and we all slept through the night again. 

This is the view beside me right now. 

 

I'm ready for her to wake up! Today is another free day while our paperwork is being processed. We are all ready to come home. 8 more days. 

Loving all your comments! I plan to print them all to save for Penelope. I started this blog as a way to document this for her, I always say I have such a bad memory. I don't want to forget any of this. I never imagined so many people would read and enjoy it. The support and encouragement is wonderful. We are overwhelmed! We are so blessed to be part of such a wonderful community. We miss you JC!!