Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Nanning Day 3

The girls are freshly showered and curled up in their white hotel bathrobes watching Tom and Jerry. Life is good.

Our day started with a trip to the Nanning Zoo this morning. It was nice, but so hot. We were dripping 5-minutes after our driver dropped us off. We watched two shows - a lion, tiger and bear show and the dolphin show. Kara had her first horse ride and the girls fed bunnies. Our options were either going on the roller coasters that they had there, which our guide said were probably not very safe - or do a pony, elephant or camel ride - neither of the latter which looked safe. Mom's choice was the pony. When our guide asked Kara if she wanted to ride it, she said, "No, it's not safe." I said, please let her know that her mommy and daddy wouldn't let her do anything that wasn't safe. After she said ok, I started praying that nothing would happen or else I would really be putting her trust at risk. Fortunately, it was a pretty tame ride. When asked if she liked it, her response was, "It was interesting." Apparently, the verdict was still out, although she was all smiles the entire ride. What she really enjoyed was feeding the bunnies. I think she could have done that all day long. I, on the other hand, wished that I would have never let the girls in with those mangy looking bunnies. Most of them looked ok, but there were a few in there that did not. I made sure they didn't touch any of them and I had them do a thorough scrub-down afterwards. When the airlines limit the luggage weight, don't they realize how many packs of Wet-Wipes I need to bring with me? LOL

Another zoo experience I don't want to forget... Leila got freaked out by her first official Chinese bathroom. She has seen squatty potties since we got here, but I don't even have words to describe what they have at the zoo. There was no way she was going there!! I, on the other hand, didn't want to insult my new daughter. It was an experience, y'all. That's all I have to say.

We came back to the hotel for our regular lunch in the Cantonese restaurant, napped and then headed to KFC for dinner. Yes, we are so American. We've been in Nanning for three days and so far for dinner we have done McDonald's, Pizza Hut and KFC. I should hang my head in shame, but I must add that Kara has either chosen or been very interested in going to each of them. That makes me feel a little bit better.

Kara continues to do great. She is all smiles and very agreeable. I got my first glimpse of a little frustration today when I told her to sit on her bottom in the car. She wants to stand up and move all over. Then a second time when she wanted to grab a new bottled water out of the fridge and I pointed out that she had one already open that was almost full. Other than those two very minor things, she has just been extremely happy. We talk about out trip to Guangzhou and Beijing with our guide and Kara just seems really happy to be going, so we shall see..... So far, all things are going far better than we had imagined.

I had to post this picture of the little monkey (gibbon?) and her baby. It just made me miss Mia so badly. Mia is my little monkey and gives the best monkey hugs in the world. I just can't wait until her sweet little arms and legs are wrapped me!!!

19 comments:

Stacy said...

What great pictures. Sorry you haven't been feeling well - hope it passes and you feel better fast! The girls just look so at home with each other. Glad things are going good! Hugs!

JG said...

Loving the pictures. Your daughters are so beautiful! Hope you feel 100% soon.

Leslie said...

I'm just loving all your posts Michelle. Kara is so adorable, just like her little sis. What a relationship those two are forming right now.
I hope you are back to 100% asap.
Thanks for keeping us all updated.

Unknown said...

What amazing pictures....so happy for you and your family :)

julie said...

Kara is just beautiful and it looks like she is fitting in just perfect with you - her forever family. You are all so blessed. Enjoy your trip and try to stay cool! :-)

day by day said...

Michelle...I am just LOVING seeing these pics of your girls together!!! They look so very sweet together...especially love the one where they are walking with the pink umbrellas.

I hope that you are feeling better!!

Sherri said...

What beautiful pictures. I love the one of them walking hand and hand, that is just too sweet!!
Hope you get to feeling better soon.

Joanne said...

Oh, what precious pictures of your girls! We were in Nanning in Aug/Sept of 2007 and I remember the heat! Before leaving Nanning, you should eat across the street from the hotel, it is a Hunan style restaurant (go w/your guide) and next door there is a place you order at each of the windows and they bring you your food - it was very good also. Sorry I keep posting about food - but we loved the food there : )

Anonymous said...

What awesome pictures of your two biggest girls - and to imagine that in just a bit there will be that little monkey in there with the two of them!!!

Can't wait for more!!!

mom said...

Hopefully, you will be feeling yourself soon. I am so happy for you. I love hearing the Tom and Jerry stories. I wish we would have bought the whole lot. We teased our kids when they picked those out, but they are still their favorite videos from China. Luv the swim caps. Nathan wore his cap we bought in Beijing on Monday at the swim meet. Floods of memories are flowing as I read your journey. Thanks for sharing. Your girls are beautiful inside and out. Blessing, Missy

Heather said...

Oh my goodness Michelle, your girls are so beautiful. Kara seems to be doing well...I have to tell you my roommate when I worked in Disney was an International student from China and she had the neat freak thing down pat...she too was NOT demonstrative with affection and thought us Americans "quite odd" for all the hugging we did:) You keep hugging that beautiful girl Mama!

Please take good care of yourself and kick whatever is working on you (maybe just the overwhelming nature of all of this!). I will add to my prayers hedge of protection against whatever you are feeling.

I absolutely love being able to check in on you all, we have been praying for Mia and with your ending to your post, I know your heart aches to hold her. Soon, sweetie, soon.

Our love to you all,
Heather

Rachel said...

Great pictures! The girls look like they're old friends already. I am so enjoying reading about your adventure and hope all continues to go smoothly.

a Tonggu Momma said...

I'm reading every day! And yes, I am totally impressed that you survived the bathrooms at the zoo. All for a good cause. Praying the transition continues smoothly and that you feel better soon.

Stacy said...

Michelle,

Thanks for the great posts and pictures! It seems like things are going well and I am so happy for you! My favorite pic was of the girls with their unbrellas. They looked like little ladies:) Can't wait for the next post!

Crystal Oh said...

Kara is just beautiful. I haven't been able to get online the last few days and was so excited to see so many pictures when I came to your blog!

I am so happy for all of you that this transition is going smoothly. I hope and pray that it continues that way.

It's beautiful to watch Leila and Kara becoming sisters through these photos. I can't wait to see photos of her and Mia meeting. (I'm sorry you are missing your baby girl so much!)

I'm also hoping and praying that everyone stays happy and safe during the rest of the trip.

Cathy said...

Michelle and Nolan,
It is wonderful to see Laila and Kara playing together and becoming close sisters! Your description of the bathrooms remind me of when Sarah and I were faced with the same in China. It was not a pleasant exerience!

Take care and God Speed!

Cathy and family

SoyJoyChina said...

Just awesome photos!!
Sandra

Rebecca Lily said...

"It was interesting" - ha!!

Praying for you, I know how much you must miss Mia!!!! That was hard for me too, especially near the end of the trip!

Chasing Dreams Photography said...

I am loving the pictures and the post!!!! The girls are just adorable together...I'm sorry your not feeling well : (

{{{hug}}}