Guangzhou

So sorry to any of those wondering what is going on!!  It's been a crazy few days and we didn't get a chance to write up a post!  Friday we left Nanning headed for Guangzhou.  Our flight ended up being delayed by a couple of hours and by the time we made it to the hotel here it was around 11:30pm.  Our poor girl was tired and a little scared about all the changes and couldn't get to sleep until around 1:00am.  Unfortunately we had to be back up by 7:00 am so that we could get ready and head out for our medical exam on Saturday.  Xing Yi did great considering and had a fun time playing in the room in the afternoon with Mama and GeGe (big brother) while Dad headed down to work on paperwork.  After a brief but dramatic meltdown (by Xing Yi AND mama) we had a quick nap and headed to Shamian Island for dinner and some shopping.  It was sad for us to see the White Swan hotel all covered in tarps while it is shut down for renovations.  It has been closed for a while now and it really hurt all the shops on the island.  A few favorites were still there but most are gone.  For anyone who has spent a week of their adoption trip there it's sad to see. 

We do love the hotel where we are staying now!  It's very nice and there are plenty of restaurants and a great breakfast buffet.  A welcome change from our previous hotel!  I was sad to leave behind Xing Yi's hometown and I know a piece of my heart will always be there.  But I also know we are now one step closer to home and closer to the medical care she HAS to have.

Her personality is really starting to reveal itself to us and it is clear she will keep us on our toes.  She is sassy, bossy, independent, funny and super sweet!  She loves music and was teaching me some kind of dance she apparently knows.  It was sad to me because I have no way of asking her caregiver what it is so what she was able to show me is all I will ever know.  When we went to visit the orphanage they would not let us come inside so we never got the chance to talk with her caregiver.  She is very much a mama's girl right now.  She loves her dad and likes to play with him or eat with him but right now she is not letting him pick her up or hold her and she wants me in her sights every second.  It's a little tough but an expected part of the process.

Today our guides took us to the jade and pearl markets.  We found a few special pieces to put away for a special occasion just like when we were here with Tyler five years ago.  It's amazing to be back in many of the same places now that we went to with just him and it brings back lots of memories for all of us. 

I have started to ramble so I will wrap up this post.  I will go back and see what parts of the trip we have not posted about yet and do some catch ups - and get some more pictures loaded up as well.  We finally have some free time for the rest of today and most of the day tomorrow!