Time to Leave Beijing

We are down to our last hour in the hotel in Beijing.

All I can say is Adios.  This week has got to have been one of the roughest of my life and I'm ready to move forward and into the next phase.  

I am hopeful that meeting up with fellow adoptive families that I know are in Guangzhou the same week are will brighten our spirits and make the last 6 days bearable.   Also, I hear the hotel may be the nicest hotel we've ever stayed at...and frankly- I am READY for that too! :)

We had a good morning with little Miss.  She looked quite unsure what we were doing packing up everything & with no way to communicate it to her- we just took it in stride.  And played with her when we could.

The breakthrough today is we got her to push her baby in the stroller.  I tried putting her in it- and while she did cry, she smiled for a second.. but then wanted out.  

Nights and hoarding and food continue to be battles.  We'll just have to work on them.  Sometimes we have good experiences, sometimes we don't.  She's not ready for me to comfort her yet when she's upset & she hits me and pushes me away.   But only when upset.  Otherwise I can get hugs & even a few kisses & lots of smiles.

She really loves her bitty doll- I'm glad I brought it.  She shows the baby a lot of love & care- maybe the love & care she wanted and never got.  But that will change....... 

Just two little pics of missy.   Playing with her doll.

And as I just finished this- she signed 'more' to me and said it for more food.  This is good.  (Sometimes we practice that with her and she gets mad we make her try!) :)

Closing up the computer.  And heading out to pick up her passport and to the airport.

Wish us luck- it's gonna be a long afternoon.   And a long night.  And an early morning.

We'll probably not update till Saturday night (your Saturday morning).

All you Hoover Hawks- have a blast at the Hoover Happening.  I'm so, so sad to miss it this year!

So long Beijing! Someday maybe we'll be back in less stressful circumstances and with the whole family.  And not in August.

Everything Comes Back to Disney.

Even on adoption trips.  Disney abounds.  Kinda.

Not really- Ok.  So like this one was here first.  Disney KINDA took it from here.  But since I saw it first at Disney.  It's a Disney-thing. 

Today we went to see the Temple of Heaven.  Which, in case you are wondering if I lost my mind blabbering on about Disney (quite possibly being in this stupid room so much)....  that is the temple that is represented in the China pavillion in Epcot.

It's in a really pretty park where the locals often gather for their social activities- such as dancing, singing or playing a type of hacky-sack....

Our ever so apt guide William filled us in on the history- such as this entire structure was built without a nail or beams.   Pretty cool.

I took the time to take some pics of Little Miss.

Who walked a lot again today-

Today's treasures were a Disney Princess & a singular sock. 

Also- we've had a lot of fits today.  It's been a bit wearing.

Hey, look at this handsome dude.

We sat down and watched the activities, which was pretty fun to do......

After our visit to Epcot.  I mean... China's Temple of the Heaven... we took the subway to a random street where our guide got lost and had to ask directions to get into a cab to go to a Hutong.

What is a Hutong?  It's the old Chinese neighborhoods of the past. 

Our Hutong was appareantly the 'Mexican village'....

PS Jules- that's our guide right there in the black with sunglasses, since you asked. Notice how he is nowhere near us?!

We wandered the Hutong... it was fine. 

And came out to a pretty little lake with the Drum Tower in the distance-

Then decided to cab it back to the hotel to attempt KFC for lunch.

Well, that was an epic fail.  Overcrowded.  No English speaking in sight... an attempt to point to items to order.  Order wrong.  Food gross.  No one ate but Meifang.   Oh, and no mashed potatoes.  Just rice there........... which we should have gotten instead of chicken that did not look at all like chicken. 

Back to the hotel for naps...and we're going to venture out again for dinner & rice cakes (Meifang's favorite food).

Tomorrow our van picks us up at noon, to the police station to collect the passport & then to the airport for a 4pm flight to Guangzhou.  It's roughly 3.5 hours on the plane (ugg) and it'll be late & nap will be missed.  I forsee a not so pleasant afternoon/evening.

I will not be updating tomorrow as we will arrive at our next destination late...and then early the next morning we have to be up and out for the Medical Exam & more paperwork.   It's gonna be a crazy two days...

And I'm really, really sick of China.  I wish the plane we were getting on tomorrow was the plane going home.

I hope (please hope with me) our next stop is BETTER than Beijing.  We'll be around more people in our situation & have a better guide..and more food....

Also, I'm starting to cough and fear I may have stressed myself right into sickness.  Let's hope it stays away............

Over and out.. from a VERY homesick gal. 

Summer Palace & The 'Lucky' Olympics

Another day winding down in Beijing.  Two more sleeps in this city & we can move to the next step..and one step closer to home....

Woke up feeling a little blue- homesick for my girls.  Skyped with them for a long time. 

Woke up feeling tired too- everything is wearing us down.  (Well that and my constant 2-3am wake ups). 

Today's plan is Summer Palace (and yes Jen- the guide switched everything up) with a side trip to see the Beijing Olympic Village (Our request).

It was a lot of subway riding. 

And we arrived there.

The Summer Palace is where the Emperor & Empresses spent their summer's in Beijing- away from the Forbidden City.  It was higher elevated- so cooler...

The original burned down and then the "Dragon Lady" rebuilt it up to what it looks like now.  It was a very pretty & serene place and even though a hassle to get to- was a nice refuge from Beijing.  I can see why royalty used it to get away.

The Pagoda's & Bridges & Pavillions all had beautiful painted murals on them-

Apparently the world's largest corrider is located here & on the top features amazing murals that are world famous.  It is also the world's busiest corrider -as that is where all the tourists go.  And with visions of Forbidden City in our heads- we decided to forgo seeing it- And take a more serene path.

The lotus plant is very popular here because it's not only beautiful, but you can eat all parts of the plant- even the bulb.  We actually found out this is what they are selling on the street corners near our hotel- we were wondering what they were........

Summer Palace is on large (man made) lake.  Very pretty.

This is the famous 'marble' boat.   No, it does not actaully float.  It's marble!  The Dragon Lady had it made to take her tea in the morning.  The bottom was recreated to "Western design" (the steamship which was coming into age in the 1850's when she was ruling) but the top was traditional Chinese-

More importantly, we saw a whole a lot of little girl today.   She wanted to walk & she did walk.... a lot!!!

Holding our hands every now and then too!

Ahh, sweetness.....

Little girl is terrified of steps.  We kinda figure she's never seen them before.  Never mind her orpahange was like 4 stories high- I read they never left their 'areas' much and if they did have to go up or down floors- they took the elevator because there are kids with special needs.

It all adds up in our little girls fear of stairs (and many other things).

Ya'll- she TRIED the stairs on her own accord today.  It was only once but hey, that's HUGE progress.

We stopped at a little bridge to listen to some muscians.  Haven't heard an accordian for a long time.  It was a nice rest.

Little Miss danced a bit.  And then got pissed at Dad when threw some of her cheerios to the fish.  Um, Dad- FEEDING ISSUES, remember?  Best not to make her share her coveted food with the fish.  :) Minor mishap based on 'habit' with stuff we do with our girls who were not raised in the orphanage.  We'll get to a point, someday, where she can 'feed' the fish & find delight in it.  Just not yet.

Also, our in our guide's lame attempts to try to 'talk' to her (our request to see if she had any language skills)... he keeps telling her 'to give him her food' (since she's always holding some).   I told him about 100 times that he can't do that- she needs her food to herself becasue of food issues from the orphanage.   He doesn't get it.

Little Miss doesn't like him (I don't blame her- I don't either).

Regardless- we had a pretty good morning with Little Miss....

In a pretty place outside of downtown Beijing.

We had lunch at McDonald's.  Don't judge.  We are in China and  not eating Chinese food.  What can I say- our guide sucks & we are scared to go into authentic places and try to order.  We are picky to begin with & that just would not turn out well.   Survival mode means sticking to what we know.  Plus, from what we've tried to feed Meifang- she doesn't care for the noodles or rice either- goes for THE MEAT (oh, she LOVES meat!!!). 

At the McDonald's I decided to go to the bathroom.  Then I didn't.  I just can't do it people.  Me and the squatty are NOT going to be aquainted here.  I'll hold it (and that's saying a lot for me!).  I've now twice walked into places & into a stall... stared down that squatty and tried to muster the courage to pull my pants down.  And nope.  I can't.  I turn around and head out. 

Back to the subway to find Olympic Park.

In the subway, we were greeted with a little bit of home.

Lisa, please translate for me.  I'm dying to know what this advertisment is.  Why does the dog have glowing red circles under his eyes?  And... why (but oh so appropriate if you knew any pugs) is there a pile of poop next to him?

I am pretty sure that this was just a bit of Godwink we needed in our homesick state.  A little bit of Eddie on the Beijing subway system.  Complete with his poop.

After 3 transfers we made it to Olympic Park.

I wanted to hit this specifically for a reason.

You see, the Beijing Olympics started on 08-08-08 at 8 o'clock.  All very signifigant in Chinese culture as 8 is a luck number.  Now my girl, she was estimated to be born on 8-09-08.  A day after the Olympics started (but possible the day of, the day before, sometime near)...  Regardless, in Chinese culture, those babies born in August of that year are considered "lucky Olympic babies".   And so, I wanted to see Olympic Village.

It was pretty cool!

The Bird's Nest

It was pretty sunny too.  And hot.  But still, cool.

This was headquarters- and was built to resemble both an olympic torch & a dragon.

I don't see the Dragon.  But whatever.

Also.  I told you they were more popular than one would think.....

The Umbrella Hat Souviner Man.

And we totally bought one (not here.. rather at Summer Palace) for you Karl.  Enjoy your China souviner.  Remember, you asked for it. :)

On our way back to the hotel for nap for Little Miss (MUCH NEEDED) I saw this sign highlighting some important reminders when you ride the Beijing Subway System.

Always help your elders down Escalators.

And NEVER bring large panes of glass into the subway.

Thank you.

Over and out.  Another day done.  2 more sleeps in Beijing.  2 more.

A Better Day. And A Great Wall.

First off, I want to give the biggest shout out ever to everybody that reached out to me- it was many & you have no idea how much I needed it and how much it meant.  THANK YOU.

Yesterday was a dark day.  But today was a much brighter one.  I made a tough call to reach out to my agency about 2:30am this morning (1:30pm that time).   The owner of the agency gave me a call and talked me through some serious adoption therapy!   She also contacted the in China rep (who's our guide at our next city) who called me in the morning.   He talked to our guide here in Beijing as well.

All that combined really made the support I needed to get through that so very hard day and on to today.

And you know what, it's been a very good- best of the 7 we've been here- day! Maybe it's because we got out of downtown Beijing.  Maybe because I got to visit one of my 'bucket lists' .  But probably because my little girl had so many great 'firsts' today.

Whatever the combo.  Whatever it was.  It was good.  It was real good.  It was a bit of what this momma's soul needed.  And a bit of what a little Charlie girl's soul needed too!

Today- was Great Wall Day.  My first 7th wonder of the World!  And what a wonder it was!!

I have to say- again- Kurt has NOTHING on the Chinese drivers.  NOTHING.  I honestly can't even look or I'd have a heart attack.  I'm talking... light turns red, it's a two lane road, there are two cars stopped at light in front of us, our driver just decides he's gonna use the other lane to pass them to get a head start on the light.  

I'm talking taking passing cars on curves of a 2 lane without a single slow down.

I'm talking playing chicken with cars, people, bikes- whatever.  Oh. And guess what- no one believes in seat belts.  Or car seats.  Or silly things like that.

We did arrive, somehow, here..............

It was breathtaking.

But before you go up.  Please remember this:

I have no idea what the fire-forbidden area was.  So I just decided to not use fire at all.  Good choice I think.

On our way to the cable car to get up, we passed this guy..and took a picture.

And then right after passed the sign that said "taking pictures of the camel is not free".

Um.  Oops.

The cable car to the top.

Kurt and Meifang share the same fear.  Heights.

This moment may have brought back memories of my dear brother in law in a cable car to the top of Mount Pilates in Switzerland... :) Karl.

But Kurt decided it was worth it at the top!

You guys, I am totally entering a weight lifting contest when I get home.  And I will win.  I climbed the freaking great wall of China with a toddler attached to me.   Kurt and I had to trade on and off as the wall was - well, steep! 

In case you are wondering what treasures made it to the Great Wall- it was a snack cup, A Disney princess & the hotel room service door hanger.

We took some rests...and little girl got brave and walked a tiny bit of the Great Wall.  This is a big 'first'.

The views made the climb so worth it.

Since little miss was willing to be put down and walk just a little.  Momma took some pictures of her on her Great Wall of China!

Momma took a picture with her....

Another family picture.

The Great Wall concluded with my first purchase of a souviner for my girls and Bella.  First off, I WAY overpaid.  I suck at bartering.  I know what you told me Shuping.. I know.  But I still sucked.  Even my guide told me I sucked!  But wait till the girls see what it is- oh boy- it's a winner.

Then we had the long drive back.  Baby Girl was tired.  And though tried to resist settling into me...just couldn't in the end.

Sigh. 

See, good day.

Oh, and she woke up..and she took some water from a water bottle.  Another first (she was scared of it before).

Please disregard the very unsightly double chin.  Not the best angle.

We somehow made it back to the hotel- with lots of near misses on our life.

Also, when driving.  Don't.  If Tired.

Back at the hotel- to unwind with a little 'smallness' for the rest of the evening.

She's running around & playing & folding our towels. 

And peeps- we are down to 2.5 days left in Beijing.  Amen!

Again, big huge thanks to all you who reached out.  You will never know how much I needed it & how much it meant! 

Becca & Sarah- have a great, most wonderful first day of 2nd & 5th grade!  I will never miss anothe first day of school!  I love you both to the moon and back!

Oh, and I was finished writing that up- little miss just ran up to me and gave me a big hug. 

Yes.  Better Day indeed!

Over and out from China!