Shan Shan's medical exam went well. There were a dozen or more families there, some with crying babies, but
Shan Shan did great. She happily complied with the doctors and nurses. Basically she just got weighed, measured, had her temp taken and was given a general look once over. She has two Mongolian Spots (common in Asian kids) which we at first thought were bruises--they are on her lower back and right buttock. Apparently they go away with time, but it is important to have them documented in her record so that future doctors/day care/who ever else doesn't think we are bruising her.
Today we went to a temple (very interesting for Phil and I--he lit incense and I made offering at the
Quan Yin temple--she is the female Buddha who looks after mothers and orphans) and to the zoo and had a lot of fun looking at the animals. We did get to see a panda and also some little black bear cubs. It was very hot and I ended up getting even more of my back sunburned--I even put lotion on. Ugh--it burns. Phil and
Shan Shan shared some chocolate ice cream and I had red bean ice cream (I love the Asian red bean, it is nutty and a little sweet and very tasty).
Phil is delighted there is a
Starbucks here just a block away. He has been dying for western coffee (and western food). The "island" we are on is mostly just for pedestrians (with some cabs and cars around the perimeter) so it is very pleasant to stroll around and watch all the people. For lunch today (like yesterday) we ate at Subway which is right next to the hotel. It tastes just the same, only we skip most of the vegetables as they are not usually cleaned well and if they are washed they are washed in city water which is pretty much not portable (drinking quality) across China. Everyone here drinks from bottled water, other wise you are likely to get sick.. Phil did get sick several nights ago and I was sick (heaving) yesterday morning but we are pretty good now.
One of the best things we bought here in China was a collapsible stroller. Before we came Phil said we didn't need a stroller and she should just walk. Well, our little girl isn't just smart and cute, she is also (like me) stubborn and precocious. Sometimes she won't walk, she'll just fall to the ground to play or just to have her way. But she loves the stroller (her own personal cab) and my back is all the better for it.
Today
Shan Shan learned to say "I love you" in English. She'll say it to us over and over. I don't know if she knows what it means, but I do say it in Chinese to her at the same time, so maybe she does. She also counts 1, 2,3. She says "lets go,
zola (
zola is the Chinese of "let's go" and she says them both together). When we go to the bathroom she now will say, "all done." Plus Phil taught her to say "
chik a bow bow (from the song
Brickhouse) and she loves to yell that. Her English is so cute!
I have been able to successfully ask if she is thirsty, does she want water, does she want it (what ever "it" is at the time," do you need to go to the bathroom, are your tired and are you all full. I have also been able to tell her she is a good girl, to be gentle, it's okay, I will always be your mama, stop that, don't cry and we are here for her. When I say in Chinese that I am tired (mama lei la) she repeats it after me and just laughs.
There is a lot we don't communicate. She talks up a storm and says so many things we don't know, but at least the basic needs are there.
We had several mini cries today when she couldn't get what she wanted. But she stops quickly and is easily redirected.
Today at dinner the waitress asked her (in Chinese) something to the effect of who is your
baba (daddy) and she pointed to Phil and then who is your mama (mommy) and she pointed to me. We haven't really been calling Phil "
baba" since I am a single adoptive parent and he is not "technically" adopting her. But it is sweet that she thinks of him already as her
baba.
Tonight she fell asleep on the bed between us. She again
layed on the pillow facing me, but she reached behind her for Phil and held his hand until she fell asleep. She is now spontaneously kissing us.
Today she woke up from her nap crying. She had a little pee accident and it really upset her. Otherwise she is very good about telling me she has to go. She says
something like, "
neow ma" (
neow mean pee) and off we go. She
needs little help pulling down her clothes, but otherwise she has it down. Apparently her foster parents just had a hole they used for the toilet and the seat is something new, but she has adapted well. We have had our share of peeing outdoors as it is part of the culture for little kids to just be allowed to pee off to the side of a path or in the weeds if needed. When we were in
Guilin in the big cave she had to go and so we just found a spot between some boulders for her. When there is no Western toilet (or the Western toilet is wet) I just hold her and she goes that way. Most public places don't have
toilet paper so I carry tissues with me.
Tomorrow afternoon we are going to a street market where the special in Chinese medicine. I am going to see about getting treatment for my sunburn. I did buy some clothes for
Shan Shan today, but the shops on the "island" are so geared to the 1000s of adoption
families that come through each year that it doesn't feel like authentic China and I look
forward to going to a more "Chinese" shopping environment. For 315 yuan (~ $35 US) I got two pairs a of shoes, a lady bug sweater, a dress, a "made in China" tee-shirt and two traditional outfits. Clothes are so cheap here (but good quality) and I want to buy more, but who knows if I will have time.
Today was a good mother's day. I have the best present possible just getting to be a mom.
The top picture is outside of the Science and Technology museum in Nanning (the day after we got Quin). The next two pictures are from Elephant Park in Guilin (Quin's home town). The next picture is a picture of Quin in our hotel room in Guilin and the last picture is of Phil and I outside of the Birds Nest--the Olympic Stadium in Beijing.
