The White Swan

My apologies to everyone for not updating yesterday. Judging from the emails we got, there are a few junkies out there just "jonesin" for a Gracie fix. Yesterday was a travel day and Grace's only nap, which is when I usually do the blog, was on the airplane. She slept on my lap the whole way, which was only an hour and then was up until bedtime. What can I say about the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou except that it is very luxurious. We almost feel guilty...almost. The breakfast buffet this morning was so big that it will take us all of the four days we're here to sample everything. Tomorrow we're taking the video camera to breakfast, it's that impressive.

Our guide Jack met us at the airport. All of our guides seem very happy to meet us. Since they often have to deal with groups of up to 35 people, we are a plum assignment. We took the shuttle bus back to the hotel, got checked in and just looked around. Gracie was a wonderful traveler. At the airport she sat quietly on a chair and played with a toy truck while our flight was delayed for over half an hour. She slept on the plane and sat on my lap peacefully for the forty minute drive to the hotel. She seems to be a very good natured kid. We were comenting on the fact that she had a pretty idyllic babyhood. The foster family said they were just two retirees who liked to play with babies and we think that's what she did most of the time. She's just content to be with us and play and goes along wherever we drag her. Of course each day brings her out of her shell a little bit more. At dinner last night she had her first "tantrum" and I use that term lightly because it basically consisted of reaching for my drink over and over and bouncing up and down a little when I wouldn't let her have it. Otherwise, when you take something away from her she just goes on to something else. (Sophie and Lily are you taking notes?)

Today Jack took us sightseeing in Guangzhou in the morning. We saw and climbed a Buddhist Pagoda. It was nine stories high with one slightly smaller circular floor on top of another. By the top it was very high and very narrow and I wasn't too keen on standing up there holding Grace for very long so I hightailed it back down pretty quickly. Dave took some video though so I can see it later. Grace was in a really good mood. She kept walking up to all the Chinese kids there and touching their hands or trying to give them a hug. She is very social and desperately needs two big sisters to play with. She has also suddenly become very ticklish and laughs hysterically when we tickle her, whereas before she would just stare at us.

The area around the White Swan has a ton of shops for buying typical Chinese "stuff" so we walked around and got attacked by all the merchants when they saw us with the baby. Of course here we are not the only ones, as all adoptive families from America stay here for their Consulate Appointments. There seems to be a whole industry in Gunagzhou built around selling to American adoptive families, but they do have lots of neat things that are good keepsakes so we'll probably end up buying some of it. Lots of cool things for Sophie and Lily too!

There are two spactacular pools, one with a waterfall, that looks out over the Pearl River so we'll probably spend the afternoon there. Tomorrow we have the medical checkup by an American doctor, then Jack takes all of our paperwork to the Consulate and we wait some more to get it back. Tuesday there's a little swearing in ceremony where we get her visa to enter the US. Wednesday we'll be here just long enough to take advantage of the buffet and then it's off to Hong Kong by train. Friday we fly home. It will be here before we know it. Briarwood Ave: please have the drinks chilled for a Friday evening reunion. We can't wait to see you all. Sophie and Lily: we miss you like crazy and will try to call you Monday morning your time at the cottage. Grace is hearing all kinds of wonderful things about you and can't wait to met you!!!

All our love,