{China #6} An Up & Down Day

Emerson slept great last night!  Somehow a good night’s rest for all of us helps us cope with the ups and downs of the day. 

As usual, breakfast was hard.  Emerson cried, not wanting me to hold her, so she wandered around the tables, crying (probably looking for her foster mom).  Finally I picked her up (she didn’t like that) and brought her back to our table to eat.  She sat on my, lap, eating her bread and cried softly.  After Chase was done eating his breakfast, I had her sit on his lap, so that I could get my breakfast.  And you guessed it, she immediately calmed down and sat quietly on his lap.

When we came back up to our room, walking on her own, she didn’t cry and played nicely and quietly for the next hour as we skyped the kids and my parents again.  Aubs and Abram seemed pretty excited to see Emerson, but Emerson never really responded to them.

A bit later, Chase and I took Emerson out for a walk while Jeff had some alone time.  She loved the walk and though she didn’t cry when we came back, neither did she want to get out of the stroller (her way of saying she wants to be on the “go”).  Of course she got her way and we all headed out to the super market to kill some time and take pictures of the CRAZY things that they sold….try purchasing a fat frog, they will butcher it while you wait and we could take it home for “good eats”.  We picked up a few steamed buns at the bakery for lunch (no, not fried frog legs or roasted turtle ☺) and headed back to the hotel.

{buying steamed buns at the grocery store}

{Turtles & Frogs at the Grocery Store}

After Emerson’s nap, our tour guide picked us up and we went to the People’s Park - a huge and beautiful park.  We walked around, fed the fish and talked with our tour guide a bit.  She took us to a porcelain shop (this province is well known for exporting porcelain).  I wasn’t able to find exactly what I wanted and I was croaking over the prices…I think they were wanting for us spend big $$$.  After walking out empty handed, Emerson was upset/sad, so we decided to go back to the hotel.

{People's Park}

{Feeding fish at the People's Park}

One word of warning to those who are adopting in China and in a cooler season….no matter how much you bundle up your child, it’s never seems to be enough in their eyes.  We’ve seen kids that are SO bundled, that they are almost just as wide as what they are tall (it’s really cute to see them waddle around ☺) and the temperatures have been 30-40 degrees.  This got to me today, as I’ve tried SO much to dress Emerson in layers and bundled her up….but yet to be royally scolded.  I know, I know….I need to roll with it, smile, apologize and go on.  I experienced this last time with Abram…and if the Chinese would see him romping about our house in the middle of winter without a shirt on…  But you also have to keep in mind that they do not heat their houses (according to our tour guide, which is believable from the buildings we’ve been in), which seems absolutely crazy to us.  And it’s also the coldest weather that they’ve had all winter right now (figures).  

When we got back Emerson played with stickers.  She loves to mimic whatever we’re doing…whether it’s stringing Cheerios on a string, drinking from a water bottle, playing with Play-Doh, repeating words after Chase (she said “one ball” today), or cleaning the carpet because she watched me clean Play-Doh out of the carpet.  ☺   

{Stickers with Mommy}

{Stringing Cheerios}

Tonight, Jeff ran down the street to pick up some KFC (I know…real healthy here). After seeing the different items in the supermarket (dried sea horse, turtle, frog..)…we are a bit leery of trying any Chinese restaurant, unless it’s been recommended.  Emerson had another sad “spell” during and after supper, but it didn’t last too long.  We’ve been thankful to have the Olympics to watch, even if it’s curling (Jeff looked up the rules & scoring online).  It’s been a diversion for all of us, including Emerson.

Before bedtime, Emerson really opened up while we watched TV.  She was talking, laughing, giggling, smiling with Jeff and I around…way more than any other time thus far.  We caught a few on video and a couple ok pictures, but always seemed to miss the best moments.  This opening up was very encouraging, because up to this point, when we’re out in public she is VERY quiet and completely stone faced/expressionless.  It reminded us of the same blank stares that Abram gave when we first got him.  There’s no blank stares with him anymore!! ☺

Tomorrow and Friday are pretty much free days for us until we leave Friday evening for Guangzhou.  It may snow here again tonight (Wed night), which could put a damper on things.  And it’s too cold to just “hang out” at a park.  Pray that we can be creative in how we spend these next two days.  

~Jeff, Chelby, Chase & Emerson