5/9 - Our first full day in Guangzhou ended better than it started. Kim-Kim woke up on her own (happily) at 8:00 and we went down to breakfast to meet the other families. She ate some breakfast and then got a much needed bath. An hour later we met in the lobby to head out on our morning jaunt. The passport photos and medical exam were within walking distance. Kim sat in the chair and looked at the camera, but didn't smile for her picture. Of course she smiles for the camera all the time in the room when it is just us. We waited around while Zhou finished some paperwork and bought her a cute little light up toy to keep her happy. We also found a local fish/seafood store that sold everything LIVE. She was getting discontented at waiting and decided to start roaming. When I picked her up the screaming started again - all the way to the medical exam area (1/4 mile). It wasn't a terrified scream, but a mad "I want down" scream. It was only half tears and not as bad as last night's episode at the airport. I held her till we got to the building and would not let her go. She finally settled and was put down. During the medical exam, she had to go to three stations - height & weight, physical exam, and ENT. She cried and screamed through all of it; everybody did, too. She weighs 25.8 lbs and is 33" tall. (I think, hard to remember with no nerves left.) On the way back to the hotel, we let her walk at her own pace and life was good. STROLLER. We asked the hotel if we could use a stroller for the next few days and they brought one up. She ate some apple, Apple Jacks and cookie in the room for lunch and then took a three hour nap while Daddy fixed the computer. I put her down in the crib and shut all the lights off and she was out. Our hotel is on a small island that is part of Guangzhou, the fifth largest city in China. The island is beautiful with plenty of local shopping. We walked out of the hotel and there were small shops up and down every street that sell all kinds of Chinese souveniers from trinkets to jade and t-shirts to silk comonos. We stopped in three and I bought a little bit everywhere I went. It is hard to decide what to buy because the price is in yeun. $6.75 yeun equals $1 USD. A $200 price tag seems like a lot, but it is really only $30 USD. A salesperson follows you around the entire time and they are truly into sales. You have to ask how much and barter from there. If you put it down they will come down on their price. I heard "last one, make you good deal" a few times today. I headed back to the room with my purchases and to give Dan a break. He had it all under control; the little bug was still sleeping. I took my notebook of important papers and headed down to our meeting with Zhou at 4:30. We filled out papers and papers and papers for the US Embassy appt. Have you ever read the Paper Reduction Act Statement on the bottom of every government form? It's kind of funny. Anyways after papers we walked to Lucy's Bar & Grill for dinner with the stroller. YUM and great idea! I know I will sound American, but that was some of the best food I have had this whole trip: sweet and sour rice on the patio next to the river. It was supposed to be sweet and sour chicken, but the little one decided my chicken was better than Dad's french fries and sandwich. All five families went with their children and we pulled enough tables together to eat as a group outside. As nighttime rolled in, the lights lit up in the trees, on the river and across the river. The atmosphere was similar to the islands (without the drunks) and we both enjoyed it very much. We took a stroll along the river (without a railing) with Kim in the stroller. She likes the stroller better than being carried and was quiet, so we thought she was getting tired. We headed back to the room and she got another bath and played some. Of course, the thought of her being tired was a joke. She was probably just overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and people. Back in the room she was jumping, giggling and playing hard. She tried to crawl in the stroller a few times in the room - this could be a problem. Lights out at 9:00 and she was no where near ready for bed tonight. We layed her down in bed and she wiggled off the end, over top of us, twisted around and did everything but go to sleep. Dan has also nicknamed her the Alabama Red Wiggler (aka worm). After five minutes I had enough and put her in the crib to settle down. When I turned the lights on ten minutes later, she was quiet but standing up in the crib watching Dan sleep. I picked her up and brought her to bed where she finally was out. Even though I enjoy shopping for me, a lot of this is for her. We want to buy her stuff from China, as part of her heritage, to give to her when she is older. We want her to always know where she came from. That is one of the reasons I am trying to be so detailed in this blog. When she is 16 she can read about the trip and her country and I hope it will mean something to her. The shopping thing is what I told Dan. :)