More about Maya & a little Disney

Leah has made up a few nicknames for Maya - in particular Maya Moo and Maya Picachoo. Joe and I just call her happy baby, because this describes her perfectly. She smiles a lot and giggles very easily. She has been passed around from one family member to the next without complaint (Maya is pictured above with Joe's sister Lucy), although she always reaches for Joe or I when we are near. She is now officially a crawler and loves to get into all the stuff she isn't supposed to touch. She can pick up small objects and finger foods and put them in her mouth quite easily.

Yesterday Joe, Leah and her Uncle Dave all headed out to Disneyland, located near the airport here in Hong Kong. Because it is so brutally hot outside, they only spent a short time there, although it was enough for Leah and she was excited to show me the pictures from the parade and rides.

In two days we will be headed back to the US, so I don't know if I will be able to update this blog before leaving. If not, I will post here once I return home and then will continue with my regular Wordpress blog. Thank you all for leaving comments while we have been traveling. It has been so nice to read such encouraging words from all our friends and family.

Hong Kong

We arrived in Hong Kong two days ago. I took this picture from the plane as we flew in. After saying goodbye to our travel mates, who were all traveling back to the US via Beijing, we hopped on a short 30 minute flight to Hong Kong to spend some time with Joe's family.

Kikalee asked in a recent comment if it is hot in China. While in Guangzhou the temperature hit 102 degrees, so yep, it's hot! I am looking forward to getting back to my very cool air conditioning at home!

A Gift from China

Thanks to Shelley of Mager Madness and one of my travel mates, I found the beautiful store "A Gift from China" just a short walk from the White Swan. As Guangzhou's first charity store, all profits go towards helping orphaned and abandoned children in China. You can read more about the organization that runs the shop, The Good Rock Foundation, here.

Unlike all the rest of the stores near the hotel where you can buy cheap little nicknack's, A Gift from China store has unique hand made items, including a beautiful crocheted doll I purchased for Maya. In an area of overcrowded and loud stores, A Gift from China is a large, serene and beautiful place to shop. It is worth taking some time to look around at all the different items for sale. I am so grateful to have found it and hope that you will take my advice and visit it when you are in Guangzhou too.

Thank God for Starbucks

Yesterday we arrived in Guangzhou and checked into the White Swan hotel. The hotel, situated on a small island in the middle of the city is really a little haven. It is super clean, has an awesome breakfast buffet and everywhere you turn you meet other adoptive parents and their children. Internet connection is pretty expensive in the hotel, so I was thrilled to see a Starbucks only one block away - free wireless Internet and Frappuccinos - YEAH! While blogging from Starbucks, I have Maya on my lap (see picture above) and Leah sleeping on the chair across from me. Even though it is a bit tough to type one handed, it is really nice to have both my girls nearby.

Anyway, we are all doing really well. This morning we walked down to the clinic for Maya's medical examination. She is almost 16 lbs and got a clean bill of health. Tomorrow will be a free day, so I am sure that we will be spending more time in the pool and shopping in the little stores that surround the hotel. On Wednesday we will have the swearing in ceremony and at that time we will officially be a family of four. The following day we will head to Hong Kong to spend time with family.

Leah has adjusted to being a big sister remarkably well, although I think the fact that this has been like a big vacation for her has helped. I know that once we are home and Joe goes back to work then the real adjustment period will begin. How I will be keeping two children occupied for eight hours a day I have no idea!

Mom, I am having trouble connecting to e-mail from here. Hope you guys are doing well - I will e-mail as soon as I can!

Gifts

Have I mentioned how great my husband is recently? Just a few hours ago when we arrived at the South China Pearl factory Joe turned to me and said that he wanted to buy his "girls" a keepsake from our trip. He then let Leah pick out a beautiful necklace for herself, one for her sister and he bought me a beautiful pearl bracelet. I thought this was one of the most thoughtful gestures that my husband has ever made and am so glad that we will all have a little of Guilin to bring home with us.

Pretty packages

Each necklace has an 18 carat gold chain and a sea pearl

My bracelet is made of river pearls, the color of dark grey

(which is naturally colored by iron in the oyster)

Joe working on his bargaining skills

Some of the women at the pearl factory teaching Maya how to crawl

The last few days

We have been to China for a little over a week now and Maya's family for five days. We left the city of Nanning, here in the Guangxi province and took an almost five hour bus trip to Guilin, also in the same province of Maya's birth. Guilin in a small city situated along the Li River. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations here in China and is absolutely beautiful. I feel so fortunate that we were able to come here.

Our first full day here we visited the Seven Star Park. We spent about an hour wandering around and checking out all the scenery. They even had a small zoo in the park with a panda. Also, we were able to burn incense as part of a baby blessing in the Buddhist temple area of the park.

The following day we took a boat tour of the Li River. The tour itself lasted about four hours and was very relaxing. We were able to catch glimpses of farmers and water buffalo, caves and the gorgeous scenery that this region is famous for.

Today we ventured to the Reed Flute Cave, one of the larges of the over three thousand caves in this region. It was used by the local Chinese as a hiding place from the Japanese during the war. We then headed to the South River Pearl Company where we learned how they cultivate pearls.

All throughout the trip in Guilin, along with our adoption agencies representative, we have had two wonderful guides who have made this trip very enjoyable. The more I see of this country the more I fall in love with the culture, food and people. It really has been a pleasure. Leah, for a five year old, has been an exceptional traveler. I am so glad that we bought her with us.

Anyway, tomorrow we will leave for Guangzhou to finalize the adoption and then in a few days head down to Hong Kong to visit family. More pictures of the baby coming soon!

Two Peas in a Pod