Shanghai Days 6 and 7 (Wed. and Thurs.)

Yes, we are still here and doing well!  For some reason, adding a little 2 year old to our family interrupts my blogging time - wonder why??

The last 2 days started out about the same - we woke up early before Lily and took turns to shower really quick before she woke up.  To all the mommy's I've seen in the stores wondering why you couldn't do a little more to get ready for the day,  I'm sorry for my thoughts towards you.  I now get it.  I'm now hair pulled back out of my face, comfy clothes (sometimes even clean and free of crumbs!) and a purse full of toys, bottles, cherrios and sippy cups.  If I'm ever caught in an emergency at least I'll have something to drink and a snack!

After Lily wakes up, has a bottle and gets dressed, we head down to the breakfast buffet.  We are finding out what she likes to eat:  rice, turkey, rolls/bread, oatmeal, and her favorite this morning was Shanghai noodles.  Looks like somebody's Daddy is going to have to start adding some new recipes to his cooking.

Toys or fried rice...that's a tough choice!

Mmmm, that's pretty good!

Coffee anyone?  Yes, please!  Make that a double.

Yesterday we went to see the skyline of Shanghai and then to a little market.  It was rainy but good to get out for a bit.  It's so strange seeing such buildings and infrastructure in a major city yet at the same time, they don't have clean water.  By the way, I'm a pro now at brushing my teeth using only bottled water!

First time to "wear" Lily with the baby holder

Family picture in front of the Shanghai skyline

Today (Thursday) we went for about a 45 minute car ride to the orphanage.  We were given the option of taking a tour but we declined as we didn't want to take Lily back inside and create any mixed emotions for her.  We did want to see the front as that was her "finding spot".  She was left outside the gates of the orphanage - literally just abandoned.  Some family made the decision, for whatever reason, that she would be better off being left and being given the opportunity to a new life. One family's tragic story becomes our family's love story.  Their hearts must ache each day and ours are so full. How ironic is that?

The gates into the orphanage.  In Lily's story, it's stated she was found outside the gates.

Looking out from the orphanage

Last time inside those gates for Lily and us

A few words to describe the last few days: wonderful, loving, fun, tiring, exhausting, trying, and at times frustrating.  But most of all - absolutely the best ever!  Nobody ever said being a parent is easy nor adopting a toddler from an orphanage.  Lily is attaching to us more and more each day.  She is definitely attached a bit more to me right now.  Of course, that makes since given the fact that she's only been around females for the past two years. We are making it work - I take care of Lily and Michael is doing all the other things (laundry, getting food, shopping as needed, getting things we need). We know this will begin to shift to more of a balanced plan the farther on this journey we go. Tonight we saw a bit of a change already at dinner. Lily was really interacting with Michael: letting him give her french fries, turkey and napkins (she likes to wipe her hands and mouth as she eats!) and giving things to him.  Baby steps for all of us!

A few thoughts about Lily:

She likes to have her shoes on.  All. The. Time.

She's tiny - wearing usually 18-24 month old clothes.

She is tolerating a quick wipe down with a washcloth. Very quick.

She will point to things she wants.

She will turn her head away from something she doesn't want.

She doesn't like having her teeth brushed.

She doesn't like crumbs on her hands.  Thus, her mommy is full of crumbs!

She likes cherrios, chicken nuggets, fries, noodles, rice, and cookies.

She still drinks several bottles a day. (Probably easier for the orphanage just to go by and give everyone a bottle)

She is learning to use a spoon.
She likes to watch her Daddy.

She uses both hands but tends to use the right hand more often.  Yea! No offense to any lefties out there.

When she doesn't get a nap, the evening can be loud!

She loves snuggling.

She likes to people watch.

She likes to hold one of your fingers when she walks.

She doesn't like to not have clothes on. This makes changing fun!

She loves drinking water out of a sippy cup.

She sleeps about 10 hours a night. Fingers crossed this stays true.

She helps when getting dressed.

She helps to put her toys in my purse when it's time to go.

She loves the little purple ball we brought.

She is a master at stacking/nesting blocks!

Tomorrow is a travel day for us.  We'll leave here around noon and take an afternoon, two hour flight from Shanghai to Guangzhou.  Hopefully we'll still be able to blog from there so you can hear how our first flight went.