Communication

Read the line under the larger numbers and explain to us exactly what that means?!



Okay, so here we are half way across the world in a society that tells us "Not all the dreams are attractive". Yes, we have met several nice English speaking families and yes, our guide speaks wonderful English, but...they are not our family and friends. Here's the scoop, you guys don't comment we don't blog. We don't care if you tell us what you had for breakfast but reading your comments each day really truly helps us feel connected to back home. (seriously, we'll keep blogging because there is a cool feature where I can turn this into a book when we get back home but you get the idea!)

Next quick order of business is something I should have added a few days ago, but congratulations are in order. Ryan's DARE essay was chosen as the winner for his class to be read at his DARE graduation. We are so incredibly proud of you Ryan!!!

Next on our list is Liam. He continues to astound us. So many stories we have read are about the kids slowly revealing their personality. If Liam has any more personality I don't know what we'll do with it. He is so endearing and funny and yes, Melissa, mischevious taboot. We love, absolutely love, that he won't yet smile for anyone else but us and for our guide. He really seems to have a good sense that we are mom and dad. We are slowly weaning away from baba to daddy as it is getting too confusing with the poo poo and with the fact that we tend to call his bottle a baba. Poor kid. He does, however, seem to be interested in people that are speaking to him, and trust me, that is everyone. Should we warn you now that he is even cuter in person than he is in his pictures? Not kidding.

We went to the hotel pool yesterday p.m. and he liked putting his feet in. Our memory card filled up so we didn't get pics of his big ear to ear grin. He has the sniffles so we opted not to go in the water. He was very content. For dinner we went to the restaurant on the second floor of the hotel. We tried a steamed egg and that seems to be the first thing he wasn't wild about. I was a little relieved as I have no clue how to make it. I will warn Mimi now that she will need to run to the grocery for us and pick up some rice along with a few other things. Otherwise, he has eaten everything we have given him. He also tried some thinly sliced beef as well as steamed carrots and zucchini and liked it a bunch.

We were given his schedule from his foster mom and it is clear that she really worked her own schedule around his needs. We have stuck with it exactly and he is so easy. We lie down with him for nap and bed and he promptly falls asleep with no fussing. I have been singing him the same lullaby each time and this afternoon for his nap we were lying face to face. When I got done singing he reached over and put his hands on my lips. Steve said he thought he was asking me to sing again. Speaking of 'asking' we got his first real words last night. Only problem is they were in Chinese so we couldn't begin to tell you what he said. Translation anyone? I was so stunned that I didn't think to write down a phonetic pronounciation.

Today we went to the Yeulu Academy and the Silk Factory. Vicky told us interesting detail after detail at the academy related to the countries history dating back 5000 years. Remember her job is as our adoption guide not as history tour guide. We asked how she was so well versed and able to answer so many questions. Get this Lauren and Jenna. She said the school children begin learning their countries history in first grade through high school...and...she actually learned 5000 years worth of history. Now you two need to stop complaining about learning 200 years of history!

Liam was amazingly patient through all of this day. It only took a few hours in the morning and we were back by lunch. We have nicknamed him inspector gadget as at mealtime he has these arms that telescope out to reach on the table. This morning Steve got up to get something so he made sure to move his plate, etc out of reach. Within a second, inspector gadget had his arm pulling on the placemat. He has discovered gravity and loves to tease while sitting in the high chair. He will hold his cup or piece of food or anything off to the side with his big grin and wait for us to say uh oh and down it goes. If there is food left on the table his arms turn into windshield wipers and off it goes. Max and Toby are going to love him!

Didn't think we'd be so ready to be home so soon but we are counting down the days (that is if we are able to remember what day it is). Not kidding about the comment thing. We miss all of you.
Love,
Paige, Steve and Liam

I can't wait to swim in Miss Sally's pool

"I am happy to feed myself but love when my mom and dad show they'll care for me by feeding me."
Whoever thought my daddy would be so funny!



Liam admiring a piece of work at the silk factory

Yeulu Academy


Early this morning