Day 7: It’s only getting Better….

DAY 7: It’s only getting Better….

Maylie is coming out of her shell. She has demonstrated a couple of specific things that show that she is bonding with us. The first couple days with her anytime a Chinese woman spoke to her or smiled at her she seemed to come alive and was eager to go to them. Yesterday and today, when approached by a smiling Chinese woman (they are very bold in reaching out to hold your baby) she turned into either Doug or my chest and didn’t want to be held by them. She is babbling more and more and we are teaching her to bear some weight on her legs. (when we first got her she would not stand on our lap at all but put her legs out in a sitting position)

We returned to Shamian Island today and did some more shopping. It is certainly "adoption island". Everywhere you look you see Chinese babies with their Caucasian parents. The island and all of its shops really cater to the adoptive parents. We also walked around other parts of the city where English is not spoken as much and we got many more stares.
Here’s a quick lesson in Chinese culture...

Top ten things we’ve learned while in China(so far):
10. Don’t drink the water (we haven’t and we won’t!)
9. Salesladies will follow you around their shop without any regard to your personal space and repeat, "for you, best price!"
8. Congee- what is it? Think cream of wheat meets poorly cooked rice and add an assortment of toppings from Boiled eggs to something akin to cavier (at least I think that’s what was in mine today). Maylie loves it.
7. Traffic laws? What are traffic laws?
6. Toilet paper is not provided and "squatty potties" are harder than they look
5. Random English words are "in" and are put on merchandise. On a long sleeve T: "our softest underwear is in the vogue fashion." Or on a clock with a picture of a violin: "gift certificate"
4. "Too much money" is a directive bargaining statement, not your financial position
3. You order one entrée for yourself and another for your spouse only to discover each will feed a small family
2.Purchasing something from a vendor is akin to saying, "Pretend I have never met you and then please offer to sell me everything else you think I might possibly like"
1. trip’s not over yet – can’t give you #1 yet ;)

Here's a picture of Maylie and Hannah - the daughter of some friends of ours who also live in Stevens Point! These two beautiful girls will grow up knoing each other














We so appreciate your prayers and encouragement. Please continue to post comments as my dad sends them along to us :) (Thanks Dad for sending us all of our blog comments. They were so much fun to read.) ~ Rachel