Day 9 – Can We Go Home Now?

We’re having a great time but we are ready to go home, eat some American pizza, and most importantly squeeze our son. This morning I did lots of paperwork (Doug stayed with Maylie) and I think we’re getting closer to it being done.

Tomorrow is Maylie’s- and the other babies in our group- medical appointment. I think this is mainly to allow her to leave the country. I’m guessing she weighs about fifteen pounds. She fits in the 6-9 month clothing great. Some of it we even have to roll up! She’s small but she’s not skinny. She has some meat on her thighs and a little "Buddha belly".

Maylie seems to either be "off" or "on". When she’s with us in the hotel room she can be such a ham! Lots of squealing laughter and bouncing. But when we take her around in the carrier the locals who try to talk to her and get her to smile say, "Oh, shy baby." Doug told one of them today that she’s shy with people she doesn’t know. Ha ha! So funny that we can say that now, seeing that we’ve only known her for six days! But it’s true. She was shy with us, too, when we were strangers, but now we’re not and she can be a crazy little monkey! Last night as we tried to eat dinner, the wait staff would not stop coming to our table to touch or talk to her or look at us. One waiter in particular checked our order "ticket" 8 times just to have an excuse to come over and look at Maylie. We feel like zoo animals. (one waiter even asked, "is she Chinese baby?" Uhhhh…. Yeah.)

On the island we’re no big deal…. Off the island I feel like wearing a sign that says, "please don’t touch the baby!" Oh well, it seems to be such a part of the culture- or the adoption culture- and knowing that they can only have one baby makes me a little more empathetic. Thinking that because of the one child policy and a centuries old preference for boys, many of these women will never have the chance to hold their own little girl. BUT, it is getting old and we’ve gotten a little more direct in ignoring their advances. One thing I’ve noticed about the babies is that they seem to be a little independent, like they’re somewhat used to soothing themselves or adapting to the situation. She’s such a trooper as we lug her around the city in her carrier.
Today was cold! Probably in the thirties or forties and windy. Very strange for this part of the country. I guess it’s to prepare Maylie for Wisconsin winter.

(Doug now adding…) We ate diner tonight at a restaurant on the Island that caters to Americans (Lucy’s – its great!) – it was good to have some home food, and we introduced Maylie to mashed potatoes. She LOVED them!













Also on the island today, Rachel was able to pick up a dress she had custom made. The store owners are overly friendly (trying to make the $ale) but it is nice to talk in English to a few folks.
Here she is trying it on OVER a turtleneck. Take care everyone!