Still in Guangzhou!

Sorry for being so long between posts - Benjamin has decided that since he is getting more comfortable with everyone, sleep isn't really something he wants to do.  He finally gave in and went to bed around 10 last night, but needless to say, by that point I was like a zombie.  Doing the whole blog thing was right about shoving bamboo shoots under my fingernails on the list of things I wanted to do :)

Guangzhou is an interesting city.  We've decided it's like a combination of Las Vegas and Miami.  It sort of feels like any other city, where Changsha felt much more like China to us.  We've gotten to go out of the hotel and explore a bit more here, as it's easier to get around.  Dad is happier, as there is every typre of Western food under the sun.  One of the other couples here showed us how to get to Trust Mart, which is very simple, and we were able to pick up some stuff we needed (like cheese and lobster flavor potato chips!)  It's amazing what you can buy here at the market - Wal Mart sells everything from diapers and formula to live fish (not as pets.....), and just about anything you can imagine.  I'm hoping we can wander up there again just to look around.

Yesterday, we went to the Yuntai Garden with another of the families here.  It's kind of like a botanical garden, with a lot of statues and stuff.  It was fun to walk through, but it was so stinking hot.  We borrowed a stroller from the hotel for Benjamin, and Christopher did manage to walk the whole way, but was dripping wet when we were done.  I'm sure it's much nicer when it's not so blasted hot.

The gardens really are quite beautiful here

Once we finished with the tour of the gardens, our guide brought the other family with us back to the hotel, and then took us to go do some shopping.  We went to the pearl market, and were able to buy strings of pearls for me, as well as a set each for Benjamin and Christopher to give to their wives when they get married.  She also brought us to another store, where we were able to buy some traditional Chinese outfits for them, and some squeaky shoes for Benjamin.  I tried to find some to bring home for some other folks, but the store we were in didn't have much for sizes.  I'll keep looking. 

We came back to the hotel, and took the kiddos swimming.  After sending Brian back to the room with injuries (watch the pool deck at the Garden, it's slippery as anything!), I took Christopher and Benjamin to the little kids pool.  Benjamin had a blast sitting in the water and kicking.  Christopher practiced his going-unders.  They both had a lot of fun!



Today, we had to go back to the medical exam place to have Benjamin's TB test read.  The place is a madhouse of people - our guide just pushed on through and had his and another little boys read pretty quickly.  We left that, and went to the Six Banyan Temple.  It's a 1400 year old Buddhist temple, and was really amazing to see.  I love looking at the old Chinese buildings, and this was a good place to do it.  Brian got to spend some time taking pictures today, which is neat since he and I take pictures of different styles of things.  The whole reason he got to do all the pictures - I GOT TO CARRY BENJAMIN!!!  He was perfectly happy with me this morning, and stayed with me at breakfast while Brian and Christopher went to explore the gardens.  He came back to the room with me, played for a while, and then sat with me on the bus.  He was getting tired while we were at the temple, but did OK. 

Breakfast with Benjamin.  His favorite thing is to sort things - I love the OCD!

Some pictures from the temple today - very beautiful!!!

Just random cute pictures :)

So Benjamin is definitely opening up more to all of us.  He's much more playful and interacting with everyone.  He still prefers Brian, but will go to me more willingly.  He will play with Christopher, but gets startled easily if Christopher moves too fast or something.  It's fun to see his personality coming out more and more.  For a little boy with leg problems, he can get around like a madman when he wants to.  He can walk if he holds on to something, despite his left foot being very clubbed.  He also likes to scoot on his bum, or will roll from place to place if needed.  When he wants to get around quickly, he puts his forehead on the ground and pushes with his feet.  It looks like it hurts, but he goes like a madman that way. 

He's also starting to talk more and more.  We can't tell if he's just babbling, or what he might be talking about.  He will occasionally say Dada, water, Mama, and banana in a way that's hard to understand.  He also has a bunch of Chinese phrases, but we don't understand.  One particularly interesting one is something like "nah gah doo" followed by the funniest pursed lip face I've ever seen.  He did pick up a new word in English today though.  Brian was getting our room ready for him and Benjamin to take a nap - Benjamin started walking towards our room, turned to me, waved, and said "bye bye" clear as day :)

We're heading out this evening for the Pearl River dinner cruise.  It's a 2 hour cruise around the river here, and the lights of the city.  There is so much neon and LED here, and all the pictures I've seen of it look amazing.  I know the kids will be up a bit late, but we have a free day tomorrow, so they can sleep in.  If we're still wide awake, I'll try to post pictures when we get back tonight.

Thank you all for the messages and emails and prayers, particularly when things were tough with Benjamin.  Things are going so much better, and all your thoughts and prayers certainly helped.  We really appreciate it!