HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to our moms!!! We love you and miss you!!!

And to all my China sisters who have become mothers recently, who have been mothers for a while, or who are still waiting for your children to come home -- Happy Mother's Day to you too!!!

China sisters: As I was sitting eating breakfast this morning at the White Swan buffet, I got teary when I looked around and saw all the people with their new children and I didn't know anyone. We were all suppose to be here together -- it was just sad that I was there today without all my China sisters. And on Mother's Day. This is not how I planned it or would have dreamed it. I'm so happy to have my daughter but I'm missing my friends that have been with me for the past three years. I love you guys and wish you were all here with me.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!!!!

Good nite from GZ.

Sherry

Shopping in Kunming

Silk outfit from the silk factory in Kunming. It's a corduroy jacket and pants -- but all made from silk. I bought it big -- don't remember the size -- it's a China size so I was clueless.

A meter of silk fabric - also from the silk factory.



A jade ring for me -- I bought this from a shop at the Minority Village.

Also from the Minority Village -- a hand embroidered piece of fabric -- I think it's a small table cloth. (Cassie was helping mommy take pictures -- since we do everything together).


Didn't buy this -- this was a gift to Cassie from the orphanage. It's a sterling silver necklace that means longevity. The little round things are bells. It's very pretty and was so nice of them to give this gift to Cassie. Mommy will save this for Cassie until I know she's ready for it and will take proper care of it. It's another priceless piece of her past.





The chop we had made for Cassie in Kunming. It has her Chinese name and her American name together. Also pictured is a little minority doll that the hotel gave her.




Mommy's 'cheap' jade bracelet. But, I like it. And it fits over my knuckles -- that's a plus.






Princess Zhen-Zhen's two jade bracelets and her jade mouse charm.









Oolong tea we bought and paid WAY too much money for. And two free 'pee-pee boys'. Really -- that's what they are called. They are used to tell if your tea water is hot enough. Or so that's what they tell us silly Americans. You pour water over the pee-pee boy's head -- after he's been soaking in a glass of water -- and if the water is the right temperature he will pee. And he pees pretty far too. His mama must be proud.

Hello from Guangzhou - and a few Kunming Pics

It's Saturday night, and we've made it to Guangzhou. We landed shortly after 9:30 this morning, and were met by our guide (Kelly) who collected us and another couple (Brad and Veronica) and took us to the White Swan Hotel on Shamain Island in Guangzhou.
For no particular reason, I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that we had Sonny and Sherry (i.e. Sher) and Archie and Veronica all in a van at the same time. If someone named Meathead or Edith had been in the van with us, I would have completed the trifecta.

As I'm typing this, Cassie just went to sleep. It's 9:40pm. :) Rest well, my sweet.

Shamain Island is an island because it is divided from Guangzhou by a canal, which appears to be man-made. This in many ways reminds me of my home town - Sault Ste. Marie, MI. - which also has a small island, formed by a canal that cuts through the city. In Sault Ste. Marie, the island part of town is home to a high concentration of tourist enterprises. Shamain Island is no different. Here we are in China, and most of the people on this little island are westerners, here to complete the adoption of children. Nonetheless, tonight we ran into a little language barrier problem. We ate at an Italian restaurant, La Dolce Vita, and had trouble reading the menu because it was written in Italian. Sherry had gnocchi and I had lasagna. Cassie liked them both.

And now, for some pics. Everyone loves pics.
On the way to Cassie's finding place.

Let this be a lesson to us guys - we CAN ask for directions. Our guide and our driver - both men - asked for directions several times.

First, let's ask these police women.



A few miles later, let's ask another police officer.

And then another. This time in a police station.


Getting closer. Time to ask a local.

And a few other locals not pictured here
Meanwhile, Cassie sleeps.

Eventually, we find what we are looking for but that is the subject of an earlier post.



On the way back, I ponder the following important question:

Would you buy a purse from a zombie?

Just wondering.

Watch this. Mommy can hold you, feed you with a bottle, while eating with chopsticks - all at the same time. But can she play the piano while riding a unicycle?

(Who would hold the piano?)

Daddy-daughter time.



Yeah, that's right. I've got a little girl, and mommy doesn't. Nanner nanner naannnnnerrrrrrrr.

Cassie's Finding Place

Cassie was born on March 22, 2008. On March 25, 2008 - three days later - she was left in a place where it was certain she would be found within a few hours. Perhaps this was the result of the one child rule, or perhaps there was some other reason. The bottom line is that we will never know why, and that speculating upon the reason or reasons would surely result in madness. Whatever the reasons, this was a decision that would profoundly change Cassie's life, and many other lives in a far away place. This is the Butterfly Effect applied to peoples' lives. While it would be fruitless to speculate upon reasons behind decision, there are things we can deduce from the spot she was found.

Today we took a trip to that location. The location is a village where (mostly) migrant workers eke out a meager existence. From this we can be reasonably certain that Cassie's birth parents were migrant workers, renting a small apartment nearby her finding place. Most of the people in this village are migrant workers from nearby Provinces, i.e. not from the Yunnan Province. Cassie was found on the doorstep of apartment #5 in this village. Due to the fact that it is illegal to abandon a child, it is unlikely that this was the dwelling of her birth parents. The occupants would have been questioned by police. It is more likely that the birth parents lived very nearby. There is no room for cars in this village anywhere near where she was found. Anyone coming in from outside the village would have had to pass by a police station guarding the entrance (and risk getting caught), so her birth parents most likely lived in the village. The unit where she was left was within a few hundred yards of a police station. People are everywhere, which means she would have been found very quickly. It also means it was very risky to abandon a child in such a place. From this we can conclude that her birth parents wanted her to be found, and found quickly.

We took several photos of the location, a few of which are posted here. While there, we spoke (through our guide Jerry) with a few people from neighboring apartments. They seemed genuinely happy that she has been placed with us. They told us that Cassie would now live a good life. From a material perspective, her life will be better than the one she would have led had her birth parents made a different decision. But we all know that money can't buy happiness, so we now have the tall order to make sure that she has a good life - beyond the material aspects.

Cassie showed no signs of remembering anything about this place. She simply looked content to be with Mommy, but otherwise bored. For Sherry and I, being in the very place where she was left was an emotionally difficult experience. All along, we have known that there is another side to the adoption coin. Our side is a positive one - we have been blessed with a beautiful child. The other side of the coin is a different story altogether. A heart-breaking story, or so we imagine. It is a mind-boggling concept to grasp - that someone could decide, for whatever reason or reasons, that they could not keep her. Given the intent we infer from the location where Cassie was left - the intent that she be found - her birth parents may be haunted with wonder about what has become of her. It is our hope that one of the locals we spoke with today might know how to reach these people to let them know. We showed them the picture that was published in the local papers when she was found. They all looked at it and said they did not know her. But then, there was a police officer with us while we spoke with them, so they would not have been able to admit anything in front of him, so we can only hope.



Doorstep #5.



Cassie returns, with Mommy and Daddy.






Three nearby residents a few moments after concluding our conversation. One in the distance, one just leaving with a baby, one still with us, and a police officer.

Sightseeing - Minority Village

On the way to Minority Village. I just can't get enough of these roofs.

The little princess inspects her flowers.

Need to get REALLY close to be sure they are the good ones.

Concrete albino pachyderms.

This particular vehicle sports exactly one horsepower.

Minority village is a large area which is divided into many sections, each representing one of the many minority groups in China. This is the entrance to one of those sections.

Our guide, Jerry, belongs to one of these minority groups. This intricate wood carving is common in his neck of the woods.

As are paintings on ceilings, such as these.

Cassie is a popular girl amongst the locals. People want to have their picture taken next to her. When we have breakfast in the hotel restaurant, all the tables around us quickly fill up, while the other tables remain empty. It's kind of funny watching people try to act inconspicuous when they "just happen" to sit next to us.



Minority village is situated near some very impressive mountains.

Once again, the roofs are impressive. Maybe that's a guy thing.

And incredibly detailed. All this detail is carved out of wood.

"Surface is dangerous please not close to"

The translation could use a little help, but we get the idea. "Stay away from the water, bozo."

I can't figure this out. Is this a guy riding a bike, or a bike riding a guy?

Far East Bellagio


This is a Bonzai Bamboo tree. I wonder if there are Bamboo chiropractors.

Soon, she will be in kindergarten, playing the "duck, duck, duck, goose" game. Until then, she can only watch the real thing.

The yellow blocks in the middle have raised lines on them. This is so that sightless people can feel the path beneath their feet. Pretty cool.



But even more cool - Cassie finally let me hold her. I got away with about 10 minutes before she decided that she wanted her mommy. Maybe I don't have cooties after all. Baby steps.

Look, Daddy! I'm standing. Aren't you proud of me?

[Oh, sweet-pea, you have no idea.]

This is Joseph. He and Cassie obviously know eachother, either from the orphanage or the foster village. I missed the shot of them smiling at eachother like long lost friends. This was a minute later.

Hey, baby! Let's you and me trip the lights fantastic. Whaddya say?


Somebody put my Legos in the closet, and I absolutely do NOT approve.



The Hot Pot. We love China - most of it anyway. Not so sure about the contents of this pot.



No how did that Cheerio end up there?





Mommy want a Cheerio?






Look at me, Daddy! I can eat Cheerios all by myself.

More fun facts -- part 2

This post length will be determined by Cassie. It's 6:29am and she's almost awake.

1. Tip -- eat a large breakfast while in China. You never know what dinner will be. Two nights ago it was two bites of oatmeal -- that Cassie won't eat. Last night it was Hot Pot. Water and fish heads boiled on your table for 10 minutes then you throw in many other food like pieces -- why did I call them food like pieces -- because I'm not sure what half of them were -- yummy. Then once they boil for a couple of minutes you fish them back out -- pun intended. I fed Cassie a piece of chicken from the witches brew and I think some tofu. She also ate two dumplings. Mommy had 3 pieces of potatoes.

2. Cassie is amazing.

3. To clarify an earlier post about the squat potty, mine didn't have TP like the one Sonny used and took a picture of. I had to fish out a pack of tissues from the pocket of my pants - the pocket by my knee - that was buttoned. Once I got the tissues out -- after peeing so I had to be extra careful -- I stored the pack of tissues in my mouth. Cassie thought it was funny to try and push the tissues farther in my mouth until mommy was making gaging sounds from the tissues and from the 'business' that was going on in the potty next to me. They did however have a sink with running water and soap. (This was at the tea house). But nothing to dry your hands on.

4. That brings me to my next tip. It's better to stay a little dehydrated while in China. See item 3 above to understand why.

5. According to the Chinese, if I lose some weight -- the 20th time I've been told this in a nice-ish way -- I could get a Jade bracelet over my wide knuckles. Weight loss must work different in this side of the world.

6. That's my segue to the Jade store experience. It was this huge department-type store with only Jade in it. It's a government store, so there is no bartering over the prices. However, the prices seemed fair to me and then after paying for the pieces we selected, we went to desk that weighed and certified the Jade for us. We got little cards with each piece. I don't know what card goes with each but I have them all. At this store, all the Jade is grade A Jade but different qualities. Grade A means all real -- no acrylic fillers added to it. Also this Jade is from Myanmar (spell?) -- which according to Jerry is the best Jade in the world. It's suppose to be cheaper in Kunming -- because we are so close to Myanmar. Also per Jerry, this is where all the Jade in China comes from.

7. According to the Chinese Zodiac, babies born in 2008 are "rats". So, we bought Cassie a Jade mouse pendant (really a rat -- but mommy likes to call her a mouse baby -- and so do the locals). It's very light in color and very translucent -- which means it's really good -- or so I'm told. It's a mouse sitting on a heart and then two hearts are carved on the back of the pendant too. She also got two Jade bracelets for when she's older. One is two-tone white and green in color and more of an oval shape. We were told that this shape used to be able to only be worn by the princesses. So of course she got that bracelet because she's our little princess. Then she also got a yellow Jade bracelet because mommy thought it was pretty.

8. I bought a really cheap -- Grade A but not a great quality bracelet for myself. It's white and light green. I really wanted a purple one -- they had a few of them -- but my knuckles were too big to get them on. That's when I was told to lose some weight and then next time when I come they will fit. I also tried on some pretty other bracelets that fit. Or so I was told they fit -- they lubed up my hand with soap and folded my hand in half -- the best they could -- then they pushed the bracelets over my big knuckles -- all the while telling me to relax. I think it was like giving birth in reverse. I got one on -- they forced it on -- that I liked but wasn't sure I would ever be able to get it on or off once I left the store. They said I could just wear it forever then. Great sales people. So my cheap bracelet is a little too big according to the sales people but with lots of soap I can get it off and on all by myself. Maybe I'll have better luck in GZ with a purple one. Or I'll just keeping skipping dinner and my knuckles with get smaller, and then I can buy one. :)

9. There are also mullets in China.

10. Did I tell you yet that Cassie is amazing and beautiful and has really long eyelashes.

11. Lays potato chips have MSG in them. However, the moon pies here have no preservatives in them.

12. I'm so used to being stared at that I kind of like it -- I'm going to feel so common once we get home. Redheaded American women with a Chinese baby is very interesting here.

13. Speaking of hair -- Cassie is fascinated by mine. I'm sure she has never seem red hair before.

14. Deciding to not have laundry done until we get to GZ should never be discussed in front of a 13 month old. That's the day she decides to spill/throw/spit-out every meal on mommy's pants.

15. I love being Cassie's mommy. She's amazing -- did I tell you that already?

16. Even though we have named our little princess Cassie, we are calling her Zhen-Zhen (pronounced "jin-jin"). This was her nickname at the foster family and at the orphanage. We also happen to think it's really cute. Some time in the future, we will start calling her Cassie, but the Zhen-Zhen nickname will probably stick.

17. As everyone can see from the pictures, Cassie's cleft lip has been repaired. However, the repair that was done simply closed the opening. No cosmetic work was done. She needs a little shape to her lip, and perhaps a little bulge softened on her left upper lip, and her left nostril needs to be opened a bit more. We are already prepared for this - we have a surgeon lined up - and will take care of this a few months after we return home.

18. This just in from the Department of Redundancy Department: Cassie is Amazing!

Time to run -- my amazing, beautiful, needs-her-mommy, baby girl is waking.